Grammar Slammer

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

[sic] ’em! Or maybe not

August 13, 2017
What do you do when you come across a piece of text you need to reprint—such as a written statement or a direct quote—that contains an error?

Avoid these common grammar errors

July 5, 2017
Tips on four different kinds of grammar errors.

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.