Contractual Obligations: When Is It OK to Break the Rules?

Today’s post was inspired by my husband, who recently launched an impassioned tirade against the contractions in my writing. Right on top of his contraction criticism followed these rules: you should never begin a sentence with a conjunction and you should never end a sentence with a preposition.

Wow. I have, on occasion, broken every single one of those rules. And I’m sure that, at some point, I’ve broken every single one of them in one sentence.

That’s one of the great things about writing. Breaking the rules is sometimes the right thing to do. But that’s also one of the hard things about writing. When is it right to be wrong?

Some rules, like subject-verb disagreements, are easy. Unless you’re trying to make a point, mimic a vernacular or jar your reader, deliberately making a subject-verb disagreement is a bad idea. But beyond those clear scenarios, you have to rely on your instincts.

Fortunately, knowing your audience can go a long way toward helping you find your way. Using a phrase like “impassioned tirade” (or something similarly stuffy) in a piece that’s targeting a younger audience might turn off some of your readers. But contractions in a business proposal may sound too casual and tarnish your credibility in a prospect’s eyes. So let your readers be your guide!