• This question of writing skillset comes up a lot: “Do I need to be good at writing to write a book?” The answer is “yes” and “no.” Mastering grammar as a ...

    5 Benefits of Mastering Grammar

    - By 

    This question of writing skillset comes up a lot: “Do I need to be good at writing to write a book?” The answer is “yes” and “no.” In order to write a book that others want to read, writers have to understand the basics of writing and be willing to read a lot of resource books, and teach themselves how to plot out their writing in a way that readers will follow. Grammar is an important part of writing because, without strong grammar and sentence structure, a book is hard to read and comprehend. “Well, I can just hire an editor…

  • Here’s a trusty list of grammar rules. Keep them at your writing workspace, so you can easily refer back to the list any time you get stuck: ... 1. Use...

    10 Grammar Rules for Every Writer

    - By 

    Seasoned writers will tell you it’s okay to break grammar rules as long as you know the right way to break them. Lazy writers often quote that same phrase to avoid learning correct grammar in the first place. I’m a firm believer that you must know the rules before you bend them. So, here’s a trusty list of my favorite grammar rules. Keep them at your writing workspace, so you can easily refer back to the list any time you get stuck: 1. Use “All right” not “Alright.” Alright isn’t actually a word even though it turns up in a…

  • Grammatical Gray Areas: Subject-Complement Agreement

    - By 

    Celebrating National Grammar Day and National Proofreading Day March is a month that calls for grammar nerds—like us—to celebrate. After all, March 4 is National Grammar Day, and March 8 is National Proofreading Day. On days like these, authors, editors, and proofreaders finally get the respect we deserve! (Oddly enough, I’m still waiting for my Grammar and Proofreading Day gifts to come flooding in. . .) In all seriousness, we editors at Xulon Press have a passion for proper grammar usage. To celebrate grammar rules and style, we’d like to discuss a not-so-rare gray area that comes up frequently in…

  • Top 10 Ways to Celebrate National Grammar Day

    - By 

    Grammarists rejoice! National Grammar Day is upon us, and we have cooked up some really fun ideas to help you celebrate the day. First, how about a little history? Martha Brockenbrough originally founded National Grammar Day in 2008 because she wanted to help her students with their grammar in a lively and positive way. Even former President George W. Bush sent a letter to commemorate the day in its inaugural year. Since then, the day has gained more popularity around the country. The National Grammar Day website shares, “Language is something to be celebrated; and March 4 is the perfect…