German grammar check: free online tools or Mac freeware/shareware? I have fairly solid German; goal is polishing drafts I'm writing in German, not translating from scratch. Seeking best stopgaps for when I can't afford or barter for a human's time. (And I don't have an MS Office CD with German tools.)
posted on Jul 28, 2008 - 1 answers

"Grocer's Apostrophe" or "Grocers' Apostrophe"? [more inside]
posted on Jul 17, 2008 - 46 answers

Grammar Filter: what is the English equivalent to the "Double Future Tense"? [more inside]
posted on Jul 9, 2008 - 10 answers

What is the difference between "no more than" and "not more than"? [more inside]
posted on Jul 3, 2008 - 15 answers

English grammar filter: can a common noun act as a proper noun if the thing being referred to exists within a shared context? Please help to settle a dispute between my girlfriend and I. [more inside]
posted on Jun 6, 2008 - 29 answers

Which expression is correct when describing grammatical mistakes: "bad grammar" or "poor grammar?" [more inside]
posted on May 30, 2008 - 7 answers

How do you pronounce the word 'read' when used in the following context? -- 'John is dry (read: boring).' /rɛd/ or /rid/ Thanks!
posted on May 29, 2008 - 121 answers

How can I best learn the French language, grammar, and pronunciation? [more inside]
posted on May 26, 2008 - 16 answers

On a recent trip to Kenya, we visited a school who is in need of simple French language instruction booklets for elementary-age children. [more inside]
posted on May 23, 2008 - 3 answers

How do you properly capitalize "summa cum laude" on a diploma? [more inside]
posted on May 22, 2008 - 7 answers

Looking for recommendations for English grammar workbook(s) designed for adults who did not finish high school years ago. [more inside]
posted on May 15, 2008 - 2 answers

Vagaries of the English Language, part n: I need to tell my boss why the contraction "I'm" cannot stand alone as a sentence. For example, "Yes, I am" is okay. "Yes, I'm" is not. I haven't been able to find any good logic for this case or that works for the different contractions in general ("don't" can also stand alone, "I'd" and "I've" cannot). Given this is about languages, and particularly English, "just because" is, alas, potentially the best answer.
posted on May 15, 2008 - 36 answers

GrammarFilter: True/False -- The following sentence can be grammatically correct. There's rockets. [more inside]
posted on Apr 29, 2008 - 53 answers

EpigramFilter: What's the converse of "Don't kill the messenger"? [more inside]
posted on Apr 28, 2008 - 21 answers

Wordsmiths, Help! -- Do you capitalize the word "left" in the phrase "the political left"? [more inside]
posted on Apr 24, 2008 - 26 answers

Copy editors or grammar natzi's: I am pre-copy editing a manuscript for my friend. Is it acceptable to start a sentence with the word "but"? I am leaning towards no but I can't remember. Also what are the rules about mentioning name brands in novels? such as "Hilton" or "Boston Red Sox" or "Boston Globe"? Thank you so much!
posted on Apr 21, 2008 - 22 answers

I need recommendations for the best Spanish review/dictionary. [more inside]
posted on Apr 21, 2008 - 4 answers

GrammarFilter: I was listening to "Blackbird" by the Beatles recently, and was struck by the line: "You were only waiting for this moment to arise." I was intrigued by the way the phrase "to arise" has sort of an ambiguous function here. [more inside]
posted on Apr 17, 2008 - 26 answers

Do you correct colleagues when they make grammatical mistakes? What is the proper etiquette? [more inside]
posted on Apr 10, 2008 - 21 answers

Is there a consensus on the grammatical relationship between emoticons and punctuation? [more inside]
posted on Apr 8, 2008 - 37 answers

Foreign language "bibles" (superlative, comprehensive language resources) for language-learning lovers? [more inside]
posted on Apr 3, 2008 - 10 answers

I have a grammar question that has been driving me crazy. It's probably a matter of style but... [more inside]
posted on Mar 31, 2008 - 17 answers

How do I pluralize a contraction that already ends with an apostrophe? [more inside]
posted on Mar 28, 2008 - 17 answers

Please hope me! Or why hope for help? [more inside]
posted on Mar 27, 2008 - 23 answers

Grammar Filter: A mp3 or an mp3? I can't make myself say the former! [more inside]
posted on Mar 25, 2008 - 25 answers

