Derek Haines

English teacher, writer, and author. Passionate about grammar, creative writing, and self-publishing. Always exploring new tools and tech to help writers succeed.

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commas with but

Comma Before Or After But? 2 Simple Rules (Plus One Exception)

Quick answer: Use a comma before but when it joins two complete sentences. Don’t use a comma when the second part is a fragment. If I’d earned a dollar every time I corrected a comma mistake with but, I’d be living in luxury by now. It’s one of the most common punctuation errors in writing.…

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Using Freewriting

Using Freewriting To Help You Become A Much Better Writer

What is freewriting? It is a training technique for writers. Peter Elbow is often accredited with inventing this technique. He mentions it in his book, Writing Without Teachers, published in 1973. “The consequence [of writing] is that you must start by writing the wrong meanings in the wrong words; but keep writing until you get…

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How many sentences in a paragraph? A visual guide to why the traditional 3-sentence rule is a myth for modern writers.

How Many Sentences Are In A Paragraph? The 3-Sentence Rule Myth

How many sentences are in a paragraph of writing? If you think ten sentences is a good formula, it’s time to think again. Today’s readers prefer much more space. Short paragraphs are becoming the standard online because they help keep readers’ attention. It doesn’t matter if it is a blog post or a Kindle ebook;…

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