Why do we say Travis’s album but Socrates’ ideals? The different rules for apostrophes after S can be tough, but I’ll make them simple for you. Keep reading to learn when to use an apostrophe plus S (‘s) or an apostrophe (‘) for words ending in S. I also provided …
Abbreviations are shortened forms of words that follow different guidelines based on your audience and style guide. This post details the specific rules for abbreviation punctuation. Learn how to abbreviate names, titles, addresses, and measurements. How to Punctuate Abbreviations Here are the different rules for punctuating abbreviations. Names and Common …
You’ve probably asked yourself while writing an essay: Should I italicize a play title or enclose it in quotation marks? What about a song title? Don’t feel guilty for not knowing the rules for quotation marks or italics in titles. Even the most experienced writers have the same problem. I’ll …
A semicolon indicates two closely related statements, but which words can you use after a semicolon? Can you use the conjunctions “and” or “but”? This breakdown will show you everything you should know about correct semicolon placement with examples. Learn the conjunctions, adverbs, and transitional phrases you can and cannot …
Many English writers get confused about the English guidelines on quoting within a quote. Where should you place the single quotes? When do we use the double quotes? Let’s discuss the basic rules on how to quote a quote. I also shared some sentence examples that will help you understand …
We need quotation marks to quote other people, imply double meanings, and show titles. But is the beginning of a quote capitalized In this guide, I’ll help you enhance your understanding of capitalization in quotes. Keep reading to learn how to use quotation marks in mid-sentences and how to change …
Three punctuation marks with similar functions include the colon, semicolon, and em dash. We use these symbols to separate a part of a sentence to communicate a clearer message. This article shows the difference between a colon vs. semicolon vs. dash in terms of usage. We’ll also study some examples …
As a kid, your parents and teachers have taught you to say “thank you” to show politeness. Now that you’re an adult, you might wonder how to write it correctly. Do you have to use a comma after “thank you”? Read on to learn when to put a comma when …
Introductory phrases add color to the rest of your sentence for additional context. Some types of introductory phrases include prepositional and participial phrases. But what are introductory phrases? How do they differ from introductory clauses? Should we put a comma after an introductory phrase? Learn these tips for using commas …
Many English writers get confused about showing the possessive form of Chris, Alexis, Travis, and other names ending in S. I’ll show you how to deal with apostrophes with names ending in S. Learn how to create the possessive form of proper nouns ending in S, from biblical names to …