Category_MWW Blog>The Comma

"That" -- Dependent Construction or Not?

When the word that begins a dependent clause and several of those clauses are linked together with and, there is NO comma before the and even when the word that is missing and is "understood." NOT...
Category_MWW Blog>General

Starting a Sentence with "And"

There is no problem starting a sentence with the word and. Though we would not necessarily choose to start a short sentence with and, it is not incorrect. When many sentences are strung together wi...
Category_MWW Blog>The Semicolon

Parallel Construction and the Semicolon

...I arrived on Saturday; he arrived on Sunday. ...He resigned in 2010; she resigned in 2011. ...The first train leaves at 5:00 A.M.; the last train leaves at 10:00 P.M. The Rule: When two sentenc...
Category_MWW Blog>General

The Word "Therefor"

This word -- no e on the end -- means "for that thing" and is always used when referring to having exchanged money or goods or property for something else. It often comes toward the end of the sent...
Category_MWW Blog>The Quotation Mark

Periods and Commas and Quotes

Periods and commas go inside of quotes WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTIONS in the entire language. Whether it is one word or one letter or a number or a long quote, the period and the comma go inside. ...When ...
Category_MWW Blog>General

The "d" on "Used To"

This question came up on FB. When the letter t and the letter d are inside a word, they sound the same: ladder/latter, shudder/shutter, conceited/conceded. When the d ends one word and t starts th...
Category_MWW Blog>The Quotation Mark

Quotes for a Made-Up Word

When a word is made up but has all the characteristics of an English word -- dramastically, considerated -- spell it correctly and use a pair of quotes around it. There is not a need to use sic. T...
Category_MWW Blog>General

The Word "What"

When someone tacks the word what onto the end of a question, it should stand alone as its own question. ...Was it given to you as a gift? What? ...Were you there alone? with someone? What? ...Did ...
Category_MWW Blog>The Comma

"Like, it is, like, wrong, like, without, like, commas!!!"

If the word like is a verb that means "fond of" or it is a preposition that compares, it is being used correctly. ...I like being outdoors in the early morning. ...She likes chocolate. ...Like my...