But some stinkin' rules we don't need!

To find out why these "rules" are (some broadly, some less so) bogus, go to the About.com blog post and click on the links there.

Never begin a sentence with the conjunction and or but.

Never end a sentence with a preposition.

Never split an infinitive.

Never use the passive voice.

Never use contractions.

But you don't want to break these rules in all situations you write in.

- JRO