Pearson
Adult Learning Centre: Brad Hyde's Writing Tips
Brad explains how overuse of the "to be" form can make writing overly wordy. May 6, 2012
Onomatopoeia and Language
Brad notes how different languages "hear" different sounds and represent them in language. April 22, 2012
Fun Food Vocabulary
Brad goes over a few interesting words that refer to food. April 10, 2012
The Pros of Knowing Pronouns: Part Three (Indefinite Pronouns)
Brad introduces us to another important class of pronouns: indefinite pronouns. March 27, 2012
The Pros of Knowing Pronouns: Part Two
Brad introduces us to another important class of pronouns: interrogative pronouns. March 11, 2012
The Pros of Knowing Pronouns
Brad introduces us to an important class of pronouns: demonstrative pronouns. February 26, 2012
Watch Your Tone: In the Mood?
Brad explains the difference between tone and mood in the context of writing for your audience. February 12, 2012
Varied Syntax: Three New Examples
Brad brings us three new and different examples of ways to vary your sentences. January 29, 2012
Varied Syntax Equals Better Writing
Brad shows you how to say the same thing three different ways in order to vary your sentences. January 15, 2012
Stylish Numbers: Writing with Numerals
Brad reviews the correct way to use numerals in your writing. January 1, 2012
Food Glorious Food!
Brad explains some of the interesting rules around capitalization of food names. December 11, 2011
A Person Entitled to "Their" Opinion?
Brad refers to the debate over the singular use of "they" instead of as a plural. November 27, 2011
Another Kind of Elliptical
Brad outlines the use of elliptical constructions to save on word counts. November 14, 2011
Writing Tip: Introductory Phrases: Multiples
Brad completes his series on introductory comma rules with examples of two useful introductory phrases. October 30, 2011
More Comma Rules for Introductory Phrases
Brad continues his series on introductory comma rules with examples for each one. October 16, 2011
Need an Introduction? Comma Rules for Introductory Phrases
Brad outlines introductory comma rules with examples for each one. October 2, 2011
The Name Game: Capitalization Rules
Brad gives some interesting examples of capitalization rules for common games. September 18, 2011
Writing Tip: Do Words Count?
Brad outlines his views on word count, with some advice for both under and over writers of prose. September 5, 2011
Writing Tip: Right or Left?
Brad discusses two sets of compounds that use right or left, including when to hyphenate and when not. July 18, 2011
Learn One New Word Every Day!
Brad points us to Merriam Webster's Word of the Day and suggest students learn one new word every day. June 13, 2011
Making Use of Parentheses
Brad outlines four different ways students can use parentheses in their writing. May 29, 2011
Problem Pairs in English
Brad helps students with two problem word pairs: nauseous and nauseated; wreck and wreak. May 15, 2011
Parallel Sentences in an Inaugural Speech
Brad shows, through the president's speech, the power of parallel structure. May 1, 2011
Roll Over that Rollover; Log In that Login!
Brad helps us to understand the differences between the two-word and one word versions. April 17, 2011
Watch out for "Scare" Quotes
Brad gives a full explanation of the use and abuse of scare quotes in writing. April 3, 2011
Will You Bring It or Take It?
Brad explains the the difference in meaning between these two common verbs. February 27, 2011
Learning to Hyphenate Adjectives
Brad explains the technique to create your own hyphenated adjective for clearer writing. February 13, 2011
An Everyday Day Every Day
Brad reminds us again of the key difference between everyday and every day. January 31, 2011
Using Italics Correctly in Writing
Brad demonstrates how italics are used to enhance your writing. January 15, 2011
Is That Compare or Is It Contrast?
Brad clarifies the difference and points out further resources to help you with comparison contrast writing. January 1, 2011
Is That a Restrictive or Nonrestrictive Appositive?
Brad explains the tricky difference between the two. December 5, 2010
Does Language Shape the Way We Think?
Brad refers us to an intriguing article on language published in The New York Times. November 21, 2010
The Staunch Friend Stanched the Wound
Brad explains another confusing word pair and gives examples so you can use each one correctly. November 7, 2010
Being both Affluent and Fluent in Life
Brad explains this confusing word pair and gives examples so you can use them correctly. October 24, 2010
Lead Connects to Plumber, Plummet and Plunge?
