Grammar GrammarBook.com |
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

Search results for “Ho”

What Is a Suffix—and How Should You Use One?

If you write, speak, and read English, you've likely come across the word suffix before. If you know what a suffix is and how it functions, you have a useful feather in your grammatical cap. If you are unsure of what a suffix is or don't recall its applications from what you learned in school, …

Read More

Have Been vs. Has Been vs. Had Been: How to Use Each One Correctly

The verb phrases have been, has been, and had been all have closely related meanings. That similarity may at times lead to confusion about the right time to use each construction. In today's review we will discuss the differences among the phrases so you can use each one correctly when you are speaking or writing. …

Read More

Ellipsis Four-Dot Method

You may have seen three dots within text when reading a sentence (…). This punctuation mark is called an ellipsis. An ellipsis represents an omission of one or more words within a quoted passage. The plural of ellipsis is ellipses. The ellipsis serves efficient writing by allowing us to abbreviate content or otherwise include only …

Read More

When Should You Use To Whom It May Concern?

The classic letter opening To Whom It May Concern was once incredibly common and popular. You might be seeing it used less often these days, which might lead you to wonder when the salutation is proper to include in a letter or email. We will address that topic and more in this discussion. The Concern …

Read More

Should You Capitalize Street Names?

Grammatically speaking, the names of streets and roads can get a little bit tricky. Do you know when to capitalize them? If you aren’t sure, this short grammar post will give you helpful guidance. Street Name Capitalization Rules When we consider capitalizing the names of streets and roads, we separate them into two categories. The …

Read More

A vs. An: Should I Use A or An?

You probably use a and an in writing and speech every day. Do you also know which one is proper in each usage? In today’s post we’ll clear up any confusion you might have about a and an. Both a and an are indefinite articles, which are words that refer to a person or a …

Read More

Should You Capitalize “The” Before Country Names?

The decision of whether to capitalize the word "the" in front of a country name can be a tricky one for a couple of reasons. First, you will likely see capitalization used in different ways depending on who is writing and where the writing appears. Second, there isn't one consistent rule you can follow that …

Read More

What Does Metaphor Mean?

Two common figures of speech in English are the simile and the metaphor. Sometimes their functions are confused or mistaken. In this discussion we'll further explore what a metaphor means and how it can enhance our writing when properly used. What Is a Metaphor? Before we focus on the meaning and function of a metaphor, …

Read More

How to Use an Ampersand

The ampersand (the "&" symbol) is an unusual feature of the English language. It supposedly has survived in a limited form since the days of the Roman Empire. Despite the mark's longevity, people may still sometimes have questions about when and how to use it. In formal writing, use of the ampersand to replace the …

Read More

Should Dog Breeds Be Capitalized?

Suppose you are writing about a dog—or even to your favorite dog—and need to mention a type or breed. Should the dog name be capitalized? This is a common question in American English for a couple of reasons. First, because dogs are a big part of our lives, they can appear frequently in writing. And …

Read More

1 2 3 4 5 79