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Short story author, Novelist in the making & Grammar enthusiast

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What is passive voice?

15/01/2021 By Matthew Ward 2 Comments

‘Avoid passive voice.’

That must be one of the most common pieces of grammar advice. And one of the most valuable ever. So, how terrible would it be if you had to ask, ‘But what is passive voice’, and no one had a simple answer? That’s what I’m here to provide today. [Read More…] about What is passive voice?

Glimpses. Your free book of short stories.

In late-19th-century Boston, one lonely figure strides past closed curtains and shuttered windows, hurrying to catch the earliest train to New York City. Hers is a life defined by death and hell-bent on revenge. Two … Read more » about Glimpses. Your free book of short stories.

Your Free Grammar Edit

COULD I HELP YOU PERSONALLY? Instead of reciting abstract rules and principles, or using examples that look nothing like anything you’d ever write yourself, couldn’t we figure this grammar and punctuation business … Read more » about Your Free Grammar Edit

Recent Posts

‘Further’ vs ‘Farther’ as simply as possible

08/01/2021 By Matthew Ward 1 Comment

And I thought writing a blog about further and farther would be easy! Or at least somewhat straightforward. Instead, Merriam-Webster.com is able to … Read more » about ‘Further’ vs ‘Farther’ as simply as possible

“If I was” or “if I were”? Simple methods for choosing the right one every time

20/12/2020 By Matthew Ward 1 Comment

If I was you, I’d keep reading.  Wait, though … shouldn’t it be “were”?  If I were you, I’d keep reading. But is that really correct? Which is it? … Read more » about “If I was” or “if I were”? Simple methods for choosing the right one every time

Popular Posts

To Comma or Not to Comma? When to put commas before “and”, “but”, “or”, “nor”, and “yet” made simple

06/07/2020 By Matthew Ward

Do you want to write clear sentences that use grammar and punctuation correctly? But do phrases like "compound … Read more » about To Comma or Not to Comma? When to put commas before “and”, “but”, “or”, “nor”, and “yet” made simple

How to write Riveting Description with “The Pillars of the Earth”

06/07/2020 By Matthew Ward Leave a Comment

Writing description can be a tricky business. Too much and the reader might get bored. Too little and they’ll … Read more » about How to write Riveting Description with “The Pillars of the Earth”

A Simple Guide to Fixing Run-On Sentences

15/07/2020 By Matthew Ward Leave a Comment

I’m back again on my mission to present the rules of grammar and punctuation without any jargon and with a … Read more » about A Simple Guide to Fixing Run-On Sentences

Sentence cadence. Uncovering this secret of great prose in “The Pillars of the Earth”

23/07/2020 By Matthew Ward 3 Comments

Ken Follett opens The Pillars of the Earth with a stark and unsettling line.  The small boys came early … Read more » about Sentence cadence. Uncovering this secret of great prose in “The Pillars of the Earth”

What’s an Oxford comma? How do I use it correctly? And do I need one at all?

07/08/2020 By Matthew Ward 4 Comments

I’ve got a book on my shelf printed by the Oxford University Press and another printed by the Cambridge … Read more » about What’s an Oxford comma? How do I use it correctly? And do I need one at all?

More Posts

MicroBlog 4: ‘You and I’ or ‘you and me’? A simple way to know

11/12/2020 By Matthew Ward Leave a Comment

Is it you and I or me and you? Do you, like me, dread getting that wrong at the wrong moment? Oh the … Read more » about MicroBlog 4: ‘You and I’ or ‘you and me’? A simple way to know

MicroBlog 3: If your sentence starts with an ‘-ing’ word, don’t make this mistake!

04/12/2020 By Matthew Ward 2 Comments

Who doesn’t love an adrenaline-pumping chase sequence? From Mission Impossible and Jason Bourne, to Star Wars … Read more » about MicroBlog 3: If your sentence starts with an ‘-ing’ word, don’t make this mistake!

