There are many rules associated with comma use, and where you place them in a sentence can change the tone or meaning of your material. Improper placement can also create confusion and a misreading of your words. When you use the term “such as” in your writing, you indicate an …
One of the most significant issues I face with teaching proper grammar is comma usage. Either my students use a comma too much or don’t use it at all. It can be challenging to convince them that it is a useful tool to help clarify their writing. Luckily, once they …
“Or” is a versatile word that provides an audience with a choice between multiple ideas, actions, or items. It can be used before an independent clause or introduce a subordinate clause. It also can be used to list items. When using “or” in a sentence, you may have seen it …
When naming off items in a list, many people choose to include the abbreviation, etc., to help avoid creating long, rambling sentences. It quickly allows the reader to understand that other items in the list are related to one another and are not important to the overall understanding of the …
Can you put parentheses inside parentheses? Maybe you can, but many grammarians will loathe you for it. Instead, you should use square brackets. Keep reading as I show you how to insert square brackets within another set of parentheses. Learn what the APA and MLA say about enclosing another part …
We all use “please” to add a degree of politeness to our speech, but do you know how to punctuate it? Some people use it with a comma, and some do not, but which way is correct? Actually, both depend on how you use it and what emphasis you want …
When I teach students how to quote blend, they often need help making a quote work with their writing. Integrating a quote into a sentence in a way that flows can be challenging, but did you know that you can change the tense and add words to make this easier? …
Nobody likes to read bland or boring sentences, but luckily there are multiple ways to add details to your material for reader enjoyment. One of the most popular techniques is the inclusion of parenthetical elements, additional information that allows you to share details with your reader without breaking the flow …
Oh, commas. The bane of every writer’s existence. The comma is a small but mighty punctuation mark that can make a big impact on your writing. So, does the comma go before or after “so?” Don’t let my previous sentence fool you. “So” bends some of the grammar rules you …
When I talk about contractions in class, I’m often met with blank stares. But what my students don’t realize is that they use them all the time! Popular in informal speech and writing, contractions are part of our everyday speech; we just don’t name them as such. Contractions are simply …