National Grammar Day: March 4, 2013.
It’s March 4th. Every year on this day, word-nerds, linguists, and writers honor National Grammar Day. The event is hosted by Mignon Fogerty, a.k.a. Grammar Girl.
In Grammar Girl’s own words, “Language is something to celebrate, and March 4 is the perfect day to do it. It’s not only a date, it’s an imperative: March forth on March 4 to speak well, write well, and help others do the same!”
So how can we celebrate this day? What can we, as writers, do to further the cause of good grammar and improve our own writing by strengthening our grammar skills?
How to Celebrate National Grammar Day
- Use your blog or social media accounts to tell your friends and followers about National Grammar Day and to promote good grammar in general.
- If you’ve ever published or shared a piece of writing and later discovered an embarrassing typo, you’re not alone. Check out these funny typo stories.
- Educate yourself on the top ten grammar myths.
- Treat yourself to a style guide or grammar resource. I recommend Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing, The Elements of Style, or The Chicago Manual of Style as the three best starter resources for writers.
- Explore good and bad grammar around the world by perusing Grammar Girl’s Flickr stream.
- Commit yourself to a week of learning grammar with this calendar of daily grammar tips.
- Send a National Grammar Day e-card to “the language lover or worst language offender in your life.”
- Read through Writing Forward’s own grammar tips.
Last but not least, enjoy this “March Forth” video, and make sure you click through to YouTube so you can check the “About” tab (beneath the video) to get the lyrics.
Now, march forth and embrace good grammar everywhere!
Great article. I discovered it on Facebook where I shared it. Thanks for sharing.
Martin
Hi Martin. Thanks for sharing this post with your Facebook followers. I appreciate it!
thank you so much Mellisa, it is a great post which includes so many useful links. good luck
I’m glad you liked all these links. I hope they keep you busy and interested in grammar!
sry Melissa again, 3 weeks ago, when I was studying your general tips on better writing (http://www.writingforward.com/better-writing/ways-to-write-better) I’d confused …..
You said, “#97 Words like “however” and phrases like “for example” work better at the beginning of a sentence than embedded in the middle and surrounded with commas” …. it was confusing because it contradicts with my other studies which includes in “The Elements of Style.” …. Now, when I was seeking in your above links I’d found that it’s better for “However” to be in the middle of a sentence! take a look at (http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/top-ten-grammar-myths.aspx) ,#9 …. middle or beginning ?
I probably should have been more specific and said that “however” doesn’t work well in the middle of a clause. Here’s an example:
I try to write 500 words a day. There are days, however, when I can only write 250 words.
In this example, “however” comes out of nowhere in the middle of the clause (or sentence). A lot of people write this way, but I personally find it jarring. It’s like saying “I like candy, there are but some candies I don’t care for.” The word “but” is totally misplaced.
Some people would write it this way:
I try to write 500 words a day; however, there are days when I can only write 250 words. (I believe this is correct)
or
I try to write 500 words a day, however, there are days when I can only write 250 words. (I believe this is incorrect)
My personal preference is for the following construction:
I try to write 500 words a day. However, there are days when I can only write 250 words.
The (second) link you referenced actually states that it’s perfectly okay to use “however” at the beginning of a sentence, so I’m not sure where you saw that it’s wrong or that it’s better in the middle of a sentence.
We had no idea there was a national grammar day! What a fabulous idea! But which nation?
I looked into it and I can’t find a stated nation of origin. I do believe the host (Grammar Girl) is based in the U.S. Personally, I think anyone, anywhere can celebrate it.