Fumblerules are humorous rules for writing, collected from teachers of English grammar.[1] A fumblerule contains an example contrary to the advice it gives, such as "don't use no double negatives", "eschew obfuscation" and "never use a preposition to end a sentence with", a form of self-reference.
The science editor George L. Trigg published a list of such rules in 1979.[2] Another list, from which this article takes its name, was compiled by William Safire on Sunday, 4 November 1979,[3][4] in his column "On Language" in the New York Times. Safire later authored a book titled A Lighthearted Guide to Grammar and Good Usage, which was reprinted in 2005 as How Not To Write: The Essential Misrules of Grammar. An overview of various 'self defeating sentences', including FumbleRules is also available [5]
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