What is a Conjunction? While short sentences are easy to read, they may not be able to fully convey what you mean. Concise is okay. Too short is sometimes not. Likewise, long sentences that try to squeeze in a lot of thoughts may be hard to follow as readers will eventually get tired of reading it and feel like in …
Subject Verb Agreement: Match Your Words
In writing and speaking, it’s important that your subject and verb agree so you can get your message across. Subject and verb agreement (SVA) mainly refers to how the words in your sentence match. One of the most important things to remember is that subject and verb must agree in number – so, you need to determine whether the words …
Modifiers: Detailing Your Sentences
What is a Modifier? Modifiers are words or phrases that modify, describe, or add more details to another word in a sentence. Adverbs and adjectives are modifiers, so are phrases and clauses. Adverbs modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adjectives modify a noun or pronoun. Words may form phrases and clauses to modify another word. He arrived early. …
Use a Colon: Make a List, Note What Follows
What is a Colon? Although rarely used compared to commas and semicolons, a colon (:) is convenient for listing items, words, or phrases. A colon is written like a stack of two periods and can be read as “note what follows.” How to Use a Colon: Here’s a quick guide on how to use a colon: 1. Use a colon …
Semicolon: The Combination Punctuation
What is a Semicolon? A semicolon (;) is a combination of a period and a comma. It signals a pause or a short break with more impact than a comma, but it does not end a sentence like a period. Semicolons signify an essential correlation between phrases and clauses where a comma or a period alone will not suffice. How …
Comma Use: Pause, Take a Break
What is a Comma? A comma (,) is a punctuation mark that signifies a short break or pause in a sentence. Unlike a period, a comma does not end a sentence. It merely allows the reader to breathe. How to Use a Comma Here’s a simple guide to proper comma usage. 1. Use a comma to separate a series of …
Personification: Humanizing Nonliving Things
What is Personification? Another type of figurative language that breathes life into one’s writing is personification: attributing human characteristics, emotion, and behavior to animals and inanimate objects or ideas. It helps writers turn abstract concepts into a more relatable and engaging read. Uses of Personification: 1. Everyday Speech Use personification to creatively get your point across in everyday conversation. Darkness …
Alliteration: Creating Rhythm with Words
What is Alliteration? Also called head rhyme or initial rhyme, alliteration is a poetry device that refers to the repetition of the same initial letter sounds in a line of words. In alliteration, you’ll hear the initial sounds run smoothly from one word to another. Try reading these phrases aloud: “femme fatale,” “pretty in pink,” “white wine,” and “love locks.” …
Hyperbole: Exaggeration & Overstatement
What is Hyperbole? Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses exaggerated comparisons or overstatements for emphasis and literary effect. Like all figures of speech, hyperbole is not meant to be taken literally. “Loving with the fire of a thousand suns” refers to the “burning” passion of loving someone. It wouldn’t make sense to take its literal meaning and pair …
Quotation Marks: Separating Words & Phrases
Quotation marks ( “ ” ) are written on the opposite sides of words, phrases, and quotations to separate them from the rest of the sentence. Here’s a quick guide to using quotation marks. But before we proceed, note that these punctuation rules follow the Standard American English which occasionally differs from British English. Use Quotation Marks Properly 1. Use …