More accurately, you can watch two writers think: My husband and me. I always type the gardening columns he writes for our newspaper. Yesterday he dictated this sentence: Eggfruit trees flower spring and summer and bear fruit in autumn and winter. Yes, there really is a plant called eggfruit! But our concern is with the [...]

Source: arcamax.com via Jean on Pinterest   Most people would probably write “The quick brown fox….” I know that’s exactly what I wrote – or typed, rather – in my high school typing class. The comma between quick and brown in the first panel is an elegant touch and a sign that the cartoonist really [...]

Source: arcamax.com via Jean on Pinterest   Is it who or that? Look at the first panel. It should read, “This is one of the engineers who work at the start-up we purchased.” Use “who,” not “that,” for people. (Engineers are people!) And because several engineers came from the start-up, the verb should be “work.” [...]

Happy National Grammar Day! (And please don’t go overboard celebrating!) In honor of the day, here’s a short quiz for you to try. Scroll down for the answers. Instructions: Mark each sentence with a √ (for correct) or an X (for incorrect). Part I 1.  Whom did Sarah say was going to give the keynote address? [...]

Source: arcamax.com via Jean on Pinterest   Please, please: Don’t put a comma after “although.” Ever. And remember that any “although” idea needs to be attached to a sentence. Taylor should have said, “However, in some people it’s a secret ingredient.” Or she could have attached her “although” idea to a complete sentence: “Mom is [...]

Source: arcamax.com via Jean on Pinterest   In the fifth panel, Earl tells Opal that she’s “supposed to call Ed.” Many writers forget to include that “d” in “supposed to.” It’s an easy mistake because you can’t hear the “d.” But please include it! Readers who respect good writing will be looking for it as [...]

Source: arcamax.com via Jean on Pinterest   My pet usage peeve! When you look at the second panel, you’ll notice two problems. First, anything starting with although is an extra idea. It needs to be attached to a real sentence (sort of like a garage attached to a house). For example, Trixie could have said [...]

   Is this sentence correct? Neither Cheerios nor toast appeals to me this morning. Scroll to the bottom of today’s post for the answer.  

Source: arcamax.com via Jean on Pinterest   Look at the second panel. The ant should have said, “The fate of the universe may depend on YOUR getting me….” This construction is called a possessive with a gerund. (Your is the possessive, and getting is the gerund  - a noun with an -ing ending.) It’s an [...]

An Associated Press article in today’s newspaper discusses a change in Diet Pepsi. Here’s the headline I saw this morning: “Diet Pepsi Quietly Changes Sweetener Ahead of Rebranding.” What’s the most important word in that headline? Change. Anyone reading the article will certainly want to know what sweetener is being used now. If you read the [...]