Today we’re going to continue talking about how we use commas when writing in English. In particular, we’ll go over how to use commas when we’re addressing someone directly in a sentence. To get the ball rolling, let’s think about
How to use commas: Separating two or more adjectives that independently modify a noun
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about how we use commas in writing. In our last two posts, for example, we talked about how we use commas to separate nonessential information from the main part of a sentence.
How to use commas: Using “that” vs. “which”
Last week we talked about using commas to separate the main part of a sentence from nonessential information, information that we can remove from a sentence without altering the meaning of the sentence. Today we’re going to talk about one
How to use commas: separating nonessential information from the main part of a sentence
Commas are one of the most commonly used punctuation marks. Despite how often we use them, though, it’s not always easy to understand when we should include a comma somewhere in a sentence and when we should leave it out.
A case for the Oxford comma
One of the most heated debates that you can get into about the English language is whether or not people should use the Oxford comma when they write. The Oxford comma (also known as the serial comma) is the comma
How to use square brackets: Part 3
Over the past few weeks, we’ve showed you how you can use square brackets to clarify “errors” or ambiguous words in quotes. However, square brackets can come in handy even if you don’t use quotes in your writing very often.
How to use square brackets: Part 2
In last week’s post, we explained one way of using square brackets: placing them around the abbreviation “sic” to indicate an error in a quote. Today we’re going to talk about another way of using square brackets, which also happens
Writing tip: What “[sic]” means and how to use it
Ever seen “[sic]” in something that you’ve read and not understood what it meant? You’ve come to the right place. Today we’re going to talk about what “[sic]” means and how you can use it to preserve your reputation. The
A tip for writing clearly: Avoid using words in atypical ways
One way to make your writing easy to read is to avoid using words in ways that they aren’t typically used. Let’s think about the words in the following sentence: “The government effects the will of the people.” What wrong
Commas matter: “Let’s eat grandma” doesn’t mean the same thing as “Let’s eat, grandma”
Can’t figure out why commas belong in certain places in sentences but not others? You’re not alone. In English, we use commas in many different ways, so their presence in (or absence from) a sentence may seem arbitrary. However, commas