Monday, July 13, 2015

How to Succeed in Proposal Writing

Proposal Writing Tips

Professional proposal writers tend to fall into two distinct categories: Those who are fresh out of college, just starting their careers, and battled-hardened veterans with many years of experience. There is typically very little middle ground because in most companies, new writers drift away to other departments after gaining some professional experience, learning the company, and realizing how challenging the world of proposal writing can be. The veterans are those who stuck around because they loved the challenges despite the headaches and realized that being an experienced proposal writer can be a very marketable skill.

If you’re one of those veterans, you have probably already found your own methods for managing chaos and turning out high-quality, on-time proposals. There’s always room for improvement, however. Everyone I’ve worked with has taught me something, whether it’s a little-known grammar rule, a desktop publishing shortcut, or a new way to approach a kickoff call.

Read Past Proposals and the Response Database

Reading old proposals is admittedly one of the least interesting parts of training, but it’s necessary even if you have years of experience and are merely switching companies. This is how you will become familiar with the proposal layout, learn the corporate style, and start learning the material.

If your team uses a proposal response library such as Qvidian or Capterra, spend time familiarizing yourself with the database. This will be critical when you are trying to answer proposals; the more familiar you are with the layout and where to find various answers, the less time you’ll spend digging. Proposal deadlines are notoriously short, so the faster you can find answers, the easier it will be to meet your deadline.

Learn the Corporate Style

Some companies prefer to remain extremely formal, referring to themselves as “it” (ABC Company will leverage its experience to offer DEF Company …), while others take a warmer, more informal approach and use “you” and we.” (We can offer your company a partnership …”).

Other common areas where companies differ include use of the serial comma, periods at the ends of bullet lists, and use of copyright marks. Even though most of us have a preference, there often isn’t a strictly right or wrong answer, so just bite your tongue and go along, at least until you are in a position to start influencing change.

On the other hand, some companies may not have a corporate style at all. This is usually the case in small companies or ones that have recently grown. That’s okay when there’s only one proposal writer, but as the department grows, it can lead to inconsistencies. Take the time to develop some style guidelines for your department. If you’re a new writer, you may not have the authority to make those decisions, but you can at least start asking the questions and gathering the responses.

Writing Your First Proposal

Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the material, you’re ready to start work on your first proposal. In an ideal world, you’ll have a chance to shadow a veteran team member before your first solo proposal. If so, try to be involved in the entire process from the kickoff meeting to the final submission. The next step is have a veteran shadow you, with you driving the process but with someone ready to help if you get stuck or forget a step.

However, circumstances for proposal writing are rarely ideal. Remember, a good proposal writer must be adaptable. In case you don’t have a mentor or built-in infrastructure, here is my process flow, which has proven helpful for all proposal situations.

Read the entire proposal request, especially the boring fine print. This is where the potential client will specify the due date, whether they want electronic or hard copies, if there’s an opportunity to ask for clarification, where to submit it, or any other rules of engagement. If it’s a government RFP, expect red tape such as an exact time, particular labels required on the packaging, how to label confidential information under the Freedom of Information Act, etc.

Create a calendar showing all key milestones of the project; it makes a better visual than just a milestone list. Include the date received, the date due, and any milestones provided by the client such as a bidders’ conference or deadlines for asking clarification questions. Next, fill in dates such as when you want answers from the team, when you’ll distribute drafts, and when you need final edits. Your timeline will vary depending on how much response time you have and the proposal complexity.

Include time to compile answers and for quality review. People in other departments may look at the final due date and think they can just give you everything an hour before the deadline. This is a recipe for failure because there are inevitably last-minute scrambles. Someone forgot to answer a question. Another person responded with “Go ask X Department.” You received conflicting answers from two different people. Even in the best scenarios, you are compiling answers from multiple sources and need time to edit into a cohesive, consistent style.

Schedule a kickoff meeting with all involved parties. Depending on the size of the company, the value of the project, and the complexity, this may include sales reps, a sales director, your manager, and several subject matter experts (SMEs). When in doubt, ask who should be invited. Provide everyone with a copy of the RFP and calendar and ask them to read it before the meeting. (They often won’t, but at least you tried!)

Use reminders to keep everyone on track. Whether you’re using automatic reminders through your email calendar, writing notes in your paper calendar and manually sending reminders, or some other method, reminders will be crucial to meeting deadlines. Everyone is busy, and for most of the people involved, this proposal is not their only responsibility or often even their primary one.

These are some of the common process steps, but every company will have its own set of procedures. Some proposal writers are strictly project managers and just consolidate and edit SME responses at the end. Others are more involved with researching and composing the answers. Whatever the company’s process, you should learn it, follow it, and improve it where you can.

Quality Review Tips

You’ll be obtaining material from diverse sources. Your SMEs probably aren’t gifted writers. Corporate marketing materials may be too fluffy or too informal. Past proposals and database responses may have been written at different times by different writers. You may even have answers written by people who don’t speak English as their first language.

Whatever the situation, careful editing will be required to ensure a consistent voice. I’ve seen finished proposals that have glaring style inconsistencies from one paragraph to the next. This is the proposal writer’s job to fix, but regardless of your skill, everyone needs some tools to help.

Grammar and punctuation guides: Find some resources you trust and have them handy. Some of my favorites are Grammar Girl and the Chicago Manual of Style.

Acronym finder: If you use too many acronyms, your proposal will be hard to understand, especially if it’s being read by an executive who may not be familiar with technical acronyms. Try to spell out an acronym on first reference, unless it’s incredibly common (IT, CEO, DNA, or NFL). When in doubt, spell it out. If your SME used acronyms that you don’t know how to spell out, try Acronym Finder.

Use a spell-check: It seems crazy to point this out, but use spell-check! Obviously you can’t blindly rely on its suggestions, but it is ridiculous how many finished proposals have obvious spelling errors.

If possible, have another writer on your team provide a final quality review. A fresh set of eyes is always helpful.

Parting Words of Wisdom

Proposal writing is challenging and frustrating, but that’s part of the fun. You’re constantly growing your skills and knowledge, and every proposal has something fresh to offer: a different team of experts, new questions to research, new hurdles set by the client. If you’re organized, like meeting new challenges, and can keep a sense of humor about the frustrations, you just might be one of the long-timers.


Maria Petti is a full-time mom and part-time freelance writer. She contributes to a variety of publications including GrammarCheck.me. In her corporate life Maria gained extensive experience working as a proposal writer across six companies.

from http://www.grammarly.com/blog http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/how-to-succeed-in-proposal-writing/


Seven Kinds of Language Geeks

What kind of language geek are you?

So, you call yourself a geek? You are not alone. However, geekus authenticus (real geeks) realize that there are many unique varieties of nerd. In fact, there are at least seven different varieties of language geeks. Which type best describes you?

”Spudicus Prononciaticus”

Does it drive you crazy when people mispronounce words? What about foreign words that have been adopted into English? Do you sound like a Frenchman when you say bon appetit? You do not care if everyone else pronounces February wrong; you will make sure both r’s get proper emphasis! Yes, there is a difference between po-tay-to and po-tah-to. You have memorized the international phonetic alphabet in all its glory. You give respect to words by making sure that they receive proper sense stress and modulation. You are a master of all things pronunciation!

Sesquipedalian

If you know what this word means and you have used it, then it describes you. This fancy Latin term means “a foot and a half long.” That is how you like your words, isn’t it? The longer and the more obscure the term, the more you want to show it off; it doesn’t matter if no one knows what you are talking about. You have an extensive vocabulary. You complete crossword puzzles in minutes. You have read the dictionary from cover to cover. You are a bonafide wordie.

Word Origin Archaeologist

Etymologists, not to be confused with entomologists (the scientists who study bugs), investigate the history of words. From what language is the word derived? How has the meaning of the word changed over time? Like an archaeologist looking at dinosaur bones, word origin archaeologists try to ascertain how a word began and how old it is. Phrases and idioms fascinate you, too. For example, why say “he got the sack” when a boss fires an employee? You must investigate! Nothing fascinates you more than the life story of a word or phrase. You are a word historian.

Grammar Despot

The world is a dangerous place for a grammar despot. You cannot read your Facebook news feed or page through the grocery ads without being assaulted with crimes against grammar. When you see fewer in the place of less or you’re in the place of your, you feel your blood pressure rise. Conventions of writing make you feel comfortable and secure. You have a message for anyone who writes anything: Please follow grammar rules. Be kind to your editor. Make the world a safer place to read! You are an authority on the English language, and your prowess should be revered!

Super Speller

Did you mark the date of next year’s National Spelling Bee on your calendar? Do colleagues and classmates constantly ask you how to spell words? You must be the resident super speller. Correctly spelled words make you happy. One by one, you root out typos and misspellings from your work and the writings of your friends. No matter if they did not request help. It is your pleasure; you are an alphabet guru!

