Understanding grammar improves your writing I can remember when I first started reading grammar books that the language was daunting (some of it still is!). So here’s a few terms in case you need to refresh your memory. Parts of speech Parts of speech are sometimes called word classes. Adjectives: describing words. hot, cold, beautiful Adverbs: tell […]
Use what for general items and which for specific things Reader’s question: Which of the following is correct and why? What information do you require? Which information do you require? Answer: In the examples you gave, what is open-ended and general and which is more closed and specific, i.e. asking for a choice between a specific, limited number of items. For example: What information […]
Sitting is what you do and seating is where you do it Reader’s question: Should you say seating or sitting arrangements? Answer: I think you can use either. However, some people think that sitting is what you do and seating is where you do it. Using that distinction, seating refers to how the seats are laid out. The seating arrangement can be […]
Compound nouns become one word, remain as two words or are hyphenated We often invent new words by combining existing words to form what is known as a compound noun. Here are some of the ways we create compound nouns. Verb plus adverb, or preposition and adverb, or preposition plus verb When the word order is […]
Use nominalisations with caution Last month I wrote about verbing (turning nouns into verbs) and an e-newsletter reader pointed out that we also turn verbs and adjectives into nouns. The process of turning verbs and adjectives into nouns is known as nominalisation (nominalization if you use American spelling!). It’s also sometimes called ‘nouning’. There are […]
Use italics for the full reference of an Act Reader’s question: Does the date in legislation need to be in italics? Online grammar answer: The Australian style is to use italics for the full reference of an Act. According to the Australian Style manual: For authors, editors and printers: ‘Most Acts and Ordinances have a short formal […]
Where should you put the reference number for footnotes? Reader’s question: When using footnotes, where should the number link be located – before or after the punctuation mark (e.g. comma, semicolon)? Answer: The Australian government Style manual (2002) says: ‘Superscript placement: Place superscript note identifiers: at the end of a sentence or clause rather than immediately after the words to […]
She flouted the school rules when she flaunted her new dress at school. Flaunt Flaunt means to show off. She flaunted her new dress at the party. Flout flout means to treat with contempt, disregard or disdain. She flouted the rules. Learn more Learn more about other commonly confused words with my online Business Writing course. Subscribe to my monthly […]
Test your knowledge of commonly confused words We all have words that we commonly get confused. I often have to stop and think about some pairs such as discrete and discreet. Research for the Concise Oxford Dictionary found that most people have learnt the difference between its and it’s (only 8% got it wrong), yet many people still get confused by words […]
A quirk of history caused the abbreviation of will not to won’t Won’t doesn’t come from will not but from woll not. This is an alternative form of will not that existed into the mid-1800s. Will muscled out woll, but won’t muscled out willn’t. Read more information. Learn more about words Learn about my online writing and grammar courses. Subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter to receive […]