I see instances of comma splice abuse everywhere these days.

I hope you don’t mind me venting.

I have no idea if this is the correct sub but if anyone has an answer that would be nice.

Anyway, why is the word grateful spelled the way it is, instead of being spelled like 'greatful'? Every time I spell it I worry that it's going to be misspelled because doing it correctly always feels incorrect.

Forgive me if this isn't the correct sub.

I just read that generally when using bullet points to use punctuation only if the statement is a complete statement.

As of right now I have sets of bullet points that have some complete statements and then other bullet points in that same group that are not complete statememts.

It looks a little odd to me to have one bullet point with a period and then the next bullet point without.

Is this okay for a professional document?

Is there a better guideline to use here?

In America, I and, likely, most people are used to the following:

"The new policy will take effect starting/on Friday."

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However, I have seen many non-native translators use this:

"The new policy will take effect from Friday," or even "WWII started from 1939."

Obviously, they got this from somewhere and were trained to use it. To my knowledge, most translators prefer British English and British style guides because they perceive BE as more, well, authentic.

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With that said, the use of "from" as a starting point without "to" as an ending point sounds strange to my ear.

Is the construction "from [some time]" (without a corresponding "to") a Briticism or a non-nativism?

Example:

Jane eyed the stop sign. It, as expected, said 'STOP', rather than 'GO'.

or

Jane eyed the stop sign. It, as expected, said 'stop', rather than 'go'.

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“We’re always scanning your data to help keep you safe. An SSN activity alert happens when your name or address, and any changes to either, shows up on your credit report.”

I’m confused because if you read it as S-S-N it starts with a vowel sound so it should be right, but if you say “social security number” when reading it (like I did) instead of S-S-N then it is incorrect. This is on a very large business’ website (not government) so it is likely it is correct, but I am still questioning it.

Relative clause is used to give further information on something or someone, right? And in this example, “Dan said some things that were not true,” it is giving info on what Dan said. However, in this example, “Dan said some things about me that were not true,” the relative clause is not talking about “me” but still about “things” because “about me” is a prepositional phrase and is not the main object. Now, the question is, what is the relative clause giving info in the following sentence: The boss of the company that has a net worth of 200 billion dollars. Does the company have 200 billion dollars or the boss? Edit: statement changed to question— Who is the boss of the company that has a net worth of 200 billion dollars?

Hi there! I'm completing a reading reflection assignment where I choose an article to read and complete a few tasks or questions surrounding the reading topic/content discussed for an English 101 class. Here is a link to the article I read: https://theconversation.com/hoarding-during-the-coronavirus-isnt-just-unnecessary-its-ethically-wrong-134641

This is the question I am attempting to answer for the assignment:

Use an object to write a simile (a comparison of unlike things using the word "like" or "as") about the reading you chose to do for this week's module.

I'm just unsure if my answer makes sense... Because would this be considered a simile?

My answer:

The country experiencing shortages due to unethical stockpiling/hoarding of provisions during the Covid pandemic is like being in a Walmart after a major hurricane in Florida; Everyone in Florida will already be experiencing the repercussions from store shelves still being barren of toilet paper and beer (all bought up to sustain the hurricane parties) but there will always be someone arguing with Walmart staff about buying the last 30 gallons of water in stock when stores are first reopening following the storm.

My assignment is due at 11:59pm PST on 4/29, any help is greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!!

the sentence is from a picture that’s being corrected. the original says “Please remember all our vehicles are not to be driven over 25 MPH.” but then someone made changes to the sentence and it now reads as: “Please remember none of our vehicles is to be driven over 25 MPH.”

people are saying the second version is right, since vehicles isn’t the subject of the sentence. okay, then I would expect the subject to be (You), as the ‘please remember’ is imperative. but it still doesn’t sound right. vehicles is plural. so wouldn’t you use ‘are?’ I would say the first one is right, but I truly can’t understand.

I've seen this done a couple of ways, italics, single quotes, double quotes, none of the aforementioned. I've got some scenes in the re-work of my book coming up that rely heavily on what is being displayed on a computer screen, I want to choose my formatting in the beginning, so it flows easily when I'm in the heavy stuff. (I'm still working on my inner dialgoue/thoughts, but I've got a good handle on that for now, thanks to all of you.)

