Pronouns need antecedents. That means that the thing (or person, or place) that the pronoun refers to needs to have been mentioned already by name somewhere earlier in the sentence or paragraph. If it’s not clear which thing the pronoun refers to, the reader can get quite confused.
Learn more about pronoun-antecedent agreement.
To learn more about grammar and to help us celebrate National Grammar Day this March, visit our new resource page.
Not feeling the holiday spirit yet? Hectic days at work and evenings spent shopping may leave you low on holiday cheer, but the feelings of generosity, gratitude, and closeness to your loved ones are what truly make the holidays special. If music, movies, and weather aren’t getting you in the mood of the season, try reading a good book. Sit down with a holiday classic or enjoy a new read to celebrate the holidays, both religious and secular, that come at this time of year.
1I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Dreidel by Caryn Yacowitz and David Slonim Holiday: Hanukkah beginning on December 6
This is a lovable children’s book about a family driving to visit their bubbe, who swallows a dreidel during Hanukkah supper. Her insatiable appetite leads her to consume more and more items, menorahs included, and her family tries to distract her from her appetite. The illustrations are parodies on famous works by da Vinci, Rembrandt, Rockwell, Matisse, and many others, adding a layer of fun to the story while teaching about the elements of Hanukkah, famous artists, and the art of parody.
2Siddhartha by Herman Hesse Holiday: Bodhi Day on December 8
December 8 is Bodhi Day, which is the day when Buddha, or Siddhartha, experienced enlightenment. To delve into the Buddha’s life, pick up Siddhartha, a novel written by Herman Hesse in 1922. The book follows Siddhartha’s life as he leaves his family on a journey to enlightenment. He bounces from a life of asceticism to hedonism back to asceticism, which offers you the opportunity to reflect on the materialism and excesses of the holiday season. Some consider it a must-read at least once in a lifetime.
3I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Christina Lamb and Malala Yousafzai Holiday: Human Rights Day on December 10
Read Malala’s story in celebration of Human Rights Day on December 10 to be inspired by her resilience and strength. Malala fought for her right to an education while living in the Swat Valley of Pakistan under control by the Taliban. She survived being shot in the head and went on to become an activist for education and to win the Nobel Peace Prize, making her the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.
4A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Holiday: Christmas on December 25
Arguably the most famous novel about Christmas, A Christmas Carol was first published in 1843. It tells the story of the curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation by visits of the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Dickens touches upon the traditions of Christmas such as family gatherings, winter, and warm atmosphere. It teaches that good will and compassion can overcome miserliness and reminds us that not everyone has a home with a table full of food to enjoy with family during the holidays.
5A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby Holiday: New Year’s Eve on December 31
A Long Way Down is a dark comedy about four people ready to end their lives, but their plans are foiled by the presence of one another as they meet on a roof in London. They make a pact to postpone their suicides and embark on a journey together. It is a story about confronting the limits of choice, regrets, mortality, and second chances. It may give you an appreciation for life that you can carry into the new year.
Whether you’ve read the five books on this list already or are reading about them for the first time, they’re enjoyable reads that will surely get you in the holiday mood. Find some time to relax with a hot drink and one of these great stories to get into the holiday spirit.
Donut is an alternate spelling of doughnut. Some dictionaries point out that donut is rarely used outside the United States. All of them recognize doughnut as the main spelling, as do some of the more popular style guides. Doughnut might be the spelling you should use if you want to be sure you’re not making a mistake.
Doughnuts: the thing no stereotypical law enforcement officer can be seen without. Think of The Simpsons‘ Chief Wiggum. Or, if you’re a fan of looking beyond stereotypes, think of Twin Peaks‘ agent Dale Cooper, who appreciated the importance of doughnuts even though he favored cherry pie and a good cup of coffee. You get the picture—doughnuts have their place in popular culture.
