A participle is the “-ing” or “-ed” (which might be irregular) form of the verb that is being used as an adjective. Because it comes from a verb, the participle represents an action or a condition. The word the participle modifies is always doing that action or is in that condition. Often the participle comes right in front of the …
The Missing Preposition? No!
There was a recent post on FB that was based on assuming that a preposition had been left out of a prepositional phrase. There is really no such thing as a prepositional phrase without the preposition. The preposition cannot be “assumed.” It is either there, or it is not. If it is there, there is a prepositional phrase; if it is …
Commas on Steroids Starts This Sunday
My first-time-ever class on commas alone, Commas on Steroids, begins this Sunday, January 13, and then meets both days next weekend, January 19 and 20. (As I am putting the class together, I am thinking we need more time, but that will have to be a Part 2 comma class at a later date!) We will spend the entire six …
“Commas on Steroids” — A New Class
I was recently told that what I generally teach is “too easy.” So having given it some thought, I have created a new class — Commas on Steroids. We will look at the basic rules and then see how they apply to those transcript sentences that are lengthy and often convoluted. We need to figure out how to break these …
Those Pesky Conjunctive Adverbs
The rule is that, when an adverb is pulled out to the front of a COMPLETE sentence, it becomes a “conjunctive” adverb, begins a brand-new sentence, and needs a period or a semicolon in front of it and a comma after it if it has more than one syllable. It is common to do this with certain adverbs such as …
Trailing Off with the Word “So”
There is a difference of opinion about the function of the word “so.” Some think it is a coordinate conjunction like the word “and,” in which case it would take nothing in front of it as it has no subject and verb after it. Others think it is an adverb that has been turned into a conjunction and takes …
“Margie Rules” — The Subscription
I have an excellent example this morning of what we do in Margie Rules. This is my $10-a-month subscription program. We offer a 10 percent discount on all my books and seminars; a live monthly session online for questions and discussion of English topics; and a dedicated FB page, where I answer questions and explain the grammar/punctuation that applies to …
Is the Apostrophe Necessary in This Construction?
There was a recent question on FB regarding the apostrophe in this construction: …It was 2013-’14. OR …It was 2013-14. I wanted to look it up to make sure but was running out the door at the time — and then promptly forgot about it. Here is a post from today by Mary Neel with the reference that cites the …
“Yes” and “No” and Their Friends
When “yes” and “no” are being used generically, there are no quotes. That is, when they are being used to refer to a positive or negative answer, they are not quoted. Attorneys are generally looking for a generic response and are not requiring that those words and only those words be used. When the “yes” and “no” are mixed in …
The Connecting Adverb
A “conjunctive adverb” is a word that is usually an adverb that has been pulled out to the front of the sentence to connect the sentence it is in to the one in front of it. It has a semicolon in front of it and a comma after it if it is more than one syllable. …He had been on …