Brad explains the origins of words derived from the Latin for "lead" and discusses one common idiom. October 10, 2010
Using "Have" and "Having" Correctly
Brad explains the differences between the two along with examples. September 26, 2010
Have You Lucked Out?
Brad
explains some of the idiomatic uses of "luck." September 12, 2010
Differences Between Verbal and Oral
Brad goes over the two and explains subtle differences in
meaning. August 28, 2010
Example
Expressions
Brad goes over four different expressions that use the familiar word,
"example." June
13, 2010
Latin?
Brad identifies and explains three common Latin expressions that are
used in English. May 30, 2010
Pin
Number?
Brad explains why PIN number is a redundancy. May
16, 2010
Why
Illegal and Not Unlegal?
Brad explains how to make a negative form for words beginning with
"L." May 2, 2010
Beware
the Irregular Past Participle
Brad makes a case for better language instruction for native
speakers. April 17, 2010
I
Passed in the Past
Brad explains the different uses of "passed" and
"past." March
28, 2010
In
the Mood?
Brad goes over the sometimes tricky use of the subjunctive mood in
English grammar. March 14, 2010
Is
There Any Way to use Anyways?
Brad explains how to use all three expressions correctly: anyways,
anyway, and any way. February 28, 2010
Does
that Clause take a Comma?
Brad explains the different effects created by varying the order of
your main and subordinate clause. February 14, 2010
Mr.
or Mr? Depends on Where You Live
Brad outlines a small but significant difference in how North Americans
write the abbreviations for Mister and
Mistress. January
31, 2010
Woman,
Girl or Female? Sensitive Language!
Brad helps us find ways to use the terms in socially appropriate
ways. January 17, 2010
All
"Becauses" Have a Reason
Brad cautions students to avoid redundancies that include the word
"because." January 3, 2010
What
is a "Brainstorm"?
Brad
traces the history of this technique for generating ideas and cautions
students to remember the final, evaluative,
step. December
6, 2009
Nevertheless:
Be Careful with However
Brad explains the correct usage of "however" and clears up some common
misunderstandings. November 22, 2009
"At
the end of the day": Irritating Expressions
Brad cautions students not to imitate the world of business in their
writing. November 8, 2009
The
Short Clause Comma
Brad goes over the short clause comma and encourages students to
experiment. October 11, 2009
Go
with the Flow
Brad explains how writers can improve the "flow" of sentences in their
writing. September 27, 2009
Using
a Style Guide
Brad recommends an excellent online resource to answer tricky questions
of English usage. September 13, 2009
Put
Your Best Foot Forward
Brad goes over some common idioms using the word,
"foot." June
9, 2009
One
Stop Essay Tips
Brad points out our one page resource for students who are preparing to
write a certificate test essay. June 1, 2009
A
Colleague with a Brogue
Brad refers to a number of English words that end with the letters
"gue." May 25, 2009
Need
Help with Word?
Brad links us to a super resource for helping you learn to use
Microsoft Word. May 18, 2009
Don't
Bug Me!
Brad gives some of the interesting meanings for the common English
word, "bug." May 10, 2009
Stupid
Grammar Advice?
Brad refers to a contrary opinion on the famous grammar
text, The
Elements of Style.May 3, 2009
Compound
Adjectives: Using the Hyphen Well
Brad explains the useful compound adjective and links to a wonderful
online resource to learn more. April 19, 2009
Terrifically
Mean: A Good Thing?
Brad explains the interesting use of opposite meanings in
English. April
12, 2009
Worth
its Weight in Gold
Brad introduces three idiomatic usages for the word,
"gold." April
5, 2009
You
Dirty Rat!
Brad goes over some of the interesting idiomatic meanings for the word,
rat. March 30, 2009
The
Practical Participle
Brad explains how to use the participle in English (with
examples). March
23, 2009
"Use
Vigorous English" (Hemingway)
Brad refers to one of Hemingway's rules for writing
well. March
9, 2009
The
Was's and the Were's
Brad helps with the tricky use of the subjunctive form in
English. March
1, 2009
Exacerbating
my Exasperation
Brad demonstrates the difference between these two sound-alike
words. February
23, 2009
Either
or Neither?
Brad explains the correct use of either and neither. Includes several
example sentences. February 14, 2009
Banished
Words
Brad points out the 2009 list of banished words, which includes the
word "green"!February 8, 2009
Ago
or Before?