They’ve also been on the mind of nutrition specialists and doctors, who generally advise against eating too many of these sweet and tasty rings of dough fried in oil. But seeing how we’re not the stereotypical girls and boys in blue here, or doctors for that matter, our interest in doughnuts comes from a completely different place. Apparently, there are two ways to spell the word—doughnut and donut—and it’s sometimes not completely clear which of the two spellings is the correct one.
The simple answer to this question is they both are. Doughnut is the original spelling, which means it’s the older one, having appeared in the early nineteenth century. If you pick up a dictionary, any dictionary, you’ll find doughnut.
But it’s also very likely you’ll find donut, too. It might be listed as an alternate spelling, and some dictionaries might make it very clear that it’s a spelling mostly used in the United States. Donut, the simpler spelling of the word, first appeared around sixty years after the longer version, and it started gaining traction by the first half of the twentieth century.
Style guides, however, will occasionally list doughnut as the preferred spelling, so it might be better to forgo the shorter spelling unless you’re sure the donut in your writing will not be flagged as a mistake.
What is a doughnut, or donut, if you will? It’s a small lump of dough, which was originally fried in fat. So you can see where the “dough” in doughnut comes from. The “nut” part is actually a different way of saying “a small lump.” Originally, the name of the treat was dough boy.
Donut is a simplification of the original spelling, and as such, it’s completely in the spirit of the American version of the English language. Noah Webster, the godfather of American lexicography, was a strong supporter of spelling reform. If you look at American English and British English today, you’ll see that the former has a strong tendency to prefer the simpler spellings of words.
Lastly, it’s possible to find a correlation between the rise of the simpler spelling and the rise of Dunkin’ Donuts. But while they might get the credit for popularizing it, Dunkin’ Donuts didn’t invent the simpler spelling. In fact, bakeries have been using it since the 1920s.
There are very few things more annoying than a glaring grammar error in an otherwise acceptable piece of writing.
As lovers of language, you and I have a natural instinct to fix these errors. How do we deal, for example, with declarations that tweak our nose?
“I like her to.”
“Its a cold day.”
Seriously, people?!
Sometimes these grammar hiccups seem engineered to drive us up a wall, and they begin to take on a sinister quality. We encounter them over and over, and start to wonder if the writers are purposefully taunting us. Do they not understand that there are specific rules applied to how one writes? Have they never attended an English class? Do they not see that the very fabric of the Universe is at stake?
And from this rift, the troll inside of us emerges.
We find ourselves scouring Facebook posts, text messages, comment boards, and blogs. We find each typo, each error, and drag it out of the narrative like some slimy thing. We expose these abominations to the holy, cleansing light of Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. Then, for each infraction, we admonish the offender with an online version of a ruler crack across the knuckles.
Sounds silly, doesn’t it? But it’s surprising how many of these enforcers stalk the Internet. Whenever they pop up to scold someone’s grammar in chat, or Facebook, they evoke a high school, “Mean Girls” atmosphere. The correction becomes a tacit, “I’m smarter than you.” The conversation quickly degenerates into a digital tarring and feathering that echoes a pseudo-erudite desire to anger or shame the “offender.” It rarely ends well, even in the best of circumstances, and the original point becomes lost in the absurd volley of angry posts.
Other grammarians take a different tack. They choose to say nothing, and sail blithely through the chaotic sea of mangled spelling and misused phrases. This alternative isn’t much better. If we love language, shouldn’t we try to preserve it? Is it not our duty to stamp out the weed-like errors we find before they spread? Is there no middle ground here?
My grandmother always said, “Show them what you want, don’t tell ‘em.” Envision the magic that can happen when one brave soul quietly sits down and types a beautiful sentence. If this is a battle you want to fight and win, I suggest the path of the quiet good example. Write well. Respond correctly. Use the correct capital letters in your posts, place commas appropriately in your texts, and think twice about the apostrophes in your blogs.
