Including when to use a comma (or commas) with ‘as well as’ in your writing — An online search for the definition of “as well as” leads to numerous, as well as sometimes conflicting, sources. Luckily, Merriam-Webster provides a concise overview that clarifies why “as well as” can sometimes trip up writers. Simply put, “as well as” can be used in two ways: as a conjunction…

When they’re needed — and when they’re not — In my post “How to Correctly Create Connections with Conjunctions,” I discussed the different types of conjunctions and the use of commas with them. In my overview of correlative conjunctions, I stated that “a correlative conjunction is always paired with another correlative conjunction to join elements that are similar. These…

And how to make sure you always use this unassuming punctuation mark correctly in your writing — I never gave much thought to question marks until stumbling upon a Grammar Girl post that went into lengthy detail about the various ways question marks can be used — and the various rules that apply. When it comes to “direct questions,” things are pretty simple, especially since such sentences…

Including what the “irregardless” debate is all about — When it comes to synonyms, “regardless” has more than a few, including “anyway” and “nonetheless” but also “in any case,” “no matter what,” and even “come what may.” Yet “regardless” seems to be used more often than many of its synonyms when writers really want to emphasize certain points. And…

Including when to follow it with a singular or plural verb — Many common words in the English language are used all the time without much extra thought given to them. But occasionally a common word such as “neither” presents itself in a situation that requires some awareness of related rules. …

And why the tone of your writing matters when making such decisions — I enjoy writing about grammar to share what I continue to learn about the English language — especially with regard to my own misunderstandings about its many rules. I especially appreciate when I learn that something I’ve considered set in stone isn’t exactly a hard and fast grammatical truth. And…

Glimpses into the darker side of Denver from fourteen phenomenal writers with ties to the Mile-High City — While Denver is known as one of the sunniest cities in the country, it has its fair share of writers who expertly explore the shadows of the noir genre. …

Or when and when not to follow an introductory prepositional phrase with a comma — In the English language, many sentences begin with an introductory phrase or clause. If such an introduction is a clause, it will contain a subject and a verb. Since the introduction of the first sentence of this post (“In the English language”) does not include a verb, you know right…

Or whether to compare “with” or “to” or just stick with “with” — and which option the Bard preferred — I have tremendous respect for teachers and, word nerd that I’ve always been, have always revered English teachers in particular. I’ve never quite understood, though, why some English teachers differentiate between the verbs “compare” and “contrast.” I believe this may have come from the dreaded compare-and-contrast essay format, which was…