Kim Siever

Canadian Style Tip #31: The en dash: compound expressions

This post is part of the Canadian Style series. 7.49 The en dash: compound expressions Use the en dash to join the names of two or more places: The Calgary–Edmonton corridor The Vancouve–Lethbridge flight

Difference between principle and principal

This is part of the difference between series. I’ve heard some people confusing the words principal and principle. Here’s the difference between the two. Let’s start with the easier one first: principle. Principle Principle typically means something like rule, doctrine, or standard. I won’t compromise my principles. Principal Principal, on the other hand, has several… Continue reading Difference between principle and principal

Difference between stationery and stationary

This is part of the difference between series. Stationery means “writing materials,” while stationary means “immovable.” I bought some stationery from Staples. and That mountain is stationary.

Canadian Style Tip #30: Any, every, no & some

This post is part of the Canadian Style series. 2.08 Any, every, no and some The words any, every, no, and some form solid compounds when combined with the words body, thing, and where: somebody anything everywhere nothing somewhere everything

Canadian Style Tip #29: Punctuation in salutations

This post is part of the Canadian Style series. 7.27 Punctuation in salutations In business letters and printed speeches, a colon follows the salutation. In personal letters, a comma follows the salutation. Dear Dr. Jones: Dear Jimmy,

Spring is in Lethbridge

Spring is in Lethbridge. The buds are opening, flowers are coming up, and the grass is green. The apple trees on 5 Avenue South downtown are blossoming; they look beautiful and smell great. I don’t walk home down that block often, but I’ve noticed the blossoms lately, and I would’ve kicked myself had I missed… Continue reading Spring is in Lethbridge

Canadian Style Tip #29: Comparative and inclusive numbers

This post is part of the Canadian Style series. 5.24 Comparative and inclusive numbers Join consecutive numbers with and or or, except when intermediate quantities are available. Our seats are in rows 5 and 6. (not 5 to 6) The temperature ranged from 10 to 11 °C. (not 10 or 11)

Canadian Style Tip #28: Titles of occupations

This post is part of the Canadian Style series. 14.06 Titles of occupations Eliminate titles and terms that suggest a job is not typically performed by persons of one sex. Do not feminize occupational titles by adding ess, ette, or ix, as in manageress, usherette, or executrix.

Mensiversary, not monthiversary

I’m not sure what it is, but I have seen an increase in the use of the nonesensical word monthiversary lately. It’s used to refer to a monthly celebration of a certain date (This is our third monthiversary). The problem is that there is already a word for monthly celebrations. It’s mensiversary. Sure, the naysayers… Continue reading Mensiversary, not monthiversary

Canadian Style Tip #27: Periods

This post is part of the Canadian Style series. 1.03 Periods Use periods with most lower-case abbreviations (mph is one exception). a.m. p.m. e.g. i.e.