A shopper in a large grocery store for the first time asks a clerk where to find a certain item. ?Instead of telling her, the clerk takes her directly to the aisle and shelf where the item is located. ?The shopper, somewhat surprised at being so graciously helped in a large chain store, says to the clerk in a very pleasant voice, “Thank you.? I really appreciate your assistance.”? The clerk responds, “No problem.”

You?re eating lunch at an upscale restaurant during the busy noon-hour rush.? Without your asking, the waiter comes to the table and refills your water glass.? You say, ?Thank you.? ?And the waiter replies, ?No problem.?

You see a young mother who is trying to open her car door and, at the same time, is carrying a bag of groceries in one arm and is holding her baby in the other arm. ?You open the car door for her, and she says, “Oh, thank you. I really have my hands full.” ?You smile and say, “No problem.” Read more…

?Introduction

For most people, it is difficult to know when and how to use ?affect? and ?effect.? The confusion primarily comes from two things: (1) the two words are very similar in both spelling and pronunciation and (2) their meanings have evolved through the years, making it difficult for us to understand how the two words should be used today. But their meanings and uses have stabilized in recent years, so let?s sort this all out. It?s really not all that difficult.In years past, ?affect? was used as either a noun or a verb, but now its use as a noun is considered obsolete. Except in rare cases of some psychological studies, ?affect? is now considered only a verb?that is, a word of action.

?Effect,? on the other hand, can be used as either a noun or a verb. Read more…

As an eighty-year old retired clergyman I have thought much about what I would say to my congregation, if I were still preaching every Sunday, in the aftermath of the shooting-rampage in a school that has shocked our entire nation.? Following local, national, or international tragedies of any kind, attendance at places of worship has historically increased as people seek understanding and guidance on how to cope.? They go to their respective places of worship expecting the clergy to speak with clarity, as if we are creatures endowed with special divine connections when, in fact, we are only human creatures who, perhaps, due to training and experience, have a certain amount of knowledge about such matters that we are able to pass along. Read more…

The Big Ten of Grammar is now available in paperback, hardback, and as an e-book for your Kindle or Nook!? To order, go to the bookstore of this website.? For a short time, you can get a free copy for your Kindle by going to the bookstore of this website and clicking on Amazon.com. for the?paperback edition.

If you?d like to receive more information, request a review copy of The Big Ten of Grammar, or schedule an interview with Dr. William Bradshaw, contact Cinty Peng at Beaufort Books? (Publicity@beaufortbooks.com or 212 727-0222).

As is highlighted on the Home Page of this website, I am now a regular blogger for The Huffington Post.? I submit weekly articles, but the editors of The Huffington Post do not always publish them.? This particular article was turned down, I think because The Huffington Post likes to publish articles centered on current events, and this one is more of a ?feely good? story.? But I like it and am including it here.

Glenn Cunningham personally told me this.? The first part of the story is public record, but I have never read or heard the second part of the story from any other source. Read more…

With the publication of The Big Ten of Grammar? in?paperback? and in e-book for your Kindle or Nook, my website has been completely redesigned.? Outdated blogs have been deleted and new ones included.

The home page has a variety of new entries.? There is a short grammar test you may want to take, and I call you special attention to the link with The Huffington Post, the only completely online newspaper in the world.? I have been accepted as a regular blogger by The Huffington Post.? Although my entries?vary greatly in subject matter, they all relate in some way to grammar.? I submit articles on a weekly basis, but the editors of The Huffington Post do not accept every article for publication.? Hence,?my blogs may not?appear every week.

I hope you find my redesigned website helpful and easy to use.? Please be sure to contact me with any question or comments about grammar.

Dr. B