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The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

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Advice vs. Advise

Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2009, at 10:07 am

The word advice is a noun. It means recommendation. Example: My sister gave me great advice about applying to colleges. The word advise is a verb. It means "to give advice," "to inform," "to recommend." Example: Can you advise me about colleges that offer bioengineering degrees?   Pop Quiz The principal gave the graduating seniors …

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The Apostrophe with Letters, Numbers, and Abbreviations

Posted on Monday, November 9, 2009, at 10:28 am

Questions can often arise about how to make the plural and plural possessive forms of numbers, letters, and abbreviations. The following guidelines will help you apply a consistent style for everyday use. Plural of Letters Rule: The plurals for letters are typically not formed with apostrophes. However, do use an apostrophe and an s for …

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Apostrophes with Names Ending in y

Posted on Thursday, October 22, 2009, at 10:01 am

Question: How do you form the plural of a proper noun that ends in y like Murphy? Should you change the name to Murphies as in I visited the Murphies yesterday? Answer: No. Never change the spelling of a name to show the plural form. Example: I visited the Murphys yesterday. Question: How do you …

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Using Semicolons

Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009, at 9:56 am

Do you get confused about the proper way to use a semicolon? Semicolons do not represent a full stop at the end of a sentence, as periods do; rather, they're like the "yellow light" of punctuation marks: they signal a pause between one sentence and the next. You slow down, then stop at the end …

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Clearing Up Confusing Words

Posted on Friday, September 11, 2009, at 9:52 am

Many words in English cause confusion because they sound or look alike. Here are a few rules to help you with some common but tricky words. Rule 1: The word accept means "to agree," "to receive." The word except means "but," "not including." Examples: I accept your apology. I'll eat anything except cottage cheese. Rule …

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Commas with Nonessential Elements

Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009, at 9:45 am

Today, we'll examine two more uses for the comma. Rule 1: If something or someone is sufficiently identified, the description following it is considered nonessential and should be surrounded by commas. Examples: Freddy, who has a limp, was in an automobile accident. (Freddy is named, so the description of him that immediately follows is not …

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Apostrophes with Names Ending in s, ch, or z

Posted on Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at 9:17 am

Are you confused about how to show the plural and the possessive of certain names? Maybe you know to write I met the Smiths, I drove Brenda Smith’s Ferrari, and I visited the Smiths’ house. But what if the name is Sanchez or Church or Williams? Rule: To show the plural of a name that …

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Into vs. In to: Should I Use In to or Into?

Posted on Saturday, July 18, 2009, at 10:02 pm

Whether to use the preposition into or the phrase in to can be a source of confusion. We'll take a closer look at both to help clarify which is correct in its context. Into Into Meaning: to the inside of Usage Example: The children jumped into the lake for a swim. Into Meaning: toward or in the …

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None Were vs. None Was

Posted on Sunday, June 14, 2009, at 2:15 pm

Rule: With words that indicate portions—some, all, none, percent, fraction, part, majority, remainder, and so forth —look at the noun in your of phrase (object of the preposition) to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If the object of the …

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I vs. Me (Review)

Posted on Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at 9:30 am

We get more questions about pronoun usage, particularly I vs. me, than any other topic. So, here is a review that should help you feel more secure about your choices. For more on the topic, click here. Should we say, "She and I went to the store"? Or is it correct to say, "She and …

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