Grammar Slammer

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

Common errors in writing

June 17, 2016

Correct the error in each sentence.

Finding the right word

May 16, 2016

Can you choose the correct word in each sentence?

Extrovert or extravert?

April 18, 2016

Are you an introvert? Or are you an extrovert? Or is it extravert?

Matching subjects and verbs

March 1, 2016

Do you know how to properly construct a setence? Might not be as easy as it sounds.

Whether you ventured to Times Square on New Year’s Eve, or stayed home to watch the rockin’ 2016 event on your big screen, you may have noticed the sea of top hats with the slogan “Judgement Free New Year’s Eve.”

Capitalize those brand names

December 31, 2015

Here is a list of products you should capitalize in your writing because they are actually brand names.

Song titles gone bad

December 1, 2015

We just can’t let them off the English language hook. You know, those poets and song lyricists who either just don’t get it or don’t really care. Or perhaps proper grammar destroys the beat and coolness of the titles. Anyway, here are some of your favorite songs that sport some cringe-worthy grammatical errors in their titles.

4 rules for better writing

November 1, 2015

Much of our workday is spent in communication with others. Make sure your writing doesn’t distract readers and cancel out your efforts to communicate clearly. Here are four rules to help improve your writing:

That or Which?

October 14, 2015

Many people use “that” and “which” interchangeably, but the words have different grammatical meanings. Here’s the basic rule of thumb: You use “that” for clauses that are imperative to the sentences, whereas “which” is for phrases and clauses that aren’t essential and usually just serve descriptive purposes.

Redundant redundancies

September 1, 2015

Here are some common redundancies that you should exterminate completely (redundancy intended) from your writing and speech.