Fun With Grammar

• Mrs. Marcello• U.S. Literature

Release Your Inner Mrs. Marcello

Homophone Hell

Did he really peak (see peek) in the window?

A chocolate moose (see mousse) doesn’t wet (see whet) the appetite.

One doesn’t pour (see pore) over data.

He probably didn’t ball (see bawl) her out.

I hope you don’t abandon your principals (see principles).

Your favorite team doesn’t win a playoff birth (see berth).

Career-Limiting Mistakes

• it’s/its– It’s a shame that CSU doesn’t police its campus

better.

• their/there/they’re– There had better be a good reason their essays

aren’t done before they’re heading to the pool.

Proper Nouns• Capitalize nouns providing unique ID for a specific

person, place or thing.– Steve, Susan, France, America, the Southwest

• Capitalize common nouns that are essential to the full name of a person, place or thing.– Libertarian Party, Salt River, Central Street, Gov. Jan Brewer, Governor

Brewer

• Lowercase common nouns going solo later– The party, the river, the street, the governor

Proper Nouns• More rules and exceptions available for:

– Trademarks, brand names, service marks• Dumpster, Teflon, Realtor, UPS Inc., US Airways Inc.

– Historical periods and events• Specific: Atomic Age, World War II, Boston Tea Party• General: ancient Greece, Victorian era, fall of Rome

Grammar/Usage Tips

Grammar/Usage Tips

Grammar/Usage Tips

Grammar/Usage Tips

Making It Schtick

Making It Schtick