Grammar Minute

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Grammar Minute

Lauren Smyth

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Saving the English language 60 seconds at a time.

Grammar Minute

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Dangling Modifiers (In Honor of National Coffee Day)

It's National Coffee Day ... at least, it was the day I recorded this episode. You may not be sure how grammar and coffee are related, but you can find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

The Golden Rule of Commas

Commas are suffering from severe overuse. Learn how not to use a comma on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

What's an Interrobang ‽

Meet the interrobang, a non-standard punctuation mark that I wish we'd use more often. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

How to Answer "How Are You?"

I am well. I am doing well. I am good. I'm not so good now because my English professor is asking about my day and I don't know what to say. Learn how to respond impressively on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Words That Don't Exist (So Don't Use Them)

Are there any common words you've been using that actually don't exist? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

The Sin of Irregardless - Why It's Wrong

You probably already know this word is a travesty, but why? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Weird: Apostrophe Direction Matters

Depending on the font you're using, ' and ' don't actually mean the same thing. Find out why you should care (a little bit) on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Carrots, Karats, Carats, and Carets - What's the Difference?

Hint: This episode may help you impress your geology professor, if you have one. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Each Other vs. One Another

When my cats and I have a staring competition, are we looking at one another or each other? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Loose vs. Lose (Grammar Hall of Shame)

If you're not careful, you could ... lose? Loose? something important!

Fewer vs. Less (A Quick Review)

Here's your biweekly (ha!) reminder from Grammar Minute that you, too, can be smarter than big name companies. Learn why on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Grammar Hall of Shame - Double Negatives

This will never not be one of my favorite topics. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Grammar Hall of Shame - Adverbs vs. Adjectives

Dot your "i," cross your "t," and don't forget to write "ly." Learn why on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Grammar Hall of Shame - Run-On Sentences

We're pretty sure the national park service didn't really mean for hunters to shoot pedestrians. Or did they? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Grammar Hall of Shame - Adjective Verbs

"Tables are for eating customers only." Are you ... sure about that? Find out what went wrong on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Book Titles: Underline, Quotes, or Italics?

If you're reading a great book that all your friends are now required to enjoy, too, how should you punctuate the title? Find out in today's episode of Grammar Minute!

What Time Should You Show Up for "Supper?"

If your friend invites you over for supper, do you know what time to show up? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Waiting For vs. Waiting On

Are you waiting on or for your Amazon package? Find out in today's episode of Grammar Minute!

There, Their, They're - Part III

There are only so many different ways to spell "their." Find out if they're your kryptonite on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Their, They're (Part II)

There's a lot going on this episode of Grammar Minute ...

They're, Their - Part I

Their, they're, there - what's a writer to do? Learn the difference on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Catching Tiny Grammar Mistakes (Part II)

What if you're writing an email and you only get one draft to show off your most professional grammar knowledge? Learn some quick editing techniques that can help on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Catching Tiny Grammar Mistakes (Part I)

When you're writing something that requires multiple drafts, how do you slow yourself down enough to catch the little mistakes? Learn the best technique I've developed over seven years as a writer on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

"Lay" vs. "Lie" - A Topic I've Been Avoiding

Okay, it's not THAT hard, but even seasoned writers often get this one wrong. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Weird English Words (For Decoration Only)

Hint: Don't use these words in your next English paper. Find out what they are on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Flip Phones and Text Abbreviations - Are They Still Appropriate?

When are text abbreviations OK? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Creating Emphasis Without Quotation Marks

Last week (and on Instagram) I recommended against using quotation marks to express emphasis. Here's what you should do instead - on this week's episode of Grammar Minute!

"Quotes, Not Emphasis"

Find out what quotation marks are really for - and how to use them - on this episode of Grammar Minute!

Eight Parts of Speech in Sixty Seconds

Or: "How Fast Can Lauren Talk." Just kidding - you'll be able to easily understand these brief explanations of the eight English parts of speech!

How to Write a List

Hint: Semicolons are not your friends. Find out why on this episode of Grammar Minute!

The Most Tastiest Chocolate Doesn't Exist

"Most" and "-est" don't go together. Find out why on this episode of Grammar Minute!

Is "No" a Complete Sentence? Maybe.

