Category: Grammar

Semicolons are most often used to join two full sentences together. In doing so, they provide a longer pause than a comma but a shorter pause than a period. They can also be used to make lists of items clearer to read. To avoid any errors in your writing, here is how to use semicolons Read More

Colons are used to introduce information or to expand on it further. In either case, there is always a strong connection between what follows a colon and what was written before it. To avoid any errors in your writing, here is how to use colons correctly: 1. Listing and Elaborating 2. Capital vs. Lower-Case Letters Read More

Quotation marks are used in pairs to indicate the following: a quotation, a segment of direct speech, or a particular word or phrase. Like many other punctuation marks, the style in which they are used varies according to region, and different publications will often adopt different styles to best suit their audience. As a result, Read More

Apostrophes have two simple uses: to show possession and to mark contractions. Even so, they manage to cause a whole host of easy mistakes. To avoid any errors in your writing, here is how to use apostrophes correctly: 1. Possession 1.1 Possessive Pronouns 2. Contractions 2.1 Tone 2.2 Apostrophes vs. Quotation Marks 3. The Greengrocer’s Read More

Commas help us to read and write with clarity. Unfortunately, they often end up in the wrong position. To avoid any errors in your writing, here is how to use commas correctly: Commas and Conjunctions Comma Splices Serial Commas Bracketing Commas Words in Apposition Commas with Adjectives Introductory Phrases Showing Omission 1. Commas and Conjunctions Read More

Periods—or full stops, as they’re called in British English—are the most common type of punctuation. Even though they’re used in a couple of different ways, their main task is very simple: to show you where a sentence ends. To avoid any errors in your writing, here is how to use periods correctly: Full Sentences Abbreviations Read More