The semicolon is one of the most misunderstood (and misused) English punctuation marks. When should you use a semicolon? Let’s learn more about the specific functions of this unique punctuation mark. by Jennifer A. Freeman Share The semicolon appears to be a visual blend of a colon and a comma, and it can perform similar jobs to each of those punctuation marks. Its primary use is to link ideas that are closely related in thought, but that’s a task that can also be done by a c

Also called the serial comma, the Oxford comma is placed immediately before the conjunction (usually “and” or “or”) in a series of three or more terms. For example, “My favorite book genres are mystery, historical fiction, and dystopian.” The final comma in the series, just before “and,” is the Oxford comma. This comma has been used (and omitted) throughout English history, though it was not called the Oxford comma until the early 20th century. In 1905, Horace Hart, a printer

3) Don’t use contractions. Conversational tone is becoming the preferred way to write just about everything. And guess what? You use contractions — such as “we’re,” “I’ll,” and “should’ve” — when you speak. The one place contractions typically aren’t welcome is in academic writing, but if you’re drafting a social media post, blog, email, or advertising copy, there’s nothing wrong with shaving off a word or two with a contraction. 4) Don’t create sentence fragments. More than

1) Don’t end your sentence with a preposition. English teachers may cringe, but this rule is just begging to be broken. Conversation is becoming more casual, and ending sentences with a preposition is a side effect of that. For example: “He’s someone I can have a meaningful conversation with.” According to traditional construction rules, the “with” should appear earlier, as in, “He’s someone with whom I can have a meaningful conversation.” But when you read that out loud, you

The Latin phrase means “and others especially of the same kind.” In English, the noun “etcetera” (one word) is used to mean “a number of unspecified additional persons or things.” It’s been in the English lexicon since the late 16th century, but before the 20th century, it was commonly abbreviated as “&c.” Now the abbreviation “etc.” prevails. While it’s an efficient shorthand, there are many ways to make mistakes when using “etc.” Adding “And” Before It The Latin word et

Spanish — jajaja In Spanish, the letter “j” sounds similar to the English “h,” but it can vary across different regions — in some countries the sound is soft and breathy, while in others it’s harsher and more similar to the “ch” in the Scottish word “loch.” Spanish speakers write laughter as jajaja, which therefore sounds very similar to the English “hahaha.” Spanish also has variations: Jejeje could suggest playfulness or knowing amusement, while jijiji might imply mischiev

Aubergine / Eggplant The scientifically named Solanum melongena comes from the Indian subcontinent and first appeared in England by the end of the 16th century. The British (and Germans) borrowed the French word aubergine (which actually traces back to the Sanskrit vatinganah) to name the plant. The American word for it, “eggplant,” originated in English in the mid-18th century and is derived from the white and yellow versions of the vegetable, which apparently resemble goos

Yak “Yak” doesn’t refer to just an animal. In the 1950s, it became a verb for persistent talking or chatter, as in, “Stop yakking and get back to work!” It often suggests time-wasting, nagging, or rambling. And while its exact origin is unclear, it may be connected to the 19th-century Australian slang “yacker,” meaning “talk” or “conversation.” It gained popularity with “Yakety Yak,” the 1958 hit song by the R&B group the Coasters. Bird Dog Today, to bird-dog is to watch s

If you hear Taylor Swift singing about “all the lonely Starbucks lovers” on “Blank Space,” that’s a mondegreen, which is a misheard lyric that gets repeated so often, it becomes almost as ubiquitous as the correct version (“got a long list of ex-lovers,” in Taylor’s case). The same thing happens with common idioms and phrases. If mistaken words are used enough, people start to repeat and transmit them in different forms. Here are some of the most common idioms that folks mish

Baller “Baller” gained a new usage on its definition in the year 2022, thanks to Merriam-Webster. As an informal slang term, “baller” describes something “excellent, exciting, or extraordinary,” especially relating to a lavish lifestyle, as in, “It was clear from his frequent trips on his private jet that the actor lived a baller lifestyle.” This usage of “baller” traces back to 2003, but its oldest usage, which denotes an athlete who plays a sport involving a ball, has been