Brad explains how the two similar
words ago and before are
used correctly. February 1, 2009
The
Disappearing Apostrophe
Brad notes how the rule for forming the plural has lost the apostrophe
in recent years.January 12, 2009
The
Winter "Blues"
Brad goes over some of the many idiomatic meanings for the word,
blue. January
3, 2009
The
Whys and Wherefores
Brad explains the meaning of "wherefore" when used by Juliet in
Shakespeare's play,Romeo and Juliet. December 16,
2008
Moderating
your Modals
Brad gently suggests we be careful with modal verbs such as "must" and
"should." December 8, 2008
Disinterested
or Uninterested?
Brad brings our attention to the correct usage of this often-confused
pair. December 1, 2008
Who's
"That" Person?
Brad argues that we should use "who" when referring to a person and not
"that." November 21, 2008
"Alphabet
Juice"
Brad
points out a fascinating new book about the English language that The
New York Times calls a "literary junk drawer." Includes a link to the
first chapter (origins of words to denote the sound a pig makes, for
example!). November 18, 2008
Lose
that Thin Skin!
Brad suggests that a good writer gets used to and welcomes
criticism. November 11, 2008
The
Scandinavian Connection
Brad shares some vocabulary that has come to us from the Old Norse
language. November 3, 2008
Using
"HyperGrammar"
Brad shares a fabulous resource for learning and testing your grammar
knowledge online. October 27, 2008
The
Pen: Mightier than the Keyboard?
Brad encourages writers to give old fashioned writing with a pen a try
once in a while.October 20, 2008
Tools
for the Imagination
Brad's tip points out a number of useful random generators guaranteed
to help you find new ideas for your writing. October 13, 2008
Quotations:
Online Resources
Brad's tip points out four useful resources for learning more about
using quotation and paraphrase. October 6, 2008
Using
Quotations
Brad's tip shows you how to quote accurately and also how to paraphrase
from the same source. September 29, 2008
Blogging
Makes Writing Better
Brad's tip outlines good reasons to participate in blogging
online. September
22, 2008
Finding
the Time to Write
Brad's tip gives some advice on squeezing a bit more writing time into
our busy lives.September 13, 2008
A
Compliment to Complement
Brad's tip demonstrates how to use these two sound-alike words
correctly.September 7, 2008
A
Man on a Moped who Moped
Brad's tip asks if you can read the above sentence correctly and
identify the two meanings of "moped." June 15, 2008
Ballet,
Biscuit, Bribe?
Brad's tip reveals what is common among the three words. June
9, 2008
Alcove,
Apricot, Artichoke?
Brad's tip reveals what is common among the three words. June
2, 2008
That's
Super!
Brad's tip comments on this handy prefix, used to form many new
words. May
24, 2008
Long
Winded Writing
Brad's tip comes from Ruth, a Writing 12
student. May
19, 2008
Establish
Your Style
Brad's tip comes from Suzanne, a Writing 12
student. May
3, 2008
Choose
Easier Words
Brad's tip comes from Masaru, a Writing 12
student. April
27, 2008
Are
You Among or Amongst Friends?
Brad's tip asks if "among" is used differently from
"amongst." April
21, 2008
Perhaps
it's Just, Really Quite . . .
Brad's tip reminds us that some words are better left out than
in. April
14, 2008
The
Limits of the Standard Essay
Brad's tip argues that, sometimes, students are better served by
breaking away from standard form. April 6, 2008
Writing
for the Web
Brad's tip points out some important rules for writing well for the
web. March
29, 2008
Colon
or Semicolon?
Brad's tip helps you use these two, often-misused, punctuation
marks. March
21, 2008
Have
You Any of Either?
Brad's tip helps you use these two, often-misused,
words. March
9, 2008
Writing
about a Rite, Right?
Brad's tip discusses four different spellings (and meanings) for the
words, rite, write, right and wright. March 2, 2008
Was
it Quite Quiet?
Brad's tip reminds us that our spellcheckers will often fail to alert
us to a common error. February 26, 2008
Breaking
the Rules! Aggravate My Irritation
Brad's tip notes that, for most purposes, we can use "aggravate" to
mean "irritate." February 18, 2008
Breaking
the Rules! The Pesky Ending Preposition
Brad's tip suggests that, sometimes, we can end a sentence with a
preposition, especially when the alternative sounds
awful. February
11, 2008
Breaking
the Rules! Between or Among?
