Grammar Slammer

Punctuation, usage, spelling … the Grammar Slammer is keeping an eye on the way we use (and misuse!) the written word.

Why do people say it this way?

June 18, 2017
Here are common phrases you’ll hear that border on nonsensical.

The wacky world of plurals

May 18, 2017
There are no hard-and-fast rules for forming plurals, but most are obvious and many you already know.

Make the colon your punctuation ally

April 6, 2017
Colons are most often used when introducing a list, and their primary function is to tell the reader that more information is on its way.

Can you fix these sentences?

March 22, 2017
Correct the grammar in these 6 sentences.

Aha, so that’s what it’s called

January 25, 2017
Many writers reach into their literary device toolbox to spice up their sentences. Here are some of those common devices.

Correctly use Until, Till and ‘Til

December 1, 2016
If you have trouble distinguishing the differences between “until,” “till” and “ ’til,” these tips from Marko Ticak at Grammarly can help get you on the right track.

Handling hyphens

November 23, 2016
Take this quiz to check your hyphen skills.

Write in the parallel universe

October 26, 2016
Parallelism is an important principle of sentence construction, especially in lists and series and when ideas are presented in pairs.

Colons and semicolons

September 28, 2016
Colons and semicolons are two of the most neglected and least understood forms of punctuation in the English language.

Fix those common grammar errors

September 15, 2016
Four common grammar mistakes to avoid: If/would have … Hyphenating descriptors … Any one/anyone … Unnecessary prepositions