Grammar rules: those holy commandments drilled into us from the first day we scribbled out sentences. No splitting infinitives. Never kick off a sentence with “and” or “but.” Always wield “whom” like some sacred relic, or risk your English teacher rising from the grave, red pen ready and a dusty thesaurus tucked under one arm.

Don’t get me wrong — grammar matters. But sometimes? Breaking the rules isn’t just thrilling — it’s smart. Language breathes. It shapeshifts, mutates, grows, like your Spotify playlist after an existential crisis. Writing that clings too tightly to the rulebook can end up sounding about as lively as a rice cake.

So here they are: 10 grammar rules I gleefully break — and why you should absolutely join me on the wild side. (Cookies and commas provided.)

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1. Starting Sentences with Conjunctions

“And,” “but,” “or” — all branded as forbidden fruit back in school. Like, start a sentence with them and you might as well have lit your homework on fire.

In real life, though? Beginning with a conjunction makes writing flow. It feels like you’re having a real conversation, not delivering a eulogy for the English language.

✅ Example:

• But sometimes, breaking a rule makes the story even better.
• And that’s exactly why I do it.

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2. Ending Sentences with Prepositions

“At,” “for,” “about” — ending a sentence with these little guys was a grammar felony. Like socks with sandals but somehow worse.

Supposedly, you’re supposed to wrestle your sentence into an awkward pretzel instead.

✅ Example:

• Stuffy: This is the topic about which I was speaking.
• Natural: This is the topic I was speaking about.

Trust me, no historical figure is time-traveling here to slap your wrist.

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3. Using Fragments (On Purpose)

Proper sentences need subjects and verbs. Blah blah blah.

Sometimes, though, a fragment says more.

✅ Example:

• Because it jolts readers.
• Because it grabs attention.
• Because it shakes up the rhythm.

Fragments hit like mini-mic drops. They’re the dramatic pause before something big — minus the risk of actually falling off a cliff.

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4. Splitting Infinitives

To boldly go… into the territory grammar purists warned you about.

✅ Example:

• Proper (but boring): to go boldly
• Way better: to boldly go

If splitting an infinitive makes the sentence smoother or cooler, split away. Captain Kirk would salute you.

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5. Using “They” as a Singular Pronoun

Old-school grammar insists “they” is only for plurals. Modern English — and common sense — says otherwise.

✅ Example:

• Someone left their phone on the counter.

Clear, simple, and way less clunky than saying “his or her phone.”

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6. Beginning Sentences with “Because”

Back in school, starting a sentence with “because” was about as welcome as stealing someone’s lunch.

✅ Examples:

• ❌ Wrong: Because I was tired.
• ✅ Right: Because I was tired, I napped like a bear preparing for a winter-long Netflix binge.

“Because” builds curiosity. Sets tone. Holds things together. It’s basically emotional duct tape.

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7. Repeating Words for Effect

Repeating yourself = bad writing? Not always.

✅ Example:

• This matters. It matters more than you realize. It matters because it defines everything.

Strategic repetition weaves power into your writing. (Just don’t repeat so much you start sounding like a broken Baby Shark record.)

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8. Mixing Formal and Informal Language

“Stay consistent,” they said. “Formal or casual, not both.”

But switching it up? Sometimes magic.

✅ Example:

• Formal: Statistically, remote work has increased productivity by 30%.
• Casual: Honestly, it’s probably because nobody’s dealing with soul-sucking commutes anymore.

It’s like wearing a blazer with jeans: wrong on paper, effortlessly cool in reality.

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9. Using “Me” at the Start of a Sentence

Technically, “I” is the proper subject. But sometimes?

✅ Example:

• Me, I just can’t live without coffee.

It’s voice. It’s flair. It’s like throwing on sunglasses indoors and somehow, somehow, pulling it off.

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10. Breaking “Parallel Structure” for Flavor

Perfectly parallel lists: all nouns, all verbs, all neat and tidy. Break that, and the grammar police might faint.

✅ Example:

• I came, I saw, I inhaled three burritos, and then I collapsed like a hibernating bear at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Not textbook-perfect — but way more fun.

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When to Break the Rules (and When Not To)

Am I suggesting we chuck grammar out the window and yeet it into orbit? Not quite.

You have to know the rules first. Know them inside out. Then you earn the right to smash them to pieces — with style.

Grammar’s like jazz: master the scales, then riff your heart out. (Bonus points for cool hats.)

✅ Quick Tip:

• If a “mistake” makes your writing clearer, sharper, more you — break away.
• If it just makes things confusing? Maybe ease up.

The goal isn’t rebellion for rebellion’s sake. It’s communication — vibrant, sticky, alive communication.

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Final Thoughts

Language isn’t a stone tablet. It’s a living, mutating, wonderfully messy thing — more soap opera than statue.

Clinging to every last outdated grammar rule? That’s like refusing to get a smartphone because rotary phones were once cool.

Bend the rules. Start sentences with “but.” Split those infinitives. End with a preposition and a smirk.

If it makes your writing sparkle, trust me: the Grammar Police have bigger fish to fry.

(And if they don’t? Meh. I’ll save you a cookie on the dark side.)