Replacing Improper Antecedents in Your Writing
In English an antecedent and its pronoun should be completely interchangeable. In other words, you should be able to replace the pronoun with its antecedent [more…]
How to Avoid Dangling Participles
Descriptions must have something to describe. However, to English speakers participles that function a descriptions tend to cause as many problems as a double-date with an ex. Participles look like verbs [more…]
How to Avoid Dangling Infinitives
If you dangle your infinitives, the grammar police are sure to come knocking on your door. English speakers commonly dangle infinities and believe it or not it really changes the meaning of their sentences [more…]
How to Write Clear Descriptions
To write clear descriptions, think about real estate. Location, location, location! That’s what real estate agents say matters, and it’s also what grammarians declare. Learn to avoid placing descriptions [more…]
How to Avoid Writing Incomplete Comparisons
When you are writing comparisons, you have to compare at least two things. Something has to be compared to something else otherwise it is not complete. That might sound confusing. But read this sentence [more…]
How to Avoid Writing Illogical Comparisons
Not all comparisons make sense. Some comparisons seem complete, but if you are not careful you can ask your readers to compare apples with oranges. You can avoid writing these illogical comparisons by [more…]
Maintaining the Same Verb Tense in Your Sentences
If you shift tense when you're writing a sentence, you can stall your communication. (Consider this analogy: If you’ve ever ridden in a car with a stick shift, you know that smooth transitions require [more…]
Keeping to One Point of View in Your Writing
Grammarians count three points of view in writing and speaking. In first person, the subject narrates the story: In other words, I or we acts as the subject of the sentence. In [more…]
Improve Your Writing by Using a Consistent Voice
The voice of a verb — not baritone or soprano — is either active or passive. The voice of the verbs in a sentence should be consistent unless there’s a good reason for a shift. A shift in voice is not [more…]
How to Avoid Common Errors in Your Comparisons
The grammar police will arrive, warrant in hand, if your comparisons aren’t parallel. There are lots of pitfalls when making comparisons in English. You can avoid common errors, by watching out for the [more…]
Common Double Negatives to Avoid in Writing
In some lucky languages, the more negatives the better. In English, however, two negatives are a no-no. Some double negatives are obvious, but here you learn about some of the sneaky double-negatives that [more…]
How to Write Balanced Sentences
In art class, you draw parallels. In math class, you plot them on a graph. In grammar, you create parallel constructions. Parallel constructions in grammar, aren’t about lines that look like train tracks [more…]
How to Add Variety to Sentences
One easy way to add flair to your writing style is to vary the pattern of your sentences. Try these strategies that add interest without sacrificing meaning or correct grammar: [more…]
Creating Grammatically Correct Bulleted Lists
How did we live without presentation slides and bulleted lists? They're everywhere, but their grammar may be confusing. Follow this guide to keep your bulleted lists looking good: [more…]
English Grammar: The Parts of a Sentence
To make a proper sentence, you need a subject and a verb — all other components of the sentence are just icing on the cake! Here’s how to break down the parts of a sentence: [more…]
