When you make a list in any kind of writing, whether it is a resume, an essay, or an article to be published, there are a few specific rules to follow. Begin a list with a statement introducing the list. The statement ends with a colon. Here are some examples. I have extensive editing skills: [...]
Archive for the ‘Basic Grammar’ Category
Healthcare Headaches
A reader submitted the following paragraph for free proofreading: The health care reform has been the source of avid discussions and controversies among all the stakeholders of the Health Care Industry. President Obama finally got a vote from the legislative branch. This action stems from President George W. Bush who introduced in 2004 an initiative [...]
Fate and Romeo and Juliet
A reader submitted the following paragraph for the 300 word free editing service: In Shakespeare’s time fate has played an important role in peoples lifes. Shakespeare shows this in his play “Romeo and Juliet”, fate starts the play and is relied on till the end of the play. The element of fate starts from the [...]
What is the purpose of life?
A reader submitted 300 words for free editing. Suggested changes are below in red. The first point is that you have used the pronoun “they” for an unspecified person. I know this avoids the gender question of he or she, but to a grammatical purist it’s wrong because “they” is for a plural subject. Some people would insist [...]
Mechanics and self-abuse
Christine submitted the following paragraph for free editing services: Grammar Question: Young women today may be told to appreciate the world they live in because it is filled with possibilities and endless dreams that were not allowed to women living a century ago. Women are now able to work in a factory and not get [...]
Preparing for the Iron Man (or Woman)
Stephanie sent this paragraph for free edits: The exercises and training that I would do for the “Iron Man” contest in Hawaii is really simple. I would want to start doing this plan that you are about to read months before the “Iron Man” contest. First thing in the morning, I would wake up and [...]
Your penultimate warning
Howard Levitt writes in the Vancouver Sun (March 27, 2010, p D16): “Have you noticed the verisimilitude between employees on performance improvement plans or on the verge of being fired claiming stress leave?” Now my Oxford Dictionary defines “verisimilitude” as “the appearance of being true.” So Howard is asking us if we notice the appearance [...]
When is a plural not a plural? Or another blog on Grammar Bull S–t
A reader writes: Does the noun “livestock” take a singular or plural verb, as in: “Livestock [has/have] been important in serving humankind.”? Collective nouns (groups of people and things) take a singular verb unless the individuals are to be emphasized. Livestock has been important in serving humankind. (singular) I chased away the livestock who were [...]
Prove it!
Which is correct, “proved” or “proven”? According to my sources “proved” is more often correct especially in the US, however “proven” is indicated as in use in scientific and literary texts. I prefer proven myself. I guess this is another case of British vs. American usage. Being Canadian,we go both ways. HyperGraphix offers editing and [...]
Hyphen mania or hyphen-mania?
Which is correct, “pre-approval” or “pre approval?” The sentence structure is “Pre-approval is required on…” The answer is: “pre-approval” is correct since the prefix “pre” can not stand as a word on its own. My Fowler’s Standard English Usage goes on for four pages about hyphenation. Basically the rule is that you should use a [...]