National Grammar Day! Free book :-D

My dear friend Mrs. Grammar Person is feeling as out of sorts as a misplaced modifier or a dangling participle because she let National Grammar Day slip by without so much as an admiring salute. To remedy this egregious oversight she is thrilled to offer you, her dear readers, a free copy of her definitive guide: "Teatime With Mrs Grammar Person". Ebooks & audiobook codes available. Message me if interested.

https://www.amazon.com/Teatime-Grammar-Person-Barbara-Venkataraman-ebook/dp/B00RUQY6B6/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1QJPHU6L3IVT0&keywords=barbara+venkataraman&qid=1682262748&sprefix=%2Caps%2C220&sr=8-9

Free book on Kindle 3/14-3/18 :-D

Would you care for a cup of tea? Mrs. Grammar Person cordially invites you to join her for her free book promo 3/14-3/18. Amateur grammarians welcome!

Fear not, Gentle Writer, Mrs. Grammar Person is here and she has the answers to all of the questions you never thought to ask. As a dedicated and serious grammarian, she will do what it takes to be entertaining and enlightening, but never vulgar or coarse. Heavens, no! Where are her smelling salts? Warm and witty, Mrs. G.P. makes grammar interesting with rhyming, wishful thinking, story-telling and a champagne toast. You are cordially invited to join her for a spot of tea!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RUQY6B6/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i10

Funny Oxford Comma! :-)

People debate the usefulness of the Oxford comma and fret over the use of any comma, but one little comma can change everything.

Here's a charming example from a t-shirt I saw:

"I love barbecuing my friends and my family." Underneath it said "Don't be a cannibal, use a comma!" lol!

Last week, on Jeopardy, the Oxford comma was one of the answers. The question was:  "I greatly admire my parents, Superman and Wonder Woman." Unless you're a superhero (and maybe you are), you need an Oxford comma after the word Superman. 

Who says grammar can't be fun? For more grammar tips, check out my book "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person," which is free on Kindle through April 16. :-)

They should have read "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" :-)

Fellow Grammarians, rejoice! Your devotion to the rules of Grammar, your delight in punctuation used properly has been vindicated! Those of us in the know don't need to be told the power of a comma, its ability to conquer kingdoms. Why, just examine this famous example:

A woman without her man is nothing.

Now, replace the commas where they were so callously removed:

A woman, without her, man is nothing.

Ah! So much better.

In today's grammar news, the mighty comma has rewarded the grammar purists. A Maine court settled a grammar debate over serial commas with a ruling on overtime pay for dairy truck drivers!  

https://qz.com/932004/the-oxford-comma-a-maine-court-settled-the-grammar-debate-over-serial-commas-with-a-ruling-on-overtime-pay-for-dairy-truck-drivers/

For further edification and a load of laughs, I recommend: "Eats, Shoots & Leaves", by Lynne Truss. My version came with a grammar repair kit in the back, a page of stickers that included apostrophes and commas for emergencies.  I immediately used one of the apostrophes to correct a wooden sign in my son's room that read: "Surfs up" Shudder! Now, if I could only climb a 20 foot ladder and correct the sign of a nearby business: "Carls Patio Furniture", my life would be complete.

Love to all! Mrs. Grammar Person

If I lay here--or is it lie? :-)

Check out this very informative article about when to use lay and when to use lie. It is excellent and Mrs. Grammar Person would never lie! :-)

https://www.hitsend.com.au/lay-or-lie/

Mrs. Grammar Person couldn't agree more :-)

According to Josh Bernoff in The Daily Beast, there is a fundamental inefficiency at the heart of American business. It is right in front of all of our faces, and yet we fail to recognize it.

It’s the fuzzy, terrible writing we slog through every day at work. And it’s costing American businesses nearly $400 billion every year.

He makes a convincing case. To read more, check out his article:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/10/16/bad-writing-costs-businesses-billions.html

How to Split Infinitives With Confidence :-)

Mrs. Grammar Person is thrilled to share this explanation of how to split infinitives, to boldly go where no one has gone before...cue the Star Trek theme song.

From writingforward.com:

http://www.writingforward.com/grammar/grammar-rules/grammar-rules-split-infinitives

Mrs. Grammar Person is having a banner week! :-)

Mrs. Grammar Person is pleased to announce that she is having a very good week indeed. Not only is her book "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" coming out in paperback next week, but, in addition, she was featured in not one, not two, but three blogs this week! Check out these fun blogs and don't forget to order your copy of Teatime next week!