Proper choice of coordinating conjunction in a list. "And" versus "or." [more inside]
posted on Mar 18, 2008 - 14 answers

Do fish fish fish fish fish fish fish? [more inside]
posted on Mar 5, 2008 - 35 answers

Please: I would like a bazillion examples of popular music lyrics and song titles that would make an English teacher cry out in empathetic pain for their abuse of grammar. [more inside]
posted on Mar 4, 2008 - 89 answers

Are there any languages that do not contain gender-specific pronouns? (no he's or she's, just 'it')
posted on Mar 4, 2008 - 19 answers

Is there a grammar rule that deals with when to use a "to" following certain phrases like "help"? For instance, "Product Wonderful will help you sleep better" -or- "Product Wonderful will help you to sleep better." To my ear, I prefer it without the "to," but I don't know if there's a grammar issue let alone a style guide preference. [more inside]
posted on Feb 28, 2008 - 34 answers

What are some other examples of using 'an' in front of a non-vowel like some do with 'an historic...'? [more inside]
posted on Feb 22, 2008 - 40 answers

I went to school near Pittsburgh and now live in Ohio. Both at school and here in Columbus, I notice people leaving off "to be" in sentences. This needs fixed, that neads cleaned, those need washed. What's the deal here? [more inside]
posted on Feb 21, 2008 - 45 answers

Why is there a disdain for the future conditional tense among people who talk about sports? [more inside]
posted on Feb 8, 2008 - 31 answers

"How do we get to Jupiter? And do it cheaply..." [more inside]
posted on Jan 23, 2008 - 17 answers

A) "At the next stage in the process, the tea leaves ARE blended". B) "At the next stage in the process, the tea leaves WERE blended". Is A correct from a formal grammar standpoint? If so, which tense is it using, and how is it using the past tense of "blend"? If not, why not?
posted on Jan 11, 2008 - 19 answers

Grammar Question: Is or Isn't? [more inside]
posted on Dec 8, 2007 - 57 answers

GrammarFilter: Is the sentence “If I were ______, I would have done _____” grammatically incorrect? If so, why? [more inside]
posted on Dec 5, 2007 - 13 answers

Do I need the comma in this sentence? "In _Grapes of Europe_, Joe Bloggs reports that grapes are purple." And if so/not, why? I've tried googling adverbial introductory clauses and prepositional introductory clauses, but I can't find a similar example where a work is being introduced.
posted on Dec 2, 2007 - 35 answers

when should I say 'african american' and when 'black' ? [more inside]
posted on Nov 16, 2007 - 70 answers

I need . . . adjectives! Is there a *scannable* online dictionary or some way in which I can search through giant lists just for the adjectives? [more inside]
posted on Oct 18, 2007 - 9 answers

A guy becomes a "male president" but if it's a girl she is a "woman president." Can someone explain this grammar? [more inside]
posted on Oct 2, 2007 - 7 answers

Explain tenses to me? Past/present/future, continuous/simple/perfect, and so on, in English. I can use them with fluency, but I need to be able to explain them (when each is used, how to form them). I've tried Fowler's, Chicago Manual of Style, and a number of other resources, but they seem to subtly contradict one another. Is there a simple, go-to reference for this?
posted on Sep 28, 2007 - 16 answers

I have a friend named James, I'd like to know how to spell James's name. [more inside]
posted on Sep 13, 2007 - 36 answers

In a sentence which begins, "I expect that the answer lay/lays/lie/lies not in the answers provided, but . . . ," which is the correct verb choice? [more inside]
posted on Jul 29, 2007 - 28 answers

Is there a term for mangling two words to create a new word or term? [more inside]
posted on Jul 17, 2007 - 28 answers

What is the plural of "no"? Example: You have to hear a hundred "nos" for every yes. What is the proper way to write "nos"?
posted on Jul 13, 2007 - 71 answers

What are some essential differences between UK and American English Grammar? [more inside]
posted on Jul 8, 2007 - 71 answers

"Most all" - it is wrong. Right? [more inside]
posted on Jul 2, 2007 - 45 answers

Best book for "learning" English grammar? [more inside]
posted on Jun 28, 2007 - 28 answers

َ[ArabicFilter] لكن vs لكنَّ: I still don't get the difference. [more inside]
posted on May 30, 2007 - 9 answers