In last week’s Toolbox, we began tackling the possessive form of nouns. We covered two basic rules for singular common nouns: 1) A singular common noun that does not end in -s forms the possessive by adding an apostrophe + s. 2) A singular common that does end in -s also forms the possessive with… Read more »
Yours. Mine. Ours. Whether You’re negotiating with a toddler in the kitchen or engaging in literary criticism at the coffee shop, chances are you use possessive nouns every day without giving them a second thought. Writing them down, though, can be a little more complicated. Over the next few installments of the Writer’s Toolbox we’ll… Read more »
“Grammar saves lives,” says one meme. Another admonishes, “don’t be a psycho; use a comma!” Compare “Let’s eat, Grandma!”to “Let’s eat Grandma!” and you’ll have a laugh—and see how misplaced punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence. Aside from social media sharing, though, grammar and usage rules don’t generally elicit a happy response. Frequently… Read more »
Did you feel that online shockwave a few weeks back? For the first time a formal attempt was made to tame the wilds of Internet writing?or at least some semblance of a lasso was thrown out. Regardless, editors and writers everywhere are intrigued by Buzzfeed’s new style guide, which ?aims to provide a prevailing, and… Read more »
Chocolates? Check. Sentimental card? Check. Personal note slipped into the card, under your partner’s pillow, or next to the coffeemaker? Uh?wait, what? The love letter has become a thing of the past, but romantic writing is nowhere near dead. In fact, no longer limited to Hallmark cards, romantic comedies, and Harlequin novels, romantic writing and… Read more »
This article is not literally the most important article you’ll ever read. Wait, you say. Shouldn’t that be ?quite literally?? No, it shouldn’t?and this week’s Toolbox will show you why. Literally, defined Literally is one of the most misunderstood words in the English language. In fact, misuse is so common?even among highly educated individuals?that a… Read more »
Got a grammar or usage question? A quick Google search will yield helpful results. Or rather, they would be helpful?if you could understand them. And That’s the problem. It’s difficult to improve your writing when You’re unclear on the basics the Internet grammar gurus are presuming. You can hardly be expected to get excited about… Read more »
?The medium is the message,? Marshall McLuhan famously said, and there’s nowhere this is more true than in the job search market. In fact, job seekers experience the effects of the saying every time their resumes create a good impression?or are tossed on the rejection pile. When You’re putting together a resume, having good content… Read more »
Forward and backwards. Or is it backward and forwards? Sometimes these words can make you feel like You’re on a seesaw of uncertainty, and when you add correct versus colloquial usage and British and American preferences to the mix, the ride gets even dizzier. In this Writer’s Toolbox, I’ll try to clear up the confusion?so… Read more »
There’s something about writing that speaks to the essence of the human person. Or else perhaps It’s the desire to create a tangible legacy, a readable witness to our goals, dreams, and aspirations. Or maybe It’s as simple as keeping ourselves accountable. Whatever the reason, last week New Year’s revellers picked up pen and paper?or… Read more »