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 ...

In this third part of the series, we will discuss the four other actions of the English subjunctive, which like the first two that we took up last week make verbs deviate from their usual behaviors in ...

Over the past 12 years that I’ve been writing this column, I called attention every now and then to the recurrent misuse of the English subjunctive by some news reporters and editors and even by some ...

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 ...

Sign up for the daily CJR newsletter. Many people make New Year’s resolutions to start diets, saying, “I wish I were thinner.” Six weeks later, many are saying ...