4 Jul 2018

As a Rule

by | posted in: Editing, Grammar, Writer's Craft | 6

Who are these pompous pedants who preach what a writer should and should not do? They forbid one to start with a question. But I already did and I’m glad. And they say don’t begin a sentence with “but” or “and.” But I’m doing both. And I’m even more glad. … Read More
6 Jun 2018

What is the Oxford Comma? And Who Cares?

by | posted in: Grammar, Writer's Craft | 4

What is the Oxford comma? And who cares about it? Writers, for one. Readers, too. The Oxford comma, also called the “serial comma” or “Harvard comma,” is the final comma in a series of words or phrases. It sometimes appears after the second-to-last item—as in “We had sandwiches, chips, and … Read More