by Nancy Tuten | Mar 8, 2024
In most declarative English sentences, the subject precedes the verb. But when a sentence starts with either here or there, the order is often reversed, and we are tempted to use a singular verb when we need a plural one. Can you spot the agreement error in each of...
by Nancy Tuten | Dec 19, 2023
Elsewhere on this site, we explain when to use I and me. This article is specifically about myself and other reflexive pronouns. People commonly misuse myself. Sometimes they mistakenly use it as a subject, such as in the expression “Anna and myself are going home.”...
by Nancy Tuten | Sep 8, 2023
Do you insert one space or two after a period? Many people are surprisingly (even absurdly) passionate about their preference, yet this seemingly minor issue is not nearly as cut-and-dried as it may at first appear. A Little Background on a Longstanding Debate The...
by Nancy Tuten | Aug 20, 2023
Which of these two constructions would be correct if John and Rob each wrote a separate report and the administrative assistant filed them both? The administrative assistant filed John’s and Rob’s report. The administrative assistant filed John and Rob’s report. The...
by Nancy Tuten | Jul 12, 2023
Did you know that if a person has only two children, neither child should be described as the oldest or the youngest ? This usage mistake, which reveals a failure to understand the difference between comparative and superlative modifiers, is very common—and it’s...
