3 Punctuation Mistakes That Can Make You Look Like A Cannibal

1. Eat your dinner. vs Eat. You’re dinner.

Normal: Eat your dinner. Cannibalistic: Eat. You’re dinner.

That apostrophe (‘) is important! There are often a lot of hilarious (sometimes scary) sentences that come about when people confuse “your” and “you’re.” To avoid looking like a creep, it’s best to remember that your is the possessive form of you. It functions just like my does in relation to me. If you get confused by that, you can memorize you’re as the contraction (short form) of “you are.” Your = the possessive form of you You’re = the short form of you are.

2. Let’s eat, Grandma. vs. Let’s eat Grandma. Normal: Let’s eat, Grandma. Cannibalistic: Let’s eat Grandma.

The comma here is critical. The comma tells the reader that Granny isn’t the object of the verb “eat.” That is, with the comma, Granny isn’t on the main course tonight. The function of the comma here is to show that the sentence “let’s eat” is directed to an audience, Grandma.

3. I love cooking, my dogs, and my family. vs. I love cooking my dogs and my family. Normal: I love cooking, my dogs, and my family. Cannibalistic: I love cooking my dogs and my family.

Similar to number two, the commas here keep the nouns “dogs” and “family” from becoming unintentional objects of the verb “cooking.” In general, use commas to break up the items in lists.

Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense, also known as the past progressive tense, refers to a continuing action or state that was happening at some point in the past. The past continuous tense is formed by combining the past tense of to be (i.e., was/were) with the verb’s present participle (-ing word).

There are many situations in which this verb tense might be used in a sentence. For example, it is often used to describe conditions that existed in the past.

The sun was shining every day that summer.

As I spoke, the children were laughing at my cleverness.

It can also be used to describe something that was happening continuously in the past when another action interrupted it.

The audience was applauding until he fell off the stage.

I was making dinner when she arrived.

The past continuous can shed light on what was happening at a precise time in the past.

At 6 o’clock, I was eating dinner.

.

It can also refer to a habitual action in the past.

She was talking constantly in class in those days.

One final caution: Though the irregularities are few, not every verb is suited to describing a continuous action. Certain verbs can’t be used in the past continuous tense. One common example is the verb to arrive.

At noon, he was arriving.

At noon, he arrived.

The Basics of Clauses in English

Clauses are groups of words that contain a subject and a verb. Why should you care about them? Have you ever told someone you loved them? Or written a letter to a friend? Likely, you did it with the help of clauses. You would find your ability to communicate severely limited if you had to express your thoughts without these serviceable units of speech. Why, even asking why you should care about clauses would be impossible! Let’s take a moment to appreciate the most important types of clauses and what they do for us.

Independent clauses

As its name indicates, an independent clause can stand on its own as a sentence. It has a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought. An independent clause by itself is called a simple sentence.

I like ginger snaps. I do not like dark chocolate.

Dependent clauses

Although a dependent clause also has a subject and a verb, a dependent clause is not a complete sentence. It’s only part of a sentence; it doesn’t express a complete thought.

When I grow up Because she is afraid of the dark

These sentence fragments can’t function without an independent clause. The independent clause can come before or after the dependent clause. However, if a dependent clause comes first, it must be followed by a comma. When an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses appear together, the sentence is complex.

I want to be President when I grow up. When I grow up, I want to be a firefighter. Because she is afraid of the dark, she sleeps with a night light. She never walks alone after sunset because she is afraid of the dark.

Did you notice the words at the beginning of the dependent clauses in the examples? These words (when and because) are subordinating conjunctions. They are dependent markers, words that might help you to identify dependent clauses. If a dependent clause starts with a subordinating conjunction, it is an adverb clause. Adverb clauses (also called adverbial or subordinate clauses) provide information about the when, where, why, and how of the independent clause. Let’s revisit one of our examples:

Because she is afraid of the dark, she sleeps with a night light.