Remember that shame is a weapon, not a teaching tool. Using shame in the context of “helping” another writer creates a breakdown in communication. That’s the very thing we’re trying to avoid.
Most issues can be resolved with good proofreading. Online writers are often in a hurry and are unaware that they have broken a grammar rule. So show them how it’s done in your own writing. When you lead by example, you might be surprised how many people begin to replace a misplaced “to” with a “too.”
You’ve hurt no one in the process, and your karma’s clean.
As life changes go, quitting a job ranks among the most exhilarating and terrifying. It’s a leap into the unknown, regardless of whether you’ve got a new position all lined up or you’re leaving to begin the hunt for new opportunities. Here are seven expert tips to take a little of the stress out of your transition and help you quit your job with class.
Job stress can cause us to make impulsive decisions. It’s a good idea to take a step back and get a little perspective before you decide to jump ship. Take time to weigh the pros and cons of leaving. Is looking for a new job the best option? Can you afford the down time?
If you already have a new job in your sights, how does it compare to your present position? Keep in mind that money isn’t necessarily the only factor you’ll need to weigh; things like benefits, commute time, and opportunities for advancement are also critical. If you’re not certain about your new job prospects, you may want to determine whether your current job can be salvaged before you call it quits.
If you have an employment contract, now is the time to look at it and see if you’re required to give a certain amount of notice. If you’re not contractually obligated to give more, two weeks’ notice is customary.
If your job requires very specific skills, and you know there’s no one available to readily replace you, it’s good form to give more notice. That way, your employer will have more time to bring in someone new and get that person trained.
Before you tell your boss that you’re leaving, draft a resignation letter. Treat the resignation letter as a legal document terminating your employment. It will likely go in your HR file and become a permanent part of your record.
Don’t burn bridges! You may well have criticism for your boss or the company, but save constructive feedback for your exit interview. Your resignation letter should be straightforward and positive. Tell your boss that you intend to resign and when your last day will be. Discuss any transition plan you have or are willing to make. Thank your boss for the opportunity. You don’t owe anyone a detailed explanation about why you’ve chosen to move on, so keep it simple.
Yes, the conversation may be difficult. And yes, you’ve carefully crafted a resignation letter that iterates the same news. Even so, it’s best to tell your boss that you’re leaving in person.
Keep the meeting professional. Future employers are likely to contact your boss for a reference. And, even if you’ve already found a new job, remember that you’re not the only one who makes career changes. You may well encounter your boss somewhere down the line. It’ll be better for both of you if, the last time you worked with him or her, you left on good terms.
Once you’ve informed key players like your boss and HR, it’s time to let your co-workers know that you’re leaving. Anyone you work closely with deserves your personal touch. Don’t leave folks to wonder and speculate when they see you packing your desk.
It’s a good idea to thank your mentors and anyone who’s helped you along your career path personally, too. A handwritten thank-you note is a kind, memorable gesture.
Remember, social media has eyes everywhere, so it’s important to leave on good terms with your colleagues. You’ll be counting on them for things like LinkedIn recommendations and references.
Some employers will ask you to make a transition plan. Even if they don’t, you should have at least a rudimentary plan to help someone fill your role if your tasks are particularly complex. After all, no one else understands your day-to-day process like you do. Here’s what The Muse recommends that a simple transition plan include.
If you’re training someone to replace you, remember to keep your interactions instructive and positive. Even if you’ve had some challenges with your company or supervisor, now isn’t the time to share them. Grumbling about your job responsibilities to the trainee who is about to fill them will only leave him or her with bad feelings. Instead, try to impart some wisdom to help the trainee meet the challenges you faced. Making work life better for the next person should be your goal.
Leaving a job once you’re established can be a more involved project than you might imagine. If your company has a human resources department, be prepared to ask questions. Before you leave, make sure you look into any benefits you may be entitled to, such as unused PTO. Figure out what happens to your 401(k) and sort out how things like health insurance are handled.
