Patrice Riley, Author at BusinessWritingBlog

Punctuation

Is There A Comma Before “Which?”

Here are the general rules for when to use a comma with which: Place a comma before which if it is introducing a nonrestrictive phrase. Do not place a comma before which if it is part of a prepositional phrase like “in which.” Do not place a comma before which if… continue reading

A graphic of a beautiful woman with the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

Expressions and Phrases

Understanding the phrase: “Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder”

Have you ever heard someone say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? It means that there are different opinions on what is beautiful. One person may like how something looks, but another person thinks it’s ugly. So, beauty is subjective. For example: Jacob… continue reading

A two-tone graphic with the word "there's"

Grammar and Usage

Understanding “There’s”

There’s is a contraction of there is. It is correct to write, “There’s a hole in my bucket.” It is not correct to write, “There’s three holes in my bucket.” There’s only refers to one item. If you wanted to correct that sentence, you would… continue reading

A chalk board with the word because and a comma placed right before the word

Punctuation

Do You Put a Comma Before “Because?”

Let’s answer the question: “do you put a comma before “because?” The short answer is when because connects two clauses in a sentence, you don’t need a comma. Because is a subordinating conjunction. It connects a subordinate clause with an independent clause. There should not be a comma between… continue reading

A handwritten notes with the words "Please call back ... at your earliest convenience

Etiquette

My Convenience or Your Convenience?

Asking someone to contact you at their earliest convenience is a polite way to say, “Contact me soon.” However, sometimes people twist this polite saying into a rather rude alternative. “I’ll contact you at my earliest convenience” has been showing up on answering machines and… continue reading

A typewriter with a page that featured various variations of spelling "twenty first century" with some being capitalized and hyphenated

Vocabulary

How to Correctly use “Century”

If you write a novel set in the future, do you call it the 35th Century? 35th century? Thirty-fifth Century? Thirty-Fifth Century? What about this century? The short answer is that thirty-fifth century is almost always correct. Exceptions include if it is at the… continue reading

Vocabulary

E-mail or Email? Which is Right?

In the modern age of business, sending and receiving e-mails is a common occurrence. Because of the ever-changing nature of the internet, emails have had many names, such as email, e-mail, and electronic mail. Which is correct? Is there a time when you should use… continue reading

An abstract background with a comma before the word too

Punctuation

Comma Before “Too” At The End Of A Sentence

Sometimes too is used with a comma, and sometimes it is not. Both can be correct. Using a comma actually depends on the intention of the writer. The comma adds an emphasis. A comma should also be used before too if there is an abrupt shift in thought. When too is… continue reading

Graphic showing two arrow facing each other with the words Vis a Vis facing the words Vis-A-Vis

Expressions and Phrases

What Does Vis-à-Vis Mean?

Vis-à-vis is a French phrase meaning “face-to-face.” In English, vis-à-vis can be used as an adverb, adjective, or noun meaning “face-to-face.” However, this phrase can also be used as a preposition to compare things. In that usage, it becomes a synonym for “facing” or “opposite.” The phrase is… continue reading

A picture of dice with the words "Die or Dice?"

Grammar and Usage

Is Dice Singular or Plural?

Dice are small cubes with six sides. Each side has between one and six dots on it. They are used in many gambling and casino games. Players toss or roll dice and then add up the numbers on the dice according to the rules of… continue reading

Author Archives: Patrice Riley