If you are, then you might like these two resources.
The first is a set of stickers ready for you to add to signs, menus, etc. (available for purchase from here:
http://dylanmeconis.myshopify.com/products/grammar-nerd-corrective-label-pack):
The second is a useful comic-style ‘poster’ on ‘How to use an apostrophe’, from http://apostrophe.me/.
(origin unknown)
Every name is called a NOUN, as ‘field’ and ‘fountain’, ’street’ and ‘town’
In place of a noun the PRONOUN stands, as ‘he’ and ’she’ clap ‘their’ hands
The ADJECTIVE describes a thing, as ‘magic’ wand or ‘bridal’ ring
The VERB means action, something done, to ‘read’ and ‘write’, to ‘jump’ and ‘run’
How things are done the ADVERBS tell, as ‘quickly’, ’slowly’, ‘badly’ or ‘well’
The PREPOSITION shows relation, as ‘in’ the street or ‘at’ the station
CONJUNCTIONS join in many ways, sentences, words ‘or’ phrase ‘and’ phrase
The INTERJECTION cries out ‘Hark! I need an exclamation mark!’.
Then take this multiple choice questionnaire from The Economist (British). It’s only 12 questions and should take less than 5 minutes. I got 8 out of 12… ‘Needs work’.
[Link last checked April 2009]
I have a pretty good readership for this blog — those who comment are invariably polite. But some blogs, forums, YouTube comments etc. are far from polite. A couple of people (at least) have ‘written’ some etiquette ‘rules’ for commenting on blog posts:
[Links last checked April 2009]
There are days for everything — including grammar! National Grammar Day is held on March 4 each year.
Details: http://nationalgrammarday.com/
You might find this article by Bruce Byfield—”Tech Writers, Grammar, and the Prescriptive Attitude”— interesting: http://www.techwr-l.com/node/688.
It also contains a potted history of the changes to grammar and language over the past few centuries.
The New York Times has a ‘Times Topic’ on grammar and English language usage.
You get articles by well-respected writers and commentators on the English language, as well as a ‘Grammar Navigator’ section that lists blogs, articles, and other resources you may not have heard of — ‘A list of resources from around the Web about grammar and language as selected by researchers and editors of The New York Times.’
You can access The New York Times’ grammar and usage page here:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/e/english_language/grammar/index.html
The delightful Sarah P (a graphics designer I’ve worked with), sent me this little piece on the importance of punctuation and capitalization. There’s a world of difference in meaning between these two sentences—and that meaning comes from punctuation and capitalization:
I think Lynne Truss (of Eats, Shoots and Leaves fame) would like this one! ;-)
On an Australian editors’ email discussion list, Chris asked:
An autobiography I am editing contains correspondence from which several paragraphs have (intentionally) been omitted. Any advice on the best way to indicate that these paragraphs have been omitted?
I would have thought ellipses were appropriate, but they look rather odd and lonely in-between paragraphs. If ellipses are appropriate, where should they be placed?
My response:
Details on using ellipses are on p110 of the 6th edition of the Australian Style Manual for authors editors and printers.
In essence, yes you can use them to show omissions. The format is [text] [space] … [space] [text].
Here’s one way to keep the pedantic editing types like me happy… (seen on a report I received):
“If you find any errors in this report, they’re there for a purpose. Some people actually like looking for them and we strive to please as many people as possible. If you find any typos or grammatical errors, please send the details to me. I will reward you with a small gift – unless you find so many that I feel you deserve a large gift!”
[This article was first published in the June 2005 CyberText Newsletter.]
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