Paragraphs: indent or linespace
I did some research on paragraph separation and found three styles.
Indent every paragraph.
Indent every paragraph except the first.
Do not indent the paragraphs but put some space between them.
My preference is the third one shown here where there is a linespace of half the font size. Observe how it is done in books, magazines and online newspapers.
Then he said, "I'd rather have beef than ham."
Even though then and than sound similar, they really are two different words.
Than is used only in comparisons.
The sun is far brighter than the moon.
At least four buildings are taller than the Empire State Building.
Sometimes a photo can explain better than words.
Then is not used for comparisions but usually has a time element to it.
I will go to the restaurant then eat a great meal.
They wanted to leave early in the moring but I wasn’t ready then.
If you want to go to college, then you need to study in high school.
A questionable topic
Who, what, why, when, where and how do not always require a question mark.
Where is he going?
I wonder where he is going.
This is the country where he was born.
I go where he goes.
Your medical spelling needs first aid
Cholesterol (not cholesteral) is a fat-like substance.
We breathe using our diaphragm (not diaphram).
Food poisoning can cause diarrhea (not diarrea).
The eyedrops will dilate (not dialate) your eyes.
You should be immunized against diphtheria (not diptheria).
You visit the ophthalmologist (not opthmologist).
The prostate (not prostrate) is a gland.
Mispronounced then misspelled
The month is February not Febuary.
The day is Wednesday not Wensday.
The place is the Antarctic not the Antartic.
The place is the Arctic not the Artic.
The beverage is espresso not expresso.
Etc is an abbreviation for et cetera not excetera.
For example (e.g.) and that is (i.e.).
i.e. = that is, (in other words). The text following should add further clarification.
The two characters in Road Runner cartoons, i.e., Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner.
The two characters = Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner
e.g. = for example. The text following should be an example.
John enjoys watching Hanna-Barbera cartoons, e.g., Jetsons and Flintstones.
Jetsons and Flintstones are just two examples of Hanna-Barbera cartoons
For much more detail, visit this site.
Never say, "I seen."
I figure that this incorrect usage comes from sloppy pronunciation causing a misunderstanding: I have seen > I’ve seen > I seen
The past tense of see is saw, not seen.
I saw the fish jump out of the water.
I have seen owls in these woods.
Passed is sooo past tense
Passed is the past tense of pass. How is that for confusing?
The point here is that passed is a verb and past is not.
The train passed the station. (verb)
It was hotter this summer than in past years. (adjective)
The clouds moved smoothly past the mountain peak. (adverb)
It is almost half past two and I haven’t had lunch. (preposition)
The past should teach us how to behave in the present. (noun)
When using passed, make sure that something did the passing. Otherwise use past.
They were there a minute ago!
If you lose a WordPress blog post, there are two retrieval methods I found on the Web.
Use Google search
In Google search, type “site:” followed by your blog site’s name.
site:canproofread.com/WordPress
Use Google Reader (link to source of information)
- Sign up for Google and Subscribe to your RSS Feed in Google Reader.
- Press CTRL + A to select the blog post in Google Reader.
- Right click and select “View Source” to pull up the HTML Code.
- Press CTRL + C to copy the HTML code.
- Log into your blogging dashboard and Save the HTML code as a draft post.
- If using WordPress, Go to Tools in the WordPress dashboard then Export.
- Select All Authors, then hit Export.
Here is an excellent blog on backing up WordPress.
Words beginning with a silent letter H
There are only a few words that begin with a silent H in American English.
Hour (‘our): An hour passed hourly.
Honor (‘onor): It is an honor to meet an honorable person.
Herb (‘erb): An herb is used in an herbal remedy.
Heir (‘eir): An heir might own an heirloom.
Honest (‘onest): An honest person has honesty.
Since they start with a vowel sound, they use an instead of a.