Comma, comma, comma, comma, comma, Chameleon. How to use commas (2). Pompeo and commas and CMOS.
3-minute read In the wake of Secretary Pompeo’s edicts about punctuation, which hit the U.S. headlines in late September this year, I blogged about the…
Pompeo and commas and CMOS. How to use commas (1).
5-minute read (Less for you speed-readers out there: well done, you!) James Thurber was once asked why there was a comma in the sentence "After…
Continue reading → Pompeo and commas and CMOS. How to use commas (1).
Twitter never fails to disappoint. Or should that be ‘never disappoints’?
While reading something online the other day I came across the phrase Twitter never fails to disappoint. The context made it clear that the meaning…
Continue reading → Twitter never fails to disappoint. Or should that be ‘never disappoints’?
Objections to ‘to be done with something.’ Uniquely American? I’m done with the topic, anyway.
(four-minute read) Here’s a language issue that’s new to me. The other day on Twitter @The_GrammarGeek asked: ‘There’s an opinion out there that it’s wrong…
“that” or “which”? Using “which” in restrictive or defining relative clauses (2/∞)
There are one or two loose ends to tie up from the previous blog on this topic, before I move on. 1.1 which or…
“that” or “which”? Using “which” in restrictive or defining relative clauses (1/∞)
Can you use which in defining (or restrictive) relative clauses? For example... "In 1957 work began, under the editorship of R. W. Burchfield, on the…
-ise or -ize? (3/3) In praise of monetize, diarize, etc.
-ize verbs are 'like lavatory fittings, useful in their proper place but not to be multiplied beyond what is necessary for practical purposes.’ Some people…
Continue reading → -ise or -ize? (3/3) In praise of monetize, diarize, etc.