Brad's tip looks at another rule we think we know, but, on close
examination, find is less definitive than we
thought. February
4, 2008
Breaking
the Rules! Conjunctions on the Front?
Brad's tip suggests that we learn to break the rules
sometimes. January
28, 2008
Continuous
or Continual Rain?
Brad's tip helps us to describe the different rainy conditions found in
his home town, Vancouver. January 22, 2008
Poetry:
Quoting Verse Correctly
Brad's tip demonstrates the two important rules for correctly quoting
verse, a useful skill for the upcoming provincial
exams. January
14, 2008
Oh
Oh: The Long "O"
Brad's tip outlines some of the different spellings used to indicate
the long "o" in English. January 6, 2008
What's
My Number?
Brad's tip concerns itself with the rules for using numbers in
writing. December
10, 2007
The
"I-Me" Mix Up
Brad's tip helps us to learn when to use "I" and when to use "me" and
warns us about substituting "myself." December 3,
2007
More
Foreign Expressions in English
Brad's tip gives two more examples of foreign words that have become
part of the English language. November 26, 2007
Foreign
Expressions in English
Brad's tip gives some examples of foreign words that have become part
of the English language. November 19, 2007
Don't
Slip with Ellipsis
Brad's tip outlines some of the common uses for
ellipsis. November
12, 2007
Kurt
Vonnegut's Rules for Writing Fiction
Brad's tip introduces us to Kurt Vonnegut's witty and useful rules for
better fiction writing. November 5, 2007
Writing
Concise Sentences
Brad's tip helps you to follow Stephen King's advice from last week to
"Get to the point" and "Cut down your text." October
29, 2007
Stephen
King's 7 Tips for Writers
Brad's tip gives us Stephen King's concise and easily followed tips for
beginning writers. October 22, 2007
Is
That an Example or In Other Words?
Brad's tip helps you tell the difference between the abbreviations,
"e.g." and "i.e." October 15, 2007
Using
Story Quotes in a Short Paragraph
Brad's tip gives a demonstration paragraph written on theme for the
short story, "The Heyday of the
Blood." October
7, 2007
"Ironic?"
Maybe! Using Quotation Marks Correctly
Brad's
tip makes clear that marking a single word with quotation marks gives
the word a new, mostly ironic, meaning. Includes a link to the
hilarious "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation
Marks. September
30, 2007
Have
the Guts to Cut
Brad's
tip refers to a descriptive essay written in conjunction with his
English classes. Includes a sample essay and a link to a document to
see where the cuts were made. September 24, 2007
A
Dominant Impression: Writing Better Description
Brad's tip points out that creating a dominant impression in a
description is the key to its
success. September
17, 2007
How
to Write with Style (Kurt Vonnegut)
Brad's
tip points out an outstanding article on writing by Kurt Vonnegut.
Follow his seven simple tips to becoming a better, more stylish,
writer. September
10, 2007
Defining
the Topic Sentence (Revisited)
Brad's
tip points us to a 2003 Web collaboration based on trying to decide
which sentence is the "true" topic sentence in a paragraph. Answers
from renowned experts are interesting, diverse and, believe it or not,
contradictory! September 3, 2007
One
Stop Essay Tips
Brad's
tip brings together all his tips for essay writers. Especially helpful
for those writing essays in summer school this
term! August
6, 2007
Pacing
Your Writing
Brad's tip comments on the importance of establishing a pace to your
written work. July 31, 2007
Using
Your Head Using You're
Brad's tip explains the sound-alike pair of "your" and
"you're." July
23, 2007
The
Inseparable "Not Only . . . But Also"
Brad's tip refers to Warren Clement's column on grammar, outlining why
this construction cannot drop the "but." July 17, 2007
Commas
with Adjectives: The "And" Test
Brad's tip explains a simple way to check if adjectives require a comma
before a noun.July 8, 2007
The
Virtue of Simplicity
Brad's tip refers to advice taken from William Zinsser's famous book,
On Writing Well. June 19, 2007
Improve
Your Writing: Use Colons!
Brad's tip points out some valuable uses of the colon: as an indicator
of what's to come and also for giving emphasis. June 10, 2007
Avoid
Fancy Words!
Brad's tip suggests that you follow the advice of the great writing
text, The Elements of Style. June 5, 2007
Persuasion
or Propaganda?
