To Comma or Not to Comma

Why do commas have so many rules? Does the period go before or after the quotation mark? How do I use an ellipsis? When is it appropriate to use a dash? What is an “en” dash anyway? Is a semicolon much different from a colon? Would it be better to use parentheses or a dash in this sentence? Are there gray areas where there really is no rule? Find out the answers to these and all your other punctuation questions in To Comma or Not to Comma, the latest grammar book from bestselling Amazon author Arlene Miller, The Grammar Diva. From apostrophes to semicolons, this little guide will explain, in easy-to-understand language and examples, what to do with all those little marks that make your writing clear and readable. Includes “quizlets,” a final test, a quick guide to commas, an answer key, and a glossary of grammar terminology. Great for high school and college students, homeschoolers, authors, professionals, and anyone who needs to write or teaches others how to write.

Author Biography

Arlene Miller, The Grammar Diva, is a bestselling Amazon author of ten grammar books, a self-publishing book, and a novel. Her grammar books are used by schools and colleges. The Best Little Grammar Book Ever won Best Reference Book from the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association in 2011. The Best Grammar Workbook Ever won honorable mention at the New York Book Festival in 2016. And Fifty Shades of Grammar won Best Book Runner Up in 2016 from the Bay Area Independent Book Publishers Association. Arlene is from the Boston area, where she went to school and worked until 1993, when she and her family relocated to Sonoma County, California. She started her writing career as a newspaper reporter and editor before becoming a technical writer in the 1980s. She has won two awards of excellence from the Society of Technical Writers. More recently, Ms. Miller has been a freelance book editor and blogger. She also taught for the California public schools for 11 years. Arlene holds a B.A. in English and Journalism and an M.A. in Humanities, as well as teaching and school administration credentials. She conducts grammar and writing workshops based on her book. And if you don’t believe that grammar can be humorous and entertaining, listen to one of her grammar talks! She is also an accomplished tap dancer and an award-winning poet. She has two grown children and currently lives in beautiful wine country, California.