Welcome to my first MicroBlog, where I’ll share a grammar nugget at lightening speed. I recently saw a humorous book about punctuation titled: ‘Have You Eaten Grandma?’ What a horrible question! But what if we add a comma? ‘Have you eaten, Grandma?’ As if by magic, the … [Read more...] about MicroBlog 1: Commas, Names, and not eating Grandma
Grammar Blogs
‘However’ and commas
Here’s a simple grammar principle that’s well worth remembering: Where there is ‘however’, there should always be a comma nearby. That comma can come in one of two places, and over the next few minutes, I’ll help you make that choice of locations as simple as possible. … [Read more...] about ‘However’ and commas
Hyphens? When to use them made simple
Words joined by hyphens. They’re all around us. But what are they? Give me five minutes, and I’ll explain just that. By the end, you’ll also know exactly when to put those hyphens into use in your own writing. … [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’
‘Place a comma before “which” but not before “that”.’ I’ve come across this simple guideline many times, and it’s certainly memorable, straightforward, and easy to apply. And it works most of the time. However, I often wonder if it’s too simple for its own good. It refers to one … [Read more...] about Can a single comma change the meaning of a whole sentence? A simple guide to placing commas before ‘which’ and ‘that’
Everyday or Every day? How to choose between words like these with ease
I used to stare at my computer screen, deeply perplexed, trying to choose between everyday and every day, and anymore and any more. They had me stumped. So, I set about Googling and dictionary reading until, finally, I let out a sigh as I got them straight in my head. In this … [Read more...] about Everyday or Every day? How to choose between words like these with ease