Brad's tip helps you to distinguish between persuasion and
propaganda. May 28, 2007
Repeat
Yourself!
Brad's tip demonstrates the special power of
repetition. May
21, 2007
An
Especially Good Special Tip
Brad's tip explains and demonstrates the difference between
"especially" and "special." May 14, 2007
Preparing
for an In-Class Essay Test
Brad's tip reflects on his recent experiences helping students to
prepare for an in-class essay test. May 7, 2007
Pants
Loose? Good! Don't Lose Them
Brad's tip looks at the commonly confused pair of words, "lose" and
"loose." April 29, 2007
Easily
Confused Spellings
Brad's tip looks at a number of commonly confused words and examines
the effect of getting them wrong. April 22, 2007
Don't
Flaunt that Rule!
Brad's tip identifies two easily confused words: flaunt and
flout. April 15, 2007
An
Everyday Day Every Day
Brad's
tip identifies a "most abused word," "everyday" used as an adjective
and its counterpart, "every day," used as an
adverb. April
8, 2007
Oh
You Shouldn't Of!
Brad's
tip identifies a common mistake in writing that originates in spoken
English and marks the writer as less than
competent. April
3, 2007
Are
You Perfect? Present Perfect!
Brad's tip explains the importance of correct use of this tense.
Includes links to a worksheet and explanation
online. March
25, 2007
Editing:
On Screen or Paper?
Brad's
tip argues for a paper edit of all your writing as computer screen
editing often leads us to avoidable errors in our
work. March
13, 2007
Short
Sentences Create Suspense
Brad's
tip quotes Roy Peter Clark from his column, Writing Tools, where he
explains and demonstrates how to make the short sentence work to create
suspense. March 5, 2007
Be
Wary of the Exclamation Mark!
Brad's
tip quotes Lynne Truss's strong opinions on the use of the exclamation
mark. Includes some rules and examples of how to use the mark correctly
in your writing. February 27, 2007
The
Effect of Affect
Brad's tip teaches the difference between these two words. Includes
sample sentences. February 20, 2007
The
Problem with "Always"
Brad's tip warns about the word "always," quoting from the useful
writing text, The Process of Composition by Joy
Reid. February 13, 2007
Not
"To Be": Avoiding "Is"
Brad's
tip warns writers about weak "to be" constructions and links to three
excellent online resources to help you get an excessive use of "is" out
of your writing.February 6, 2007
Some
Cautions on the Thesaurus
Brad's tip argues that a thesaurus can lead a writer astray as easily
as it helps in finding just the right word. January 29, 2007
Sentence
Fragments Sometimes
Brad's tip discusses the occasions when a sentence fragment may be
appropriate in your writing. January 21, 2007
Adverbs
Necessary? Not Always!
Brad's tip discusses how an overuse of adverbs can cause harm to your
prose. Includes a link to a great Web resource. January 14,
2007
Understanding
Point of View
Brad's
tip discusses the difficulties of understanding how point of view
affects a piece of writing. Includes a link to a great Web
resource. January
2, 2007
Learn
from the Greeks: Onomatopoeia
Brad's tip lists some interesting "sound-alike" words you can use to
improve your writing. December 16, 2006
What
the Honest Writer Does . . .
Brad's tip quotes John Gardner from his book, The Art of
Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers. December
11, 2006
Reading
Leads to Better Writing
Brad's tip quotes the thoughts of the writing greats on the importance
of reading widely. December 4, 2006
Adjectives?
Kill Them! (Mark Twain's Advice)
Brad's
tip starts with a quote from Mark Twain, author of Huckleberry Finn,
who counsels us to avoid using too many adjectives in our
writing. November 27, 2006
Learn
from the Greeks: Simile
Brad's tip outlines some of the many kinds of simile. Yes, the Greeks
outlined the uses of simile a long time ago! November 21, 2006
Learn
from the Greeks: Zeugma
Brad's
tip outlines a powerful rhetorical technique first defined by the
Greeks. Includes a writing sample to demonstrate its use in your
writing. November 13, 2006
Don't
Be Afraid to Repeat!
Brad's tip uses the writing of Elie Wiesel from his book on the
Holocaust, Night, to illustrate the power of intentional
repetition. November 7, 2006
The
Many Uses of Would
Brad's tip links us to a worksheet and teacher writing sample to help
you learn more about how to use "would" in your
writing. October
30, 2006
The
Secret to Writing Good Dialogue: Eavesdropping!