Some companies will conduct an exit interview. Although this is a good time to give feedback about what the company can do to retain employees, remember again to keep it constructive. You may encounter your boss or others from your company down the road, so scorched earth policies are never a good idea. It can be helpful to prepare in advance for exit interview questions, especially if you’re aware that you’ll be personally interviewed rather than asked to fill out a survey. The Balance offers a sampling of exit interview questions you can expect.
Best of luck with your new career venture!
How the Grammar Girl Team Answers All Those Grammar Questions
Guest post by Ashley Dodge
English is a complex, complicated, and often confusing language. It seems as if everyone, at one time or another, needs help with grammar. As Grammar Girl’s assistant, I’m lucky enough to help people find the answers to their grammar questions sent in by e-mail, whether it’s how to remember “affect” or “effect,” or how to use the semicolon.
We get a lot of the same grammar questions, and we also get tons of tips and podcast ideas straight from the e-mail we receive. Mignon and I work as a team to make sure we provide the right, or best, answers to people’s questions, and whenever I run into a particularly challenging or difficult question, I send it to Mignon.
Sometimes, however, there isn’t an answer. This is frustrating not only for me, but for the person who asked the question. A popular and frustrating question people ask is why we say “the Eiffel Tower,” but we don’t say, “the Buckingham Palace,” or why we say “I’m going to church,” but not “I’m going to museum.”
This is frustrating because we can tell you the answer to your specific question, and we can give you some guidelines about when to use determiners (“a,” “the”), but we can’t answer the question people want, which is “Why? Why do you need a determiner with countable singular nouns but not proper nouns?” Often people want the answer to that “Why?” question, and there isn’t one. It’s just one of the many examples of English’s complexity, complications, and confusion.
To support or find my answers to grammar e-mail, I start with Grammar Girl, of course! I search the Grammar Girl website, newsletters, and books. If I can’t find what I’m looking for in any of those sources, I do a Google search; search the dictionary; look through Garner’s Modern American Usage, the Chicago Manual of Style, the AP Stylebook, grammar blogs, books, or websites such as Grammarly; or search Google Ngram, which shows how often words or phrases are used in published books.
The latter source is fascinating and many people don’t know it exists. Grammar Girl has written about it, and when I use Google Ngram to support or find my answer, this is usually the first time people have heard of it.
You might think responding to grammar questions would be easy, but sometimes it’s difficult to craft a polite response to someone who, let’s say, has had an ongoing debate about a specific grammar issue, and the side the writer has chosen is wrong. People don’t like to hear that they’re wrong or are going to lose a bet. I always try to keep a friendly, conversational tone. Mignon wants to provide a comfortable, supportive, and friendly place where you don’t have to worry about us making a comment if you make a grammar mistake. That’s what I try to create.
What’s the best part about answering grammar e-mail? It’s rewarding to know you’re helping people. I find that I’ve learned more myself about grammar, language, usage, and writing just by answering people’s questions.
About the Author
Ashley Dodge is Grammar Girl’s assistant, and a writer, social media manager, and lifestyle blogger. She lives in Reno, Nevada where she graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She enjoys knitting hats and having her pug model them. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and visit her blog.
You can follow Grammar Girl on Facebook and Twitter, and head to the Quick and Dirty Tips website to sign up for the weekly Grammar Girl newsletter, podcast, and tips.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the Grammarly team polled more than 1,700 Facebook fans on what piece of punctuation they are most “thankful” for in their writing.
The semi-colon, em-dash, and period, were top contenders; yet, overwhelmingly we learned that English writers are most thankful for the comma.
Although writers enjoy the comma, many do not know how to use it. Misuse of commas is among the top grammar mistakes that writers around the world are making, according to a recent audit of English writers conducted by the Grammarly team. And there are many ways to misuse a comma:
There are 28 different types of comma mistakes that English writers can make. Yet, not including a comma before a coordinating conjunction—and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet—is six times more common than any other!
