March 2012
11 posts
4 tags
What's the Deal With Who's?
April from Ohio posted a question on Facebook regarding the proper use of the word who’s. She knows it’s a contraction for who is, but she wondered if it also works for who has.
Yep.
Who’s is a contraction for who is and who has. Same logic applies to he’s - she’s - it’s - what’s.
Examples:
Who’s been leaving toys all over the house? She’s...
2 tags
Just Edits Makes Facebook Debut
Just Edits is now on Facebook—effective, like, nine hours ago—and, already, more than 40 people have hit their “Like” buttons. You can, too—you know, if you’re interested in keeping up with some edit-inspired social commentary.
If you are so inclined to join the Just Edit Facebook community:
Navigate to http://www.facebook.com/JustEdits.
Click the “Like”...
2 tags
Farther vs. Further
I can run farther than you.
Well, probably not, actually—I just wanted to illustrate the use of farther in a sentence.
Farther refers to physical distance.
Further refers to a lengthening of time or degree, like:
I will try to further my running efforts. I will look further into the cause of the conflict.
I can run pretty far, by the way. I mean, I conquered 13.1 miles—once.
3 tags
Sincerely, Grammar
Seen on social media sites all around and available for purchase for $4.50 over at Etsy’s Sapling Press.
7 tags
Numbers and Ages
When writing and referring to numbers, be sure to spell out numbers one through nine.
See how I just spelled out one and nine?
So, spell out numbers less than 10, but use figures for numbers 10 and higher. You know, like three and five, but 12, 25, and 101.
But not for ages, say both AP and APA Styles:
Always use figures for ages.
The boy is 11 years old. The neighborhood is 7 years old. ...
6 tags
Punctuation and Composition Titles
I told you I’d be back with some scoop on punctuation and composition titles. And here I am with the lowdown on what proves to be some hard-to-remember style rules. (Well, hard for me to remember, anyway.)
If you’re using AP Style (AP = Associated Press), which pretty much governs fundamental journalistic principles, put the following in quotation marks:
Book titles Computer game...
7 tags
Punctuation and Quotation Marks
AP Style and APA Style agree when it comes to punctuation and quotation marks:
The period and comma always go inside closing quotation marks (even single marks).
Correct: I said, “The period and comma always go inside closing quotation marks.” Incorrect: I said, “The period and comma always go inside closing quotation marks”.
Question marks and exclamation points go...
6 tags
That vs. Who(m)
I get it—song titles and lyrics are not always grammatically perfect. You gotta go with what sounds all catchy and such, but I can’t help but critique my new favorite song, “Somebody That I Used To Know,” by Gotye (feat. Kimbra).
I want it to be “Somebody Whom I Used To Know,” because who/whom is the combo used for people, and that is used for things, and my singer...
1 tag
Serial Comma
The serial comma—the one used after the last item in a series of items and also known as the Oxford or Harvard comma—is what I prefer. When I write my own copy, I use it, and when I edit according to APA Style, I use it (because that’s the convention). But AP Style—nope, no serial comma (unless the series of items is complex, in which case, use of the serial comma is approved to avoid...
2 tags
Irregardless
Irregardless.
Not a word.
Regardless.
That’s the word you want.
2 tags
It's vs. Its
My third-grader said it best: If you want to say it is in a sentence, then it needs an apostrophe. If you don’t want to say it is in a sentence, then it does not need an apostrophe.
Correct: It’s a beautiful sight, little-boy feet in Converse high-tops.
Incorrect: Its a beautiful sight, little-boy feet in Converse high-tops.
