Style Manuals vs. Dictionaries

Style Manuals vs. Dictionaries

While there are certainly some hard-and-fast grammar rules (verbs must agree in number with their subjects, for example), many of the guidelines that people regard as “rules” are, in fact, matters of style and not necessarily consistent from one style guide to...
Apostrophes: Is It a Possessive or an Attributive Noun?

Apostrophes: Is It a Possessive or an Attributive Noun?

If the dearth of apostrophes in text messages, emails, and social media posts is any indication, we may be witnessing their demise.  But since such changes in usage happen slowly, for now we need to understand the difference between the possessive case and the...
Transitions: Improving Clarity and Logical Flow

Transitions: Improving Clarity and Logical Flow

Using transitions to improve clarity and logical flow is essential, whether we are meticulously drafting a legal brief or lengthy proposal or dashing off a short email or tweet.  In either case, transitions enable a reader to follow the writer’s train of thought as...