Few aspects of grammar are as confusing as the comma. What does it do? Where does it go? As with most grammatical conundrums, The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) has all the answers.
Unpacking CMOS: Semicolons vs. Colons
The difference between colons and semicolons can be challenging, and it is not uncommon to see them used interchangeably and hence, incorrectly. Let’s dive into the unique uses for each punctuation mark.
Unpacking CMOS: British vs. American Style
Blame Downton Abbey or Kate Middleton’s beautiful wedding, or the fact that we owe over 1,700 English words to Shakespeare. Anglophilia (or love of all things English) is alive and well in much of the United States, and many British rules and styles have crept into common usage in our writing. Let’s take a look at some of the differences between American and British grammar, as explained by The Chicago Manual of Style.
Unpacking CMOS: Titles of Works
Standards for writing titles, such as capitalization and italicization, make it easier for the reader to understand what the writer is communicating. Yet with the rise of easily published, unproofed text and social media that doesn’t allow for italics, a writer can miss a lot of these standards—or simply not know them. Check out the latest installment in our “Unpacking CMOS” series to find out what our favorite style guide recommends for dealing with titles of works.
Unpacking CMOS: Good Usage versus Common Usage
CMOS 5.250, “Good usage versus common usage,” is one of the lengthiest sections in CMOS’s seventeenth edition. It illuminates tricky words and phrases that are commonly used incorrectly in American writing. Learning the proper style for these terms will ensure you don’t confuse your readers and embarrass yourself with erroneous word choice.
A Primer on Writing about Time
Time is such an integral part of our experience as humans . . . we run out of time, time is money, time heals, time flies. But there are often inconsistencies or variations in how we write about time. Review this guideline to brush up on accepted standards, and find out whether you should be using “daylight savings” or “daylight saving” time.
Unpacking CMOS: Expletives
We often consider “good writing” to be a matter of simply following grammatical and spelling rules, but writing style guides provide broader advice for tricky topics, such as expletives.
Simmer Down: How to Reduce Word Count and Enrich Your Writing
Many authors struggle with writing concisely, but here are a few proven strategies for improving the quality of your writing and keeping your readers engaged.
A Style Guide for Every Writer
Style guides are a critical element to help content producers keep their writing consistent and facilitate easier collaboration on documents. They provide guidance on everything from capitalization and punctuation to correct citation formats and use of numbers. But first you must decide which style guide is right for you.
Four Grammar “Rules” Every Content Writer Should Send Back to School
When you’re creating content, do you get tripped up by grammar rules that hearken back to junior high? Does your English teacher’s voice echo in your head, or is it just your office’s resident grammar cop? Good news! Here are four schoolhouse rules you can throw out to mature as a writer.
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