Dates and Times | The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

How to Use AP Style Datelines in Your Writing

GrammarBook.com — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 12:00:46 +0000

You may have heard about writing in AP style or even been directed to do so by a teacher or editor. In fact, a commonly searched grammar question on the web concerns how to use Associated Press–style datelines in writing. In today’s post we’ll delve into how to do that as well as why you […]

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Is It Fourth of July or 4th of July?

GrammarBook.com — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 11:00:12 +0000

As Independence Day approaches, many of you may be wondering how to write the name of the holiday—is it Fourth of July or 4th of July? The Chicago Manual of Style refers to the holiday as “the Fourth of July” or “the Fourth.” The Associated Press Stylebook lists “Fourth of July” and “July Fourth” as […]

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Punctuation for Abbreviations

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 05 May 2021 11:00:35 +0000

Those who write in American English may sometimes wonder when to abbreviate a word as well as how to abbreviate it. This review will help address those questions. An abbreviation is a shortened or contracted form of a word or a phrase (e.g., Mister to Mr.). If you’re ever in doubt about when and how […]

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American vs. British English: Grammar

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 05:00:22 +0000

We hope you’re enjoying our exploration of American and British English as much as we are. So far we’ve considered variations in spelling and vocabulary between the dialects. Our review continues with a closer look at American and Commonwealth grammar. Prepositions Different phrasing involving prepositions between American and British English may not be as pronounced […]

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Year-End Quiz 2018

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 05:00:11 +0000

Another year of grammatical exploration has concluded with linguistic miles behind us. What we’ve learned and discussed with you along the way has been illuminating, and we are grateful for the thought and insight it has inspired. We hope you gathered even more sharpened tools for communicating in concise and eloquent English. A year-end review […]

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In the Zone: It’s About Time

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 05:00:20 +0000

We’re all aware of how vital marked and measured time is to guiding and structuring our days. How then do we treat it in precise and careful writing? We offered some guidelines in our updated April 2017 article Writing Dates and Times. We’ll expand on those here by delving deeper into the most recent editions of […]

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Year-End Quiz 2017

GrammarBook.com — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 18:01:03 +0000

Review is good for retention. That’s why GrammarBook.com likes to start the new year with a jumbo quiz that spans the last twelve months of topics we’ve covered with you. In 2017 we explored an array of ways to enhance your grammar and writing. We hope what you learned follows you well into 2018 as […]

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Writing Dates and Times

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 14:54:51 +0000

Rule: The following examples apply when using dates: The meeting is scheduled for June 30. The meeting is scheduled for the 30th of June. We have had tricks played on us on April 1. The 1st of April puts some people on edge. (Some prefer to write it out: The first of April) Rule: There […]

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Clear as Mud

GrammarBook.com — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 16:37:58 +0000

In the print and broadcast media, new catchwords appear out of nowhere—and suddenly they’re everywhere. Often these are familiar words that have taken on different meanings which no one ever bothers to explain. Today, let’s discuss a couple of these ubiquitous buzzwords. Optics This overblown word has become commonplace in news reports. Some random examples: […]

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Year-End Quiz 2015

GrammarBook.com — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 20:31:03 +0000

To close out 2015 we have put together a comprehensive pop quiz based on the year’s GrammarBook.com grammar posts. The quiz comprises twenty-five sentences that may—or may not—need fixing. Think you can fix the ones that need help? You’ll find our answers directly below the quiz. Each answer includes, for your convenience, the title and […]

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