“There is one grammar rule that makes you look so much smarter and more sophisticated if you get it right, and most people get it wrong,” she said.

To those of us who speak English as our first tongue, these nonsensical grammar conventions come as second nature—and some rules are so innate that they rarely get taught in school.

Do you try to use good grammar? That’s great. Chances are your efforts pay off and you’re a better communicator as a result. But if you try too hard, your efforts can backfire. Grammar rules ...

The All-Too-Common Grammar Mistake Even Very Smart People Make I have a master’s degree in English, and I’ve done it myself.