“If there were a Form 3, you would have already filled it out.” Reader Jessica had a question about a sentence like this. The speaker already knew about a Form 1 and a Form 2. The existence of Form 3, ...

For grammar bullies “the subjunctive” is sacred ground. Reforms proposed for the British national curriculum in 2012 required teaching use of the subjunctive not later than sixth grade. People seem to ...

The subjunctive actually acts in several other baffling ways in addition to this deviant behavior, thus making its usage even more confusing to many people. To increase our confidence in using the ...

It is often bemoaned in Britain that English is going to pieces—and Americans are generally to blame. Whether you call it decline or not, the moaners are on to something: America has indeed produced ...

My $18 Associated Press Stylebook wouldn’t tell me. My $8 Strunk and White’s “The Elements of Style” wouldn’t tell me. My $55 Chicago Manual of Style wouldn’t tell me. “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to ...

What is it about the subjunctive form that makes both native and nonnative users of English intimidated and prone to error when using it? The reason is verbs in the ...