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Apr 10

Keep URL short to avoid clutter

Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2010 in Email tips, Web development tips

When you have a long URL like this, use a free online programs to shorten it.

http: //maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rlz
=1R1GGGL_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=0,0,16524608578225602546
&fb=1&hq=First+United+Methodist+Church,&hnear=Sioux+Falls&
gl=us&daddr=401+South+Spring+Avenue,+Sioux+Falls,+SD+57104
-4398&geocode=11229897772533571274,43.543439,-96.732758&
ei=e2q_S8-GI4X6lweC-s3jBg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=directions-to
&resnum=1&ved=0CAsQngIwAA

With tiny.cc it becomes http://tiny.cc/gfucj or
http://tiny.cc/GoogleMapFirstUMC using customurl of GoogleMapsFirstUMC.

With bit.ly it becomes http://bit.ly/bfN8et or
http://bit.ly/GoogleMapFirstUMC using Custom Name of GoogleMapsFirstUMC.

See World Today – Business  for their Top 10 Free Short URL Redirection Services list.

Apr 9

Can anyone here show me someone shy?

Posted on Friday, April 9, 2010 in Incorrect word usage

Here is a different way to look at the meaning of these words:

anybody, anyone, anything, anytime, anywhere
Imply there are many possibilities
Are not selective

somebody, someone, something, sometime, somewhere
Imply there are fewer possibilities
Are selective

For further explanation, visit Grammar Mishaps

Apr 8

Keep your up-to-date website up to date

Posted on Thursday, April 8, 2010 in Incorrect word usage

When should I hyphenate up to date?

Hyphenate up to date when it precedes a noun.
This is an up-to-date calendar of events.

Do not hyphenate up to date when there is no noun following.
Please keep me up to date on the progress.

Apr 7

Does he double own this item?

Posted on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 in Punctuation

John Doe’s gas grill and the gas grill of John Doe’s are both correct uses of the possessive apostrophe.

For more information on this, visit Grammar Girl.

Apr 6

I will fix it somehow anyhow

Posted on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 in Incorrect word usage

somehow means in some way not yet known or designated

anyhow means in any way or manner whatever

Apr 5

These aren't even words

Posted on Monday, April 5, 2010 in Incorrect word usage, Pronunciation

gonna is a non-word
use going to

gotta is a non-word
use going to

wanna is a non-word
it is short for want a

Apr 4

It is a complete list of the authors

Posted on Sunday, April 4, 2010 in Misspelled words, Punctuation

et al. literally means and others

It is an abbreviation for the Latin et alii so there is only a period at the end.

Apr 3

They swam in the lake

Posted on Saturday, April 3, 2010 in Incorrect word usage

The past tense of these verbs has changed over time.
These appear to be the currently accepted forms:

begin, began

drink, drank

ring, rung

shrink, shrunk

sing, sang or sung

sink, sunk

spin, spun

stink, stank or stunk

swim, swam or swum

For more details visit this page.

Apr 2

Yesterday was Thursday, not Monday!

Posted on Friday, April 2, 2010 in Incorrect word usage

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter.
It commemorates the Last Supper.

Maundy comes from the Latin phrase: mandamentum do vobis.
It means “A new commandment I give unto you.” (John 13:34)

Apr 1

Surely you jest! You misunderstood the gist of it.

Posted on Thursday, April 1, 2010 in Incorrect word usage

jest means an act performed for amusement

gist means the main idea or substance

Use the proper word when you say, “That was the gist of the lesson from their teacher.”