So here's what I've written, it's currently in quotes -- does this work? Or would you recommend something different? In this scene, it is just one person and the computer (we'll just say AI) but in future chapters there are multiple characters present. Eventually I do give it a voice, that's easy, but until then, it's text on a screen. (Also ignore the messy of the paragraph, I'm fixing it, but if you'd like to offer some quick advice, I'd love it).

_________________________

The screen displays the flower he purchased with three question marks blinking in bright red requesting if to quarantine. She selects “yes” and works on the keyboard with speed. The monitors switch their displays from the video surveillance to a more benign subject matter. She clicks on a blank space on the desktop and types with no indication of her entry until a single box appears with “Sync complete.” A small time-indicator appears, moves from beginning to end before "Secured" displays for a brief moment and is replaced by "Scan active.”

Let’s say I have a direct quote referring to someone whose identity needs to be identified, let’s do someone named John.

Should I do this? “…your [John] book…”

Or this? “…your [John’s] book…”

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When writing about music, what's better:

• Who Else Feels This Song In Your Heart & Soul?
• Who Else Was Inspired By This Song?

or

• Who Also Feels This Song In Your Heart & Soul?
• Who Also Was Inspired By This Song?

... should I be using "whom?"

Two things.

One - I am writing a fantasy novel in which the police force is called the “royal guard”. I’m just wondering if this should be capitalized when referred to in a sentence. An example:

I need to complete my education in order to join the royal guard.

Do I capitalize it in this context?

Secondly - This is a bit of an obvious question that i just want confirmation on. Since there is a queen in this fantasy novel, whenever I refer to her without her name (example sentence: I talked to the queen about it.) I capitalize queen, right?

So it should be: I talked to the Queen about it.

Please help!!

I have two sentences that I need help with please! Let me know if both of them are right/wrong! Thank you

“These establishments (libraries) are crucial because variety in storytelling throughout a student’s education allows for different lessons and concepts to be taught.”

AND

“Libraries give students’ the space and time to read books.”

I'm learning English and apparently the comparative is More and the superlative is Most. But I don't know what each one is. What is the Superlative? What is Comparative?

Hello! My family’s last name ends in -es, I’m getting my mom a custom wood carved sign for Mother’s Day (she’s been hinting at it for years since our old one fell apart) but I’m struggling with how the last name should be. The sign will read “Welcome to the [insert last name]”. As mentioned before, our last name ends with an -es (sort of like Jones or Bones, but the first half is way different).

How would I write it out on the sign? I’ve tried googling but have had no luck and don’t want to ask her because it’ll raise suspicions.

Thanks in advance!

"What is the best perfume you have ever smelled?"

"What is the best perfume that you have ever smelled?

Hi, could someone explain to me the grammar of "his is"

We have a sentence in a book that I don't understand: "His is a very thoughtful sort of walk"

Thanks for all replies

I was wondering apropos this footnote if there could be a difference between the meaning of (1) and (2) as to whether the witnesses at issue are presupposed to exist. Clearly, (2) would be false if the crime had no witnesses. But is it possible for (1) to be true under such circumstances, provided the police is conducting a search for potential witnesses?

(1) there are still witnesses being sought (by police)

(2) there are still witnesses who are being sought (by police)

I find myself saying stuff like his fairly often and I have no idea if it's correct or not. Sometimes when I re-read it I get confused at why all the haves and hads are there, but it comes out naturally when I'm talking or writing without stopping to think.

Example sentence pulled out of my arse:

"He wouldn't have had to have cleaned it up if he hadn't made the mess in the first place."

I guess in this case, it should just be this instead: "He wouldn't have had to clean it up..."

But I think there are cases where it makes sense:

"We may have missed the deadline, but we wouldn't have had to have it done by then if you didn't make such ridiculous promises to the client in the first place."

In this case, you could once more simplify to "we wouldn't have had to do it by then", but "we have to have it done by then" is definitely something you'd say often, so it should surely be possible combined with "wouldn't have" too.

Not really sure. Is this construction always wrong or does it work sometimes?

