This is fun. Click here to see how many of the 100 most common words in English you can guess… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Uncategorized
Try a word quiz on Triangle Grammar Guide
Today’s quiz is one of those that a regular commenter has called a "spelling" quiz. True, some of the choices… Read more »
Rules for word order
I ran across this Professor Grammar video on YouTube that explains the English grammar rule on word order for adjectives… Read more »
Word choice: Emigrate and immigrate
A reader called writer David Menconi to object to a word use in Menconi’s Arts & Living profile of singer… Read more »
Apostrophes plague the sign-makers
My husband visited the North Carolina mountains for a few days and came back with these images of signage mishaps…. Read more »
A dictionary's new entries
The annual update of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary includes about 100 new words, according to Merriam-Webster Online. The print version of… Read more »
Triangle Grammar Guide quiz
Today’s quiz is different from previous Triangle Grammar Guide quizzes. In each of the five parts, you will see two… Read more »
What does "in tandem" mean?
This headline brought a note from a reader: ‘Extreme Makeover’ helped, but ministry now struggles Refurbishing was in tandem with… Read more »
Bread and circuses
Recent letters to the editor refer to "bread and circuses," a phrase that refers to choosing short-term diversions over more… Read more »
Try a Triangle Grammar Guide quiz
Today’s quiz has five sentences. You will choose the better of two choices given in the sentences. Have fun and… Read more »
AP Stylebook changes for 2008 (second post)
Among the new entries in the Associated Press Stylebook for 2008 is one on "myriad." The AP says that "myriad"… Read more »
Let's get "its" right
My colleague Karen spotted this sign at Umstead State Park: The sign writer needed the possessive "its" in the second… Read more »
Try a Triangle Grammar Guide quiz
Today’s quiz is about word usage. You will read sentences and choose the best word for the blank. Usually, I… Read more »
Word usage: trustee and trusty
A current story in The News & Observer makes a passing reference to a "prison trustee." I thought the term… Read more »
It's very simple – part 2
In response to a post Sunday, a reader sends this photo of the navigation display in a new Lexus hybrid…. Read more »
It’s very simple — part 2
In response to a post Sunday, a reader sends this photo of the navigation display in a new Lexus hybrid…. Read more »
It’s very simple
I had a reason to visit the National Park Service site this morning, specifically the Canaveral National Seashore (mentioned in… Read more »
Adverbs at work: slow and slowly
A reader asks: Can you cover the proper use of fast and slow as adverbs? People often say, “drive slow.”… Read more »
Impracticable
A disclaimer notice that The News & Observer posts on the new story comment system sent me to the dictionary… Read more »
Puzzling typos
As a copy editor, I understand and sympathize about typos and other errors. I’ve made some doozies over the years,… Read more »
“Bests” and a grammar quiz
Some readers were sure we’d made a typo in this headline: They thought we surely meant to write “beats” instead… Read more »
Two new grammar geek favorites
Minnesota Public Radio has a podcast called Grammar Grater. Writer and producer Luke Taylor and his crew, being radio folks,… Read more »
Test your pronoun skills
Today’s Triangle Grammar Guide quiz contains five sentences. In each one, you will choose the proper form of who/whom or… Read more »
Closed captions spelling humor
I was watching MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” this morning with the closed captions on. As host Joe Scarborough talked to David… Read more »
Try the new Triangle Grammar Guide quiz!
Finally, I have a new Triangle Grammar Guide quiz for you to try. I have upgraded to a full-featured version… Read more »