Sunday, December 11, 2005
I Couldn't Care Less....Could You?
Contrary to popular usage and belief, the statement is "I couldn't care less," not "I could care less." The reason is simple. If one could not care less, then one is as completely un- or dis-interested in something as it is possible to be. It would not be possible for the person to be any less... Sign in to see full entry.
posted by editormum at 8:21 PM Comments (2) (link)
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Double or Nothing?
"How do I know when to double the last letter when I want to add -ing to a word?" ---a confused blogger Actually, this is a lot simpler than you might think. It all depends on the vowel preceding that last consonant.(usually. Remember that English is chock full of exceptions to rules.) Take the... Sign in to see full entry.
posted by editormum at 7:36 PM Comments (0) (link)
Friday, December 9, 2005
Towing Lines and Hoeing Roads ... What ARE We Coming to?
Two quick little corrections for some frequently misquoted idioms. One does not "tow the line;" one "toes the line." This idiom refers to runners at the beginning of a race. They line up on the start line with their toes on or slightly behind the line. It may also refer to sailors standing in... Sign in to see full entry.
posted by editormum at 8:59 PM Comments (1) (link)
Thursday, December 8, 2005
It's Funny How We Misuse Its Forms
An answer to the knotty problem (as opposed to a naughty problem?) of when its needs an apostrophe and when you must leave that little flying comma out. Actually, it's quite easy. The rule is that it's with the apostrophe is used only when the word is used as a contraction of it is. Strange as it... Sign in to see full entry.
posted by editormum at 8:34 PM Comments (0) (link)
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
However do you punctuate "However"!? The word however is a funny, tricksy word. It serves many purposes and is punctuated differently for each. Let's examine it closely. When it's used as an intensive form of how, the word however does not have any special puncutation associated with it. Example:... Sign in to see full entry.
posted by editormum at 8:01 PM Comments (3) (link)
Tuesday, December 6, 2005
Spell This One Right ....
a quick note about a frequently misspelled word. Lightning is the bolt from the sky that can electrify your evening. Lightening is what someone does to the load you carry by taking some of it off your hands. Lightening is also what happens to the sky when the sun comes up. If you mix up the spelling... Sign in to see full entry.
posted by editormum at 8:20 PM Comments (0) (link)
Monday, December 5, 2005
Now, Where Does that Period Go? End Stops and Quotation Marks
Dear Grammar Guru: Please tell us how to punctuate around quotation marks. I get confused, particularly if I have a word or phrase at the end of the sentence that I am setting off with quotations. This is a common concern to all who wish their writing to reflect knowledge of proper grammar. It's not... Sign in to see full entry.
posted by editormum at 6:42 PM Comments (4) (link)
Sunday, December 4, 2005
There is no such thing as a mute point.
Moot and mute are very frequently confused. It's a simple mistake, and easily corrected. Mute (/myoot/) means "unable to speak" or "silent." Helen Keller was mute until she was taught to speak in her early teens. Moot (/moot/) means "irrelevant or insignificant." Whether or not we should have peanut... Sign in to see full entry.
posted by editormum at 5:32 PM Comments (2) (link)
Saturday, December 3, 2005
The Comma Is a Useful Bit of Punctuation....Please Use It Properly
An urgent request for help with commas has landed on The Grammar Guru's electronic desktop. Commas can be confusing, especially as there are divergent opinions on some uses. Being the old-fashioned type, I'm going to give you only one set of rules, leaving the least chance of misapprehension of your... Sign in to see full entry.
posted by editormum at 8:37 PM Comments (2) (link)
Friday, December 2, 2005
Just between you and me, you have to pick your pronouns carefully!
One of the most prevalent grammatical mistakes that the Grammar Guru battles (on a daily basis!) is the wrong choice of pronouns in phrases like "between you and I / me" or "my sister and I / me." It really isn't so very hard to get the right one, when you know the trick. The trick is to say the... Sign in to see full entry.
posted by editormum at 7:30 AM Comments (2) (link)
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About this Blog
A professional editor, writer, and English tutor answers your questions about the finer points of grammar, word usage, and other technical aspects of the writer's craft. E-mail questions to editormum@usa.com, or use the Comments section of a previous post. Happy Writing!
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