Writing Tips (77)
Professional writers have much to tell us about the writing process, from overcoming writer's block to revising and editing. Let's see what advice we can pick up from the pros.
Business Writing (25)
Tips on writing effective emails, memos, letters, and reports.
English Grammar (63)
Here we will practice building effective sentences. After reviewing the basic parts of speech, we'll work with more advanced structures: adjective and adverb clauses, appositives, participial phrases, and absolutes. Finally, we will focus on ways to correct some common problems (fragments and run-ons) to ensure that our sentences are clear and complete.
Punctuation & Mechanics (19)
The "rules" of punctuation are, in fact, only broad guidelines. They vary across national boundaries and even from one writer to the next. Still, understanding the principles behind the common marks of punctuation will strengthen our understanding of grammar and help us to follow the conventions consistently in our own writing.
Correcting Errors (18)
Here we will practice correcting some of the most common errors in English, including those involving verbs (subject-verb agreement and tense) and pronouns (agreement and reference).
Words (187)
Author Rudyard Kipling characterized words as "the most powerful drug used by mankind." Here we will learn how to use words correctly, effectively, and imaginatively.
Composing Sentences (24)
Sentence combining calls on you to experiment with different ways of building sentences and organizing paragraphs.
Composing Paragraphs (30)
A paragraph is a series of sentences related to a single topic. That may sound simple enough, but finding the right topic, building sentences with good details, and connecting those details clearly can sometimes be a challenge. Here we will practice various strategies for developing well-organized paragraphs that keep readers interested and informed.
Composing Essays (48)
If you have tried out the strategies on this site for developing paragraphs, you are well on your way to creating effective essays as well. Here we will organize paragraphs into various kinds of essays--those that explain, compare, analyze, classify, and argue. Our goal is to create informative and persuasive compositions that keep our readers interested.
Rhetoric & Style (290)
Rhetoric and style are ancient arts--of persuasion, expression, and effective communication--that are just as valuable to writers today as they were to students in ancient Greece and Rome.
Readings & Resources (245)
One of the most effective ways to improve our own writing is to spend time reading the best writing of others. This collection of notable essays, speeches, and articles from the past 400 years offers some very good reading indeed. Also, learn more about grammar and composition from the best reference works, online writing labs, ESL sites, editors' blogs, Q&A pages, and much more.
Exercises & Quizzes (67)
Here you will find (1) tests and exercises that offer additional practice in correctly and effectively building sentences and paragraphs, and (2) reading quizzes that measure your familiarity with many of the works included in our Essay Samplers.
Grammar & Rhetoric Glossary (832)
An extensive glossary of grammatical and rhetorical terms used in the study of the English language. Definitions are accompanied by examples and by cross-references to expanded discussions elsewhere on About Grammar & Composition.