Because indicates that an explanation will follow. This adverb clause will answer a question: Why does she sleep with a night light?

Dependent clauses can also begin with relative pronouns and relative adverbs, such as who, whoever, whom, whomever, that, which, when, where, and whose. If the relative clause begins with one of these words and functions as an adjective, it is an adjective clause. Adjective clauses, also known as adjectival or relative clauses modify nouns or pronouns.

that Sally brought to the party whose wallet I found

Of course, you need the rest of the sentence to understand what they are modifying. Adjective clauses describe the nouns that precede them. Often, they answer the question “Which one?”

The cupcake that Sally brought to the party was delicious. (The adjective clause tells you which cupcake is being discussed.)

The man whose wallet I found gave me a generous reward. (The adjective clause identifies which man gave the reward.)

As you can probably guess, noun clauses are relative clauses that act like nouns. They can be the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.

Whoever invented the can opener is a genius. (This noun phrase is functioning as the subject of the clause.) I just remembered that I need to buy butter. (This noun phrase is the direct object.)

I am ready for whatever the future brings. (This noun phrase is the object of a preposition.)

Does the starting word of the second noun phrase look familiar? That, along with how, who, which, when, where, and why can begin noun and adjective phrases. The best way to tell the difference is to ask if the phrase is modifying a preceding noun.

I just remembered that I need to buy butter. (“That I need to buy butter” is not describing the pronoun “I.” Therefore, it is a noun phrase.)

The one item that I forgot to buy is butter. (“That I forgot to buy” is describing “item.” It is an adjective clause.)

Clauses are just groups of words, but you need them if you want to communicate effectively. Can you imagine trying to talk or write without using sentences? How boring would books be if there were no adverb, adjective, or noun clauses? The next time you write something or chat with a friend, remember that clauses make it possible.

6 Ways to Celebrate National Teacher Day

May 5 is National Teacher Day. In advance of the holiday, it’s important to remember that you wouldn’t be where you are today without the teachers who influenced you throughout your life. Whether your favorite educators are from elementary school, high school, or college, make sure to tell them what a positive effect they’ve had on your life. Here are six ways to celebrate National Teacher Day.

Write a Thoughtful Letter

Sometimes heartfelt words are the best gift a teacher can receive. Think about how significantly your favorite teacher has impacted your life and take a minute to write down exactly how much she or he has done for you. Whether a great elementary science teacher influenced you to become the biologist you are today or a tough high school literature teacher challenged you to become the writer you are now, let that teacher know. Include the kids in this project and help them write a short but sweet note to their current favorite teacher.

Help With Classroom Chores

When time is short, teachers can’t always do everything they want to for their classrooms. Many teachers could use a helping hand with projects, large and small. Talk with your favorite former teacher or one that the kids love and find out how you can help. Be prepared to pitch in with photocopying educational materials, hanging art projects, or taking on lunchtime duty. For many teachers, having a little extra time each week or month is the greatest gift.

Provide Lunch

Teachers work long hours, and they don’t always have time to throw together a nutritious lunch in the morning. On National Teacher Day, tell your kids’ teachers that lunch is on you. Make lunch for a favorite teacher or partner with other parents at your kids’ school to put together a lavish lunchtime spread. If each parent volunteers for one course, your gourmet meal will come together in a flash. Choose healthy foods to keep your teachers nourished throughout the day, and don’t forget something sweet to finish the meal.

Volunteer in the Classroom

Many schools have programs that allow parents to volunteer their time in the classroom. Whether you have an hour or a whole week to give each month, volunteering your time can significantly impact how much a teacher can accomplish in the classroom. Depending on the teacher’s needs, you may be able to help coordinate an educational field trip, prepare activities in the classroom, or even organize seasonal events.

Whatever you do, know that donating your time makes the day much smoother, more efficient, and much more fun for teachers and their students. Check with a teacher or the school’s administrative staff to find out more about the school’s volunteer program.

