grammar, etc.
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May or might: A helpful guide
If you have ever wondered about when it’s right to say “may” and when to use “might”, you may find this article interesting. Then again, you might not. Either way, let’s investigate. Both “may” and…
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Commas around names: Necessary or not?
Despite their demure demeanour, commas can be perplexing. They pop up where they’re not needed, and their absence can cause confusion and misreading. One source of uncertainty about commas is their use around names. Sometimes…
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That or which? It’s all relative
(and sometimes definitive)Among the words that befuddle writers are “that”, “which” and “who”. Although they may seem like simple enough terms, each serves a variety of grammatical functions, depending on its role and position in any given…
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A word about adverbs
I use them often, as you may have noticed. Adverbs. They’re those nifty little words that, depending on your perspective, either give precision to your prose or needlessly clutter up the page. Some writers rail…
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A tale of your or you’re
Once upon a time there was a word and the word was “your”. Or maybe it was “you’re”. And each of these words had the same sound but neither carried the same meaning, and thus…
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Christmas fears appear ambiguous
There is no denying that Christmas is a difficult time for many people. The reasons for this vary, but they are often quietly personal. An article I read a little while back highlighted this issue…
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Why comma splices aren’t so nice
I know what it’s like. You’re full of ideas that you’re eager to share. You want to say everything all at once, give your reader every detail, say all of the things, all in one…
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The politician, the preposition and the donation of blood
Here, friends, is the latest in our explorations of interestingly misphrased sentences. “Residents are being encouraged to roll up their sleeves and donate blood by a local politician.” Admittedly, there is little that is ambiguous…
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Simple comma makes an outstanding contribution
Sometimes a simple comma can make all the difference. This is what they do most of the time, of course. It’s sort of their job. When laid in the right place, these modest pieces of…
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That or who? Which is correct and which is best?
It may be a shiny new year but you’ll be pleased (won’t you?) to know my instinct to pick at grammatical inaccuracies, linguistic inconsistencies and inelegant expression is as keen and ready as ever. Here’s…
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Talented head chef in need of editorial assistance
Here’s a perplexing sentence which recently caught my eye. It appeared on the front page of a local newspaper that shall remain nameless. “As the current head chef of Melbourne’s fine dining, the European Restaurant,…
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Are you excited? (It’s a question of prepositions)
There is a curious linguistic trend I’ve observed. It concerns the preposition linked with the word “excited”. Before we get too enthused, let me remind you that a preposition is a word which indicates a…