COMMENCEMENT: Last week a professor in my department asked me why we call a graduation ceremony \u201ccommencement\u201d when the event marks the end of college. \u201cTo commence\u201d means \u201cto begin,\u201d not end, so it seems like an odd name for the ceremony.\n\nDELETE 'IT': Want a timeless, painless tip that quickly helps you clarify your writing? Look for it. What William Cobbett said two centuries ago still rings true: \u201cThe word it is the greatest troubler that I know of in language. It is so small, and so convenient, that few are careful enough in using it."\n\nSPONSOR\nhttp://amazon.com/kindleforkids\n\nAMAZON AFFILIATE CODE\nhttp://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon\n\nFOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL\nTwitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl\nFacebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl\nSnapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl\nPinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl\nInstagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl\nLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl