The decision to use lie or lay can bring my editing to an abrupt halt. Which one is it? They both sound right. Should I refer to song lyrics for the answer? Once I learned the present-tense usage for each, I was then faced with the hurdle of transporting each into the past. I added Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips Lay versus Lie page to my […]
Category Archives: language
Do Writers Get Days Off?
Is a writer permitted to make lots of elementary mistakes in arbitrary written communication? Surely. Do others (no matter their credentials) have the right to correct grammatical errors made by an unsuspecting, off-duty, writer? Definitely. Should either do either? No. Before I piss a whole bunch of people off, allow me to make one thing clear: I make […]
I’m Like, Running out of, Like, Room on the, Like, Page
Is it the new um? It is a sad side effect of the classic valley girl mockery, “Like, O my God,” in annoying So Cal upspeak? Is it a reason to beat the 60s pulp out of Shaggy? Last Sunday, my husband, my son, and I attended a human sexuality conference for seventh graders. They spoke out against womanizing, […]
The Creative Ghostwriter 