Grammar Minute
258 episodes — Page 3 of 6
S3 Ep 162Are Contractions Acceptable in Formal Writing?
You cannot be too careful ... or can you? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 161The Return of the Biweekly Meeting
We're back with more workplace confusion on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 160"Can" vs. "May" - The Case of the Electric Guitar
You CAN, but you MAY not. (Should you?) Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 159When You Need an Apostrophe (And When You Don't)
Remember: Apostrophes do not make plurals. Ever. Learn more in today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 158How to Self-Edit
The trick to self-editing is making your words look like they aren't your own. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 157The Passivity of the Passive Voice
Skip the passive voice. Stay active. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 156The Eight Parts of Speech (In 60 Seconds)
Here's your entire high school grammar curriculum--in just 60 seconds!
S3 Ep 155Subjective vs. Objective Pronouns
People mix these up all the time ... but the difference is easier than you might think. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 154When Is Concision Too Concise?
How can you tell when you've cut too many words out of your writing? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 153RERUN- Fun Grammar Facts, Part 2
Did you know ...? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 152Valentine's Day (A Grammatical Special)
This Valentine's Day, impress your crush with impeccable grammar. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 151RERUN - Fun Grammar Facts, Part I
Did you know ...? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 150RERUN - Shared Apostrophes
How do you indicate that two people own the same item? Learn more about this special case of apostrophes on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 149RERUN - Irregardless
"Irregardless" isn't a word. Learn why it's wrong on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 148History of the @ (At Sign)
Hint: This punctuation marks long predates email. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 147History of the & (Ampersand)
Where did this weird little squiggle come from? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 146It's Not That Serious! (Exclamation Marks)
Do exclamation marks help or hurt your writing? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 145It Isn't Never Right to Use Double Negatives
What does the title of this episode mean? Is it always right--or never right? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 144Why You Need That Serial Comma
People like to argue about the Oxford comma, but there are some very clear scenarios when its use is not optional. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 143"Ten Items or Less"
Learn about a common grammar error on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 142Show, Don't Tell
This common writing tip is surprisingly difficult to follow. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 141Why "Very Important" Isn't Important At All
Strengthen your descriptors with these simple tricks. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 140Scare Quotes, Emphasis, and Sarcasm
Use quotation marks wisely ... or you may end up adding sarcasm to an awkward situation. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 139Everyone Hates Semicolons
Don't use these funny-looking punctuation marks. Learn more in today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 138A Warning Against Adjective Overuse
You've probably heard it before: "Show, don't tell." Here's one tip to make that happen on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 137Fiction Tip: Create Your Own Style Guide
Make your own writing rules. Stand out on an editor's desk. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 136Chocolate Books and the Dangers of Foreign Words
It's not a good idea to use foreign words in your writing ... unless you're certain everyone knows what they mean. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 135Is Social Media Harming Our Writing Skills?
Social media is once again a hot-button topic after the TikTok ban. Learn more about its possible effects on our writing skills in today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 134"Weary" vs. "Wary"
These two words are commonly confused. Learn the difference on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 133RERUN: The Collar of the Cat - And Why That Sounds Wrong
English has some rules that just don't make sense. Here's one you've probably never thought about if you're a native speaker, on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 132RERUN: One hundred, 100, or one-hundred?
Even English nerds have to use numbers occasionally. Learn how to do it properly on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 131Writing & Artificial Intelligence
Will AI make the writing industry obsolete--or could it actually be a blessing in disguise? Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 130Thanksgiving Special: Writing Thank-You Notes
It's Thanksgiving season in the U.S.--and always a time to tell those you love how much you appreciate them! Learn to write a sincere and polite thank-you note on today's episode of Grammar Minute.
S3 Ep 129In Defense of "Skedaddle"
Do you like this word? Learn more about what differentiates a "good" word from a "bad" word on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 128"Warsafe" Cover Reveal + Creating Emphasis
Warsafe is a young adult science fiction novel, coming May 2025. Preorders open today! Learn more at www.laurensmythbooks.com.
S3 Ep 127Don't Use These Words
The title says it all. Find out how to improve your writing in today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 126Should You Formally Study Grammar?
The answer might surprise you. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 125RERUN - None of Us Is Ready for This Grammar Rule
"None" is short for "no one," which makes it a singular noun. But do we really have to treat it like one? Find out on this episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 124RERUN - Banish Flabby Opinion Statements
Angels appear to people. Opinions do not. So don't use this one common phrase in your academic essay, under peril of your professor's red pen!
S3 Ep 123Brand Names Are Capitalized - And Yes, "Trampoline" Is a Brand
Brands that sound like commonly used terms should still be capitalized. Learn more on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 122The Enormity of "Enormity" Misused
Welcome to Part 3 of my ongoing series, How Not to Use the Word Enormity.
S3 Ep 121Is There a Place for Cliches in Good Writing?
You just never know ... but you will after listening to today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 120Waiting "On" = Fancy Butlers
You don't "wait on" as many things as you think you do. Learn more in today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 118RERUN: The Conciseness of "Concision"
"Conciseness" or "concision?" Learn more on today's rerun episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 119SPECIAL EPISODE: Interview with Sophia Hansen, Author of Water's Break
Sophia Hansen is an organic writer, using no hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides on her words unless absolutely convenient. She’s lived on a tiny island in Alaska, the bustling cities of New York and Boston, and has settled in the southeast where she writes and edits in other worlds. Sophia loves plenty of coffee, crispy bacon, and—after 30+ years of marriage, seven children, and numerous pets—that she can still fit into her high school earrings.
S3 Ep 117RERUN: It's Not Unlikely That You've Seen This Before
The dreaded "not un-" construction returns in today's rerun episode of Grammar Minute.
S3 Ep 116Inflammable: In Flames or Un-Flammable?
Inflammable. Incombustible. Thanks, English. Learn the difference on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 115Imply vs. Infer
Who ate the last cookie--and what am I implying? Find out on today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 114RERUN: Hoot Owls, Humans, and the Who/Whom Debate
Humans and hoot owls have some vocabulary in common. Learn how to use the "owl words" correctly in today's episode of Grammar Minute!
S3 Ep 113RERUN: Cats & Compound Nouns
If Hadrian and Mittens are sitting in front of the fire, could it be that Hadrian or Mittens ... are going to get up and eat dinner? Find out on today's (rerun) episode of Grammar Minute!