Category_MWW Blog>The Comma

A Not-Very-Well-Known Dash Rule

Most reporters use the dash simply for that ever-present interruption. There are, however, grammar rules associated with the dash. Here's one: When an indefinite pronoun follows ONE word and rena...
Category_MWW Blog>General

"Thank you"...

As a verb, "thank you" is two words. ...Thank you for all you do. ...I want to thank you for the chocolates. As a noun, "thank-you" is hyphenated. ...Please send a thank-you to your grandmother....
capitalization

The Quotation Mark and Caps

The rule is that the first word of a quote is capped if it begins a grammatically complete thought or anything that stands for a complete thought. Otherwise, it is lowercase. ...Q Where were you ...
Category_MWW Blog>General

Prefixes: Solid Words or Hyphenated?

The rule is that a prefix is added to the front of a word to make a solid word. ...preordained ...postprandial ...overrated ...underfed However, when there is already a word that has a different ...
Category_MWW Blog>General

Made-Up Words

When a word is made up but it has a normal, regular English spelling, put a pair of quotes around it rather than using sic or verbatim to point it out as an error. ...She was just acting "obliviat...
capitalization

Capitalization after a Dash and a Colon

Capitalize the first word after a colon only when it begins a complete sentence. ...This is what I want to know: What day did he arrive? ...This is what I want to know: the day he arrived. ...He ...
Category_MWW Blog>Numbers

"A" Hundred" versus "One" Hundred

When the words are "a" hundred or "a" thousand, there is a problem for the person who wishes to keep it as close to verbatim as possible. Technically, "a hundred" and "a thousand" are not numbers a...
Category_MWW Blog>Numbers

Thousands

Numbers in the thousands are expressed in figures with a comma and can never be a combination of figures and words. ...sent 45,000... ...received 133,000 of them... ...offered 50,000 for it... Wh...
Category_MWW Blog>General

Plurals of Names

When a surname has the word the in front of it, the name has to be plural -- without regard to how it is pronounced. ...The Millers have a new car. ...We spent the time with the Wilsons. There is...