Editor's Corner

Did the subject line of today’s Editor’s Corner spark your interest? Well, for those of you who like to swear and were hoping I might be talking about curse words, I’m sorry to disappoint you. But now that you’re here, let me tell you about grammatical expletives.

In grammar (unlike in my life when someone cuts my spouse off in traffic), an expletive is a sentence that begin with phrases like “There is/was,” “There are/were,” and “It is/was.” Both curse words and grammatical expletives are considered to be filler words—words that take up space, but don’t add meaning.

So, is it OK to start your sentences with grammatical expletives? Well, yes, but they really should be avoided in many cases. Here are some examples of what I mean along with some alternatives:

• There are many people who think Elvis is still alive.

Many people think Elvis is still alive

• It was a very violent storm that hit the region last night.

A very violent storm hit the region last night.

Are there times when it’s OK or preferable to start your sentence with an expletive? Absolutely. If you revise your sentence to avoid the expletive and it just doesn’t sound right, you should leave it as is. For example, I would not change the sentence “There is no place like home.” The alternative, “No place is like home” just doesn’t have the same punch, and it’s not just because of Dorothy and her ruby red slippers.

Here’s another example of a sentence I probably would not change: “There is a problem with your plan.” The alternative, “Your plan has a problem,” just doesn’t work for me. It sounds harsher and more judgmental.

Now, if I intended to be judgmental, a revision like that might work. Look at this:

• Dear spouse, there is a problem with your aggression when driving.

Dear spouse, your aggression when driving is a problem.

Let the argument and the real expletives begin!

Have a curse-free day!

Donna Bradley Burcher |Technical Editor, Advisory | jack henry™

Pronouns she/her/hers

9660 Granite Ridge Drive, San Diego CA 92123

Symitar Documentation Services

About Editor’s Corner

Editor’s Corner keeps your communication skills sharp by providing information on grammar, punctuation, JHA style, and all things English. As editors, we spend our days reading, researching, and revising other people’s writing. We love to spend a few extra minutes to share what we learn with you and keep it fun while we’re doing it.

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