List of Fumblerules

A fumble rule is an example of a grammatical rule violation used to demonstrate the rule.
These three lists of fumblerules can also be found on Wikipedia.

George L. Trigg’s Grammar

• Make sure each pronoun agrees with • About repetition, the repetition of a
their antecedent. word might be real effective
• Just between you and I, the case of repetition - take, for instance the
pronoun is important. repetition of Abraham Lincoln.
• Watch out for irregular verbs which • In my opinion, I think that an author
have crope into English. when he is writing should definitely
not get into the habit of making use
• Verbs has to agree in number with
of too many unnecessary words that
their subjects.
he does not really need in order to
• Don’t use no double negatives. put his message across.
• Being bad grammar, a writer should • Use parallel construction not only to
not use dangling modifiers. be concise but also clarify.
• Join clauses good like a conjunction • It behooves us all to avoid archaic
should. expressions.
• A writer must not shift your point of • Mixed metaphors are a pain in the
view. neck and ought to be weeded out.
• About sentence fragments. • Consult the dictionery to avoid
• Don’t use run-on sentences you got mispelings.
to punctuate them. • To ignorantly split an infinitive is a
• In letters essays and reports use practice to religiously avoid.
commas to separate items in series. • Last but not least, lay off clichés.
• Don’t use commas, which are not
necessary.
• Parenthetical words however should
be enclosed in commas.
• Its important to use apostrophes
right in everybodys writing.
• Don’t abbrev.
• Check to see if you any words out.
• In the case of a report, check to see
that jargonwise, it’s A-OK.
• As far as incomplete constructions,
they are wrong.
William Safire’s Fumblerules
November 4, 1979, New York Times
• Avoid run-on sentences they are • Write all adverbial forms correct.
hard to read. • Don’t use contractions in formal
• Don’t use no double negatives. writing.
• Use the semicolon properly, always • Writing carefully, dangling
use it where it is appropriate; and participles must be avoided.
never where it isn’t. • It is incumbent on us to avoid
• Reserve the apostrophe for it’s archaisms.
proper use and omit it when its not • If any word is improper at the end of
needed. a sentence, a linking verb is.
• Do not put statements in the • Steer clear of incorrect forms of
negative form. verbs that have snuck in the
• Verbs has to agree with their language.
subjects. • Take the bull by the hand and avoid
• No sentence fragments. mixed metaphors.
• Proofread carefully to see if you any • Avoid trendy locutions that sound
words out. flaky.
• Avoid commas, that are not • Never, ever use repetitive
necessary. redundancies.
• If you reread your work, you will • Everyone should be careful to use a
find on rereading that a great deal of singular pronoun with singular
repetition can be avoided by nouns in their writing.
rereading and editing. • If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a
• A writer must not shift your point of thousand times, resist hyperbole.
view. • Also, avoid awkward or affected
• Eschew dialect, irregardless. alliteration.
• And don’t start a sentence with a • Don’t string too many prepositional
conjunction. phrases together unless you are
• Don’t overuse exclamation marks!!! walking through the valley of the
shadow of death.
• Place pronouns as close as possible,
especially in long sentences, as of • Always pick on the correct idiom.
10 or more words, to their • “Avoid overuse of ‘quotation
antecedents. “marks.”’”
• Hyphenate between sy- • The adverb always follows the verb.
llables and avoid un-necessary • Last but not least, avoid clichés like
hyphens. the plague; seek viable alternatives.
New Fumblerules
• Also, avoid annoying alliteration. • Never use a big word when a
• Always finish what you start. diminutive alternative would
suffice.
• Always pick on the correct idiom.
• One should never generalize.
• Always end your sentences with a
full stop • One-word sentences? Exterminate!
• Analogies in non-fiction are like • Parenthetical remarks (however
feathers on a snake. relevant) are unnecessary.
• Avoid archaeic spellings. • Parenthetical words however must
be enclosed in commas.
• Avoid clichés like the plague;
they’re old hat. • Placing a comma between subject
and predicate, is not correct.
• Avoid incorrect terms that have
snuck into common usage. • Prepositions are not words to end
sentences with. It is the sort of
• capitalise every sentence.
bloody nonsense up with which I
• Comparisons are as bad as clichés. will not put.
• Contractions aren’t necessary and • Proofread carefully to see if you
shouldn’t be used. have any words out.
• Do not use foreign words when • Punctuation like capitalisation is
there is an adequate English quid very important
pro quo.
• Spel chek yor werk.
• Do not indulge in sesquipedalian
• The adverb always follows the verb.
lexicological constructions.
• The passive voice is to be avoided.
• Don’t overuse exclamation marks!!!
• Try to be specific.
• Don’t repeat yourself or say again
that which you have said before. • Verbs has to agree with their
subjects.
• Don’t use commas that are not,
necessary. • Who needs rhetorical questions?
• Employ the vernacular. • Writing carefully, dangling
participles must be avoided.
• Eschew obfuscation.
• Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it
should be derailed.
• Exaggeration is a billion times
worse than an understatement.
• Go around the barn at high noon to
avoid colloquialisms.
• Hopefully, you will use words
correctly, irregardless of how others
use them