...and ACTION!: The Who, What, When, and Why of Verb Conjugation
Verbs are action words. That seems simple enough, so why are there so many different variables when it comes to conjugating them?
Put a Cap on It: Learning the Rules of Capitalization
In:
capitalization, Grammar
Do You feel Compelled to Capitalize every other Word? If so, you are an OverCapitalizer. There is help—read on...
10 More Words You Literally Didn't Know You Were Getting Wrong
We hit it out of the park last October by giving you ten words you were probably using wrong. Well, here are ten more.
How the Superheroes of Literature can save you from the Grammar Nazis
By Cath Murphy
Who can save the planet from the deadly Grammar Nazis? The Superheroes of Literature, that's who!
Watching out for Reiterations: Eliminating Redundancy in Your Writing
Like Sonny & Cher on February 2nd, redundancies in your writing are driving your readers crazy.
Phraseology: Groups of Words with a Lot of Jobs
In:
absolute phrases, adjective phrases, adverb phrases, appositive phrases, gerunds, Grammar, prepositional phrases, verbals
So I've bored you with lectures on sentences and clauses, now we'll talk about that other group of words-the phrase.
10 Grammar & Usage-Related New Year’s Resolutions
So you swore off sugar in the new year, but did you resolve to stop using 'they' to refer to a single subject? You should. Here are 10 grammar and usage resolutions for 2013.
10 Reasons Your Screenplay Sucks (and how to fix it)
What makes a reader hate a screenplay on sight? Here are 10 pet peeves - and fixes.
10 Things You Should Know About Plurals
When you have more than one, sometimes just adding an "s" doesn't cut it. Here are few things you should know about plural nouns.
Direct-Address Commafication
Donate now to help save the direct-address comma! Get it off the endangered species list! All it takes is one well-placed keystroke, people. All it takes is a little integrity.
10 Words You Literally Didn’t Know You Were Getting Wrong
Thanks to Joe Biden's mega-gaffe last month at the DNC, we were reminded that "literally" literally means you are being "literal". Here are a few more words you might want to revisit.
The Secret Lives Of Little Words
In:
Craft, Dialogue, Discourse Analysis, Grammar, Grammar, Linguistics, List, Phrases, Sociolinguistics, Verbs, Voice, Word Play
What's that word doing there? When it comes to spoken language, nothing is accidental. Linguists are working on finding meaning in every 'oh,' 'um,' 'well,' and 'okay.' The results might surprise you.
What's Your Style?: Style Guides and How to Use Them
Whether you are actually going back to school this fall, or you just need an excuse to go to the bookstore, we have compiled a list of the most well known style guides and how to use them.
Storyville: The Horror of Editing and Revision
In:
editing, fiction writing, Grammar, Plot, Revision, Rewriting, Storyville, Structure, Vocabulary, Workshop
It's been said that the difference between a good writer and a great writer is editing. So let's hop to it.
Clause I Said So: A Refresher Course On Sentence Types
Take it back to your high school English class with a refresher on clause types.
Look Like A Genius Without Actually Being One: Eight Formatting Tips And Tricks
By Dave Reuss
Give your baby the best possible chance out there in the world of publishing: here's an inside look at formatting issues that drive editors crazy.
Two More Comma Rules You Oughta Know!
In:
commas, Grammar, Grammar, prepositional phrases, subordinate phrases, transitional expressions, verbals, vocatives
Two more comma rules that every writer should learn.
Three Comma Rules You Need to Learn Now! NO MORE EXCUSES!
There's comes a point in every writer's life when the excuses for not learning how to use commas correctly simply run out. This is that time. Learn these. Right now. Or else.
Sentence, INTERRUPTED! - Five Ways to Interrupt Yourself (Grammatically)
Commas, parentheses, and dashes are just a few ways to interrupt a perfectly good sentence.
The Period Part 2 - Dot Dearth: Postponing The Period On Purpose
In:
Charles Dickens, Craft, Dave Eggers, Grammar, Jamaica Kincaid, Jonathan Safran Foer, William Faulkner
A continuation of last month's discussion of short sentence lengths. This month we'll explore the merits of the very long sentences.
20 Common Grammar Mistakes That (Almost) Everyone Makes
A list of some of the most common grammatical errors that routinely make it into print.
The Period Part 1--Lots o' dots: How frequent and deliberate use of the humble period can create maximum impact.
It may not seem like much, but that diminutive punctuation symbol at the end of your sentence has a lot of power. This article will focus on how to use the period to create different effects.
Down With The Double Tap! (Why You Shouldn't Space Twice After Sentences)
By Rob W. Hart
Many of us were taught we should insert two spaces after a sentence, but it's the appendix of typography; it serves no purpose and we'd be better off without it. Here's how to break the habit.
On Dialogue Tags: Why Anything Besides 'Said' And 'Asked' Is Lazy Writing
By Rob W. Hart
Expressive dialogue tags are the mark of lazy writing, because they break one of the cardinal rules--they tell instead of show. This is why 'said' and 'asked' are all you ever need.