Brad's tip gives a number of suggested places to practice this ancient
art form: eavesdropping! October 24, 2006
Learn
to Use the Semicolon Like the Experts!
Brad's
tip outlines an online exercise you can use to find and examine
semicolon use by writers working online. Includes a link to an article
for practice. October 15, 2006
Be
Careful with "Only"!
Brad's tip demonstrates how a sentence's meaning can change depending
on where "only" is placed. October 8, 2006
How
We See Things: Following Shakespeare's Example
Brad's tip uses Shakespeare's Hamlet to help us
understand the importance of our own perceptions and how these
perceptions affect how we and others see the world.October 1, 2006
Two
Part Phrasal Verbs: A Great Resource
Brad's
tip points out a great resource for students working in a second
language. Includes a huge list of these tricky idiomatic constructions
and examples to help you use them correctly. September 24, 2006
Short
and Choppy? Sometimes, Yes!
Brad's tip gives an example of the effective use of short and choppy
sentences.September 17, 2006
Learning
to be Reverent
Brad's tip refers to Ann Lamott's comment on the responsibility of
writers to be reverent. September 10, 2006
Reading
and Writing
Brad's tip refers to best selling author Stephen King's advice on
reading. September 5, 2006
A
Writer's Secret: Smell
Brad's tip reminds writers to use our most powerful sense, our sense of
smell, to reach their audience. August 29, 2006
Use
Nouns and Verbs Not Adjectives and Adverbs
Brad's tip brings us the advice of the great writer, E.B. White, also
featured in our Quote of the Week. August 13, 2006
Write
Like a Writer: Begin by Understanding Life
Brad's tip responds to a quote from writer Anne Lamott's
book, Bird
by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. August 6, 2006
A
Quick Way to Improve Writing: Using Idioms
Brad's tip goes over the pluses and minuses of using idiom to improve
your writing.August 1, 2006
Speed
Up! Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Brad's tip helps you to increase your computing speed. Get more done
and save your wrists in the process! July 24, 2006
Looking
for a Word in Word? Hit Shift + F7!
Brad's tip gives instructions on using the thesaurus built into
Microsoft Word. May 16, 2006
Variety:
The Spice of the Writer's Life
Brad's tip offers a few practical hints to improve the variety of your
writing. April 23, 2006
Making
Your Writing Specific
Brad's tip includes two detailed student examples with his comments for
improvement.April 16, 2006
Microsoft
Word Grammar Check? Beware!
Brad warns students to be wary of the built in grammar checker offered
with the popular software. April 11, 2006
The
Dash: A Handy Mark
Brad explains the dash and gives a number of examples of its correct
uses. April 4, 2006
Using
the Semicolon Well
Brad explains the semicolon and reminds us to avoid
"semicolonitis." March
28, 2006
Advice
on Being Specific: Susan Goldsmith Woolridge
From another book from Brad's bookshelf for writers comes a specific
activity to help you find the specific in your writing. March
21, 2006
Writers
Care: Reading Anne Lamott
From one of Brad's favourite books on writing, read this week's tip for
an interesting quote from writing teacher Anne Lamott. March
4, 2006
Sleep
On It!
