2.  Real rules (articles before nouns)  Rules of standard English (subject-verb agreement)  Invented rules (don’t put a preposition at the end of a sentence)

3.  Folklore  Elegant options

4. Beginning a sentence with “and” or “but” Inexperienced writers rely too heavily on “and” as a transition, but that doesn’t make “and” incorrect. Fewer vs. less Don’t use while when you mean although That and which Use “which” with non-essential information and “that” with essential information. Williams says he does follow this rule but not because of correctness - because of style. Williams says he breaks this rule when it sounds better to do so.

5.  Don’t use “hopefully” to mean “I hope”

6.  Both are invented rules. But a reader will “hear” elegant options, they will make a difference in the sound of your writing