Grammar Friday . . . Commas

The issue of commas can be a bit Harry.

But siriusly, commas can save lives.

For example:

Let's eat, Grandma!

source

OR

Let's eat Grandma!

source

Have you ever had

an embarrassing experience

with a misplaced comma?

Grammar Friday - Capitalization (Plus Other Stuff)

Capitalization at a Glance

Source

Days of the week: Monday, Tuesday

Months: May, June

Holidays, holy days: Christmas, Easter

Periods, events in history: Renaissance, Middle Ages

Special Events: Battle of Gettysburg
( Gettysburg? A special event? Seems like an understatement to me)

Official Documents: Constitution

Trade Names : Kleenex tissues, Honda Pilot
(Gotta pay attention to these in your writing. Like Jeep vs a jeep.

Formal epithets: Attila the Hun

Geographical names
Planets, heavenly bodies: Mars, Pluto, the Milky Way

Continents: Australia, Africa

Streets, roads, highways: Fifth Avenue, Route 66

Sections of a country, of a continent: the Northwest, the Far East

Landforms: Mohave Desert, Blue Ridge Mountains

Bodies of water: Lake Powell, Amazon River

Public areas: Yellow Stone National Park

Things you don't capitalize: 
Seasons, a.m. or p.m., or compass points.

Give Books for Christmas Giveaway Hop 

Click here to remember the details.

WIP Update

I sent the first 50 pages of WIP #1 to an editor.
Should I squeee? Or should I cringe?

Grammar Friday - Emphasis & Give Books Blog Hop

Don't forget you can sign up painlessly to participate in the Give Books Blog Hop and get a book for Christmas (or other applicable gift-giving celebration this time of year). Click here.






Give Books for Christmas Giveaway Hop

1.	Inksplasher (US)	7.	Maria Hoagland (US)	13.	K.C. Grant Writer's Corner (US)
2.	Jennifer Hurst (INT)	8.	The Last Word (US)	14.	Jennifer K. Clark (US)
3.	FALL (INT)	9.	Weaving a Tale or Two (US)	15.	Publish Novels or Bust (US)
4.	Geek Girl (INT)	10.	Tristi Pinkston	16.	Heidi Murphy (US)
5.	Heart on a Chain (INT)	11.	LDS Publisher (INT)
6.	Immortal Mine (INT)	12.	Carolyn Frank (INT)

Emphasis

Following are three sentences using commas, parentheses, or em-dashes to set off a portion of the sentence.

The supporters of the trade bill need the votes of three or more senators, the most likely ones to be won over are Smith, Jones, and White, if they are to get approval of the legislation.

The supporters of the trade bill need the votes of three or more senators (the most likely ones to be won over are Smith, Jones, and White) if they are to get approval of the legislation.

The supporters of the trade bill need the votes of three or more senators—the most likely ones to be won over are Smith, Jones, and White—if they are to get approval of the legislation.

Which is correct?

Source

They're all grammatically correct. As to which you should use depends upon your intent for the sentence and what you want to emphasize in it.

If you don't want to draw attention to the aside, commas would be a good option. Using the parentheses draws a little more attention.

Visually, if you really want to draw the reader's attention to the aside, you'd use the em dash because it really makes it stand out.

Bonus Question

And for that matter, what is an en dash or an em dash? Well, and en dash is basically the width of an "n" and and em dash is the width of an "m". Isn't it nice to know there really is some logic in all this? If you're interested in some nice examples of when and how to use dashes, there's a nice article here.

I have to confess that I interrupt myself all the time with asides, so they have a tendency to want to take over in my writing. Do you use dashes? Or are you a dash hater?

Grammar Friday - Mr., Mrs., and Ms.

Or is it Ms?

(Can you see what the difference is?)

Mr. is an abbreviation for Mister. 

Mrs. is an abbreviation for Mistress (not an adulterous woman).

Mr. doesn't identify marital status.

Miss identifies an unmarried woman.

Mrs. identifies a married woman or a widow.

Ms. / Ms  is not an abbreviation for anything.

So should you use a period at the end or not?

Since it's not an abbreviation you don't have to. However, it is also appropriate to add one if you wish.

The key here is consistency.

Pick one way of doing it and stick with it.

That way people think you know what you're doing.

Do you have a preference? Why?

Grammar Friday - Then vs Than

I

 

like

 

Source

 

better

 

than

 

Source

(that's Fried Liver & Onions in case you didn't know. Nasty stuff)

Then

 

I

 

should

 

go

 

to

 

Source

 

for

 

my

 

birthday.

