Three grammar rules to ignore, according to the expert

A sharp-eyed, enlightened, and faithful newsletter reader sent me a link to a post by Benjamin Dryer, a copy chief at Random House publishers, who delineates his top three English “rules” that he believes should be ignored.

He introduces the post this way:

The English language, though, is not so easily ruled and regulated. It developed without codification, sucking up new constructions and vocabulary every time some foreigner set foot on the British Isles—to say nothing of the mischief we Americans have wreaked on it these last few centuries—and continues to evolve anarchically. It has, to my great dismay, no enforceable laws, much less someone to enforce the laws it doesn’t have. Source: Grammar expert Benjamin Dreyer lists three rules you can ignore — Quartz

His three:

— Never begin a sentence with “and” or “but” (or, I might add, any coordinating conjunction).

— Never split an infinitive.

— Never end a sentence with a preposition.

I agree with Dryer on all counts. Ignore these rules.

How say you? Will you come to the defense of these rules?

Or, maybe you have your own “rules” that you believe should be ignored. Either way, write and let me know.