DailyWritingTips

3 More Cases of Unnecessary Punctuation

In each sentence below, the presence of one punctuation mark—or, in the case of the first example, a team of two complementary marks—introduces a flaw in the syntactical structure of the statement. Discussion and revision of the problematic sentences follow each example. 1. He would replace conservative, Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last month, leaving … Read more

The Protruding and Dominant Meanings of “Boss”

Boss has two distinct meanings, and though one might seem to be able to draw a connection between them—they both refer to something that stands out among others—they have different etymological origins. The earlier, and less prevalent, meaning is “protuberance,” from a Latin word of uncertain origin by way of the Old French term boce, … Read more

Another 3 Cases of Misplaced Modifiers

Modifiers—phrases that provide additional information—are easily (and therefore often) misplaced, creating syntactical confusion. Here are three such sentences, each followed by a discussion and a revision. 1. I will follow up with some of the questions I did not have a chance to address in a future post. This sentence reads as if the writer … Read more

Style Quiz #4: Latinate Abbreviations

All but one of the following sentences demonstrate incorrect style for abbreviations from Latin; revise the sentences as necessary: 1. Vehicles are classed in various categories (i.e., cars, trucks, and SUVs). 2. Sections of books classified as adventure, comedy, drama, etc. are organized alphabetically. 3. Various weather conditions produce different types of precipitation (e.g., rain, … Read more

Punctuation with Attribution

An attribution is a phrase that describes who said or wrote something. It is stated parenthetically before, in the midst of, or after a statement or question (it is basically an introductory phrase that can be located elsewhere than at the head of a sentence), but writers often erroneously omit a comma required to help … Read more

The Difference Between Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses

An essential, or restrictive, clause is a part of a sentence that provides integral context for the reader. A nonessential, or nonrestrictive, clause is parenthetical, presenting additional information that is not necessary for reader comprehension. Writers are, with increasing frequency, neglecting to appreciate the distinction, thereby undermining the effectiveness of the language they use. The … Read more

Tactile, Tangible, and Tractable

What’s the difference between tactile and tangible? Very little—and they are cognate, sharing the same Latin source—but there is a subtle distinction in their use. Tactile, from the Latin term tactilis, by way of the French word tactile, and ultimately from the verb tangere, meaning “touch,” refers to things that can be touched and to … Read more

Points About Bullet (and Other) Lists

When constructing vertical lists—sets of words, phrases, or sentences that are formatted vertically below an introductory phrase rather than included within a sentence (the latter is called an in-line list)—take care that the syntactical and grammatical structure of the list is consistent. In the following list, for example, notice the difference in the syntactical structure … Read more

Style Quiz #3: Academic Subjects, Courses, and Lectures

All but one of the following sentences demonstrate incorrect style for treatment of terms pertaining to academic subjects, courses, and lectures according to The Chicago Manual of Style; revise emphasis as necessary: 1. He obtained a master’s degree in Economics. 2. I’m studying for my final for “Literature of the Victorian Era.” 3. She attended … Read more

3 Common Mistakes When Presenting Quotations

Reproducing the precise wording of a saying or the exact words someone has said or someone might say requires adherence to a simple set of rules of punctuation and capitalization, as described and demonstrated in the discussions following each of the examples provided below. 1. The old saying, “What gets rewarded gets done,” is applicable … Read more

20 Slang Terms for Law Enforcement Personnel

A variety of more or less colorful colloquialisms referring to police officers and similar authority figures have developed in American English, sometimes inspired by other languages. Here is a list of such terms. 1. barney: This gently derogatory term refers to Barney Fife, a bumbling small-town deputy sheriff in the classic 1960s sitcom The Andy … Read more

5 Assorted Usage Errors

Using the right word for the job, or considering whether a word is needed at all, distinguishes careful writing from careless writing. Discussion and revision of the following sentences illustrate various ways in which writing can be improved by word-by-word attention to detail. 1. Here’s a list of several webinars that we have hosted that … Read more