Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Grammar Girl, Grammar Girl's, QDnow, and Quick and Dirty Tips are all trademarks of Macmillan Holdings, LLC. What's the difference? omar grammar this i good website http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=21149#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=21149#Comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:27:28 GMT mmi grammar Irene, you should not use a dash in either of those sentences. You should, however, use HYPHENS in one of the two sentences, as shown here: "This is a 12-year-old child." A hyphen does not indicate a break in the sentence, but rather is a mark that can link together the parts of a complex adjective (which consists of two or more words). http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=18172#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=18172#Comments Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:39:51 GMT Irene grammar Hi All, I was wondering if someone might help me with my question about dashes. When stating someone's age, do you put dashes? For example, when you write "This is a 12 year old child" vs. "This child is 12 years old." Should I use dashes in either of those cases? Thanks in advance for any guidance, Irene http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=18130#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=18130#Comments Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:28:19 GMT fred banks grammar I really like the website and the thoroughness of the information. I do believe, however, that a colon as a conjunction between independent clauses and that preceding a list have essentially the same rule: the information following the colon must be no more than an extension of the part of the sentence preceding the colon. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=17048#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=17048#Comments Mon, 18 May 2009 23:19:26 GMT Jason grammar OK. As a new blogger this article was very useful. I'm always getting the two mixed up. I'm glad I found your site! Perhaps you could help me by checking for grammar errors on my own site? :) Would love visitors @ www.jasonblogz.com http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=17036#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=17036#Comments Mon, 18 May 2009 03:42:09 GMT Brian grammar This is one of my favorite episodes. I have to confess that after hearing this episode when it originally aired, I now hear myself thinking, "wait for it; wait for it" when I use a dash! http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=16820#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=16820#Comments Sat, 02 May 2009 20:45:09 GMT jamara grammar Hi Grammar Girl! I would like to ask if it's ok to say "for the month of _____" (for example, "here's the report for the month of January"). I think putting the phrase "the month of" is redundant. Isn't it enough to say, "here's the report for January?" Or am I wrong? I'm really dying to know. Thanks so much and more power to your show! http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=16800#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=16800#Comments Fri, 01 May 2009 03:36:39 GMT rpmason grammar English 9-B, We can assume that each driver has one engine; therefore, more than one engine will be started. In the same vein, if you've issued each student one poetry book for class, you would say, "Students, bring your poetry books tomorrow." More than one poetry book will be brought to class. If you wanted it to be singular, you'd need a modifier like "each," such as "Students, each of you is to bring your poetry book tomorrow." http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=16790#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=16790#Comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:03:14 GMT rpmason grammar Katie W., J.f.L. posted a diatribe and then disappeared after getting some push-back. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=16788#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=16788#Comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:33:02 GMT English 9-B grammar I use a Grammar Girl episode almost daily in my English class. My students get a kick out of this and it is a great lesson in listening. Danielle has a question for you... At races they always have someone say these famous words, "Gentlemen, start your engines." In the cars there is only one engine. So shouldn't it be..."Gentlemen, start your engine?" http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=16786#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx?commentid=16786#Comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:06:33 GMT Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:27:28 GMT http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/dashes-grammar.aspx feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Managing Editor) feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Webmaster) en-us