Read About Great Teachers

There are plenty of excellent books about truly great teachers for every grade level. Choose an appropriate one to read with the kids and help them pick out the qualities that make a teacher truly great. Encourage them to think about which of their teachers have these qualities, and be sure to celebrate them on National Teacher Day.

Tell the Newspaper

Teaching can feel like a thankless job, so there’s no better way to celebrate National Teacher Day than to shout from the rooftops just how great your favorite teacher is. If you can’t quite do that, tell your local newspaper instead. Contact the newsroom about establishing a thank you section in the paper and encourage others in your community to write a note about an educator who has made a difference in their lives.

However you choose to celebrate, remember to give the educators who taught you the basics of punctuation, homophones, and everything in between a day of recognition. Donate your time, your cooking prowess, or your thoughtful words, and celebrate your teachers and their impact on your life. How will you celebrate National Teacher Day?

The Nobel Prize, Modern Shakespeare, and Tweeting Your Way to Better Writing

This week, Svetlana Alexievich broke new ground in the literary world by becoming the first journalist to win the Nobel Prize for her nonfiction writing. In other news, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival has commissioned a rewrite of Shakespeare’s plays and the Internet can be both a friend and foe when it comes to your writing. Check out the full stories below:

Our Favorite Stories:

1. 2015 Nobel Prize for Literature Winner Svetlana Alexievich’s Life and Writing, Explained (Vox)
2. Shakespeare in Modern English? (The New York Times)
3. How Twitter’s 140-Character Limit Made Me a Better Writer (Life Hacker)
4. Internet Distraction: The Writer’s Main Dilemma (The Huffington Post)

Staff Book Picks of the Week:

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (A Song of Ice and Fire) (Fiction) George R. R. Martin

“Taking place nearly a century before the events of A Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms compiles the first three official prequel novellas to George R. R. Martin’s ongoing masterwork, A Song of Ice and Fire. These never-before-collected adventures recount an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living consciousness.”

 

A House of My Own: Stories from My Life (Nonfiction) Sandra Cisneros

“From the author of The House on Mango Street, a richly illustrated compilation of true stories and nonfiction pieces that, taken together, form a jigsaw autobiography—an intimate album of a beloved literary legend.”

Author & Illustrator Birthdays

Donald Sobol — October 4, 1924

Anne Rice — October 4, 1941

Louise Fitzhugh — October 5, 1928

R.L. Stein — October 8, 1943

 

21 Ways to Inspire Creativity When You’re Out of Ideas

Every creative person is subject to the whims of a fickle muse that doesn’t always show up when we need it to. Fortunately, there are ways to make our minds a more hospitable place for ideas. Read on for twenty-one easy tips that will help you make inspiration a more frequent guest.

1 Listen to music.

Multiple studies show that music can increase creativity and focus. Research indicates that listening to classical is only really beneficial if you actually like that style of music, so listen to something you enjoy that isn’t too novel or distracting.

2 Journal every day.

Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way and numerous other books on living a creative life, has long touted the benefits of writing three pages in longhand every morning to keep the creative spark glowing.

3 Join a group of creatives.

Creating can be a lonely activity, so head to Facebook or MeetUp to find groups in your area that gather regularly to share ideas and inspiration. You may even get some helpful feedback.

4 Take a walk.

A Stanford Study showed that the simple act of strolling, even in a familiar or boring setting, can give your creativity a jump-start.

5 Turn off (or cover) your monitor.

Interesting things happen when you can’t edit—you have to move ahead rather than worry about what’s behind you. Sure, you’ll make tons of typos, but you can fix those. Later.

6 Reward yourself for writing with a kitten.

(No, not a real one. That could get expensive, not to mention potentially unhygienic.) For every hundred words you write, Written? Kitten! will reward you with an image of a cuddly kitty. Not a feline fan? You can get puppies or bunnies instead.

7 Mind map.

Don’t know how? Let the inventor of mind mapping show you.

8 Carry an idea notebook.

Inspiration can strike at the most inconvenient times. Carrying a small notebook can help you capture and record ideas that come to you while you’re out and about. You can even draw doodles or save clippings. But do it the old-fashioned way—there are benefits to writing longhand.

9 Freewrite.

Give yourself permission to write whatever comes into your head, set a timer for a short period to encourage you to write fast, and then just let ’er rip. You might be surprised by what surfaces!

10 Join a social writing site.

If your muse gets lonely, online social sites for writers, such as Wattpad or Amazon Kindle’s Write On, may help. (Just be aware that getting noticed and earning feedback on these sites can require a significant time commitment.)

11 Go somewhere busy.

Head to a mall, coffee shop, or event—any place where you can watch people. You might even take notes in the aforementioned idea notebook.

12 Go someplace quiet.

Commune with nature in a serene setting where you can clear your head and make room for creative thoughts to flow in.

13 Do something brave.

Shy? Join an improv group. Clumsy? Take a beginner’s dance class. Do something that pushes your limits and then use your experiences for inspiration.

14 Attend a creative event.

Even small towns have poetry readings, book signings, recitals, and art shows. The world is full of creators doing creative things—go watch them and you may find yourself inspired to join them.

15 Perform a mundane task.

Research shows that performing simple tasks can release creative thoughts. You never know what inspiration will wash over you while you’re folding laundry or sorting the widgets in your widget drawer. And speaking of repetitive things . . .

16 Knit or crochet.

These repetitive motion crafts have benefits similar to meditation and can help you direct your creative energies.

17 Make a list.

If you’re stuck on something, jot down a list of as many ideas as you can think of. (Or try this List of 100 technique.) Focus on quantity over quality—you’ll sort out and refine the good ones later.

18 Have a conversation.

The simple act of chatting with others can get the creative juices flowing. But don’t just make small talk—dig in and really get to know someone. If you’re in need of conversation starters, here’s a little random inspiration.

19 Keep an idea file.

Use an app like Evernote or Dropbox to keep an idea log where you can store everything from notes to articles about topics that interest you.

20 Try a topic generator.

If your blog is languishing for lack of ideas, a topic generator just might help. Here’s one from HubSpot and another fun one from Portent.

21 Light a vanilla cinnamon candle.

Cinnamon and vanilla smells seem to boost creativity. And hey, if nothing else, your writing space will smell amazing.

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs are verbs that serve as a connection between a subject and further information about that subject. They do not show any action; rather, they “link” the subject with the rest of the sentence. The verb to be is the most common linking verb, but there are many others, including all the sense verbs.

A handful—a very frequently used handful—of verbs are always linking verbs:

• all forms of to be (am, is, are, was, were, has been, are being, might be, etc.)
• to become
• to seem

These verbs always link subjects to something that further describes the subject of the sentence.

She is a nurse.

The moon is in outer space.

I have become weary of your methodical approach to waltzing.

The Dalai Lama seems like a nice guy.

These sentences show that a linking verb can connect the subject with a number of sentence elements. Nurse is a noun; in outer space is a prepositional phrase; weary is an adjective; and a nice guy is a phrase that contains both an adjective and a noun. All of them give us more information about what these subjects are, have become, or seem to be.

Some Verbs Can Be Both Action and Linking Verbs

Alas, English has many ambiguities, and some linking verbs can also function as action verbs. These include all the sense verbs, such as look, touch, smell, appear, feel, sound, and taste. There are also some outliers, such as turn, grow, remain, and prove. Used as linking verbs, these verbs can give added information about the sentence’s subject.

The ocean looked peaceful that fine Tuesday.

I felt so excited that day.

That man appears somewhat melancholy.

The soup tastes spicier than usual.

Rachel’s theory about time management remains untested.

All these verbs can do double duty, however, as action verbs.

I felt on the floor for my lost keys.

The man appeared suddenly right in front of me.

Would you taste that soup for me?

Remain here while I go ask Rachel about time management.