Hello new friends! I am only an amateur grammar nerd, so I’m sure I will need occasion help.

Today’s conundrum: using commas when typing out a common phrase. Earlier, I was commenting to someone “this too shall pass”. It was an informal setting, being a subreddit for a kids’ show, and parents griping about their kids obsessing over shows that the parents despise.

As I was typing my response, I thought to myself that the phrase originally would read as “this, too, shall pass.” However, the way that phrase is spoken in modern times is more like a run-on. I wondered if omitting the commas was acceptable, as leaving them in makes the phrase seem way too choppy. I think only Captain Kirk would say, “this… too… shall pass.” 😂

What do you say? Would you leave the commas in because it’s grammatically correct, albeit choppy? Or would you leave the commas out as it makes the phrase easier to read, as we speak in our minds? Also, would your opinion change if it was a formal setting, as in something for print?

"Trimipramine may be a more novel alternative, especially given its tendency to not suppress; indeed, rather, brighten; R.E.M. sleep."

So I'm writing a book and the sentence goes "I don't believe him and I wish I hadn't have called him tonight" Is this wrong. What about using hadn't've. I can't think of another way to put it. "I don't believe him and I wish I hadn't called him tonight" just doesn't sound right to me either, or is it

Does the sentence in bold sound natural?

A: Dude, where are you?

B: I am still in the lobby. When will you be back? I have stayed here for 40 minutes.

"The expression of A, B, C, and D is different" or "The expression of A, B, C, and D are different."

Which one is correct?

”It’s real life, or at least as close as you can get in a Bushwick, Brooklyn, basement.”

I came across this sentence in the NY Times online edition today, and the second comma gave me pause. Bushwick is a neighborhood in the NYC borough of Brooklyn. Can someone please explain why there’s a comma after Brooklyn? Thanks!

So I was wondering about using phrases such as “based on” or “dependent on.” I’m assuming those kind of phrases start an adverbial of some sort that modifies a clause; for example, “Based on this information, what is going to happen?” Well, first, I was wondering if that is true— if adjectives can start adverbials like that.

But also, I was wondering, sort of as a bonus question, why we can use those phrases to “modify” both base statements and then statements that have a verb proceeding it. For example, we can say “Based on this, apples are good for you,” or we can say “Based on this, I believe that apples are good for you.” As far as I know, both are correct.

I’d also like to end this by saying that this is totally a useless thing for me to know the answer to but I’m curious.

It seems like the word free changes it's meaning with every word it modifies. Free beer (no cost) is something completely different from being a free man( not imprisoned), a free for all( a mele) or free will(god knows what that means). Are there many other words whose meaning changes so much when used to describe a noun?

In school, I was erroneously taught that a run-on sentence was defined as a scenario in which two or more clauses were needlessly connected, as if though the author was rambling. I've since learned that this is incorrect; a run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined incorrectly, such as with a comma splice.

Nevertheless, this error is still one that I frequently stumble across. This example might be exaggerated, but it still gets the point across:

I like spaghetti, and some dogs have spots on them.

While the clauses are properly connected with a comma and a conjunction, there is no obvious reason to connect them in the first place. A more typical example might look like this:

Emily Dickinson often wrote poems from her home in Massachusets, which has since been converted into a public museum, and her poetry was typically characterized by slant rhyme, which is a type of rhyming scheme created by similar but nonidentical sounds.

Oh boy. This sentence is awkward because the clause regarding the status of her home is irrelevant to the clause regarding the definition of a slant rhyme. In fact, I suspect these clauses are being held together against their will. The actual content of this sentence isn't bad, but these contents should be separated into separate sentences for easier reading:

Emily Dickinson often wrote poems from her home in Massachusets, which has since been converted into a public museum. Her poetry was typically characterized by slant rhyme, which is a type of rhyming scheme created by similar but nonidentical sounds.

This is much better. I would guess that this error arises from the horrifically constraining “five sentences per paragraph” rule that students encounter in high school. Nevertheless, I now find myself without a word for this type of error, and I would quite like to have one. All input appreciated.

Miss Reitjes’ class or Miss Reitjes’s class?

Apostrophe after the s or apostrophe and then s