Here’s a little lesson: Grammar is the set of rules for how a natural language is structured. Technically, spelling and punctuation are separate studies, although they do contribute to the mechanics of good writing and thus fall under the grammar umbrella.

People make fun of grammar nazis—I think they still do this, no?—which I have always thought missed the point. It’s not the grammar issue that riles people up—or at least, it shouldn’t be; wrong is wrong—it’s the manner and venue of correction. I have always said I don’t mark off for errors in texts or my own glass house would be sand, and these past few months have taught me I’m no hot shot at posting properly to Facebook from my phone (or, probably, even writing these blog posts on my laptop). My fat fingers and impatience give rise to things that I know are wrong but don’t see in the flurry and generally have to try to correct on the back end. On the other hand, if I’m reading a magazine article that refers to “Thomas Edison, the inventor of the lightbulb that died in 1931,” you can bet my brain is gonna immediately snark “aww, poor dead lightbulb. So when did Edison die?”

The short version of all that? Everyone Needs an Editor. Even Editors.

With all that said, here’s one grammar lesson that I wish more people knew: a singular container of a plural noun takes a singular verb. So, “A compilation of grammar errors is (not are) a useful teaching device.” “The classroom full of children was (not were) noisy.”

Thus endeth my nazi lesson. Anyone out there have their own pet peeves to share?