Thanks, Sally!

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/five-star-treatment-teatime-with-mrs-grammar-person-by-barbara-venkataraman/

Thanks, Bee!

https://beehalton.com/2016/06/09/the-bee-talks-with-barbara-venkatamaran/

Thanks, Annie!

http://www.editingpen.net/adverbs/

Mrs. Grammar Person Admires Adverbs :-)

MRS. GRAMMAR PERSON ADMIRES ADVERBS

Fear not, Gentle Writer, Mrs. Grammar Person is here and intends to make adverbs perfectly clear.

Adverbs are our versatile friends that answer the question: how, where, why or when (but not who).

They modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs as well; Mrs. G.P. will explain if you sit for a spell.

Adverbs work alone and with others in a number of ways; if there's no verb or subject, it's an adverbial phrase (during class, to the moon).

Mrs. G.P. will try to clear the haze; sometimes an adverb is an infinitive phrase (to catch the train, to see her father).

Now that you are in a daze, Mrs. G.P. will explain the prepositional phrase (under the bed, behind the dresser).

This next rule may give you pause but if there's a verb and a subject, it's an adverb clause (when she arrives, after we eat).

More and less, least and most, comparative adverbs allow one to boast.

The most familiar adverbs all end in -ly, like the dog ate his treat happily.

Extremely, quite, just, almost, very, too, and enough are adverbs of degree.

Being punctual is an uphill climb without early, late, now and first, our adverbs of time.

Some adverbs are superfluous, which is rather sad, but very, extremely, and really have nothing to add.

Adverbs are grand and we use them like crazy, but use them too often, readers think you are lazy.

And adverbs of frequency, like every day, let Mrs. G.P. know when you'll be passing her way. (Do drop by for tea, won't you?)

The Fourteen Longest Words in the English Language :-)

Mrs. Grammar Person just had to share this blog post from Grammarly.com:

See if you know the fourteen longest words in the English language. Now spell them if you dare. :-D

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/14-of-the-longest-words-in-english/?AT3389=1

Enjoy Silver's Tea Party :-)

If you haven't checked out Silver's Tea Party, you should. This monthly tea sharing event is full of interesting news about books, gardening, guests, and, of course, tea. This month's event features a post by our own Mrs. Grammar Person. Thanks for the hospitality, Colleen!

https://silverthreading.com/2016/05/29/silvers-tea-party-a-monthly-tea-sharing-event/

"Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" giveaway!

Check out the "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" giveaway right here:

http://www.editingpenandpublishing.com/fun/

Thanks, Annie!

Join us for Silver's Tea Party on February 14th!

Silver’s Tea Party is on Sunday, 2/14/16 – Mark Your Calendars!

Don’t forget that Silver’s Tea Party is on Sunday, February 14, 2016. Silver has a couple of special guests planned that you are going to really enjoy.

On top of that, we are going to do a book giveaway, our first on Silver Threading!

Barbara Venkataraman will be giving away a copy of her book, Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person. 

Amazon link:  http://www.amazon.com/Teatime-Grammar-Person-Barbara-Venkataraman-ebook/dp/B00RUQY6B6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455408942&sr=8-1&keywords=teatime+with+mrs.+grammar+person

Here is what she says about her book which contains humorous essays on grammar:

“Fear not, Gentle Writer, Mrs. Grammar Person is here and she has the answers to all of the questions you never thought to ask. As a dedicated and serious grammarian, she will do what it takes to be entertaining and enlightening, but never vulgar or coarse. Heavens, no! Where are her smelling salts? Warm and witty, Mrs. G.P. makes grammar interesting with rhyming, wishful thinking, story-telling and a champagne toast. You are cordially invited to join her for a spot of tea!”

HOW DO YOU ENTER TO WIN THIS FUN BOOK?