  

What are you up to for the weekend? Hubby is headed to California and Disneyland, and I'll be flying out next week after the Canvass of the election. I may have to see Harry Potter again 

Grammar Friday - Commas (and a game)

I've had a special request to touch on this subject. Commas can be a bit Harry. For one thing, there are different styles of grammar. Example. When I was in elementary school we were taught that a comma takes the place of the word "and" in a list of three or more items.

I would like soup, salad and bread.

No comma after the word "salad". A comma would be unnecessary because it's not substituting for "and" since "and" is used. Are we as clear as mud yet?

However, there are many who support what's called the Oxford Comma. In this case you would go ahead and add the comma after "salad".

I would like soup, salad, and bread.

Modern business writing appears to be moving more in support of the Oxford Comma. However, either way is correct. Just pick one style and stick with it. Be consistent.

Now to get on with answering the grammar question. Siriusly, I can get so distracted.

Some people aren't clear when to use a comma and when not to. Commas are used to connect two independent clauses.

I like ice cream. It makes my head hurt.

But these are really Dick and Jane sentences. Most writers (unless it's for effect or pacing) would use a more complex structure.

I like ice cream, but it makes my head hurt.

You can connect two independent clauses by using conjunctions such as:

and
but
for
nor
yet
so

Use a comma with these. But just so you know, the use of commas is a bit more complicated than just these two examples. Siriusly. But more to come later. Best to take commas in doses.

Now. With the grammar lesson over it's time for the Game. 

It's a case of What Goes Around, Comes Around, and it's Alleged Author's turn to tag me.

She tagged me in a game where I'm supposed to share 10 things about myself that won't frighten off my followers. I thought just my posting would do that. Hmmm ....

1.  I gave you two clues about one of my obsessions with pictures and word hints.

2. I have four sons and two daughters (yours, mine, and ours--but I birthed five of them), and they have given hubby and I 7 1/2 grandchildren. 

Siriusly (another hint) though. The saying that your grandchildren are your reward for not having killed your children is true!

3. I've been to Hawaii seven times, but I didn't get to stay the night until the fourth visit when I spent the summer I was sixteen on Pearl Harbor with some family friends. 

4. I've taken college classes in every community I've lived in since I got out of the Army a bazillion years ago.

5. I was a devil child when I was little and a straight arrow by the time I was a teen

6. I donate blood regularly because I was an RH baby and had to be completely transfused.

7. I did my own dental work when I was in third grade by trying to throw a ball at the same time I spun in a circle. I ended up on the ground with my top front teeth through my bottom lip.

8. I had lasik a year ago, and I love it.

9. I come from a family of tall men and women. One grandmother was 5' 9" as I am. I have an aunt who's 6', a sister who's 5' 11", another sister who's 6' 1". My daughter did not inherit the height. My father was 6' 3", my brother is 6' 4", and my sons are 6', 6' 2", 6' 4", and 6' 5 1/2". (Did you notice my subtle use of the Oxford Comma there?)

10. I was almost run over by a mob of people rushing to see President Eisenhower when he visited South Post Army base in Seoul, South Korea.

So, who to pass this on to? Be sure to check out these awesome people.

Karen Hoover

Shelly at SeeShelWrites

Yvonne at Welcome to My World
Laila at Untroubled Kingdom of Laila Knight
Suzie F.

I have a super sized weekend, and since I've finished my critique group edits on WIP #1 my goal for September is to finish (as in really finish) the dang thing. I've got an editor lined up, so I may actually have to write a query letter.

Or not.

What are your plans for the long weekend?

Grammar Friday - Semicolon

If you are right-handed, the scissors should be in your right hand, if you are left-handed, scissors go in the left hand.

The above comma is called a comma splice and is considered grammatically incorrect. What you have here is two complete sentences. The writer either needs to separate them with a period or question mark. or connect them with conjunctions like and, but, or, nor, yet, and so.

Another option is to separate them with a semicolon. You can use a semicolon to signal the reader that the two sentences are closely related to each other.

Bear in mind, however, that a semicolon is considered a soft period and not a hard comma.

Are semicolons your friends? Or do you run from them for fear of using them incorrectly? Or do they just bug you when you read them?

Grammar Friday - Apostrophes, Part 2

Is the following sentence correct?

Your individual personality and experience meets peoples needs in different ways.

Generally, an apostrophe is used to identify either plural or possessive. Since people is already plural, the s is possessive and should be written:

Your individual personality and experience meets people's needs in different ways.