Advice to a weary student: when the writing job is complex, go to bed
and have a good sleep! February 21, 2006
Top
Ten Ways to Fix Writing Problems
Another
great resource, this one found by an English 12 student in the course
of researching her weekly assignment on student writing
problems. February
14, 2006
50
Writing Tools
An
index of 50 writing tools that will help you to improve your writing. A
fabulous online resource for any writer, make it a weekly
stop
and see your writing improve!February 5, 2006
Online
Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University: Useful Handouts
An incredible resource, OWL has been assisting students and teachers
with their writing needs for many years on the Web. January
22, 2006
More
on the Essay Thesis
An
additional resource students writing an essay should check for ideas
and advice on improving that most important sentence—the
thesis. January
10, 2006
Writing
Good Essay Introductions and Conclusions
Some
important tips to remember when writing your essay's introduction and
conclusion. Includes links to samples at our web
site. December
6, 2005
More
Comments and Suggestions for Writing about Literature
Still
more examples of student writing from English Language Arts 11 with
detailed commentary from the teacher on what works and what might be
improved. Based on Shirley Jackson's story, "The Possibility of
Evil." November
19, 2005
Comments
and Suggestions for Writing about Literature
A
number of longer examples of student writing with detailed commentary
from the teacher on what works and what might be
improved. November
12, 2005
Using
Quotations in Answers (with examples)
English 11 students are learning to use quotations correctly in their
answers. Find examples and advice in this week's tip. October
29, 2005
Some
Thoughts on the Topic Sentence
From a class discussion with the English 10 class, comments on
the expectations teachers have for the topic sentences you
write. October
2, 2005
Avoiding
the Fancy
Beginning with advice from the famous text, The Elements of
Style, Brad advises students to keep away from elaborate words when
simple ones tell the same story. September 25, 2005
The
"One Sentence" Rule for Revision
Peter Elbow, author of the book Writing with Power, gives us a
good piece of revising advice. September 20, 2005
Characteristics
of a Good Dictionary
Students at any level benefit
from a good dictionary. What characteristics should a student look for
to find a dictionary? Find out this week! Includes a link to an
excellent student dictionary. September 11, 2005
Learning
to Use Microsoft Word
Using
a word processor can really help you make assignments look better. This
tip will help you with becoming faster and more proficient at using
Word. September 6, 2005
What
is a "Controlling" Idea?
Want
to write the best topic sentences? Learn about the "controlling" idea
and you will be on the road to better sentences and ideas for your
essays and paragraphs. August 18, 2005
Eight
Steps to a Successful Test Essay
An
eight step plan for writing a test essay. The tip includes a full
sample essay, "The Benefits of Daydreaming" based on a standard essay
topic. May 22, 2005
A
Place I Hate: Using the Senses
A series of different sensory views of a place I hate: the weight room
at my local community centre. February 13, 2005
Simple,
Parallel, Short: What Sentence Should We Use?
A series of sentences that demonstrate key aspects of sentence
style. February
5, 2005
A
Writing Exercise with Exercise (Being Specific)
Poet
Susan Goldsmith Woolridge gives valuable advice on being specific and
helps a writer to stay physically healthy at the same
time! January
23, 2005
Practice,
Practice, Practice
Students in this week's Writing Practice wrote for 10 minutes. Done
daily, writing practice will improve your writing
steadily. January
14, 2005
Learn
One New Word Every Day!
Many
of my students identify vocabulary as a key weakness. Use the Merriam
Webster "Word of the Day" web site to learn a new word every
day! January
9, 2005
The
One "Essential" Book of English Usage
A small book, available at any bookstore or online and one that any
serious student of writing should consider. January
2,
2005
Five
Important Rules of Written Grammar
Why not master these five tips for the holidays? Grammar, particularly
English grammar, can be difficult for writers to
master. December
14, 2005
Commas:
Student Examples with Teacher Comment
The
comma is one of our most powerful punctuation marks. Writing Tutorial
students practiced commas this week. View their sentences and Brad's
comments. November 7, 2005
Adding
Detail after the Object
Making
sentences longer can be a challenge. Why not add detail after the
object, that part of the sentence following along behind the
verb? October
23, 2005
Students'
Errors Classified
Read
about the common errors students make in composition. How many do you
share with them? Results are from the English 10 and Advanced
Composition classes. September 26, 2005
Student
Examples: Important Writing Rules
Students discussed important rules for writing and
writers. Find
out what they think!September 20, 2005
Student
Examples: Character Description
Students discussed the use of indirect description in class this
week. Here
are some good examples to follow, each one with a detailed commentary
from the teacher and the class. August 14, 2005
Student
Responses to Lynne Truss
Lynne
Truss says, “Proper punctuation is both the sign and the cause of clear
thinking.” What does she mean, exactly? Here are some student
responses. August 3, 2005
A
Paradox from Wislawa Szymborska
Students of poetry may find the excerpt interesting. A fine example of
paradox. June 7, 2005
Student
Rules for Topic Sentences (with examples)
Results of a class exercise on topic sentences with the Advanced
Composition (daytime class) students. May 18, 2005
Student
Writing Examples with Teacher Comments
Three pieces by Literature and Composition 4 students are revised,
corrected, and commented on in detail. May 10, 2005
Advanced
Composition: Imitating Great Writers
Students
helped the teacher write two faithful copies of the style of two great
writers, Carol Shields and Jack London. Includes comments on the craft
shown in the writing. April 22, 2005
Student
Examples of Titles and Introductions
More from the students on essay structure. February
29, 2005
Student
Rules for Writing a Good Essay
Results
of a class discussion on six parts of the essay and the rules one
should follow for each. There are only five parts listed here. Can you
think of a sixth? February 19, 2005
Breaking
the Rules: Avoid "Short Choppy Sentences"?
