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Pam Nelson: The Grammar Guide

 

Archive for April 2009

Number of comments in parentheses

15: Style guides: 50 years of Strunk and White

Strunk and White’s "The Elements of Style," one of the most famous books about grammar and usage, was published 50 years ago April 16. The slim book has sold more than 10 million copies, according to this Associated Press report. Its influence is wide. William Strunk Jr., an English professor at Cornell University, published his own book in 1918 as a guide to his students. One student, E.B. White, became a well-regarded writer and revised the book for publication in 1959. The book emphasizes plain, clear and concise writing, and lays down rules such as "omit needless words" and[.....]

8: Word usage: We just want to celebrate

A reader sent this note to our editors today: You make this mistake almost every time a local team wins a title or tournament, so please teach your writers and editors the difference. This article was originally posted by the Raleigh News & Observer, a subsidiary of The McClatchy Co.; is posted here to provide continuity; and is copyright © 2011 The News & Observer Publishing Company, which reserves the right to remove this post.

2: Words that mean something bad has happened

Those who report the news often apply labels to terrible or urgent events: tragedy, disaster, crisis, emergency. This article was originally posted by the Raleigh News & Observer, a subsidiary of The McClatchy Co.; is posted here to provide continuity; and is copyright © 2011 The News & Observer Publishing Company, which reserves the right to remove this post.