Aug 3, 2007 · The rule of putting a period at the end of every thought would be simpler, except that in English, we’re allowed to include more than one thought in the same sentence. These …

Two words that sometimes get confused are “disparate” and “desperate”. They have quite different meanings, but they can sound very similar in some accents, and if you’re using …

Aug 30, 2011 · Where do the commas go in references to days, months, years, and time of day? Take some time to note these punctuation rules:

Jul 30, 2007 · How do you express numbers in your writing? When do you use figures (digits) and when do you write out the number in words (letters)? That is, when do you

Writers like to sprinkle their work with subordinate clauses because they add variety to sentence structure. A reading diet too heavy with simple sentences or

Sep 14, 2011 · The English language includes an interesting category of words and phrases called contronyms (also spelled contranyms, or referred to as autoantonyms) --

Jul 3, 2007 · In the post Show, Don’t Tell, I mentioned dialogue as one of the ways you can “show” your reader what’s happening in a scene. Effective dialogue is an essential part of both …

May 6, 2013 · Which symbol should be used with numbers: a hyphen (-), or an en dash (–)? The question may seem trivial -- a dash is a dash, right? -- but using the correct

Nov 11, 2011 · 5. Closet: This term, from the Anglo-French word closett, a diminutive of clos, “enclosure,” originally referred to a secluded room but now applies to a usually walk-in cabinet …

Two primary functions of the comma are to separate independent clauses and to set off parenthetical elements, and writers often confuse the two functions when