Shakespeare is the penultimate subject of study among English majors around the world. As far as storytellers go, he was a brilliant one, being able to reference and integrate classic literature into his works with pizazz and subtlety. Despite being a beacon of the English language, some of his works would fail today’s grammar classes.… Continue reading 10 blatant grammar gaffes committed by Shakespeare
Category: Grammar
Is sistren a real word?
In our church, we refer to one another as brother and sister. Sometimes, when referring to multiple people, we use the phrase brethren and sisters. Yesterday, someone said brethren and sistren then apologized for using a made up word. It was a perfect opportunity for me to educate everyone and put his mind at ease. :) Several… Continue reading Is sistren a real word?
Is the term “women” sexist?
A few days ago, a friend of mine asked why we use women to refer to adult female humans. I think this is a legitimate question. It’s certainly one I have heard before. I have seen similar questions asked in feminist circles because of the apparent implication that women are a part of men rather… Continue reading Is the term “women” sexist?
8 funny examples of why punctuation matters
You’ve heard me say that proper punctuation is necessary to clearly get your message across. Sometimes the punctuation makes subtle differences (like using em dashes instead of parentheses); other times, even just basic punctuation makes a big difference: Look at these 8 examples of messages that completely change based on punctuation: 1. Don’t wear black people.… Continue reading 8 funny examples of why punctuation matters
10 grammar myths that refuse to die
Mignon Fogarty (a.k.a. Grammar Girl) compiled a list of popular grammar myths, then embarked on debunking each one. Here are the myths, but check out her website to see why they are myths. You shouldn’t end a sentence with a preposition. You shouldn’t split infinitives. It’s incorrect to answer the question “How are you?” with… Continue reading 10 grammar myths that refuse to die
8 tricks to write for the web
Writing for the web requires a few tricks. People who surf the web are in a hurry and rarely do they stay for more than a few seconds on a page. You want to capture their attention and provide them with information that is easily digestible. Here are 8 tips to help you engage your… Continue reading 8 tricks to write for the web
4 grammar habits that destroy brevity
One question I hate is “What is your grammar pet peeve”. I hate it because there are so many grammar faux pas that it is difficult for me to pick only one. I will say this though: one thing that greatly irritates me is superfluousness. I prefer language that delivers the message using as few… Continue reading 4 grammar habits that destroy brevity
How to type and use the em dash
The em dash is, in my opinion, one of the most incorrectly used punctuations marks. Either people use other marks in its place (like the hyphen – or the double hyphen – -) or they used it in a way that could be used by a comma or even without any punctuation at all. Other… Continue reading How to type and use the em dash
5 ways to properly use a semicolon
Two weeks ago, I talked about how to use a comma properly. I thought I’d take today’s post to quickly outline when you should use the semicolon, a misunderstood and underused punctuation mark. Here are 5 instances when you should use semicolons and a couple of examples for each. If you stick to these 5… Continue reading 5 ways to properly use a semicolon
How to format references for 3 popular academic writing styles
I graduated from university this spring with my Bachelor of Arts degree, and if there was one thing I learned while at university, it was how to write a paper. Something I noticed some of my fellow classmates struggling with was how to properly format citations. Today, I want to discuss three of the most… Continue reading How to format references for 3 popular academic writing styles