Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips
Common Sense Media says
Witty podcasts and posts offer language tips and tricks.
What parents need to know
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this tip-based site features interesting, well-written posts and podcasts on punctuation, word choice, grammar, and style. Grammar Girl often examines in-depth topics but is never boring. The entries are written in a lighthearted tone, and the site addresses minute grammar conflicts along with more common, everyday usage questions. Teens may be more interested in the content than younger kids who are still learning the basics. But you don't need to be an English major to appreciate the site.
What kids can learn
Subjects
Language & Reading
- speaking
- writing clearly
Skills
Self-Direction
- academic development
- personal growth
Communication
- conveying messages effectively
- speaking
Engagement, Approach, Support
Humor and pop-culture references keep the podcasts and posts lively. An active user base posts extra questions and answers, but the site could benefit from quizzes or other ways to test know-how.
The lively, relaxed tone and concise information is key to users grasping grammar issues and learning practical tips and tricks. However, the only direct input comes from other users.
The active online community offers site comments and frequently updated Facebook and Twitter pages. Links to recommended grammar books and websites are also included.
User reviews
Parents say
Kids say
What's it about?
Grammar Girl writer Mignon Fogarty, who holds degrees from the University of Washington and Stanford, provides writing and usage tips in podcasts and posts. The site covers general grammar questions and more nuanced topics, like why \"explain\" has an \"i\" in it but \"explanation\" doesn't. The posts are fun to read because they're conversational and creative. The author, for example, compares certain usage rules to \"a rebellious Mohawk haircut\" and calls uncommon figures of speech \"the paprika, cardamom, and saffron of language.\"
Is it any good?
QUALITY
Grammar Girl offers language and usage instruction through the Quick and Dirty Tips network of sites. (Other sections feature science info from Everyday Einstein, health tips from House Call Doctor, and parenting advice from Mighty Mommy.) Grammar Girl -- a.k.a. Mignon Fogarty, a former magazine and technical writer who is also Quick and Dirty Tips' founder -- offers writing and usage tips through blog posts, podcasts, and newsletters. Audio podcast files feature in-depth but accessible advice on grammatical issues like correctly using the adverb "only" in sentences; users can also opt to read written descriptions of questions sent to the site. Most posts also include helpful examples and citations.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about what grammar concepts your kids find interesting. Are there other school subjects that they want to learn more about? Check out our School Performance Tips guide to see how technology can help your kids be academically successful.
Users can post comments about each post. What kind of things are OK to post if you are confused or disagree with another comment?
What comments might be hurtful to say when you're posting a response to something?
Website details
| Genre: | Educational |
| Price: | Free |
| Pricing structure: | Free |
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QUALITY
Great site for writers of any age!
As a writer, I use this site frequently. It is fairly easy to search for some of the trickiest grammar rules. For those rules, it covers most conditions and a conversational, easy style. Some of the formal grammar sites require rereading to interpret the rules.
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QUALITY
Grammar Girl : Quick and Dirty Tricks
Okay, let's be honest about this, kids don't exactly love learning. There are faster, easier, and more awesome things to do out there. That's why if you want to make us learn it has to be entertaining. At first, this looked fun enough, and educational which is good. I clicked on an article, and thought it was funny and easy to learn. I think the author has amazing writing skills. However, I don't exactly enjoy the layout of the website. For one, the ads. I don't usually have a problem with advertisements, but on this website I do. They make noise. There's this one ad that just has someone singing, and it's bugging me when I'm trying to read. Not only that, but the flashing and bright colors of the advertisements make me lose my focus from the article. I know advertising makes you a lot of money, but it's distracting. If you still want to make some money, then you can continue to advertise but have a mute button above an advertisement, and when you press it, it disappears. I've also seen some awkward commercials on there that disturb me, so please fix the ad issue. Other than that, the website is fun, educational, and has a bad layout.
What other families should know
Too much consumerism
Safety and privacy concerns
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