Guidelines for using parentheses

August 8, 2016
Parentheses are one form of punctuation that can cause some confusion. Some people have trouble determining when to use them, while others may apply them without really knowing if parentheses are the most appropriate punctuation.
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Finding the right word

May 16, 2016
Can you choose the correct word in each sentence?
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Extrovert or extravert?

April 18, 2016
Are you an introvert? Or are you an extrovert? Or is it extravert?
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Capitalize those brand names

December 31, 2015
Here is a list of products you should capitalize in your writing because they are actually brand names.
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Song titles gone bad

December 1, 2015
We just can’t let them off the Eng­­lish language hook. You know, those poets and song lyricists who either just don’t get it or don’t really care. Or perhaps proper grammar destroys the beat and coolness of the titles. Anyway, here are some of your favorite songs that sport some cringe-worthy grammatical errors in their titles.
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4 rules for better writing

November 1, 2015

Much of our workday is spent in communication with others. Make sure your writing doesn’t distract readers and cancel out your efforts to communicate clearly. Here are four rules to help improve your writing:

 

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That or Which?

October 14, 2015
Many people use “that” and “which” interchangeably, but the words have different grammatical meanings. Here’s the basic rule of thumb: You use “that” for clauses that are im­­per­­a­­tive to the sentences, whereas “which” is for phrases and clauses that aren’t essential and usually just serve descriptive purposes.
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Redundant redundancies

September 1, 2015
Here are some common redundancies that you should exterminate completely (redundancy intended) from your writing and speech.
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Lie/Lay/Lying/Laying

September 1, 2015
Lie is an intransitive verb (one that does not take an object), meaning “to recline.” Its principal parts are lie, lay (past tense), lain (past participle) and lying (present participle) …
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How many of these tricky sentences would trip you up?

July 1, 2015
Take this 10-question quiz to see if you’re a grammar ace.
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