White papers, so named because they usually are published in pamphlets/booklets on white paper, are heavily researched papers that are presented either to the government or a field-specific authority on a particular topic. The idea behind the white paper is that it is used to educate the paper’s readers and enable them to help solve […]
Then versus Than; how do I know when to use then or than
Then and than.two little words that are used all the time, but which cause people no end of problems. Two little words, with only a vowel to distinguish them, that can sound almost the same when spoken quickly, but which mean completely different things and are used in completely different ways. Here’s a simple rule […]
How to use punctuation with conjunctions?
Using punctuation in writing can be very confusing, especially in longer sentences that also include lists of items. This article will attempt to make this issue that so many inexperienced writers struggle with somewhat easier by presenting some rules and examples of correct usage of punctuation with conjunctions. Most commonly used punctuation is certainly a […]
How to use a spell-checker?
So, you’ve finished your novel or your dissertation, and you want to give it that final read-through and polish…and what better way to do so than by using the spell-check function of your word processing program? But wait, before we discuss ways to get the most out of your spell-checker, let’s remember that there are […]
Using Parentheses
Parentheses are among the more easily-recognizable punctuation marks. We see them when we read fiction, when we are going through instruction manuals, and we use them in math from a fairly early age. In writing, the primary purpose of parentheses is to include material without placing an emphasis on it, something that wouldn’t normally fit […]