Jargon Junkie

The word dog is extremely limited in its descriptive ability. You prefer the infinitely superior Canis lupus familiaris. You post octothorps rather than hashtags on your Twitter feed. You ask your sick friends if they are feeling agonal. It doesn’t matter that you are not a doctor or a veterinarian. The jargon of these professions is fair game. If there is a technical term available, you will use it.

Language Olympian

¡Te encantan las idiomas! Do languages hold a certain je ne sais quoi? If you speak several languages fluently, you can be proud of your polyglotism. Besides being handy for travel, learning languages brings other benefits. Studies show that people who speak multiple languages have better recall than monolingual people. If you scored well on math and reading standardized tests, you can thank your bilingual abilities. Scientists believe that these gains are attained as language learners exercise their brains, increasing mental strength the same way that exercise strengthens the body. Don’t settle for the status quo. Learning one language is not enough. Put your mind in training for the next language challenge. You are proud to be multilingual!

Did you identify with one of the seven categories? If you fit one of the descriptions, you can officially identify as a real language geek. Just to be sure you can take our newest quiz. If you are particularly captivated by words, languages, or grammar, you might fall into more than one category. In that case, give yourself a pat on the back. You are a super geek!

from http://www.grammarly.com/blog http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/seven-kinds-of-language-geeks/


How to Read Between the Lines of a Job Description

Guest post from Jennifer Parris, Career Writer for FlexJobs

On the surface, a job description might seem fairly straightforward. It lists the job title, a smattering of responsibilities, and contact info by which you can apply for the position. But upon a second reading, you’re sure to find many layers to the posting, full of nuances and hidden messages that a seasoned job seeker might be able to pick up. If you’ve ever read a posting and wondered, “What are they really asking for?” here are some tips on how to read between the lines of a job description—and submit a job application that will get you the position.

Pay attention to the placement. By their very nature, job descriptions are fairly short and succinct. Without having pages to list every single job duty, company background, and so on, hiring managers will write what’s most important at the top of the job description. It’s there that they’ll give you—in either a sentence or two—an overarching idea of what they want from their potential employee. As a job seeker, it’s important for you to repeat that information (in your own words, of course) in your cover letter. Not only does it show that you read through the job description, but that you can do the work as well.

Respect the responsibilities. A typical job description might have upwards of ten or more job duties listed. Generally, the top five are the most critical ones and those that can make or break your job application. Make sure you actually can perform these duties, particularly if some of them are listed as “requirements” or “qualifications.” If you don’t, your job application will be rejected by the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or the actual person who is reading your resume.

Learn the lingo. Team player. Strong organizational skills. Leadership qualities. There are some terms that go hand in hand with a job description. But what do they really mean—and do you really need to possess these skills and traits? A team player means that you’ll be working with others, and you’ll need to do so without any drama or complaining. Strong organizational skills is code for having a very busy workload and having to be able to manage it all well without dropping the ball—or making your prospective boss look bad. If you’re expected to have leadership qualities, you’ll need to command the respect of your colleagues and lead and inspire them, which will require you to think outside of the box at times and be adaptable.

Share the love. In an effort to avoid being inundated with job applications, some companies will refrain from posting the company’s name in the job description. If the company’s name is listed, though, you should make a concerted effort to offer up some praise about the organization in your cover letter. If you’re not very familiar with the company, do some research first, and then include a couple of sentences in your job application that depict how much you want to work for that specific organization. For example, you might write something like, “I admire your organization’s policy on workplace flexibility.” After all, a boss is more apt to hire someone who specifically wants to work for his company as opposed to someone simply looking for any old job.

Find out the compensation. It’s the question of any job seeker: how much does this job pay? Unfortunately, very few job postings will name a dollar amount. That doesn’t mean you can’t find out how much the company is willing to cough up for the position, though. By using sites such as salary.com, you can find out comparable salaries for the job you’re after, and you can use this info to determine if it’s worth applying for the position or not.

When you’re deep in the throes of your job search, it’s easy to quickly scan a job description so that you can submit your application ASAP. But taking the time to thoroughly read through the posting can help you submit quality job applications that will get you hired for a position that you truly want—and deserve.