Sometimes,
teachers' rules are meant to be broken! Look at this example of the
effective use of "short choppy sentences" by Canadian writer, Ethel
Wilson. December 30, 2004
Strong
Verbs: Intensifying Meaning
Yet another tip that will help you obtain the highest marks possible
for your certificate test writing this
term. December
7, 2004
Variety:
The Spice of a Reader's Life
Yet another tip that will help you obtain the highest marks possible
for your certificate test writing this
term. December
1, 2004
Logical
Order: The Key to Coherent Paragraphs and Essays
Follow logical order and see your test writing marks
improve! November
25, 2004
Answering
Questions Well
The
English 3B-C Class worked on answers to questions about water
conservation in Vancouver. Learn about some good "answering questions"
techniques. October 6, 2004
The
Title Rules! (Review and Examples)
The
Literature and Composition 4 students have learned how to write good
titles. View their work, along with a thorough review of the rules for
writing good titles. May 25, 2004
Questions
and Answers about the Essay
A
series of student questions about different parts of the essay. Topics
discussed include, Paragraph Hooks, Placement of Body Paragraphs,
Transition Words and more.April 18, 2004
Punctuation
Review: Increasing Sentence Length
Sentences
by the Level 3B-C show how to use the comma, apostrophe, hyphen,
exclamation mark, and quotation marks. Comments from the teacher on
increasing sentence length. March 19, 2004
Metaphors
We Live By (All Language is Metaphor!)
Metaphor is used by poets, right? No, we use metaphor all the time,
according to the text, Metaphors We Live
By. January 19,
2004
Want
to be a Writer? Stephen King's Advice
Stephen King's book, On Writing, is a wonderful text. What is
his primary writing advice? January 5, 2004
Parallel
Structure: A President's Inaugural Address
Read
a quotation from Lyndon Bains Johnson's Inaugural Address and learn
more about the effective use of parallel structure in your
writing. December
3, 2003
Vision:
"The Beholder's Eye"
Diane Ackerman explains in her book, A Natural History of the
Senses,
that about 70 percent of our sensory information comes through our
eyes. No wonder, then, that visual image is important to
writers! September
29, 2003
Smell:
"The Mute Sense"
"Nothing is more memorable than smell." So Diane Ackerman says in her
book, A Natural History of the Senses. And nothing, she adds,
is harder to describe than smell to another who has not experienced
it. September
7, 2003
Participles:
Verbs as Adjectives
This week, Brad gives some examples of participles that are also useful
as adjectives. July 31, 2003
Note
Pads and Cards
This week, Brad outlines a popular method for writers to save their
ideas: writing them down! July 20, 2003
The
All Important Audience
This
week, Brad reminds us of the importance of audience to a writer.
Includes links to a worksheet and a teacher writing
sample. July
1, 2003
Writing
with Power: Practical Advice
This
week, Brad points us to one of his favourite writing texts. Includes a
sample piece of advice and a link to
Amazon.com. June
23, 2003
What
Makes Writing Memorable
This week, Brad comments on his pleasurable experiences as a marker of
many student paragraphs and essays. June 16, 2003
Should
I Ask? The Rhetorical Question
Is it right to ask the rhetorical question? Find out Brad's
opinion! June
4, 2003
Student
Essay Examples with Comments
Brad has written comments for a number of excerpts from student
practice essays. Learn more about what makes a good essay! May
26, 2003
Do
You Know Your Essay Structure?
Brad has written a quiz to help you check! May 19, 2003
Assigned
a Paragraph? Write ONE!
Brad's
been marking student paragraphs this week. Much to his dismay, some
students have written short essays, although he had only asked
for one paragraph! May
12, 2003
On
"What" Other Hand?
Brad
has some advice on transitions in writing. On the other hand, will he
give good advice? Come to read about the use (and misuse) of
transitions. May 5, 2003
26
Golden Rules for Writing Well
Brad laughed at this list. Visit the site to see why. April
28, 2003
Resources for
Adults Completing
High School