Grammar and Usage

You use them every day in spoken English. Pick up a magazine or read an article online—you’ll see one or more somewhere on the page. Split infinitives are everywhere and widely accepted—yet they are still surrounded by controversy. So, is it OK to break the… continue reading

What are misplaced modifiers? Let’s start from the top. Modifiers hold a lot of power—they can change, clarify, or limit a particular word in a sentence. You can use them to add explanation or emphasis. They provide the extra details that make a subject interesting.… continue reading

Understanding why correct syntax matters will help you develop your editing skills when you’re proofreading someone else’s work. In business writing, “syntax” is a set of rules that explain how you should put words together to make a sentence. YourDictionary.com explains that syntax includes “word choice, matching… continue reading

Everyone nowadays does one form of business or the other – entrepreneurs, investors, medical professionals, techies, etc. Everyone must know how to write effectively. Everyone who wants to be clearly understood must learn to use grammatically correct sentences. The Aim of Business Writing Business writing… continue reading

On vacation in Las Cruces, New Mexico, I try not to focus on business writing. But it’s a habit that’s hard to break. Words, phrases, and messages grab my attention, even on vacation. Here’s a sign I like for its brevity and directness, though traditionalists… continue reading

Let’s have a quick look at the commonly confused nauseous vs nauseated. My dear friend just had major surgery in another city. Texting me to let me know how she is, her husband wrote, “She’s nauseous a lot.” But is she nauseous or nauseated? What… continue reading