I too love "grammahooligans"! What a great example of clever, clear, succinct writing.

I try to live by the advice I was given years ago: In promulgating your esoteric cogitations, exchew all conglomerations of flatulent garrulity, jejune babblement and asinine affectations. (There's more to the quote, but that's the part I remember.)

Having said that, I must add that the "usage rules" referred to in this thread are not actually rules but mere suggestions. Obviously there is a place for prolixity (Faulkner or Joyce) just as there is a time for conciseness (Hemingway, Ogden Nash).

And never forget Churchil's advice on the "rule" about prepositions at the end of sentences: "that is something up with which I will not put."

Stuart Showalter