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Category Archives: Common Grammar Errors
Fly High
See if this title of an online article grabs your attention. 9 Reasons Why Flying is Getting Better Your response might be “Really?” Does the person who wrote this always fly first class? Does the writer know a secret to … Continue reading
Posted in Brevity, Common Grammar Errors
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Split Infinitives
A grammar concept we might have happily forgotten since our school days (or maybe right after the test) is the split infinitive. So what is it, and do we need to care? Here’s my take. An infinitive is the “to” … Continue reading
Posted in Common Grammar Errors
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Setting Alarms
As we grow more proficient in any pursuit – be it bowling, baking, or barbecuing – we are continually setting new alarms to avoid problems. This is particularly true in writing and editing. Once we realize we’re prone to mistakenly … Continue reading
In the News III
Continuing our February theme, this week’s post again gives you an opportunity to play copy editor. Examine the following three excerpts from recent newspaper articles and consider what you might change. 1. While many Clevelanders were excited about and pleased … Continue reading
In the News
We all make errors when we write – even the pros who report the news. Play copy editor and decide how you’d refine these passages from the past week. 1. The middle-of-the-road shopper, neither low-end nor high-end, who in recent years … Continue reading
“Olio”
If you’re a crossword puzzle aficionado, you know that an “olio” is a miscellaneous collection (related to another frequent crossword answer, “olla,” or stew). Today, see if you can correct or refine these sentences from an olio of sources. 1. … Continue reading
Posted in Brevity, Common Grammar Errors, Flair & Finesse
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Oldies but Goodies II
As promised last week, here are a few more quiz questions from 2015. First, correct errors or redundancies in these two sentences. 1. If you’re wondering where my Dad is, Uncle Al saw him hop in the hotel bar. 2. … Continue reading
Oldies but Goodies
As we round out 2015, my next posts will give you another crack at improving a few sentences selected from the past year. Good luck with your review test. 1. If your going to consume a record amount of hors … Continue reading
Errors That Make Readers Grumpy
What are some common errors in writing or speaking that irk you? Some folks can’t stand “irregardless.” Others grind their teeth when “I” or “myself” is incorrectly substituted for “me.” And “very unique” has its legion of groaners. Other language … Continue reading
The Whisker Metaphor
No, I’m not above pandering, so this week – in addition to targeting folks who care about perfecting their writing – I’m going after the Internet’s cat-crazy crowd. The word that pertains to both groups? “Whiskers.” In my workshops I … Continue reading