All Recent Posts

If You Will, I Will?

Marcy Sheiner asked a question about an English expression “if you will” several weeks ago. So Marcy, this post is for you. Here’s Marcy’s comment/question/pet peeve. Marcy Sheiner says: July 14, 2010 at 12:09 pm This is a pet peeve rather than a question, but maybe you can tell me if there is ever a sane reason to use the phrase “if you will.” I’ve noticed it’s beoming most trendy, in speech more than writing, but sill. And what on earth does it mean????? I have been hearing – and reading – this phrase used for as long as I can remember and didn’t really think much about it. Since Marcy brought... [Read More...]

Justifying a Comma Splice

In the last post, I talked about a major error in writing – a comma splice. As I mentioned in that post, there are some cases wherein using a comma splice just might be acceptable. In fact, this is in an ongoing debate. So when is a comma splice acceptable? According to Strunk & White, one can use a comma splice “when the clauses are very short and alike in form.” The most commonly cited example for this case is the popular line: I came, I saw, I conquered. Diana Hacker of A Writer’s Reference also gives some examples: Man proposes, God disposes. The gates swung open, the bridge fell, the portcullis was drawn up. Furthermore,... [Read More...]

What Is a Comma Splice?

There are certain words in the English language that I love to hear and say. “Splice” is one of those words. I don’t know why, but it just sounds so good to my ears. This post, however, is not going to be about words that you like to hear. It is going to be about this thing called comma splice. What is it anyway, and why are some people so gung ho on avoiding it? Consider this: I woke up at 3 in the afternoon, I was not able to go to church. The two clauses – one before the comma and the other after – can stand alone as sentences. That’s basically what a comma splice is: when you combine two independent clauses using a comma. Why... [Read More...]

Noemi Twigg: Your New Grammar Accomplice

Hi Freelance Writing Jobs readers!  This month has brought about a lot of changes in this community, and I would like to take this chance to share a little bit about myself before diving into the finer points of grammar. I know that you all have been following Dawn’s posts, and that her departure from the site has brought about a range of emotions.  It is with hope and optimism that I begin this journey with all of you. I’ve always thought that I had a proclivity for being nitpicky when it comes to grammar, but it wasn’t till I took on a job teaching English as a Second Language that I realized that I had so much to learn.... [Read More...]

Saying Goodbye is “Never” Easy

So I lie. Sometimes, it’s very easy to say good-bye, like when you have to break it off with a client where the relationship just wasn’t working or the material was driving you batty. As many times as I’ve fallen victim to “Muphry’s Law” here (the one that states that whenever you write about grammar, you will make a grammatical error) this blog has been a ton of fun! So, in this case, it is, indeed, hard to say goodbye. I feel like I should be exploring why goodbye doesn’t need a hyphen, but I’ll let that sit for now. Like Deb, I don’t want to get overly emotional and I’m afraid of making... [Read More...]

A Large Percentage of People Use % In Writing

I’d like to take a few paragraphs to vent, if you don’t mind. If you read this column regularly, you know I typically follow AP style — and so do most of my clients. In AP Style, when you’re writing statistics or percentages, you should use numerals followed by the word percent. Even if the number is less than ten (2 percent) you should use the numeral and the word percent. When do you use the percent sign (%)? Never. This rule is, incidentally, the same in the Chicago Manual of Style. However, many bloggers (and even some print publication editors) have decided that it’s easier on readers’ eyes to use the... [Read More...]

The Right Words to Use

Hi, Dawn! Hope all goes well. I have two words that really bother me, and are changed [in my publication] whenever possible: “utilize” vs. “use:” Why not use the shorter term almost all the time; is there really a difference between them? Your thoughts? Best, David Thanks for writing in, David. The word choice of “utilize” instead of the simpler “use” has been a pet peeve of mine for a while. Years ago I worked for an editorial director who ranted for 20 minutes when one of the writers chose the word “utilize.” She tore up press releases that claimed a company’s newest product “utilized” cutting-edge technology.... [Read More...]

Living and Writing, Virtually

The marketing copy on the side of my hair gel this morning prompted this column. The container of gel promised to leave my hair “virtually frizz-free.” If you’ve seen pictures of me on my website or on Facebook, you know I have, well, frizz issues. Maybe it’s asking too much, but can’t my hair be truly “frizz-free?” Why only virtually? Is frizz-less-ness and impossible condition to consider? What does this mean, anyway? Our friend Dictionary.com tells us “virtually” means: for the most part; almost wholly; just about. I get it. There may be remnants of frizz left in my hair, and the gel manufacturer wants to cover... [Read More...]

Rescue Those Floating Quotation Marks this “Summer”

Memorial Day marked the unofficial start of summer. (The summer solstice begins June 21 this year.) Beach season is upon us. Coconut-scented sunscreen, captivating chick-lit books, Coronas, bikinis, and — for the parents who are reading this — swim diapers and those cute little floaties we use to keep our toddlers save when they swim and splash. Floats are good. Root beer floats. Floating in a life raft (with the aforementioned Corona tucked safely in its little mesh cup holder), floating boats, floating … well, floats. But if there’s one type of floating you want to avoid this summer (eww… what are you thinking?)... [Read More...]

Three Steps to Foolproof Proofreading & Editing

I was doing research for some parenting articles yesterday, and linked back to one of my earlier blog posts about baby crib mattresses. (Captivating topic, no?) I began skimming the article for a good sentence to use as a link and for some additional information. (Do you think I actually remember anything I write?) To my embarrassment, I discovered this sentence:  “The firmer and better quality foam mattresses way more than cheaper ones, but they are still not as heavy as most inner spring mattress[es].” Yikes! Two typos in that one — neither picked up by spellcheck. I’ve put one in brackets, but I’ll let you spot the other... [Read More...]