A list of resources that I think may be of interest to writers.
Please note that such a page will have very little use to anyone if it is just a static list of what I thought of off the top of my shiny head when I decided to create the page. It is my intent to keep this page more or less in a state of constant flux, so check back frequently! I should also point out that there may or may not be any particular order to these.
Dr Grammar’s Frequently Asked Questions
“Located here are answers to questions previously asked of Dr. Grammar that may provide help with your writing ills.”
The Social Security Administration’s list of baby names
This is a very nice, searchable database of baby names, showing popularity over time since 1879. This will help give your characters names that stand out when you need them to, and blend in with the crowd when that’s what you want.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Want to know how long the average school day is in the US? Want to know about PELL grant recipients?
Common Errors in English
One of my favorite list of errors, this is maintained by Paul Brians, Emeritus Professor of English at Washington State University.
While I’m at it, here’s Professor Brians’s home page.
(Note that I disagree with him on the formation of possessives of proper nouns ending in sibilants. I call in The Chicago Manual of Style, 6.24, p. 200, but I’m sure he has authorities on his side, too. That’s what makes English so great.")