The History of Printer's Ornaments 15th Century Origins Printer's ornaments emerged shortly after the invention of movable type by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-1400s. Early printers wanted books to resemble the illuminated manuscripts they were replacing. Since hand-painted decorations were expensive, printers carved decorative blocks that could be printed alongside the text. Renaissance Expansion By the 1500s and 1600s, printers throughout Europe developed extensive collect

Printer's ornaments are decorative elements used in books to enhance appearance, improve readability, and provide visual breaks between sections. While they are not strictly necessary, they can make a book look more professional, polished, and traditionally published. What Are Printer's Ornaments? Printer's ornaments are small decorative designs such as: ✦ Fleurons (floral motifs)❦ Typographic ornaments✶ Stars and asterisms☙ Decorative leaves and vines◆ Geometric designsIllus

The front matter of a book is traditionally numbered with lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.) to distinguish it from the main text of the book, which uses Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.). This convention developed centuries ago and serves several practical purposes: Separates preliminary material from the main work. Items such as the title page, copyright page, dedication, table of contents, foreword, preface, acknowledgments, and introduction are considered

An animated book cover can increase interest in a book, particularly in online marketing where attention is scarce. When readers browse on social media, websites, or online bookstores, movement naturally attracts the eye. A well-designed animated cover can: Increase engagement on social media posts Improve click-through rates in digital ads Create a more professional and modern impression Convey mood, genre, and atmosphere more effectively Help a new or lesser-known author st

Here are some interesting and lesser-known book publishing facts that often surprise authors and readers: The first book printed with movable type in Europe was the Gutenberg Bible, produced around 1455 by Johannes Gutenberg. Only a few dozen copies survive today. Many classic novels were initially rejected multiple times. Dune was reportedly rejected by more than 20 publishers before becoming one of the best-selling science fiction novels ever written. The world's smallest c

Romeo and Juliet was very well received when it first appeared, although not immediately recognized as the untouchable masterpiece it is considered today. Audiences in Elizabethan England embraced it, and it quickly became one of William Shakespeare's most popular plays. A few reasons it was such a success: It appealed to all audiences. Wealthy nobles appreciated the poetry and sophisticated language, while ordinary theatergoers enjoyed the sword fights, romance, humor, and f

Direct Access to the Publisher One of the things that sets Barringer Publishing apart is that our authors work directly with the publisher—not a salesperson or a customer service representative. From your first conversation through editing, design, production, marketing, and publication, you'll have direct access to Jeff Schlesinger, Publisher of Barringer Publishing. Why does that matter? Publishing is a collaborative process that involves hundreds of decisions. When questio

The answer depends on what type of publisher you're talking about. There's a huge difference between the Big Five, midsize publishers, university presses, and independent publishers. Here's what authors can realistically expect today: Type of Publisher Typical First-Time Advance Major (Big Five) $5,000–$25,000 (most common) Strong commercial deal $25,000–$100,000+ Lead title / auction $100,000–$1 million+ (rare) Mid-size publisher $2,000–$15,000 Small independent press $0–$5,

The countries that publish the most books each year are generally those with large populations, strong educational systems, and well-developed publishing industries. Based on data from sources such as the International Publishers Association and national publishing agencies, the rankings are approximately: Rank Country New Titles Published Annually (Approx.) 1 China 450,000–500,000 2 United States 300,000–350,000* 3 United Kingdom 180,000–200,000 4 Japan 120,000–140,000 5 Sou

Surprisingly, there is no officially recognized world record for the greatest number of books read by a single person over a lifetime. Neither Guinness World Records nor any major record-keeping organization maintains such a category because it would be nearly impossible to verify every book someone has read. That said, there are a few remarkable documented readers: Dan Pelzer (U.S.) kept a meticulous handwritten log of every book he read from 1962 until his death in 2025. H