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Grammar, Style, & Usage
 Websites presented in alphabetical order The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation 
 Based on Jane Straus' print publication of the same title, this Web site "provides commonsense guidance to the grammatically confused and the punctuation impaired." The grammar and punctuation sections each offer about a dozen links to appropriate subjects (for example, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, commas, quotation marks) with examples of correct usage, in addition to practice tests and answers. Easy to use, with links to other helpful resources for writers. http://www.grammarbook.com/ Topics: English Language, Writing Last updated Dec 13, 2000 The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest (BLFC)
The best of bad writing. "Since 1982 the English Department at San Jose State University has sponsored the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, a whimsical literary competition [announced in mid-summer] that challenges entrants to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels." This site includes rules, entries, winners, runners-up, losers, and a history of the award. http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/ Topics: Nonfiction by Genre, Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment, Writing Last updated Jul 22, 2004 The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition: New Questions and Answers
The Chicago Manual of Style is the preferred style guide for many writers, editors, and publishers. This FAQ answers frequent (and not-so-frequent) style questions. http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/CMS_FAQ/qatopics.html Topics: Communications, English Language, Literature & Books, Writing Last updated Nov 10, 2006 Citation Game
This interactive exercise provides practice in "putting citation elements (Title, Author, etc.) into the correct MLA or APA style order." Users review a chart comparing APA (American Psychological Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association) citations, then drag and drop parts of citations into the appropriate order. From University of Washington TRIO, part of a U.S. Department of Education program aimed at helping low-income Americans prepare for higher education. http://depts.washington.edu/etriouw/gameindex.htm Topics: Literature & Books, Medical Treatments & Devices, Writing Last updated Oct 21, 2003 Citation Style for Research Papers
This Web site lists bibliographic citation styles for APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), AMA (American Medical Association), Chicago Manual of Style, and Turabian Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Color-coded sample citations for books, book chapters, ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) documents, Web sites, and journal, newspaper, and encyclopedia articles are provided for each style. Includes links. From Long Island University. http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/workshop/citation.htm Topics: Literature & Books, Nonfiction by Genre, Writing Last updated Mar 12, 2004 Citation Style Guides
This site shows how to write bibliographies using specific citation styles. Modern Language Association (MLA), Chicago (Turabian), American Psychological Association (APA), and American Anthropological Association (AAA) styles are featured. Presents examples of specific citations and links to other Web sources explaining the citation styles. Includes examples of electronic reference formats. From the Seattle Central Community College Library. http://dept.sccd.ctc.edu/cclib/Research_Help/Citation_Style_Guides/default.asp Topics: Literature & Books, Writing Last updated Oct 23, 2007 Citing Medicine: The NLM Style Guide for Authors, Editors, and Publishers
This online reference provides guidelines for citing approximately 25 types of published and unpublished materials, including print documents and audiovisual, electronic, and online resources. Appendixes include abbreviations and country codes. The 2nd edition (2007) updates and supersedes National Library of Medicine Recommended Formats for Bibliographic Citation and its Internet Supplement. From the National Library of Medicine. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=citmed Topics: Health, Writing Last updated Sep 8, 2009 Classifiers in American Sign Language
Presents a tutorial on classifiers, an important element of American Sign Language. Classifiers are used "to show movement, location and appearance. After a signer indicates a person or thing, a classifier can be used in its place to show where and how it moves, what it looks like, and where it is located." Defines sixteen different classifiers and presents flash movies and video clips depicting their use. From John A. Logan College, Carterville, Illinois. http://www.jal.cc.il.us/ipp/Classifiers/ Topics: Disabilities, Languages, Writing Last updated Dec 22, 2004 Comic Art in Scholarly Writing: A Citation Guide
A guide to citing comic art (comic books, comic strips, editorial cartoons, graphic novels), with the primary goal of providing location information so that readers can track down the cited source. "This citation guide leans toward the style of the 'MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.'" From the Comic Art and Comics Area of the Popular Culture Association. http://www.comicsresearch.org/CAC/cite.html Topics: Arts and Humanities, Literature & Books, Literature: Fiction, Writing Last updated Jul 6, 2008 Common Errors in English
This guide features over 300 errors in usage as well as "non-errors, those usages people keep telling you are wrong but which are actually standard in English" (e.g., split infinitives, ending a sentence with a preposition). Includes commonly misspelled words and other language-related resources. Created and maintained by an English professor. http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/ Topics: English Language, Writing Last updated Jul 7, 2006 Common Internet and Electronic Citations for Genealogy
Handy, ready-made Cut and Paste Stylesheets for citing sources commonly used by genealogists. Includes citations for the FamilySearch online database, various Ancestry.com databases, the Google search engine, and more. http://www.progenealogists.com/commoncitations.htm Topics: Families, History, Hobbies, Literature & Books, People, Writing Last updated Jul 31, 2002 Daily Grammar
