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How To Write Shop

Articles on the craft and business of writing

Grammar

Grammar and Life-saving Comma Rules

February 25, 2013 by Rachel Berens-VanHeest 3 Comments
comma rules name

Comma rules save your life? Okay, maybe not literally… unless you’re an authoritarian leader whose minions take every word you write that way… So it could happen. There’s a popular meme that shows just how comma rules may save (or cost) lives. Let’s eat Grandma. Let’s eat, Grandma. As the caption says “Punctuation saves lives.” In … [Read more…]

Posted in: Grammar, Writing Craft Tagged: commas, grammar, punctuation

One Space After a Period or Two? Typewriter Throwbacks

January 28, 2013 by Rachel Berens-VanHeest 1 Comment
one space after a period or two

One space after a period or two? You see this question a lot in writer circles and social media. My answer is simple. A computer is not a typewriter… Think back to when you learned to type. Were you taught on a typewriter or a computer? If you answered “typewriter,” you might want to sit down before … [Read more…]

Posted in: Grammar, Writing Craft Tagged: one or two spaces at end of sentence, typing

Grammar and the Dangling Participle

November 26, 2012 by Rachel Berens-VanHeest 6 Comments
dangling participles

What is a dangling participle anyway? You probably use participle phrases every day, but are you using them correctly, or are you leaving them dangling? Let’s see. Pop quiz: What’s wrong with the following sentences? – After picking up all the toys, the toy chest was overflowing. – Watching through the window, the car pulled … [Read more…]

Posted in: Grammar, Writing Craft Tagged: dangling participle, grammar, grammar tips

Short and Sweet: Grammar Cake Pops – All ready vs Already

October 22, 2012 by Rachel Berens-VanHeest 3 Comments
grammar

For the next few columns, I’m keeping things short and sweet by looking at very specific grammar issues. By keeping the focus on one issue at a time, it should be easier to remember. Think of them as bite-sized grammar treats! The cake pop of the grammar world! This time it’s all ready vs already. … [Read more…]

Posted in: Grammar, Writing Craft Tagged: grammar, grammar tips

Grammar: Affect vs Effect

September 24, 2012 by Rachel Berens-VanHeest 5 Comments
grammar

Affect vs effect. Many people use these words interchangeably, rather than correctly. So what do they mean? By definition, you “affect,” or act on something, and something that you do causes an “effect.” In other words, “affect” is a verb, and “effect” is a noun. Or think of it this way: “affect” is something you … [Read more…]

Posted in: Grammar, Writing Craft Tagged: affect vs. effect, amwriting, grammar tips, writetips
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