Consider the following questions:
1. Can you tell the difference between the three types of dashes? You are right if you say that the length is different, even if it’s very small. To be exact, the 3 dashes/really short lines are hyphen, En dash and Em dash respectively.
2. Do you sometimes get confused by when to use ‘Who’ and when to use ‘Whom’?
3. Is there a definitive way to use “me” vs “I”? Should it be “Dee was two years younger than I…” in the above sentence?
If you are tripped by the usage of the above or many more grammar, punctuation or spelling rules, don’t feel bad about it. I still do and will continue to be! The New York Times Bestseller Between You and Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris not only provides the proper usage but also delivered in a personal and humorous way. It is amazing that a book on spelling, punctuation and usage can turn out to be a rather fun read. It is also remarkable that so much can be written between the usage of “I” and “me”.
If a book about grammar and punctuation is too much, her online video clips at https://video.newyorker.com/series/comma-queen are good alternatives. You will still get explanation on grammar and punctuation that frequently trip you without going through tons of text.
After reading the book, can I say I have mastered all the usages and rules highlighted in the book? The answer is “No”! And there is no need to be embarrassed by this conclusion. As a non-native English speaker, there will always be aspects of the language that are confusing. My rule of thumb will be to follow grammar rules as they are commonly used and be receptive to corrections from more proficient users.