 


Jennifer Parris, FlexJobsAbout the Author

Jennifer Parris is a Career Writer for FlexJobs, an award-winning service that helps job-seekers find professional opportunities that offer work flexibility, such as telecommuting, freelance, part-time, or alternative schedules. To learn more about Jennifer, visit FlexJobs.com or tweet @flexjobs.

from http://www.grammarly.com/blog http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/how-to-read-between-the-lines-of-a-job-description/


Sunday, July 12, 2015

Why You Should Fly Your Geek Flag High on Embrace Your Geekness Day!

The Power of Embracing Your Geekness

It’s a good time to be a geek.

A Medieval fantasy epic series written by a man who looks like a dorky Friar Tuck has a monopoly on the emotions of television audiences. Thanks to a certain fruit-producing genius, the black turtleneck is back in fashion—as is respect for any tech-minded brainiac who can help you make sense of the multiple gadgets that likely power your life. A car that operates more like a laptop than a traditional automobile is making even the sleekest gasoline-powered inventions of the past look like oxcarts. And a hip-hop video parody that celebrates being nerdy has gained a total number of views that numbers more than twice the population of Canada.

In short, nerd-dom has gone mainstream. So much so that just a few years ago July 13 was appointed as national Embrace Your Geekness Day, an unofficial occasion when those “into dungeon games, comic books, and doing vampire dress-up” or spending “endless hours going strange places on the internet” could celebrate their identity.

As Tom and Ruth Roy, the Renaissance Fair–producing pair who cooked up the holiday, declared: “You’re a geek, and this is your day to roar!” Never mind that the duo’s other proposed copyrighted celebrations—including Cat Herder Day and The Slugs Return from Capistrano Day—seem a little bizarre.

Needless to say, it’s high time that geeks everywhere—word nerds (like us!), lords of Lego, drama geeks, sci-fi freaks, brogrammers, etc.—put their sectarian elitism aside, unite, join forces, and rally.

After all, it was only a few decades ago that the word geek was not so favorably looked upon. True story: in the early 1900s a geek was a carnival performer whose act involved biting the heads off live animals.

Bleak, right? Over the years, thankfully, the definition evolved. At one point it included anyone freakishly devoted to a certain intellectual pursuit. Later, it became especially associated with those who had a deep knowledge of computers or technological fields.

Those explanations don’t sound half bad; they even sound appealing. But the reality is that regardless of the specifics of the etymology, a common thread connects all of the definitions. Geek—and its siblings nerd and dork—have, until very recently, always been derisive terms, and they’ve been linked to similarly negative stereotypes.

As Benjamin Nugent, author of American Nerd: The Story of my People, told Salon.com, “Nerd implies being an outsider, being picked on as a kid, social awkwardness.”

More tangibly, and as anyone who proudly bears the label will know, it means sandbox torture sessions, swirlies, long loner lunches, and generally feeling bullied or excluded.

But why? Why do people classified as nerds, geeks, and dorks face such persecution?

After all, being a geek isn’t about antagonizing others. It’s about being yourself. It’s about liking what you like, being interested in what you’re interested in, and doing what you want to do without concern for popularity and conformity.

But in fact, these same qualities provide others with motivation for ostracism. As child therapist and developmental psychologist David Anderegg explains, nerds and geeks are the people who, as children, are the last to develop the self-consciousness of adolescence. This means that they don’t find “the weird enthusiasms, the willingness to cooperate with adults, and the lack of social skills” pathetic and shameful, as do more self-conscious children.

Instead, they either don’t perceive or don’t choose to follow the same social hierarchies that others do, which can lead to discomfort and a frustrated lashing out from their peers.

This isn’t simply to say that geeks have some innate power to defy social norms and pursue the kind of rugged individualism that America thrives on. It’s still largely unclear how much a person’s geekiness is inherent or learned.

What is clear, though, is the fact that these kinds of labels are, as Anderegg asserts, “complex stereotypes that exist in cultural space.”

And that’s where embracing your geekness comes in. As adults and full-grown geeks, nerds, and dorks, we have the power to destigmatize terms that not only cause children pain, but also stifle their development.

To tear a page out of the success story that is Alcoholics Anonymous, it’s about saying, “My name is Stephanie, and I’m a geek.” By proudly identifying as geeks, nerds, and dorks, and by encouraging children to make positive connections between taking a pointed interest in things and these terms, we can start to lift the stigma.

