Contractions

Let me just say up front, that if you type "contractions" into Google, you do not immediately get a lot about grammar. I got a good refresher of what labor will be like should I find myself with child again. Anyway! I like contractions, but NOT IN FORMAL WRITING! Please avoid them in essays. In less formal writing, bring 'em on-correctly of course. Use the resources below to make sure you're doing them right. Remember, the apostrophe takes the place of the missing letters. It's like the apostrophe is the friend of the missing letters, and the missing letters have to run to the bathroom, but the missing letters don't want to lose their place in line just because they drank too much Wild Cherry Pepsi, (What? you didn't know letters like WCP, well they do--big time!)so the apostrophe just holds the place of the letters, and when the letters get back from the restroom, they can jump right back in where they left off. Aren't apostrophes super nice? Hey, how 'bout this: the first five people to say to me, "apostrophes make really great friends," will get a prize. Sound good? Now onto the practice.

English Study Quiz
List o' Contractions
Grammar Girl: Contractions
Contractions Quiz

Commonly Misused Words Take 2

Week two's homework is shockingly similar to week one's. There are lots of words to learn. Learn them. Here are some resources to help you. And here's a clip from The Princess Bride to keep things interesting. Oh, and by the by, the first five people to say to me, "I do not think that word means what you think it means," get a prize. :)

The Inigo Montoya Guide to Misused Words
Some Commonly Misused Words
8 Commonly Misused Words