Katharine's Writer's Block

Sauces, spices, and seasonings contribute to the flavor of a lot of prepared food. Sometimes they define the entrée, like teriyaki chicken, barbeque, or hot wings. Other times, the additives enhance or improve taste, like salt, pepper, or Old Bay on French fries or condiments on sandwiches. More still, a splash of them is like a finishing touch, like chocolate sauce on ice cream or cilantro in Mexican food. Thoughtful word choices are a spice in the recipe of writing for simi

Reading, spelling, and writing and Standard English go hand-in-hand. In the double-negatives lesson , I alluded to the idea of Standard...

This lesson will be running shortly before my second wedding anniversary!  In honor of another wonderful milestone, I’m again drawing inspiration directly from the love of my life, more particularly a language habit of mine that’s become a pet peeve of his: double-negatives. While English classes were not his favorite subject, one thing he retained from them was a rule discouraging their use. I’ve decided to refresh my own memory on the issue and here’s what I found. A double

You have an essay project. You’ve decided on a topic, started some research, taken some notes on your findings, and maybe even have a...

Is there a writer in your life? What kind of gifts would be liked by one gifted with an affinity for words? Here are recommendations from me and other writers: Writing-focused material or courses Tools or opportunities that nurture writing potential are one of the most practical things to give the writer in your life. Buy them a subscription to writing courses, magazines, or a retreat. Gift them books, services, or software to help them hone their craft or navigate the world

Just choosing a topic is one of many essay writing problems. Here's some help on how overcome it! How do I decide what to cook? The things that either I or my husband like are a good place to start. I narrow down the options further based on what ingredients are in my cupboards, what time I have on-hand, or what the occasion might be. For example, on workdays, I usually have just enough time in the mornings to put together some cereal, oatmeal, or eggs. While on Saturdays or

A study from Stanford University identified the top twenty errors found in undergraduate writing. The number one error is using the wrong word in a certain context. As explained in a previous lesson , the confusion stems from the fact that many words have such close similarities or subtleties that spelling, pronunciation and/or usage are the main ways to tell them apart. A word’s spelling and pronunciation should be self-explanatory. While a word’s usage pertains to one of e

Lately, I’ve been practicing cooking pancakes. I’ve learned that cooking them on my mini-griddle makes them really thick but not done in the middle. I get the slender size and circular shape that I like when I pour right into the middle of a hot, open skillet, but the batter has to be the right amount and consistency as well--not too little and not too runny. There’s a delicate balance to it. Writing with English vocabulary has a similar delicate balance. One wrong word can c

Poetry is a blend of art and written or spoken word. It’s often evocative; centered on strong images, memories, or feelings. In the...

Where gathering research is one-half the battle in essay prep, properly using the research in an essay is the other half. Research done right and well gives reputable depth to your claims, but credit must be given where credit is due when incorporating it in an essay. It’s a matter of academic honesty and formality. Not doing so leads to significant consequences. Presenting work or ideas from another source as your own without proper consent or acknowledgement is plagiarism