Pain in the English
Pain in the English

Unpacking English, Bit by Bit

A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.

Pain in the English
Pain in the English

Unpacking English, Bit by Bit

A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.

Proofreading Services Retired

We’ve officially closed our proofreading services. You can probably guess why. With AI tools like ChatGPT now doing the job for free (and instantly), the demand for human proofreaders has all but vanished. If you still prefer a human touch, you're part of a rare—and shrinking—breed. We're now back to our roots: a forum for nitpicking the finer points of the English language. Thanks for your past support. We appreciate it.

Submit your question here.

Latest Posts : Punctuation and Mechanics

I wrote, “I have two sons, Bill and Ben.”

An editor said that the comma should be a colon. That opinion is backed up by various style guides which say a list (and presumably “Bill and Ben” is a list) should be preceded by a colon. I still feel that a colon is unnecessary, though I probably would use a colon if I had five sons not two. Would I use a colon with three sons? I’m not sure.

Had I written, “I have two sons, Bill and Ben, both in their twenties” there would surely be no question of a colon being required. It seems odd to me that omitting the final phrase, “both in their twenties” forces the first comma to become a colon.

I would be interested in others’ views.

Read Comments

Which of the follow is correct? 

  • CAYA stands for “come as you are.” 
  • “CAYA” stands for “come as you are.”               

I am not referring to the Nirvana song, so I assume that capitalization is not necessary when spelling out what the initialism stands for.

Read Comments

If a city and state (and full date) start a sentence in possessive form, would you consider the punctuation correct in the following three examples?

  • Frankfort, Kentucky’s crime rate has increased.
  • Paris, France’s breathtaking sights left us in a state of raptures.
  • September 11, 2001’s tragic events will forever be indelibly etched in the minds of everyone.

Please, no recasts. 

Read Comments

When including a complete sentence in parentheses, what are the rules? For example, someone just sent me this in an email:

“I always change some of the readings from semester to semester (for example, I am trying out the book on migration for the first time this semester and am not sure if I will keep it in the Fall).”

But I could just as easily see it written this way:

“I always change some of the readings from semester to semester. (For example, I am trying out the book on migration for the first time this semester and am not sure if I will keep it in the Fall.)”

Are both acceptable? Is one preferred? 

Read Comments

When making a list of the very same name of something, is it proper english to use one quotation mark in place of the same name or word after writing it a couple of times down the list? I can’t seem to find anything on it.

Read Comments

Which ending punctuation sequence is correct for a question dialogue sentence containing a quotation within it?

a. ”Does the menu say, ‘no substitutions?’” asked Jo.

or

b. ”Does the menu say, ‘no substitutions’?” asked Jo.

Read Comments

My friend is sending an invitation, and she is using the date of:

January, 16th 2016

Is this technically correct, or at a minimum not considered barbaric? Where should the comma be?

Read Comments

In a sentence, there is the name of a company followed by an abbreviation, the initials of the company, in parentheses. The company name is a possessive in this sentence. Where does the apostrophe go? I want to know how this would work, as I am having trouble finding anything but advice to restructure the sentence, and I would like an answer that gives me what to do with the sentence as it stands.

Example: This policy sets a standard for determining access to Introspective Illusions (II) resources.

Would it be Introspective Illusions’ (II’s) or  Introspective Illusions’ (II) or some other construction?

Read Comments

Should a rhetorical question end with a question mark?

Read Comments

I have a question about “;” and “—” as used in sentence structure. I prefer using — i.e. “He did not expect to meet anyone—the house had been empty for years—and was surprised to hear whistling from the upper floor.”

Now, as I wrote a line in my story, as sentence ran away from me and I ended up using a ; at the end, as well as the — and I got the feeling that maybe it had to be one or the other all the way through and not a mix. Anyway, the sentence (racial slur warning)

Rod had not let her buy the beer herself at first—not until father had gone down there and cleared up some misconceptions from that sneaky pool-digger—and hadn’t that been a fun day to be alive; now he just gave her sympathetic looks whenever she came to get beer for her father.

So, in such a sentence, is it right to use both the “—” and the “;”? I can always rebuild it, but it felt right to me somehow, even though I got uncertain about if it would sting in the eyes of others.

Read Comments

Latest Comments

"This post was very informative and straight to the point. I’ll definitely be applying some of these tips."

Azure Data Engineer Training In Hyderabad

"Your blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Every post offers real value, and this one is no exception."Azure Data Engineer Training In Hyderabad

"Your blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Every post offers real value, and this one is no exception."Azure Data Engineer Training In Hyderabad

You should use "my" instead of "mine" in this sentence. So, it would be: "I so appreciate you taking my and Gregg’s child to school today." "My" works better here since you're talking about the child in a shared context. "Mine" is used when something stands alone, like "This book is mine."

Melbet in Vietnam offers a reliable platform for online casino games, providing a wide selection from slots to table games. The site ensures secure transactions, clear rules for each game, and responsive customer support. Players can enjoy convenient access on both desktop and mobile devices, making it easier to participate anytime. Additionally, Melbet https://melbet-vietnam.bet/en/casino provides various promotions and bonuses, allowing users to explore games with added value while maintaining control over their accounts and gameplay.

Nice and informative article, Thanks for sharing it with us Azure Data Engineering Training in Hyderabad

Understanding the difference between "my" and "mine" is important for clear communication, especially when multiple owners are involved. Similarly, platforms like Melbet https://melbet-indonesia.net/en/ in Indonesia provide clear structures and guidelines for users, ensuring that everyone knows their responsibilities and can interact without confusion. Being precise with language or following platform rules helps maintain order and clarity in any context.

En Melbet Argentina, los jugadores pueden disfrutar de una experiencia de casino https://melbets-ar.com/ en línea segura y confiable, con acceso a una amplia variedad de juegos como tragamonedas, ruleta y póker. La plataforma ofrece métodos de pago fáciles y rápidos, atención al cliente disponible, y promociones regulares que permiten aprovechar al máximo cada sesión de juego desde computadoras o dispositivos móviles.

Pinata Wins PG demo https://slotcatalog.com/pt/slots/pinata-wins com 5 rolos em cascata, 20 linhas de pagamento e um alto RTP de 96,75%. O jogo oferece prêmios de até 5.000x, com símbolos coloridos inspirados na cultura mexicana, incluindo caveiras, tacos e sombreros. Uma personagem carismática aparece nos símbolos Wilds e acompanha os jogadores durante a jogatina. O slot conta com efeitos em cascata, multiplicadores aleatórios, transformação de símbolos dourados em Wilds e um bônus com rodadas grátis. Totalmente otimizado para desktop e dispositivos móveis, o jogo garante uma experiência fluida e envolvente.