Taking it one step further, now that people like Richard Branson have started to claim these titles with pride as a result of the tech boom, it’s also time to recognize that geekdom isn’t limited to certain pursuits like gaming and computer science. Rather, it’s about general self-expression and the freedom to truly be passionate about what you want to be passionate about. Approving of a person who spends every waking hour embroiled in MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) while judging someone who wants to sew till they drop or ponder punctuation until the cows come home is simply shifting the negativity of the old geek stereotype onto new people.

As Star Trek: The Next Generation star Wil Wheaton so perfectly put it in a video message to his unborn daughter, “It’s not about what you love; it’s about how you love it.”

So, let’s find some solidarity this year on Embrace Your Geekness Day. If you’re a grammar guru, hug a programmer. If you dig cosplay, high five a drama buff. If you’re a sports nerd, chest bump a historian. Just take some time to recognize and celebrate your inner nerd-dom, and give others the space to do the same.

To help you assert your geekness, we’ve made the following cover photos for you to share on your social networks. Simply click the link for the network you use and download!

Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Also, find out which kind of language geek you are with our newest quiz!


Stephanie Katz is a San Francisco–based writer who, contrary to the way it may seem, won’t correct your grammar over beers, coffees or any other normal life interaction. She tells stories about health, history, travel and more and can be contacted via email at stekatz@gmail.com.

from http://www.grammarly.com/blog http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/why-you-should-fly-your-geek-flag-high-on-embrace-your-geekness-day/


Saturday, July 11, 2015

Eleven Terms for the Self-Proclaimed Smartypants

Are you a smartypants? These words are for you!

If you are a smartypants, there are certain words that you should know. These eleven terms describe people who are your kindred spirits.
A bibliomaniac is a person who is obsessed with collecting books.

A bibliophile loves books, especially obscure volumes or books with unique features. They usually have quite a collection.

Logolepsy derives from Greek words meaning “word” and “to seize.” In this rare condition, a person has seizures of words. According to Charles H. Elster, the person loses “verbal control . . . over a pyrotechnic display of logodaedaly, by participating in a logomachy over some obscure point of grammar or etymology, or by being rendered senseless by a logographer’s logorrhea.” A logoleptic just might understand that definition.

A logophile is simply a lover of words.

Philomaths love learning. Do you know the difference between a philomath and a polymath? If you are a philomath, you will be sure to seek out the answer.

Sapiosexuals take fondness of intelligence to another level. They are sexually attracted to intellectuals, regardless of gender or physical attractiveness. Geeks and nerds couldn’t be happier to meet these brain lovers.

The term savant applies to learned people, especially scientists. Persons with savant syndrome have exceptional talents and abilities in specific areas like math, memory, or art. However, brain injuries and neurodevelopmental disorders are often associated with the condition.

Verbivore and logophile are related words. Both terms refer to people who delight in words and wordplay.

Now you have the vocabulary. Why not start a conversation with a verbivore today? You might start with asking if there is a word for people who love definitions!

from http://www.grammarly.com/blog http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/eleven-terms-for-the-self-proclaimed-smartypants/


Friday, July 10, 2015

5 of the Most Common Grammar Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

5 of the Most Common Grammar Mistakes

Grammar isn’t just the domain of high-minded intellectuals holding court in an ivory tower, nor is it a sadist creation designed to make you feel frustrated and confused. It’s a system and structure that’s genuinely in existence to help us communicate more clearly—to help us better understand each other and derive meaning from the things we say and write.

That’s why it’s so important to take notice of grammatical mistakes and figure out what you need to do to correct them. To start you on your way, here’s a snapshot of five of the most common grammatical errors and some advice about how to make sure you’re never in the wrong again.

1. It’s and its

If there were a grammar mistake hall of fame, it’s/its would have New York Yankees status. Nearly everyone who’s ever put pen to paper has incorrectly used one of the two forms, but there’s an easy way to make sure you never make this error ever again.

It’s is a contraction that means ‘it is’ or ‘it has,’ whereas its is a possessive pronoun. When deciding which form to use, simply try to insert ‘it is’ or ‘it has’ where you were planning to insert your it’s/its. If the sentence reads correctly, you can use it’s. If it doesn’t, use its.

Example:

It’s always a beautiful day in Mr. Rogers’s neighborhood.

Donald Trump’s dog loved its new Prada poncho.

2. There, their, and they’re

Similarly, this deadly homophone trinity has plagued writers since before the time of, well, the Black Plague. As is the case with it’s, they’re is a contraction that means ‘they are’. On the other hand, their is a possessive pronoun, and there functions as either an introductory pronoun or as an adverb.