"No" is a complete sentence when your sworn enemy invites you to a swordfight in the midst of a dark wood under the crescent moon. But is it really a complete sentence? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Hoot Owls, Humans, and the Who/Whom Debate

Humans and hoot owls have some vocabulary in common. Learn how to use the "owl words" correctly in today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Addressing the Address: Stress and Parts of Speech

How can you instantly know the difference between a noun and a verb, even without hearing the rest of the sentence? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

The Collar of the Cat (And Why You Shouldn't Say That)

Why does "the house of my parents" sound weird, but "the House of Representatives" doesn't? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Double Negatives Part 2: The Sneaky Negatives

Negatives like "nowhere" and "nobody" are easy to spot - after all, most of them start with "no" - but there's another class of negatives that are much harder to identify. Find out what they are and how to use them on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Double Negatives Part 1: The "N" Negatives

Everything is good in moderation, and the same goes for negatives. Find out how to use them properly on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Weird & Wild English, Part II

Have you ever used one of the words Shakespeare invented in the course of ordinary conversation? Find out on this episode of Grammar Minute!

Weird & Wild English, Part I

Become fun at parties and show off your grammar pride with these weird and wild English facts!

Pontifications on Semicolons

Most people don't spend their time ruminating about semicolons, but luckily for you, I did. Hear what I've discovered on this episode of Grammar Minute!

You May, and You Might

You may skip class. You might skip class. Do those mean the same thing? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

The Case of the Unknown "It"

"It" could be a book. Or a backpack. Or, for all you know, your neighbor's pet squirrel. Learn how to make sure your pronouns mean something in this episode of Grammar Minute!

How to Impress a Professor (Title Capitalization)

Make Sure Your Titles Are Properly Capitalized (Like This One!) in This Episode of Grammar Minute!

None of Us Is Ready for This Grammar Rule

"None" is short for "no one," which makes it a singular noun. But do we really have to treat it like one? Find out on this episode of Grammar Minute!

Wishing You a Grammatical Valentine's Day

Impress your significant other with your grammatically correct rendition of "Valentine's Day." Find out how on this episode of Grammar Minute!

Banish Flabby Opinion Statements

Angels appear to people. Opinions do not. So don't use this one common phrase in your academic essay, under peril of your professor's red pen!

The Enormity of Words

Did ABC News really mean to call the world's largest airplane a "monstrous evil?" I don't know, but after listening to this episode of Grammar Minute, you might be able to guess!

The Biweekly Meeting

Is that ... twice per week or once every other week? Find out (or not) on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Grammar Is the Best Subject - Because the Best Subject Is Grammar!

Not a fan of the logic in the title? Me neither! The proper response is "Well, that begs the question!" - a phrase you may have been misusing. Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

The Conciseness of "Concision"

Do you express yourself with concision or conciseness? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

It's Not Unlikely That You've Seen This Before ...

It's also not unlikely that you didn't spot the grammar error in the title. Find out what it is in this latest episode of Grammar Minute!

Friends Share Everything - Even (Sometimes) Apostrophes

If my friend and I both own something, is it "Lauren and friend's item" or would that be "Lauren's and friend's item?" Find out on this episode of Grammar Minute!

Run, Forrest, Run - But Not Too Far!

You can probably recognize a run-on sentence if you see it for example this is a run on sentence. But what should you do if that's what you want to say? Uncover the dos and don'ts of correcting run-on sentences in this episode of Grammar Minute!

Not Enough Time, Part 1

What's a writer to do when they have too many commitments? Here are some short tips on how to keep yourself motivated for a strong finish.

Hadrian, Mittens, & Compound Nouns

If Hadrian and Mittens are sitting in front of the fire, could it be that Hadrian or Mittens ... are going to get up and eat dinner? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Cats, Movies, & Me (Preposition Order)

Are you and your friends going out to the movies? Are Hadrian, Mittens, and me going to the movies - or is it me, Hadrian, and Mittens? Find out on this episode of Grammar Minute!

Semicolons vs. Commas

When you just don't want to say "and," what can you try instead? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Everyday Words, Every Day

Is every day a noun? Or an adverb? Or an adjective? Or would that be "everyday?" Find out on this episode of Grammar Minute!

You Were Chased by an Alligator!

You were being chased by an alligator ... but you didn't know that important piece of information until you got to the end of the sentence. That's what happens when you use the passive voice. Learn how to identify and avoid it in this episode of Grammar Minute!

Are you funnier than your friend? Or should you claim to be "more funny?" Find out in this episode of Grammar Minute!

One hundred, 100, or one-hundred?

I'm no mathematician, but even the English nerds have to write numbers every once in a while. Find out how to show off your science side on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Plural Possessives

Are you going to Jones's house, or are you going to the Joneses' house? And how much of a difference does it make? Find out on this episode of Grammar Minute!

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