Q. First of all, what is an infinitive?
A. An infinitive is the “to” form of a verb: to run, to go, to jump, to wear, etc.

• I love to snack.
• I like to study grammar.

Q. So what’s a split infinitive?
A. A split infinitive is when you insert an adverb between the “to” and the verb. The most famous example is from Star Trek: To boldly go where no man has gone before.

• I love to always snack.
• I like to thoroughly study grammar. 

Q. Are split infinitives bad?
A. Technically, there are no grammatical rules that state it’s improper to split infinitives, but for some reason it’s been drilled into writers since grade school that you shouldn’t.

Q. So should I split infinitives?
A. You can, but it’ll just annoy people who only think they are as grammatically informed as you are. Rather than reeducate the whole world, it’s easier to avoid splitting infinitives:

• I love to snack always.
• I like to study grammar thoroughly.

You can also just avoid infinitives altogether

• I love snacking.
• I like a thorough study of grammar. 

Fun Fact: The “Don’t Split Infinitives” rule was developed in the mid-nineteenth century when Victorian scholars (having nothing else to do since there was no TV yet) decided to return to pure Latin grammatical rules.

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Q. What is a colon and why should I use one?
A. A colon looks like : and is used to set up anticipation for the second part of a sentence.

• I have many New Year’s resolutions: use colons correctly, use semicolons correctly and lose twenty pounds.

Using a colon adds drama to a sentence as it puts the topic at the end and creates suspense.

• Ice cream is my only love in this world. (OK)
• I only have one love in this world: ice cream. (Surprise!) 
  

Q. How do I use a colon?
A. Colons should always be used after an independent clause

• My favorite hobby is: thinking about grammar. (wrong)
  
• I only have one favorite hobby: thinking about grammar. (correct)
  

Q. What is a semicolon?
A. A semicolon looks like ; and is used to connect two independent clauses.

• I always have many New Year’s resolutions; I never achieve any of them.
  

While a colon can connect an independent clause and a dependent clause (I have only one love in this world: ice cream.), a semicolon MUST connect two independent clauses.

• I have only one love in this world; ice cream. (wrong)
  
• I love ice cream; I could eat it every day. (correct)
  

Q. Why would you use a semicolon rather than a period?
A. You can connect two short, related sentences with a semicolon rather than a period if you think they are too choppy to stand on their own or if you want to draw attention to the relationship between them.

• I made a cake last week; it tasted awful. 
  

However, you can also use a period or a comma to the same effect.

• I made a cake last week. It tasted awful.
  
• I made a cake last week, and it tasted awful. 
  

Basically, semicolons are useful if you want to mix things up.

Fun fact! The colon made its debut in 1550, while the semicolon didn’t roll up until 1644.

Q. Seriously: What is up with affect and effect?
A. I know, right? What makes “affect” and “effect” especially confusing is the fact that these words do double duty as both nouns and verbs. While there are many definitions for “affect” and “effect,” I find that for most daily use, when you need a noun you go with “effect,” and when you need a verb you go with “affect,” like so:


Affect: verb

• to influence
  
• Example: Ten beers will affect your judgment. 

Effect: noun

• A result
  
• Example: Ten beers will have an effect on your judgment
  

One way to remember affect is the verb is that “action” and “affect” both start with a. So when you need a verb to do an action, go with “affect.”

Q. But sometimes I see “effect” as a verb…
A. While “affect” means to influence, “effect” as a verb refers to putting something into operation:

• Example: I hope to effect a two-beer policy from now on.
  

Q. So “effect” can be a verb, but usually not as often as “affect” is?
A. Right!

Q. What is the Oxford comma?
A. The Oxford (or serial) comma is a comma before “and” in a list of things

• I like apples, bananas, and oranges (The Oxford comma is the red comma in the example at left.)
  

Q. Should I use the Oxford comma?
A. Technically the Oxford comma is neither right nor wrong, but some say it clutters the copy. Although, it does have its uses for clarity:

• These shoes come in black and white, red and pink and blue and green. (Huh?)
• These shoes come in black and white, red and pink, and blue and green. (Oh, right.)
• I like my coworkers, George Clooney and Brad Pitt. (This implies my coworkers are movie stars, which is not true.)
• I like my coworkers, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt (This implies I like both my coworkers and a pair of movie stars, which is true.)

Q. When do I put a comma before “and” in a sentence?
A. When connecting two independent clauses

Q. Oh crud. I forgot what independent clauses are. How can I tell if I have two?
A. Independent clauses are parts of a sentence that can stand alone. A good rule of thumb I use is if you introduce a second subject in the second half of the sentence, you use a comma before “and.”

• These boots have a fold-over cuff, and they are also waterproof. (Two subjects)
  
• These boots have a fold-over cuff and are also waterproof. (Only one subject)
  
• I went to the supermarket to buy pecans to bake a pie for next Thursday and ran into my boss. (This is long and confusing but still containing only one subject.) 
  
• I went to the supermarket to buy pecans to bake a pie for next Thursday, and I ran into my boss. (This same subject is mentioned twice, so it takes the comma.)
  

Fun fact! The Oxford comma was first introduced as rule in the 1905 edition of the Oxford University Press Style Guide, which is how it got the nickname. It is sometimes also called the Harvard comma since the Harvard press adheres to it as well.