Over the next two weeks–and possibly longer–CT students will have a lot of time on their hands. They’ll need and want purposeful activities to fill the hours previously jammed with homework, sports, after-school activities, and socializing. But, these weeks out of school don’t have to be an educational wasteland. Learning can continue even though schools […]
Read MorePunctuation matters more than you might think on the SAT. Especially now with the combined writing and language score, students who aim for top schools and need near-perfect SAT scores should invest some time brushing up on their knowledge of essential punctuation rules, including comma usage, the difference between colons and semi-colons, and the purpose of dashes.
Read MoreThese days, if you’re a good writer, you’ve almost certainly future-proofed your career, according to Forbes writer Greta Solomon. The ability to write well “is one of the best ways to remain consistently employable,” says Solomon. Especially in a global economy (“How Mastering Writing Skills Can Future-Proof Your Career,” Forbes, Aug. 9, 2018). Here, […]
Read MoreCan you spot the error in the following sentence? “She couldn’t believe the amount of people waiting in line at Dairy Queen.” If you can’t find anything wrong, you’re not alone! This sentence should read, “number of people” not “amount of people.” Amount vs Number Although “amount” and “number” both refer to quantity, […]
Read MoreFor many students, learning how to plan is the secret to getting better grades. Their grades aren’t where they should be, not because they lack specific skills in math or English, but because they struggle with planning and organization. The result — these students are “smarter” than their grades suggest; it’s a matter of […]
Read MoreDon’t let rusty grammar get in the way of a competitive SAT score! Now that the SAT combines reading with writing in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score (EBRW), grammar matters more than it used to. Students who aren’t strong writers may be at a disadvantage when taking the SAT. At the very least, brushing […]
Read MoreDo you know how to use a semi-colon? How to fix a dangling modifier? Take this quiz to find out if you need a grammar refresher. Answers provided below. 1. What’s wrong with this sentence? When tackling this grammar quiz, the answers might surprise you! a. Nothing b. The exclamation point should be a period. […]
Read MoreThis year, give the gift of writing tutoring—a gift that keeps on giving! The value of writing tutoring will outlast even the hottest new tech gadgets or latest smartphones. It’s a long term investment in your child’s future. Strong writing skills not only improve academic performance, but greatly increase college and career opportunities. Give your […]
Read More“Never use a long word when a short one will do.” Good advice from George Orwell (“Politics and the English Language,” 1946) that students might want to keep in mind when writing college application essays. Orwell wasn’t suggesting that writers use simple vocabulary to “dumb down” their prose. He was arguing against what he saw […]
Read MoreSix-pages, full sentences, “narrative” format. These could be the requirements of a middle school writing assignment. But, they’re actually Jeff Bezos’s guidelines for “pitching” plans at Amazon. According to Franklin Foer in “What Jeff Bezos Wants” (The Atlantic, November 2019), Bezos insists that his employees explain their ideas in lengthy narratives, because he knows that […]
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