Clear and simple lessons on the basics of English grammar. Also features a glossary. http://www.dailygrammar.com/ Topics: English Language, Writing Last updated Jun 8, 2005 Dr. Grammar
"Your Rx for Writing Ills." The site has an archive of the doctor's answers to questions about grammar, usage, punctuation, spelling, and general language concerns. Other features include links to grammar, English as a second language, word origins, "Fun With Words," and plagiarism resources. Created by a professor of English at the University of Northern Iowa. http://www.drgrammar.org/ Topics: Communications, Education, English Language, Literature & Books, Writing Last updated Jan 18, 2004 The Elements of Style
Transcription of the book The Elements of Style, by William Strunk, Jr., published in 1918. Covers "the rules of usage [in the English language] and principles of composition most commonly violated. The numbers of the sections may be used as references in correcting manuscript." From Bartleby.com. http://www.bartleby.com/141/ Topics: Communications, English Language, Language, Literature & Books, Writing Last updated Aug 1, 2004 Garbl's Writing Center: Long Words
A word substitution list. "Consider using these shorter, simpler alternatives to bureaucratic, overstated and pompous words. Note that several simple words may be clearer than a single long word." Also links to wordy phrases and redundancies, with more suggested substitutions. By a "writer, editor, media planner and communications specialist." http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/stylemanual/words.htm Topics: Communications, English Language, Language, Literature & Books, Writing Last updated May 8, 2006 Grammar and Style Notes
A "miscellany of grammatical rules and explanations, comments on style, and suggestions on usage." http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/ Topics: Communications, English Language, Literature & Books, Writing Last updated Feb 26, 2005 Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
This site provides "short, friendly tips to improve your writing. Covering the grammar rules and word choice guidelines that can confound even the best writers, Grammar Girl makes complex grammar questions simple." Features podcasts and transcripts on topics such as making sure your cards and yearly newsletters are written right, the use of the pronouns "I" and "me," split infinitives, and "verbifaction of a noun." http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/ Topics: English Language, Writing Last updated Dec 20, 2007 Grammar Hotline Directory
A list of phone numbers, email addresses, and websites you can contact for answers to short questions about grammar. Directory is arranged alphabetically by state. Maintained by the Tidewater Community College Writing Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia. http://www.tcc.edu/students/resources/writcent/GH/hotlinol.htm Topics: Writing Last updated Jul 8, 2005 Guide to Grammar & Writing
Includes definitions of sentence parts, usage rules for commas and other punctuation marks, plurals and possessives, spelling, nouns and modifiers, words and phrases to avoid, capitalization, spelling and abbreviations, and more. From the Capital Community College Foundation. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ Topics: Communications, Language, Writing Last updated Nov 2, 2005 A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices
Definitions, with examples, of sixty rhetorical devices of writing style and arrangement to promote effective written expression. The devices include the familiar--alliteration, analogy, metaphor, onomatopoeia, and simile--and the more obscure: aporia, dirimens copulatio, parataxis, symploce, and zeugma. There is a Self-Test to measure the user's understanding of the devices. http://www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm Topics: Communications, Language, Writing Last updated Oct 17, 2002 MLA Style
This site explains how to cite print, online, and interview sources used in research. Available in separate versions for elementary and secondary students, the site also explains plagiarism and why it is necessary to cite all sources used. Features an interactive "citation maker" based on MLA style. Presents citation examples, a worksheet for keeping track of materials used, and links to related information about the research process. From the Oregon School Library Information System (OSLIS). http://www.oslis.org/orig-steps/research/citesource/mla-style Topics: Education, Literature & Books, Writing Last updated Nov 1, 2009 Plain Language
"The Plain Language Action & Information Network is a government-wide group of volunteers working to improve communications from the federal government to the public." This Web site contains handbooks, examples, a bibliography, and many links to teach writers to communicate clearly. http://www.plainlanguage.gov/ Topics: Communications, English Language, Literature & Books, Writing Last updated Dec 31, 2002 Sentence Diagrams
Learn about one way of learning English grammar: sentence diagramming. Includes examples of the basics of sentence diagramming, and diagrams of sentences by contemporary journalists and from the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Gettysburg Address, and first pages of literature. Includes information for purchasing books on the subject. By an educator and author. http://www.geocities.com/gene_moutoux/diagrams.htm Topics: English Language, Writing Last updated Aug 18, 2008 The Slot: A Spot for Copy Editors
Here you'll find tips and thoughts on everything from word choice to punctuation, from quotations to capitalization, and everything in-between. Searchable. http://www.theslot.com/ Topics: English Language, Writing Last updated Jan 4, 2002 Synthesis: Using the Work of Others
This tutorial explains plagiarism and its consequences and describes techniques for taking notes and quoting sources to avoid plagiarism. Includes a section on copyright, information about citing Web sources, and plagiarism and copyright infringement quizzes. From the University of Maine at Farmington Writing Center and Mantor Library. http://plagiarism.umf.maine.edu/ Topics: Education, Intellectual Property, Literature & Books, Writing Last updated May 15, 2007 |
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