Former Writing and Learning Peer Deeya B. is back with an ongoing, occasional series about revising your work, with a specific focus on grammar. This series is part of the larger blog feature "Grammar Camp."
In this post, Deeya focuses on the use of articles ("the" and "a(n)") and how to self-edit your writing with an eye to your article use.
Does this word need an "s"? An apostrophe? An apostrophe "s"?
If you often find yourself asking such questions, you've come to the right place.
And what better time to get those answer than when you are stuck inside between (the strangest) spring term and the forthcoming (entirely remote) summer term?
Here to finally complete the promised three part series on common expression errors, it is Apostrophe Angst!
If you want to review the previous two posts, you can read them here:
Part 1: Subject-verb agreement
Enjoy!
Be safe. Be well. Use grammar.
Way back in February, I posted a "Part 1" of this mini grammar camp series on "common expression errors." You were promised a Part 2 focused on Pronouns (and a Part 3 focused on apostrophes!)...
Well, a lot has happened since February and it kept not seeming like the right time to bring the blog focus back to grammar.
To be honest, it still doesn't feel like the right time to do that. But, the part of me that loves rules and structure is feeling all kinds of out of whack recently. Posting this blog entry helps to soothe that part of me in two ways:
1. It corrects a lingering issue (i.e., that of a Part 1 with no Part 2 or 3)
2. It puts my focus on the comforts of the system and structure of grammar.
Of course, grammar rules (like other rules) are made to be broken, and so those comforts can only extend so far.
But, I do hope that this momentary diversion into the world of grammar can provide some interest and/or clarity and/or curiosity and/or comfort for you too. Part 3 on apostrophes is also coming...
Be safe. Be well. Use grammar.