Category Archives: Uncategorized

Tips for using a and an before words that start with h or u.

Posted on October 4, 2019 by The dutty is "the ground," the foundation, the earth--just like words are part of the foundation on which I build my life.

  This is a small thing, but it makes your writing so much more credible. It’s all in the details! Use a before words that start with the enunciated letter h: History. A history class about famous churches. Hazard. Going … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

My Take on Using Themself as a Gender-neutral Pronoun

Posted on May 7, 2019 by The dutty is "the ground," the foundation, the earth--just like words are part of the foundation on which I build my life.

At least take your phone with you. A person should be careful when walking alone; they could find Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Using quotation marks in your document? Keep commas and periods inside

Posted on December 14, 2018 by The dutty is "the ground," the foundation, the earth--just like words are part of the foundation on which I build my life.

In American English, place commas and periods inside the closing quotation mark (unlike British English). This practice came from a time when type was set by hand. The delicate period and comma outside of quotation marks at the end of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Which Verb is it? Bear or Bare

Posted on November 26, 2018 by The dutty is "the ground," the foundation, the earth--just like words are part of the foundation on which I build my life.

The verb to bear is sometimes confused with to bare. Here is a quick tip on the difference. The verb bear has a variety of meanings: to hold, to support, to exhibit, to carry oneself in a specific way, to endure, to give birth to, bear down, bear … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Are you still typing two spaces after the period in your documents?

Posted on November 6, 2018 by The dutty is "the ground," the foundation, the earth--just like words are part of the foundation on which I build my life.

Stop it. Your computer is not a typewriter! I recently received a rash of queries about whether it is best practice to put two spaces after a period in a letter or other document. Your word processing software is equipped … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment