History Versus Grammar

Perhaps one can go too far on the vigilante grammar path....

Typo Vigilantes Banned from National Parks

Too Quiet?

So why have the Syntax Sisters gone quiet? We are quiet because we are waiting to hear from you!

We need your questions! Email us at syntaxsisters@yahoo.com and then watch for a response!

Out of fashion? We think not.

For all of you out there who think anti-split infinitive types like us are old fashioned, have a look at this article from The Washington Post and see if you change your mind:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/19/AR2008061902920.html

(Even if you don't change your mind, you're still wrong.)

A little punctuation game we like to play...

I can remember being in middle school sitting around the dinner table while my high school aged sister and her future husband debated a question raised by my father: what are the eleven punctuation marks? The debate has continued for many many years, and occasionally one of us will get a phone call from our father with that same question: What are the eleven punctuation marks?

Test yourself. What are they? Post responses in the comments section...that's where my answer is going.

PS No cheating and looking at the keyboard; figure it out first!

A Kindred Spirit

The syntax sisters might be in love (don't tell our husbands)!

This man travels the country with a sign-correcting kit, fixing spelling and apostrophes. Check out this news clip of "The Typo Tour":

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=7301819

Can I Get a Vowel? Gray v. Grey

Mary and her colleagues at the Hobart and William Smith Admissions office in Geneva, NY, (my alma mater!) emailed to ask us about the spelling of the word "gray."

"My colleague and I were wondering why some folks spell gray with an "a" and some spell it with an "e" - grey? I looked it up on dictionary.com and it looks like it is interchangeable? Who is correct?"

This is a great question. I called Daniele for confirmation and clarification on the answer:

It turns out that "gray" with an "a" is the usual American spelling of the word. In fact, when I spell-checked my return email to Mary, the software yelled at me for "grey" with an "e." The origin of the "e" verision is British; "grey" is the commonly accepted British spelling.

In every dictionary I've checked, however, it seems as though either spelling is acceptable.

So, I guess the spelling really comes down to a matter of patriotism: "a" for America!

Its versus It's

So I'll admit it: I sent an email yesterday and I used the wrong "its." I was thoroughly embarrassed when I realized my mistake, and so I decided to put up a post explaining the difference for all of us and to encourage me to proofread more carefully next time!

So what is the difference? Let's start with the basics:

it's: With an apostrophe, it is a contraction, either "it is" or "it has."
e.g.: It's too bad I didn't proofread that email!

its: Without an apostrophe, it is a possessive pronoun, that is, a word that replaces a noun and shows ownership.
e.g.: Too bad email can't proofread its own text.

Still having trouble? The easiest way to figure it out is to try substituting in "it is" each time you go to use "its." If "it is" works, then you want the apostrophe. If "it is" doesn't fit, then you don't want the apostrophe.

e.g. It's (it is) a good thing I will proofread this post; it would be bad if the post had its (it is? doesn't work) content wrong!