Grammer: Reduce Expletive Constructions

1

Hi,

Can someone please check if this rule is ok? It’s fairly simple, but noticed it was not available in EN (I think - could not find it), so wrote it up.


                
                    
                        it
                        is|was
                    
                    Try to avoid using expletive constructions, these constructions merely obscure the main subject and action of a sentence.
                    https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/CCS_expletive.html
                    It is inevitable that oil prices will rise.
                    Oil prices will inevitably rise.
                    It was her last argument that finally persuaded me.
                    Her last argument finally persuaded me.
                
                
                
                    
                        there
                        is|are
                    
                    Try to avoid using expletive constructions, these constructions merely obscure the main subject and action of a sentence.
                    https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/CCS_expletive.html
                    There are likely to be many researchers raising questions about this methodological approach.
                    Many researchers are likely to raise questions about this methodological approach.

Thanks so much.

Tat

2

When you check the rules with Check a LanguageTool XML rule, you’ll see that they produce quite some false alarms. Maybe you can find a way to fix that - I’m not sure if it’s possible.

3

No hassles - thanks so much for the pointer.

Tat