First… make a cup of tea and join us on Sunday, February 14th. Make sure to find Silver’s Tea Party post to enter the drawing. Please comment on that post with your e-mail and your personal pet peeve, be it grammar or syntax, so that Mrs. G.P. may soothe your jangled nerves while offering tea and sympathy for your grammar woes. This will be a random drawing by the author herself, so make sure to leave your comments and most hated grammar disasters!  Here is the link:  http://silverthreading.com/

Lovely review of "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" :-)

Thanks for the great review, Susan! :-)

http://dabofdarkness.com/2015/12/02/teatime-with-mrs-grammar-person-by-barbara-venkataraman/

Audio-book download codes to give away! :-)

I have download codes for my new audio-book, “Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person”, narrated by Carrie Lee Martz. If that sounds like your cup of tea, let me know & I’ll send you a code.  Mrs. Grammar Person would be so pleased if you could leave a review afterwards. :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Teatime-Grammar-Person-Barbara-Venkataraman-ebook/dp/B00RUQY6B6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447080333&sr=8-1&keywords=teatime+with+mrs.+grammar+person

New audio-book is out! :-)

Hooray! "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" is finally out on audio-book and Carrie Lee Martz did a fantastic job of narrating. Maybe she really is Mrs. Grammar Person!

http://www.audible.com/pd/Self-Development/Teatime-with-Mrs-Grammar-Person-Audiobook/B01783UKVK/ref=a_search_c4_1_7_srTtl?qid=1446071837&sr=1-7

Mrs. Grammar Person’s Ode to Homophones

When I give my assent, it means I concur, but my rapid ascent means I fly like a bird. (I just love homophones, don't you?)

I compliment you when I say something kind, like your meal is superb and complements the wine. (Unless, of course, your food is talking to your wine, then you've had too much to drink.)

News that is current is fresh and brand new, but if I give you a currant, I have a raisin for you. (Warm cinnamon buns with raisins—yum!)

A cursor is the arrow on your computer screen, a curser likes swearing to say what he means. (He won’t be invited to my tea party, I assure you.)

When you're discreet, there are no news releases, but when you're discrete, you've gone all to pieces. (Try to keep it together, either way.)

If you need help, you should elicit advice; but for something illicit, you should always think twice. (Or maybe thrice…)

A flair is a talent you can boast about, but when tempers flare, you’d better watch out. (Some people do have a flair for drama.)

A hanger will keep your clothes wrinkle-free; a hangar is where your airplane should be. (At least that’s where I keep mine.)

A hearty meal is filling and good, but a hardy lumberjack can chop lots of wood. (He’ll be ready for that hearty meal.)

When something is humorous, you're having a ball, but injure your humerus and it’s not funny at all. (I’d rather laugh than cry, wouldn’t you?)

When you incite trouble, you’re said to foment, but have an insight and it's a eureka moment.(A nice thought bubble beats causing trouble)

Someone who knits makes something cozy and nice, but someone with nits is infested with lice. (Heavens! I feel itchy just thinking about it.)

A maze made of maize is hard to navigate, but maize on a cob means there’s corn on your plate. (Pass the butter, please.)

A medal of honor is something you win, but meddle (the verb) means you like to butt in. (I only meddle when grammar is at stake.)

A wave of my hand says ‘good-bye my friend’, but I wouldn’t waive the chance to visit again. (Adieu, mon ami!)

Interview with Mrs. Grammar Person. :-)

Check out this new interview with Mrs. Grammar Person. :-) Thank-you to Emilia at the Book Bug Blog!


https://bookbug2012.wordpress.com/2015/06/29/10-questions-interview-with-mrs-grammar-person-via-barbara-venkataraman/

Free on Amazon through 4/12: "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" :-)

Free on Amazon through 4/12: "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" :-)

My new book, "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person" is free today on Amazon Kindle, check it out!

Fear not, Gentle Writer, Mrs. Grammar Person is here and she has the answers to all of the questions you never thought to ask. As a dedicated and serious grammarian, she will do what it takes to be entertaining and enlightening, but never vulgar or coarse. Heavens, no! Where are her smelling salts? Warm and witty, Mrs. G.P. makes grammar interesting with rhyming, wishful thinking, story-telling and a champagne toast. You are cordially invited to join her for a spot of tea!

http://www.amazon.com/Teatime-Grammar-Person-Barbara-Venkataraman-ebook/dp/B00RUQY6B6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420898161&sr=8-1&keywords=barbara+venkataraman

Check out this amazing review for "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person"!

Check out The New Book Review to see this amazing review of my new book, "Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person". Thanks to the author of the review, Annie at The Editing Pen! (www.editing pen.net)


http://www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.com/2015/01/reviewer-in-wordy-nerdy-heaven.html