Happy Tolkien Reading Day! My first experience with J.R.R. Tolkien was not on a temperate spring day like March 25. Rather, I first picked up a Tolkien novel because of an assigned summer reading project during the stifling season before my freshman year of high school. I procrastinated completing my summer reading, choosing to while…
One of our readers asked us how to write the term we use for electronic mail: hyphen or no hyphen? The short answer is this: Either is correct. Just choose one and be consistent. It seems that the original spelling was e-mail, but the spelling has evolved into the shorter form that does not use…
Unlike many of our Timely Tips, this tip isn’t to tell you how these words are different and how to use them correctly. Instead, I am here to tell you that these words mean the same thing. Surprised? So was I! I’ve always assumed that there were occasions, grammatically speaking or otherwise, when you needed…
Yes, Virginia, You CAN Put Tabs in a Table! You may already know this, but it’s new to me. I have found that if I try to ‘Tab’ within a table, Word just takes me to the next cell in the table. If I am at the end of the table, pressing ‘Tab’ adds a…
Use ‘whether’ when there is an alternative involved . . . I can’t decide whether I should leave or stay. Can you tell me whether you intend to pay me? (The alternative is not to pay me.) Use a moisture analyser to visually indicate whether the dehydrator is functioning within its designed range. In most cases, do not use ‘or not’ with ‘whether.’ It is redundant. Please…
All of-Except with pronouns, ‘of’ is unnecessary (e.g., ‘all the shoes,’ but ‘all of them’). As to whether-whether or not-Whether is usually sufficient. Commence or initiate-Use ‘begin’ or ‘start’ instead. Currently, presently-Currently means it is happening now-Presently means it will happen soon. Data takes a plural verb. Datum is singular and takes a singular verb.…
Last time we talked about how to review another person’s writing. Now let’s look at how we should receive feedback from a reviewer. Authors should: Consider advice fully and carefully before deciding whether to accept it. Explain tactfully why you chose to reject certain suggestions. For example, you might say, “This document follows requirements from…
If co-workers ask you to give them feedback on their writing, it can either be a pleasant experience or create tension in the workplace. Here are suggestions for successfully communicating helpful input while maintaining a community of respect. Reviewers should: • Be specific. Instead of “This document is confusing,” say, “In section 5, the specific…
An ellipsis is a series of three dots with spaces between them that are inserted into a quotation to show that words have been omitted from the original quotation. (Ellipses is plural for ellipsis.) Rules include: 1. When you place an ellipsis in the middle of a quotation to show that words have been omitted,…
How do I know when to use ‘affect’ versus when to use ‘effect’? Affect is a verb. It means to influence. Think of ‘affect’ as an ‘action.’ Both ‘affect’ and ‘action’ begin with the letter ‘a.’ Examples: Your response to this question will affect my opinion of you. His screaming didn’t affect her at all.…