Example (Wikipedia):

Kingsley Amis, on being challenged to produce a sentence whose meaning depended on a possessive apostrophe, came up with:

Those things over there are my husband's. (Those things over there belong to my husband.)

Those things over there are my husbands'. (Those things over there belong to several husbands of mine.)

Those things over there are my husbands. (I'm married to those men over there.)

Wow. This lady's been busy. Forget Polygamy. Go for Polyandry. O_o

The plurals for capital letters and numbers used as nouns are not formed with apostrophes.  Examples:

She consulted with three M.D.s.

BUT

She went to three M.D.s' offices.

The apostrophe is needed here to show plural possessive.

She learned her ABCs.

the 1990s not the 1990's

the '90s or the mid-'70s not the '90's or the mid-'70’s

She learned her times tables for 6s and 7s.

Exception: Use apostrophes with capital letters and numbers
when the meaning would be unclear otherwise.
Example:

      Please dot your i's.
You don't mean “is.”
 

For some great pictures demonstrating misuse of apostrophes, you can check out the blog Apostrophe Abuse.

So, are you an abuser? Do your fingers sometimes sneak an apostrophe somewhere you KNOW it doesn't belong?

*raises hand*

Grammar Friday - Apostrophes (Part 1) and Other Random Things

Apostrophes, Part 1

Test sentence:

A good restaurant requires cleanliness in every part of it's operation.

So, is that sentence correct?

Well ...

it’s = contraction of it is or it has
its = possessive of it or belonging to it

So, if you can replace it's in your sentence with it is--and it still makes sense--then your word is it's. If you can't, then your word is its.

So, I ask again. Is the sentence in blue correct?

Extra credit question:

What happens when its is possessive?

Sorry, got distracted there.

Well, nothing actually. Its stays the same. Its doesn't have a special possessive form.

I know. I'm sure it feels discriminated against. Or, is that its ....

Word Processing Wars

Peggy Eddleman had a great blog post on Wednesday about which word processing system she uses. What about you?

Award 1 (unwarranted)

People have been really kind to me lately. I even got an award I didn't qualify for. Barbara Kloss gave me this:

I don't qualify for her thoughtful gift because I have too many followers. However, I can pass it through to other, worthy recipients.

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the giver
Danke, Barbara (in keeping with the German theme).

2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog--and follow them!
Melanie Jacobsen (she was my bootcamp instructor at Storymaker, and she rocks)
Jeff King over at Author's Union (he's such a kind poster)
Robin Weeks (I know, I pass a lot of stuff on to her, but she's an amazing writer, critique partner, and dang fun person--even for an attorney. Plus she didn't take me up on the bloomers meme)

Nancy S. Thompson (since she tagged me earlier with that unmentionables meme =D )
KT over at Out of My Mind

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
Done

4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.

5. And most of all - have bloggity-blog fun!

Award 2

J.A. Bennett over at A Book, A Girl, A Journey gave me this cute award:

And what's amazing is the picture even looks like me now that I've had my highlights put in again. All right, in this picture the cute subject still has eyebrows (mine fell down to my chin). And I don't have hairy toes. Aren't you glad to know that?

Since this post is too long already and I've answered enough questions about myself with other awards, I will do one thing: Share a quote.

"I dwell in possibility." ~Emily Dickenson

Following are the folks I'm passing this award off to:
Kaylee Baldwin (she makes me smile a lot)
Jolene Perry (don't you love the cover to her book?)
Laura Josephsen (you've already heard me talk about her lots

ETA: That's embarrassing. This was supposed to post tomorrow. Dang Blogger. ROFL I changed the date again and now it says it's already Friday. If you're able to read this, you've time traveled to the future. Doesn't that make you feel special? Now, how will you get home?

Grammar Friday - Punctuation

So you don't think punctuation is important?

Version 1

Dear John:

I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy--will you let me be yours?
Gloria

Version 2

Dear John:

I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Gloria


And the only difference is the punctuation.

***I wish I knew who to credit for this wonderful example to. I received it years ago in the body of an email. When I googled it, I got hits all over the place.***

What about you? Do you think punctuation has its place? Or are you one of the folks who'd like to get rid of it?

Grammar Friday - Prepositions at the End of a Sentence

So, we've all heard that we're not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition. Yet we all speak doing exactly that. Are we wrong?
Well, what does the Gregg Reference Manual say about it (section 1080 a-c, p. 347)?

Short questions and statements  frequently end with prepositions.

• What is this made of?
• Where did he come from?
• You have nothing to worry about.

What about you? Do you have any interesting grammar rules that you have to jump around in your writing? Or any special secrets that make navigating the English language easier?