Grammar Repair Shop
At one point during his webinar on proofreading and editing, Fred asked attendees to quickly read nine sentences to see if they could pin down what was wrong with them. Surely you can spot all the errors, right? Let’s find out.
Using incorrect terms or made-up words can make your speech and writing sound ridiculous and unprofessional. Grammarly’s Allison VanNest reviews several common errors to avoid in your communications.
Can you switch between first (I or we) and third person (he, she or they) in the same paragraph? Writing coach Lynn Gaertner-Johnston says you can, as long as you allow clarity to be your guide.
Getting your words right makes a good impression, but part of knowing the rules means knowing when it’s OK to break them. Linguist Steven Pinker, writing in The Guardian, offers eight grammar rules that you can bend once in a while.
Weird Al Yankovic made grammar funny with his “Word Crimes” parody of Robin Thicke’s hit song “Blurred Lines” and its accompanying video this summer. Weird Al brought up some good grammar points that are important for everyone to remember, says News to Live By Managing Editor Danny Rubin.
Many writers develop their own quirks and styles over time, and it’s possible to identify their writing just by the words and phrases they use. One common style quirk is using prepositions too much, especially the word “of,” says Grammar Girl blogger Mignon Fogarty. “Overusing it can make your writing sound passive and fussy.”
Many misused words and phrases have become so common they’re now included in some dictionaries, but they once had correct usages. Here’s a list of phrases you might be saying wrong.
Bloggers and English language experts Patricia O’Conner and Stewart Kellerman checked with eight standard dictionaries and found no restriction on the usage of “diversity” beyond race or gender.
You have only one chance to make a great first impression, especially when that first impression is probably an email or a document. Here are the top three online subscription-based grammar services, according to the 2014 Best Online Grammar Checker Reviews and Comparisons.
Quotation marks are an important part of your writing, but are you using them correctly with other punctuation? There are some potentially confusing rules, but you need to get them right to make sure people understand what you’re saying.
Twitter is a powerful tool for developing your personal brand, but only if you use it to establish a positive reputation. That means you need to watch what you write and how you write it. How to tweet to impress:
To help you and your colleagues stay consistent in your written communications, Bonnie Trenga Mills, author of The Curious Case of the Misplaced Modifier, shares tips on how to make a style sheet for everyone’s reference.
If your writing isn’t up to snuff, you risk miscommunicating information and looking less competent and professional than you really are. AppoLearning found four applications to help you polish your writing skills and get your point across every time:
