 Summaries are the EASIEST way to peruse my posts to discover which pique your interest. Every title is imbedded with a link: just click and you'll be brought to the page(s) you desire. To peruse earlier spoonfuls, click on All Summaries under the Categories section to the right. Enjoy!
Spoonful #50: WHICH vs. THAT These words are NOT interchangeable. I provide a simple way to determine when each is appropriate to use. Spoonful #51: TONE AND ATTITUDE WORDS Helpful for writing dialogue or evaluating characters! Spoonful #52: HANDY HYPHEN RULES Ten handy hyphen rules to help writers of all ages. Spoonful #53: COMPOUND POSSESSION Do two sisters share a single bike or each possess their own? Do two friends share common beliefs or each possess their own? Hint: show the answer with proper apostrphe placement. Spoonful #54: HOPE We can all use a dose of hope and positivity. Spoonful #55: The BEST BLUEBERRY and RASPBERRY MUFFINS This muffin recipe from the Captain Lord Mansion in Kennebunkport, Maine is divine. And easy to make! Spoonful #56: THE ELLIPSIS EXPLAINED I must confess: I was a wee bit confused about this until I researched this post! Spoonful #57: MAY vs. MIGHT I wish I may, I wish I might, clarify these words tonight. Spoonful #58: SIGHT, SITE, and CITE Ever get these homophones confused? If so, let this post clear your confusion with clear examples. Spoonful #59: EVERYDAY vs. EVERY DAY Yes, my writer friends, there is a difference. Spoonful #60: THE COMMA SPLICE To avoid this #1 source of comma drama, read this post! Spoonful #61: THE RUN-ON SENTENCE e e cummings was known for radically experimenting with punctuation, but the SAT and ACT follow conventional punctuation and grammar rules. You should, too. Spoonful #62: Mom vs. mom: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! Many writers wonder when to capitalize dear, sweet mom. After reading this post, you'll never be confused again. Spoonful #63: SEASONAL CAPITALIZATION RULES Ever wonder whether or not to capitalize the seasons? Find out in this post. Spoonful #64: A LITTLE SUBJECT-VERB QUIZ Quiz yourself on your SUBJECT-VERB matching prowess! Here's a hint: first determine if your subject is singular or plural. I'll be back next week with a brand new spoonful. If you have any burning grammar, vocabulary, or punctuation questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below or send an email to [email protected]. One more thing: the SIGN UP page is now integrated with my posts. Submit your name and email to have weekly spoonfuls sent directly in your inbox! Sincerely, Laura Fineberg Cooper A Spoonful of Grammar
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 This summary contains two miniseries, a to-be-continued post on pronouns, and two special holiday posts. If you missed any spoonfuls, this is an easy way to catch up. As with the two earlier summaries, just click on any title that interests you, and you'll be brought right to it. Spoonful #36: Time for TRANSITIONS This post started off my transitions miniseries with transitions that introduce new information. Spoonful #37: Transitions for CONTRAST In contrast from the previous post, this post covers transitions that introduce contrasting information. Spoonful #38: IPSO FACTO: Logical Transitions These are transitions that introduce expected results. Spoonful #39: TIMELY Transitions This category of transitions makes your writing orderly and sequential. Spoonful #40: Transitions that Introduce Examples One of these is "for example." To read more, click on the title! Spoonful #41: Transitions that SIGNAL CONCLUSIONS A fitting conclusion to my transitions series. Spoonful #42: HOLIDAY PRETZEL HUGS & KISSES This special post features an easy and delicious recipe that I make every holiday season. Spoonful #43: Ask Laura! Ask me your burning grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary questions anytime, and I'll address them right away or devote a future post to them! Spoonful #44: PERSONAL PRONOUNS Personal Pronouns refer to people, places, and things. Just try to write or speak without them, and you'll see how important they are. They also help to introduce the POV series that follows. Spoonful #45: POINT OF VIEW: 3RD PERSON OMNISCIENT This POV features an all-knowing" narrator with the ability to see inside every character's thoughts. Spoonful #46: 3RD PERSON LIMITED POV This POV features a narrator who tells the story through one character's perspective. Spoonful #47: 1st PERSON POV This POV features "I" in the narration, because the narrator is a character in the book. Spoonful 48: 2ND PERSON POV This POV talks directly to YOU, the reader. All three summaries can be found by clicking on the All Summaries tab under the Categories heading to the right. Have a wonderful week! I'll see you again next Sunday with a brand new spoonful. Sincerely, Laura Fineberg Cooper A Spoonful of Grammar  Below is a summary of Spoonfuls #26-#34, plus a fun spoonful to honor a day close to my heart. By clicking on a blue title, you can easily access the particular posts that interest you. For the best way to peruse Spoonfuls #1-#24, look to my first summary in Spoonful #25. Spoonful#26: END PAST/PASSED CONFUSION As the title suggests, the goal of Spoonful #26 is to stop PAST and PASSED confusion in its tracks. Spoonful #27: LESS VS. FEWER If you think LESS and FEWER mean the same thing, you're more or LESS correct. But they aren't inter-changeable! Why? It's a question of countability. Spoonful #28: LIE/LAY/LAID This is "wings down" the most mind boggling word trio around. Period. If you're confused, rest assured, you're in good company. I'll do my best to LAY the rules on you straight! Spoonful #29: ALL READY VS. ALREADY What the 'L is going on here? ALL READY and ALREADY are duking it out! National Punctuation Day! A Special Spoonful Greetings, dear readers! I just learned that Sept. 24th was the 16th annual National Punctuation Day! Spoonful #30: INSURE/ENSURE/ASSURE Some style guides declare that INSURE, ENSURE, and ASSURE can be used interchangeably. But some do not! What's a writer to do when even the experts don't agree? Spoonful #31: ME, MYSELF, and I This spoonful is all about ME, MYSELF, and I. But please don't think I'm going to share my entire life story! Spoonful #32: WHOOO'S MIXED UP ABOUT WHO, WHOM, WHOSE, & WHO'S? Whooo's ready to discuss WHO, WHOM, WHO'S, and WHOSE? I pledge to provide some quick and easy ways to tell them apart. Spoonful #33: DOODLY-DO: DO/DOES/DID DO you realize that DO, DOES, and DID are fighting words? Read on and all will be explained. Spoonful #34: PEEK, PEAK, and PIQUE EEK! PEEK and PEAK can be scarily difficult to keep straight, while PIQUE is so unique, it can be frightening all on its own. So let's address this fearsome trio one at a time! I hope you find this summary helpful. I'll be back next Sunday with a brand new spoonful. Until then, I wish you all a glorious week. Sincerely, Laura Fineberg Cooper How to contact me: Email: [email protected] My website: laurafcooper.com Twitter: @cooperlauraf Facebook: Laura Fineberg Cooper
 I can't believe this is my 25th Spoonful of Grammar! If you missed one along the way, don't fret. Below is a listing of Spoonfuls #1-24, with hints about what each one covers. Click on a blue title, and you'll be linked to the corresponding Spoonful. To allow everyone a chance to catch up, A Spoonful of Grammar will take a hiatus until after Labor Day. But I always welcome your comments on my existing posts and suggestions for future ones. Thank you so much for reading and sharing my blog! Spoonful #1: WELCOME! Welcome to A Spoonful of Grammar. This includes a fun, snappy refrain. Spoonful #2: VERBS Action verbs vs. forms of "To Be." Plus, a comment on passive vs active sentences. Spoonful#3: SUBJECT Learning how to identify the subject of a sentence Spoonful #4: SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT Hear ye, hear ye, calling all SAT students: this is one of grammar's most important rules! Spoonful #5: INDEFINITE PRONOUNS A list of indefinite pronouns, split between singular and plural forms Spoonful #6: USING INDEFINITE PRONOUNS Sentences using indefinite pronouns. Useful for everybody. Spoonful #7: SEMICOLONS SPEAK OUT You'll never get semicolons confused with colons again! I promise. Spoonful #8: COLONS TAKE A STAND Formal vs. informal colon usage. Here's a hint: this is the formal way, but the informal way is used frequently in this post. Spoonful #9:MEET THE FANBOYS Comma Rule #1: When FANBOYS stand between two independent clauses Spoonful #10: FANBOYS STRIKE AGAIN Comma Rule #2: When FANBOYS stand between an independent clause and a fragment Spoonful #11: AND TAKES CENTER STAGE Comma Rule #3: Using commas to separate items in a series Spoonful #12: THREE CHEERS FOR PARALLELISM This is my favorite grammar rule. Using parallelism will make your writing and speeches sing! The SAT likes this rule, too. Spoonful #13: AND DESERVES A BREAK Comma Rule#4: When multiple adjectives describe the same noun Spoonful #14: COMMA, COMMA, DASH, DASH Comma Rule #5: Comma usage with appositive phrases. Learn how to identify an appositive phrase, and dare to use one yourself. Spoonful #15: DON'T EAT GRANDMA Comma Rule #6: Comma usage with direct addresses. Avoid tragedy and embarrassment by learning this rule! Spoonful #16: HE SAID, SHE SAID Comma Rule #7: when dialogue tags come first. This is the first of a three-post series on dialogue tags, helpful for writers of all ages. Spoonful #17: TAG, YOU'RE IT! Comma Rule #8: when dialogue tags come last Spoonful #18: "SAY WHAT?" FINALE Comma Rule #9: when dialogue tags appear in the middle Spoonful #19: COLLECTIVE CONFUSION Learn when to treat collective nouns as singular or plural. Spoonful #20: HOMOPHONE FUN The trickiest homophones concern contractions, like its vs. it's. Spoonful #21: THE GREEK ROOT PHON 12 words rooted in SOUND, plus a fun fact. Spoonful #22: ALL ABOUT TIME The Greek root CHRON - a great post for summerTIME. Spoonful #23: THE MOST HELPFUL LATIN ROOTS Let's hear it for BENE (good) and MAL (bad). They have my vote! Spoonful #24: BON APPETIT! The French influence behind many of our favorite food words. I wish you all a delightfully sweet summer break. Sincerely, Laura Fineberg Cooper How to contact me: Email: [email protected] My website: laurafcooper.com Twitter: @cooperlauraf Facebook: Laura Fineberg Cooper |
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