It’s slightly more complicated to decide which form to use, but you can still apply some basic rules to help you choose. If you can insert ‘they are’ where you would insert your their/they’re/there, then you can use they’re. If not, try to figure out if the their/they’re/there is being used to indicate belonging. If this is the case, then their is appropriate. Alternatively, if you need to introduce the subject of a sentence or denote place, there is the best option—you can remember this by reminding yourself that there has ‘here’ inside of it.

Example:

Frank and Joe Hardy couldn’t believe their luck. The missing evidence just materialized before their eyes, and they were able to solve the case of the missing butter dish.

They’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

There was a knock at the door.

Don’t put the crib by the trash can; put it over there, in the corner of the room.

3. Subject-verb agreement

Failing to find that perfect, happy, peanut-butter-and-jelly kind of agreement between a subject and a verb is the kind of error that translates into slow, Medieval-style torture for copyeditors across the country. To make sure we keep these noble grammarians pain-free, it’s essential to remember that subjects and verbs must always align in number. That means that a singular subject goes with a singular verb, and plural subjects go with plural verbs.

This is easy enough to get right when a subject and a verb are close to each other, but it can get more complicated when prepositional phrases or complicated clauses create distance between the two. To avoid a mistake in the latter case, take a moment and underline your subject or subjects. Then decide whether a singular or plural verb is appropriate.

Example:

The Silicon Valley techies are super excited for their mixer with the Miss America contestants.

The use of calculators is prohibited on the math exam.

Mickey, who looked dashing in his giant yellow shoes, and Minnie, who looked equally fetching in her polka-dot hair bow, were the guests of honor at the cheese gala.

4. Comma splices

The comma. This pesky little punctuation mark is linked to a countless number of grammatical mistakes, but hands down, the most common type of error it’s involved in is the notorious comma splice. For those unfamiliar with this thorn in the editorial backside, a comma splice is a term used to describe the linking of two independent clauses (phrases that have both a subject and a verb) with a comma.

Incorrect examples:

Jay-Z confided in Beyoncé, he told her he wanted to put a ring on it.

He hit the jackpot at Las Vegas, all of the money on the table was his for the taking.

In both cases above, the independent clauses on either side of the commas could stand alone as complete sentences. Thus, the writer must instead decide whether to use a period, semicolon, or dash based on context and style. The only time a comma would be relevant is if the two phrases were linked by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, yet, so, nor, for).

To avoid comma splices, simply make sure one of the above conjunctions is present and accounted for and that it separates two clauses that both have subjects and verbs.

Correct examples:

Jay-Z confided in Beyoncé, and he told her he wanted to put a ring on it.

He hit the jackpot at Las Vegas, so all of the money on the table was his for the taking.

5. Apostrophes

Apart from commas, apostrophes seem to cause the most punctuation-related grammatical confusion. As we’ve pointed out in our Grammarly Handbook, the incredibly powerful little glyph “can change pronouns to verbs, tell you who owns what, replace a small handful of letters, and make plurals [of lowercase and uppercase letters].” Though, before you go out wielding the divisive mark, it’s essential to know how to use it.

The most important question to ask yourself when inserting an apostrophe is, “am I making a contraction or making a noun possessive?” If the answer is yes, then you can use the apostrophe. Keep in mind, an apostrophe is NOT used to make something plural ninety-nine percent of the time. The only exception to this rule is, as mentioned above, when you need to use an apostrophe to make a letter plural.

Example:

I removed the banana’s peel to get to the good bit.

I can’t believe global warming’s effect on the average summer temperature.

Mind your p’s and q’s when speaking to the Queen of England.

Is there a mistake you make all the time that you need help with? Let us know in the comment section below or via our Facebook or Twitter feeds, and we’ll try to explain it in a blog post.


Author Bio:
Stephanie Katz is a San Francisco–based freelance writer who, contrary to the way it may seem, won’t correct your grammar over beers, coffees, or any other normal life interaction. She tells stories about health, history, travel, and more, and can be contacted via email at stekatz@gmail.com.

from http://www.grammarly.com/blog http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/5-of-the-most-common-grammar-mistakes/


11 [Amazing] Untranslatable Words from Other Cultures

11 Untranslatable Words from Other Cultures Header

Untranslatable words infographic-handdrawn

Originally from Maptia.

What other amazing foreign words do you know?

from http://www.grammarly.com/blog http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/11-amazing-untranslatable-words-from-other-cultures/