Grammar Repair Shop

Inter vs. intra

December 14, 2011
An admin reader recently wrote, “My goodness, will you please do a piece that tells people the difference between ‘intra’ and ‘inter’? While you’re at it, ‘effect’ vs. ‘affect’ wouldn’t hurt, either.”
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Grammar school rules

November 25, 2011

Which unforgettable writing lesson did you learn in school? Are there any you still use today? See if any of these ring a bell:

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What’s wrong with this sentence?

October 21, 2011

Correct any punctuation errors in the following sentences. Caution: Some sentences may ­already be correct, so don’t be fooled.

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Grammar Repair Shop: Use one word? Or two?

September 27, 2011
Is it one word or two? Take this quiz to test your knowledge of common spelling snafus:
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‘What’ did you put in quotes?

July 22, 2011
The grammar police are applying full force to the rampant misuse of quotation marks. At least one web site and The Book of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks are documenting the sometimes hilarious application of quotations in inap­propriate places. Examples of publicly posted signs:
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LOL! Text-speak now in the dictionary

May 11, 2011
OMG! The Oxford English Dic­tionary officially approves of the three-letter “word.” Among the entries in its latest edition are a number of expressions that first became popular online but then crossed over into everyday use.
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5 grammar myths

April 15, 2011
Grammar Girl has debunked these grammar rules, saying, “Almost everyone believes at least one of these myths”:
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Avoiding the slash

March 16, 2011

The slash or “/” is usually deployed when you need a quick and dirty way of saying “and” or “or.” Examples: “writer/director” and “and/or.” But, one reader asks, how do you make such phrases possessive?

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Making it plural

February 9, 2011

Writers sometimes stumble over how to make words plural. Here are two tricky situations: 1. Family and brand names. 2. Decades and other numbers.

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Is it first? Or is it 1st?

January 18, 2011

Which of these is correct? 1. Please book my reservation for Saturday, June 1st. 2. Please book my reservation for Saturday, June first. 3. Please book my reservation for Saturday, June 1.

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