Preposition off

Use the preposition off alone. Do not add from or of.

Correct: Sam ran off the stage.

Incorrect: Sam ran off from the stage.

Incorrect: Sam ran off of the stage.

Correct: She got off the bus at the next stop.

Incorrect: She got off from the bus at the next stop.

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 8

1. Capitalize the first word of a quotation

• “How do you know I'm mad?” said Alice. - correct
• “how do you know I'm mad?” said Alice. - incorrect

• Alice whispered to her cat,“ If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense." - correct
• Alice whispered to her cat,“ if I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense." - incorrect

2. Do not capitalize the first word of a partial quotation.

• It’s difficult to say it will work, Sam concurred, “but I haven’t heard any better ideas.” - correct
• It’s difficult to say it will work, Sam concurred, “But I haven’t heard any better ideas.” - incorrect

• He called me “the worst excuse for a student” he had ever seen. - correct
• He called me “The worst excuse for a student” he had ever seen. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 7

1. Avoid capitalizing compass directions. 

• We drove east for 100 miles. - correct
• We drove East for 100 miles. - incorrect

2. Avoid capitalizing the seasons of the year.

• Sarah's coming over for a month next summer. - correct
• Sarah's coming over for a month next Summer. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 6

Capitalize all proper nouns and proper adjectives (name of a specific person, place or thing).

There are many common categories of proper nouns. Two of them are stated below.

1. Public areas and bodies of water

• There is an incredible view of the Arabian Sea from Bekal Fort, Kerala.- correct
• There is an incredible view of the Arabian sea from Bekal Fort, Kerala. - incorrect

• Blue whales are found in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean. - correct
• Blue whales are found in all oceans except the Arctic ocean. - incorrect

2. Landmarks and geographical locations

• The "People of the Blue-Green Waters" live in Havasu Canyon in the middle of Grand Canyon. - correct
• The "People of the Blue-Green Waters" live in Havasu Canyon in the middle of grand canyon. - incorrect

• The Continental Divide Trail is approximately 800 miles in length in Montana and Idaho. - correct
• The continental divide Trail is approximately 800 miles in length in Montana and Idaho. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 5

Capitalize all proper nouns and proper adjectives (name of a specific person, place or thing).

There are many common categories of proper nouns. Two of them are stated below.

1. Ethnic groups, races, languages, nationalities

• A white person of European descent is an example of a Caucasian. - correct
• A white person of European descent is an example of a caucasian. - incorrect

• What's the difference between Hispanic and Latino? - correct
• What's the difference between hispanic and latino? - incorrect

2. Works of art and literature

• The Julius Caesar play is set in Rome in 44 BCE. - correct
• The julius caesar play is set in Rome in 44 BCE. - incorrect

• Paulo Coelho (de Souza) is most famous for writing his novel The Alchemist. - correct
• Paulo Coelho (de Souza) is most famous for writing his novel The alchemist. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 4

Capitalize all proper nouns and proper adjectives (name of a specific person, place or thing).

There are many common categories of proper nouns. Two of them are stated below.

1. Special events, calendar events

• The United Nations designated World Bee Day to raise awareness of the importance of bees. - correct
• The United Nations designated world bee day to raise awareness of the importance of bees.  - incorrect

• The venue for all Aero India Shows is located in Bangalore, India. - correct
• The venue for all aero india shows is located in Bangalore, India. - incorrect

2. Names of people and places

• Robert Frost was born in California in March of 1874. - correct
• Robert frost was born in california in March of 1874. - incorrect

• India's rising urban centers include Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Chennai. - correct
• India's rising urban centers include bangalore, ahmedabad and chennai. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 3

Capitalize all proper nouns and proper adjectives (name of a specific person, place or thing).

There are many common categories of proper nouns. Two of them are stated below.

1. Holidays

• They had guests over Christmas. - correct
• They had guests over christmas. - incorrect

• The Holi festival commemorates the victory of good over evil. - correct
• The holi festival commemorates the victory of good over evil. - incorrect

2. Historical events, periods, documents

• The Civil War was a crucial event in the development of nineteenth-century Chicago. - correct
• The civil war was a crucial event in the development of nineteenth-century Chicago. - incorrect

• The major periods in world history includes broad global eras, such as the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age - correct
• The major periods in world history includes broad global eras, such as the stone age, the bronze age and the iron age. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 2

Capitalize all proper nouns and proper adjectives (name of a specific person, place or thing).

There are many common categories of proper nouns. Two of them are stated below.

1. Days of the week

• We go to temple on Tuesdays. - correct
• We got to temple on tuesdays. - incorrect

• It's my birthday next Monday. - correct
• It's my birthday next monday. - incorrect

• She visited me last Sunday. - correct
• She visited me last sunday. - incorrect

2. Months of the year

• Sam is retiring next March. - correct
• Sam is retiring next march. - incorrect

• Sarah left on 29 February. - correct
• Sarah left on 29 february. - incorrect

• My daughter's birthday is in January. - correct
• My daughter's birthday is in january. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 1

Capitalize the first word of a sentence

• The lockdown days have been as a testing time for everybody. - correct
• the lockdown days have been as a testing time for everybody. - incorrect

If the first word in a sentence is a number, write it as a word.

• Twenty patients were hospitalized. - correct
• 20 patients were hospitalized. - incorrect

A Figure of Speech: Fun puzzle by Ella Baron

   

There are 27 figures of speech hidden in this picture. I tried to figure them out. Try figuring them on your own out and see whether you got something new that couldn’t spot or differs from mine 😃😊

1. Silver spoon in one’s mouth
2. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
3. Hit the nail on the head
4. Time flies
5. Picture is worth a thousand words
6. Plate is full
7. Kick the bucket
8. Crow over
9. The shoe is on the other foot
10. Cats got your tongue
11. An ace up your sleeve
12. Cards close to one’s chest
13. You can’t make an omelette without breaking egg
14. Spill the beans
15. Cut the chase
16. In a nutshell
17. Put a bug in someone’s ear
18. Put one’s best foot forward
19. Cherry on the cake
20. Red herring
21. Big cheese
22. A piece of cake
23. Make ends meet
24. Joker in the pack
25. Tie in knots
26. Holding a cat by a tail
27. Heart on one’s sleeve

Using Articles A, An, and The: Part 1

Use a, an or no article with generic nouns. Generic nouns are used to make generalizations.

• Indians are generally friendly.
• A dog is a loyal companion.
• Life is full of surprises.
• An Englishman's home is his castle.
• A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Exception: Sometimes, the is used with generic singular count nouns, specially with inventions and animal species.

• The bengal tiger is an endangered species.
• Do you know who invented the laptop?
• The Ganges river dolphin was officially discovered in 1801
• The African elephant is the largest animal walking the Earth.
• The anemometer is a device that measures the speed of the wind

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