It wasn't until I had a conversation with my friend the copy editor that I finally understood the difference between farther and further. That's because I knew both were about distance, I just thought the right one was whichever sounded better in the sentence. Turns out there is a difference. Farther is for physical distance. … Continue reading Farther vs. Further
Unnecessary Quotation Marks
Maybe if everyone understands what quotation marks are really for, they will stop using them inappropriately. The point of quotation marks is to "set off and represent exact language (either spoken or written) that has come from somebody else. The quotation mark is also used to designate speech acts in fiction and sometimes poetry," according … Continue reading Unnecessary Quotation Marks
All Together vs. Altogether: A Grammar Lesson
Before we can discuss the specifics, it is important to realize that this confusion is part of a bigger issue. In English, there are several words that combine all and a root word to create alroot. Follow so far? All Together is an adverb that means at the same time or as a group. For … Continue reading All Together vs. Altogether: A Grammar Lesson
Than vs. Then: A Grammar Lesson
Full disclosure, in high school, I once wrote an entire paper without than. I had convinced myself it wasn't a word. Part of that was writing the paper a little too late in the evening and part of it was general confusion. The day after I turned the paper in, my teacher stopped … Continue reading Than vs. Then: A Grammar Lesson
Stop Using Ellipses
Many very smart people have commented on the abuse of ellipses. See for example, this great post on PR Breakfast Club, Your Copy Sucks: In Offense of Ellipses by TJ Dietderich. After my post from yesterday on single spaces, I thought it was time I addressed this topic as well. Especially since I have recently … Continue reading Stop Using Ellipses