Asking too much of your commas? Careful rephrasing comes to their rescue

20/11/2020 By Matthew Ward Leave a Comment

Last week, I repaired the first half of a sentence inspired by one of my mum’s most grammatically awkward … Read more » about Asking too much of your commas? Careful rephrasing comes to their rescue

Leapfrogging! A simple solution for grammar pitfalls and pink poodles

13/11/2020 By Matthew Ward 1 Comment

Have you ever bitten off more sentence than you could chew? I mean, have you ever tried to put a long and … Read more » about Leapfrogging! A simple solution for grammar pitfalls and pink poodles

Taking the Complex out of Complex Sentences … and taking on one of their greatest complexities

06/11/2020 By Matthew Ward 1 Comment

Recently, I was browsing punctuation and grammar books on Amazon when I came across an interesting review. … Read more » about Taking the Complex out of Complex Sentences … and taking on one of their greatest complexities

MicroBlog 2: When to capitalise words like mum and dad?

30/10/2020 By Matthew Ward Leave a Comment

Here comes my second MicroBlog, where I’ll share another grammar nugget at lightening speed. I’m sure we all … Read more » about MicroBlog 2: When to capitalise words like mum and dad?

MicroBlog 1: Commas, Names, and not eating Grandma

23/10/2020 By Matthew Ward Leave a Comment

Welcome to my first MicroBlog, where I’ll share a grammar nugget at lightening speed. I recently saw a … Read more » about MicroBlog 1: Commas, Names, and not eating Grandma

‘However’ and commas

16/10/2020 By Matthew Ward Leave a Comment

Here’s a simple grammar principle that’s well worth remembering: Where there is ‘however’, there should always … Read more » about ‘However’ and commas

Hyphens? When to use them made simple

09/10/2020 By Matthew Ward Leave a Comment

Words joined by hyphens. They’re all around us. But what are they? Give me five minutes, and I’ll explain just … Read more » about Hyphens? When to use them made simple

Can a single comma change the meaning of a whole sentence? A simple guide to placing commas before ‘which’ and ‘that’

02/10/2020 By Matthew Ward 1 Comment

‘Place a comma before “which” but not before “that”.’ I’ve come across this simple guideline many times, and … Read more » about Can a single comma change the meaning of a whole sentence? A simple guide to placing commas before ‘which’ and ‘that’

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I’m a nineteen-year-old budding writer with a passion for grammar, short stories, and novels.

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“What about milk?” Debbie asked. Mark reached for the milk. “Let me see.” He shook the carton. “There’s only a drop left.” “I’ll add it to the list.”

This paragraph includes several mistakes.

The paragraph starts with Debbie’s dialogue. Then, it moves to Mark’s. Then, it returns to Debbie’s. We need to start new paragraphs with each new speaker.

And we need to make sure that information about Debbie is alongside her dialogue, and information about Mark is placed alongside his dialogue.

When we put this into action we get this:

“What about milk?” Debbie asked.

Mark reached for the milk. “Let me see.” He shook the carton. “There’s only a drop left.”

“I’ll add it to the list.”

Now that’s perfect.

Mark, standing in the kitchen and hearing her call, opened the fridge. “I think,” Debbie continued, “we might be low on cheese.”

This paragraph includes a mistake. The dialogue in the paragraph is Debbie’s. Therefore, information that is primarily about Mark shouldn’t be in the same paragraph.

This is how it should be written:

Mark, standing in the kitchen and hearing her call, opened the fridge.

“I think,” Debbie continued, “we might be low on cheese.”

Mark moved one block of cheddar and checked behind it. “No, we’ve got two blocks.”

This paragraph is perfect. It involves Mark’s dialogue and information about Mark.

“Have we got enough groceries to last the week?” Debbie shouted from the living room.

This paragraph is perfect. It involves Debbie’s dialogue and information about Debbie.


There’s no need to wait for my next post because I’ve got an offer for you.
I’ll edit the punctuation and grammar in any two paragraphs of your writing for free.
You could choose the most awkward ones if you like!
(I’d probably do that if I were you.)
Then, when I return your paragraphs, I’ll include full explanations of every edit so that you can apply them to the rest of your writing. I’d love to help.
For more information and to take up my offer, click here.
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