Tag: english
member name: Howard M.
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November 29, 2006 04:59 AM EST --
The focus of this article is the semicolon, but it is impossible to have an intelligent discussion of this punctuation mark without some understanding of the other punctuations that can be used to separate . . . more
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October 12, 2006 11:53 PM EDT --
Recently, I have had occasion to revisit an issue of grammar. It was not an issue in my mind but it arose in a discussion. I am going to try, mightily, to remain brief, but unequivocal. In short, . . . more
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December 10, 2006 05:29 AM EST --
This article was written for the Writer's workshop but I have modified it slightly for general applicability and I am posting it to some other groups that might find it useful.
In looking . . . more
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January 10, 2007 06:57 AM EST --
I shall return from the moribund with a brief note on word usage, if only to prove that I still live. For whatever reason, I have been asked three times in the last few weeks whether the . . . more
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November 27, 2006 04:20 AM EST --
Last week, I wrote two articles summarizing the use of the comma in non technical writing. These articles excited a few comments buried in a tidal wave of apathy. I had planned to continue the . . . more
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October 26, 2006 05:21 AM EDT --
I have received three requests to address the issue of the oft misused phrase, "beg the question." By coincidence, my son in law recently complained to me, bitterly, that many of his students . . . more
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October 05, 2006 10:15 PM EDT --
A while ago, I posted this, by request, to another group. I found myself rambling on the same theme for our group and thought that it might be a good idea to simply post this and add to it from there, . . . more
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November 19, 2006 02:53 AM EST --
As important a part of comma use as rules for when to use it, are the rules for when not to use it. There are many sources of advice regarding this issue, some of them even good. Perhaps the most entertaining . . . more
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December 01, 2006 05:37 AM EST --
Hyphen, minus sign, n dash, m dash?? These are all horizontal lines, at mid letter height; all are used in writing, and, aside from general morphology, they bear little relation to each other. Hyphens . . . more
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August 27, 2006 08:06 PM EDT --
The Bottom Line My co-author in the book this is from leaves these language rants to me. Why? "Because I have been a professor of English for 30 years. I have given up."
Data is a plural noun. . . . more
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February 13, 2007 10:12 PM EST --
A noun is a noun; an adjective is an adjective (most of the time); and an adverb is generally an adverb. A verb, however, is anything it wants to be. Gerunds, participles, and infinitives all began their . . . more
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March 26, 2007 06:10 AM EDT --
The em dash (or, m dash):
For anyone who cares, In another article, I previously recommended placing a space on either side of an m dash. I did that for several reasons, including the visual enhancement . . . more
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September 29, 2006 08:54 PM EDT --
The semicolon is a punctuation mark with more than one purpose. It is, also, a mark that can always be replaced by a different one. Nevertheless, it exists for very good reasons. When can it . . . more
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September 14, 2006 01:44 AM EDT --
That is a definite pronoun. It is used to denote a characteristic or identifying position that defines the subject of the sentence.
Which is an indefinite article that introduces a characteristic . . . more
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November 16, 2006 12:48 AM EST --
Punctuation is simple. Right? There are clear rules to follow. Right? There is never any doubt of when to use a period (well, hardly ever). Question marks are entirely unambiguous in their meaning. Exclamation . . . more
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November 30, 2006 07:17 AM EST --
In part one, I introduced the role of the semicolon in separating independent clauses, either without conjunctions or with adverbial conjunctions. Recall that the rhythm of the passage, the degree of connection . . . more
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February 15, 2007 07:43 AM EST --
The Chicago Manual of Style, run by the University of Chicago Press, answers questions sent to it about writing issues. The editors who answer these questions have found ways to enjoy their task. I admire . . . more
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September 29, 2006 05:31 AM EDT --
It appears that only guatami tripathy and I care to post anything in this group. I am willing to lecture, even pontificate, but I would really appreciate knowing what you want to hear about. Not all grammatical . . . more
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November 16, 2006 12:45 AM EST --
Punctuation is simple. Right? There are clear rules to follow. Right? There is never any doubt of when to use a period (well, hardly ever). Question marks are entirely unambiguous in their meaning. Exclamation . . . more
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September 14, 2006 01:30 AM EDT --
Two years ago, I wrote an essay that is, properly, part of an ongoing book. It may 'go on' for quite some time, however, as it has taken a backseat to two other projects (fiction) which are . . . more
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