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Could, Should, Would, Might Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 12, 2020
I try not to play the role of grammar policeman among my family and friends, so I make every effort not to comment on grammatical mistakes when I see or hear them. But I do notice them. When the same mistakes keep appearing from multiple people, I can’t help but wonder why. Lately, I’ve been…
American News Sources Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 5, 2020
With everything that’s happening in the United States and the rest of the world, nothing matters more than dependable news sources. We have learned to expect misinformation and alternative facts on our social media platforms. But what about newspapers, television, radio, and magazines? Who do Americans trust to provide them with unbiased reporting? I wish…
Changing the Clocks Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 30, 2020
On the first Sunday of every November in the US, we gain an hour of sleep. It marks the end of daylight saving time (DST), and the beginning of standard time. It also forces us to ask the age-old question, “Why do we do this?” With standard time we gain daylight in the mornings and…
English Words in the News: Election Edition Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 22, 2020
Americans right now are thinking about the national election on November 3rd, and probably more than they would like to admit. Because of COVID, many of us aren’t leaving home, so we have little choice but to pay attention to the races in our states and across the country. Television ads and news programs all…
The Gadsden Flag Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 15, 2020
The United States is a country with many official flags on display across the land. But one flag, historically among the oldest, has had a fascinating and increasingly controversial history. This is the story of the Gadsden flag. Beyond the traditional American flag with its red and white stripes and the white stars on a…
Using Parenthesis (In English) Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 2, 2020
In my capacity as an editor, I often find that the parenthetical statement is overused and misunderstood. And the use of parenthesis as a form of punctuation seems to perplex even the best writer. Let’s see if we can fix that, shall we? What is a Parenthetical Statement? A parenthetical statement, often called a parenthetical…
English Vocab for the Fall Season Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 24, 2020
Are you a leaf-peeper? Do you enjoy sweater weather? Longing for a crisp feel to the air? If you answered “Yes” to all three questions then you’re in luck. It’s autumn! To be honest, I’m really a summer kind of guy. Give me lots of daylight, green grass, and the lazy pace of an afternoon…