When do you use an extra apostrophe “s” following a last name ending with the letter “s”?
Chicago Manual of Style, 14th Edition, 6.24-30 says:
The general rule for the possessive of nouns covers most proper nouns, including most names ending in sibilants (but see exceptions in 6.26-27 and alternatives in 6.30). Kansas’s; Burns’s poems; Marx’s theories; [...]
Have you ever been confused about when to use a colon as opposed to, say, a dash?
When using a colon, think of “as follows.”
A colon can introduce a series of elements or amplify what came before the colon.
Note regarding “as follows”: this applies to run-in lists. If you’re creating a vertical list (maybe [...]
Is it: et al? et. al? et al.? or et. al.?
Why do people use the phrase et al.? And incidentally, what I just wrote is the right way to punctuate it. A period after the letter “l.”
Merriam Webster’s says the phrase is an abbreviation for “and others.” Same for The Chicago Manual of Style and [...]
Both “ordinance” and “ordnance” are tied in to authority, but very differently. What a difference an “i” makes!
Ordinance is an authoritative degree, a municipal regulation (a law created by a governmental authority), or something decreed by fate or a deity. Think “ceremony,” “practice,” “law,” or “prescribed usage.”
Ordnance is a military term. It means military supplies, [...]
Guest post by William Hawkins
Have you ever heard or used certain sayings, and while you automatically may know the meaning, you’re not quite sure where the saying came from, or why others use that very same saying? These sayings are called idioms. Idioms are special phrases with figurative meanings that are different than their literal [...]
Guest Post by Jill Whalen
I was speaking with a client the other day who commented on my home page, which talks about my tried-and-true SEO process. “Has your process changed much over time?” the client asked.
I stopped to think for a moment, and realized that while there have been plenty of incremental changes to my [...]
Are you one of the many bright people who speaks well but has trouble with the mechanics of writing: following those confusing rules concerning spelling, punctuating, capitalizing, etc.? Is a relative, co-worker or editor constantly whipping out a dictionary, style guide, or grammar handbook to point out mistakes in your writing, making you want to [...]
FREE REIGN OR FREE REIN? It’s “rein.” Microsoft Encarta says it’s the complete freedom to make decisions and take action without consulting anyone else. The Cambridge Dictionary of Idioms says “free rein” is synonymous with “allow” and “give.” If you give people, ideas, or emotions free rein, they are free to develop without the [...]
This is a very simplistic explanation of adjectives. There are many types, including absolute, attributive, comparative, superlative, compound, coordinate, copulative, and predicate. Then there are adjective clauses and adjective phrases, along with prepositional and participial.
Never fear! We’ll keep this article easy and painless.
ADJECTIVE: a word or phrase that describes what kind, how many, or [...]
Do you publish a newsletter, have a website, or write articles or reviews? If so, you’re already doing your best to publish well. But if you aren’t certain that you’re succeeding, here are a few ideas that might help.
WORDS CAN WEAKEN SENTENCES AND THOUGHTS
Try to keep your sentences crisp and clear. Tight. Many words and [...]
