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

What is a Sentence?

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.

• These are sentences.

1. The cat stole some food.
2. The dog is barking.

• These are not sentences.

1. The cat. (This group of words does not tell what the cat did.)
2. Stole some food. (This group of words does not tell who stole some food.)

Exercise

Identify the group of words that are sentences.

1. The woman had suddenly disappeared.
2. At the end of a long comedy series.
3. Forgot my name.
4. Tourists come to see the pyramids.
5. The winner was Sarah.

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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Pretty vs. Fairly

Pretty (adjective) means attractive, nice-looking. Informally, pretty is sometimes used as an adverb meaning a little bit, not completely. Avoid using pretty in this meaning in business or formal academic writing. Use fairly instead.

• The article was pretty good. (informal)

• The article was fairly good. (formal)

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Alike vs. Like

Alike is an adjective and an adverb meaning similar, like each other or in a similar way.
Use alike after nouns. Alike is not often used before nouns.

• Adults and children alike enjoy video games.
• Children and adults alike celebrate halloween in United States.

Alike can also follow other kind of words.

• No two thumb prints are exactly alike.
• My sister and I are alike in looks, but not in personality.

Like is a preposition meaning similar to. 
Use like before a noun or a pronoun to talk about similarity.

like + noun/ pronoun

• My sister talks like me.
• His daughter looks like him.
• he is a fantastic manager like his boss.

For like vs. as click on the link below:
Like vs. As

Hanged vs. Hung

Hanged and hung both are past participles and past tenses of the verb to hang but they are used in different contexts.

Hanged is restricted to the sense of hang that means to suspend by the neck until dead, or to put to death by hanging.

• He was hanged for murder.
• She hanged herself moments after the result was announced.
• A few hours after he was hanged, the terrorist's body was buried at the central jail.

In all other senses of the word hang, hung is the preferred form as past tense and past participle.

• They hung the picture on the wall by the door.
• A towel hung from the the rail.
• I hung my daughter's picture above my working desk.

Flammable, Inflammable and Nonflammable

Flammable and inflammable are synonyms. 
Both mean easily set on fire; burning easily; burnable; easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly.

• Children toys and clothes should not be made of flammable/ inflammable material.
• Never ignite a fire near a flammable/ inflammable substance.
• Because gasoline is one of the most flammable/ inflammable liquids, fire is a serious threat in any vehicle service area.

Nonflammable is the antonym/ opposite of flammable.
It means not flammable; incapable of burning or not easily set on fire.

• Carbon Dioxide is a nonflammable gas that extinguishes fire.
• Candles should always be placed in sturdy holders made of nonflammable material.
• It is always advisable to use nonflammable, quick bonding adhesives for bonding metals, wood and plastic materials.

Criteria vs. Criterion

Criterion means a standard on the basis of which something or someone is judged or evaluated.

Criterion is the singular form whereas Criteria is the plural form.

• The committee identified five important criteria for their business plan. (plural form)
• The customer feedback is the most important criterion for us. (singular form)
• The team must satisfy all the criteria for entrance to the competition or they will be rejected. (plural form)
• Safety should be the number one criterion when one buys a car. (singular form) 
• Merit should be the sole criterion for judging students. (singular form)

Note: Phrases such as a criteria, single criteria, one criteria, or this criteria should be avoided. 

Canvas vs. Canvass

Canvas is a strong coarse unbleached cloth made from hemp, flax, or a similar yarn, used to make items such as sails and tents and as a surface for oil painting.

• In modern world, canvas is the most common form of oil painting.
• Canvas began to outdistance wood panels as the preferred medium for painters in northern Europe around the 17th century.
• One can enlarge pictures on canvas to look like paintings.
• The nomadic tribes dwell in large tents made of canvas or yak wool.

Canvass is to get political support from voters.  

Canvass as a verb means to examine carefully, discuss thoroughly; scrutinise; to solicit voters, orders or opinions.

• All aspects of canvass were open to public inspection.
• As always, Sam opted to canvass in his own society first.
• The issues related to child labor are thoroughly canvassed in the upcoming report.
• The local leader spent the whole month canvassing for votes.

Continual vs. Continuous

Continual and continuous are not interchangeable.

Continual means frequently repeated or recurring. It is generally used for things that happen repeatedly, often irritatingly.

• Tired of continual interruptions, he switched off his mobile.
• Her math teacher's continual remarks has impacted her learning process.
• The minister received continual complaints from the public for the government's handling of the street protests.
• A successful project is followed by continual review and embracing change.
• I can't work with these continual interruptions.

Continuous means continuing without stopping, happening or existing without a break or interruption.

• The power backup provides enough power for unto six hours of continuous use.
• It was at Frogmore that the world's first machine for making continuous roll of paper was built.
• The continuous noise from the factory nearby kept him awake all night.
• Additional leave without pay may be requested up to a continuous period of forty eight weeks.
• There has been continuous fighting on the border for last 24 hours.

Lose vs. Loose

Lose and loose are liable to be confused.

Lose is a verb. it means not able to find, not have anymore, not win or to mislay.

• Susan loses her pen at least once a week.
• Our cricket team hasn't lost a game all year.
• Sam is always losing his car keys.
• She always loses one sock.

Loose is an adjective. It means not tight or not fastened.

• My new shoes are loose.
• His pants are loose. 
• He has a loose tooth.
• He was wearing a loose shirt.

Loose can also act like a verb meaning to undo as in loose the knot of the rope or set free as in loose the pack of dogs.

• I always lose my handkerchief (correct) --> a lost handkerchief.
• I always loose my handkerchief (incorrect) --> handkerchief is less tight 

• I like my hair loose and flowing (correct) --> loosened hair.
• I like my hair lose and flowing (incorrect) --> hair loss/ lost hair

• I feel I am going to lose my job (correct) --> not have my job anymore.
• I feel I am going to loose my job (incorrect) --> absurd meaning. How can I set free my job or unfasten it.

Note: Loose and loosen are related but not lose. 
Loosen means to make less tight as in Emily has put on weight and so she has had to loosen her belt.

Altogether vs. All together

Altogether (pronoun+adverb) means jointly; collectively at the same place or in the same time.

Usage note: All together is used only in sentences that can be rephrased so that all and together may be separated by other words.

• The guests arrived all together.
• All the guests arrived together.

• The old newspapers lay all together in a heap. 
• All the old newspapers lay together in a heap.

• Sam was most happy when we were all together.
• Sam was most happy when we all were together.

Altogether (adverb) means with everything included; entirely; with all counted; all told; on the whole; completely; totally; taking everything into consideration.

• I stopped visiting her house altogether.
• We collected altogether $1000.
• Altogether it was great day.