Tameri Guide for Writers
Resources for writers, editors,
teachers, and students
The Tameri Web site is dedicated to writers, editors, instructors, and students. Our Web site covers the writing, editing, formatting, and marketing of literary and dramatic works. Academic issues are included, as well. Our site concentrates on content, so expect a lot of text. Because our focus is writing for popular audiences, some suggestions will not apply to academic settings, though we always try to indicate the reasons for our recommendations.
We are building this site with authors in mind; articles tend to reflect our experiences as professional writers and editors. Some teachers have complained that our choices are not “proper” for their students. It is reasonable for an instructor to remind students that an academic setting is not the same as writing in other contexts. If you are a student, use any grammar and style guides endorsed by your instructors.
Be aware that we post documents as they are written, meaning there are incomplete pages on this site. Also, some pages will have errors as they go through the editing process. If you locate an error, please contact us. Even a text on writing is imperfect.
The truth is that there are grumpy grammar geeks who manage to argue with each other endlessly. We know that battles are waged over split infinitives and sentences ending with prepositions. English rules are relatively new, created by men and women who wanted a “proper” English grammar. The rules one decides to accept are often a matter of preference. We claim no authority other than the “rules” we cite are guidelines encountered while working as writers or editors.
If you want to challenge an editor or instructor, buy a really heavy and impressive book like Bryan A. Garner’s Modern American Usage [Amazon.com]. We also recommend other resources for information. See our list of suggested books for writers and editors.
News & Announcements
Soon to be freelancing again
- 2009 November
- We are back in action. Scott is winding down his six-year journey towards a doctorate and Susan completed her MSTC program this summer. We are now pursuing freelance writing and editing opportunities.
- 2009 August
- Susan has completed her master’s degree! Her degree is in Scientific and Technical Communication, from the University of Minnesota. She is thrilled to be done.
- 2009 July 9
- The Workshop area of the Tameri Guide for Writers is being updated. We expect to have the content revised by the end of summer, 2009.
- 2009 March 22
- We have been editing the basic grammar pages, expanding the number of examples. Hopefully, some complex concepts have been clarified.
- 2009 January 9
- We have completed the transition to what we hope is a useful design. Breadcrumbs are being added for navigation and we updated our Sources Consulted list.
We Happen to Be Right Sometimes!
Many of the “corrections” we receive are actually incorrect or matters of personal style. The Modern Language Association, the Associated Press, and other organizations are updated on a regular basis. When there is a conflict between sources, we have to select one as the “right” answer for this guide. That does not mean the guideline we offer via the Tameri Guide for Writers is the only answer.
One source of confusion has been our use of the semicolon (;). A semicolon joins independent (“main”) clauses. Several visitors have suggested wrongly that such sentences are “run-on” and should be edited. No, the clauses relate closely and we believe using semicolons indicates clearly that the clauses should be thought of together. We also use commas more liberally than many current texts suggest. This might be because instead of misusing commas it is easier to omit them. Most English usage guides are moving towards fewer “mandatory” uses for commas.
If you do have a complex correction or suggestion, it is helpful if you include an academic source for the correction. Also, you should include the Web page URL from the Tameri Guide that needs to be updated.
About the Tameri Web Site
Of course it started as a marketing
gimmick!
Yes, this site promotes our writing and editing services. While we provide the information here for free, we also expect that some people want to hire writers or editors. Our services range from basic editing to advanced technical writing.
We also owe a debt of gratitude to those students and interns who helped with research and page layout over the years: E. Coker, A. Long, N. Goncharova, M. Toledo, and K. Watrus.
We began assembling the information appearing on this Web site for our personal use. As writers, we often want to double check grammar, usage, and even proper formatting. Using the Web as an organizational tool seemed logical, allowing us to access the information from anywhere.
This Web site is maintained by S. D. Schnelbach and C. S. Wyatt. If you experience any problems with the site, please let us know by sending a note to webmaster@tameri.com.
Citing This Web Site
Any citation referring to the Tameri Web site must name both editors.
- APA:
- Schnelbach, S. and Wyatt, C. ( 13 November, 2009 ). Tameri Guide for Writers. [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.tameri.com
- MLA:
- Schnelbach, S. and Wyatt, C. “Tameri Guide for Writers.” 13 November, 2009 . Online. Internet. [Date Printed]. Available WWW: http://www.tameri.com