Punctuation, Style & Usage

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Emphasis on the Em Dash in Writing

Everyone’s got a favorite punctuation mark. As for me, I like the em dash. Seems like I often have something extra to say at the end of a...

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Semicolons: Nothing Semi About Them

Here are five things you need to know about semicolons. Use them mindfully, and see why there’s nothing semi about them. They’re...

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Gender Pronouns for Animals: Reference with Reverence

When it comes to writing about animals, the issue of gender pronouns often pops up. Should you call the family cat in your story a he,...

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Three Cardinal Tips for Writing Numbers

Writing numbers seems pretty straight forward—seems being the operative word. In reality, numbers have some important guidelines in...

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Nine Reasons to Take Self-Editing Seriously

Here are nine reasons to take the task of self-editing seriously: It’s good practice. Self-editing is a good way to brush up on the rules...

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Pesky Prepositions: Small Words that Raise Big Questions

Prepositions are about as ordinary as words get. We use them all the time, in practically every sentence. They’re short words, averaging...

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No Average Writer, No Average E-book

What's different about this book? First of all, it doesn't address every aspect of writing. Instead, No Average Writer points out common...

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Three Common Writing Errors, Three Easy Fixes

I have to admit I’m a stickler when it comes to grammar. While most people gloss over minor mistakes, whether in email or more formal...

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For the Love of Commas, Don’t Overuse Them

When I was a kid, I loved using commas. I wouldn’t just use them wherever I should, either. I’d use them wherever I could. I must have...

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