Are You Hungry for an Omelet?

I was in New York City at the 9/11 Memorial Museum a few weeks ago and spotted this creative spelling for omelet. Or is it omelette?

Evidently, the French and British prefer the French spelling of omelette, whereas Americans seem to be a bit more independent and prefer omelet.

The more creative species spell it any way they want!

This little American deli in New York City preferred to do it their own way: omellette.

Hmmm. Sunday morning. Yummy eggs, beaten, cooked, covered with asparagus and feta cheese; or topped  mushrooms, onions, and peppers, and cheese then folded over and served on a warm plate with hot buttered crispy rye toast. Nothing better. It doesn’t matter how you spell it. Just make it hot and tasty. Thanks.

 

SPELLING: Change the Y to I and …

Do you remember learning this spelling rule in third grade?

When adding endings to words that end in Y, change the Y to I and add the ending…

fry             fried

The printer who made this sign forgot this rule.

I went by this same strip mall restaurant a few weeks later, and saw a new sign on the lawn featuring smoked ribs and FRIED shrimp.  Someone learned a new rule, but it cost him a few pennies in the process.

 

Superman to the Rescue: The It’s and Its Problem:

It’s and its confusion consistently hits the top of the most common error charts. But wait, Superman can help you remember when to use the contraction it’s.

It’s is a contraction of a pronoun and a verb:    it’s  =  it is

Using contractions in our speaking and writing makes our language flow more naturally. Without contractions, our language sounds more formal, rigid, stilted, and unnatural. If you want to sound conversational in your writing, use contractions but remember to use the apostrophe correctly.

Here’s how Superman sees it:

Stop and think about Superman when you use the contraction it’s. Superman loves apostrophes.

Special thanks to Mandy Heck for her artwork.

Happy New Year’s Day

Happy New Year – 2015!

May your new year be filled with joy and blessings. May you be comforted in any sadness.

photo: free images-photosdotcom

Did you stop and think about using an apostrophe for this New Year’s Day?

Apostrophes on holidays can be confusing. Some holidays use them; some do not.

If you say “Happy New Year,” don’t worry about an apostrophe. You don’t need one.

But if a noun follows “New Year,” use an apostrophe:

• New Year’s Day
• New Year’s Eve
• New Year’s presents
• New Year’s wishes
• New Year’s parades
• New Year’s fireworks
• New Year’s celebrations

Other holidays that use apostrophes:

• Valentine’s Day
• Saint Patrick’s Day
• Mother’s Day
• Father’s Day.

If you have a holiday with plurals, remember to put the apostrophe after the s.

• Presidents’ Day
• April Fools’ Day

Tricks and Traps on holiday apostrophes: some holidays do not have an apostrophe:

• Veterans Day
• Armed Forces Day
• United Nations Day

And now that you have rested up from your New Year’s Eve celebrations, what do you have planned for New Year’s Day?

Worst of the Week: Writing Errors in Everyday Life: Your, You’re

This trash can owner is obviously annoyed with some of his dog-walking neighbors.

This error is so easy to avoid.

You are = you’re.

Omitted punctuation doesn’t help this frustrated person’s message either.