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Imagine being here in this winter wonderland surrounded by these snow filled trees and the stream that runs through the middle of it all. Can you imagine standing there taking in all of the beauty that surrounds you? While you take one breath at a time you can see your breath as you exhale releasing carbon dioxide from your lungs, knowing that it was just a moment in time.
Silence, what a wonderful sound. Thinking in your thoughts you wonder what Winter would sound like if it could speak, if the trees could speak, and if the stream could speak. You also wonder what the grass beneath the ice and snow would say if it could speak too. All of a sudden you hear whispers out of nowhere, but you stand there in shock thinking that it could be someone else there besides you.
What, or who could it be? Could it be someone in the distance singing slightly loud but not too loud, but almost in a whisper. You start to think that it could have been your imagination, or could it have been an echo of an animal who likes Winter.
Time passes by and the chill in the air becomes colder. The wind begins to blow softly through the branches of the snow covered trees and the stream remains unmoved. Again, you hear this soft sound as soft as a whisper. You turn around only to still see nothing anywhere. What’s going on you wonder? Where is this sound coming from? You start to think again it could be your imagination running away again. You smile and continue to stand there thinking deeply in your thoughts when you hear it again.
This time you know that you are not just hearing things. You know that it’s not your imagination running away with you. You ask the sound, “Who are you, what do you want?” Not an answer was given. Standing there, you start to think whether you should stay or go, but your feet will not move.
In a panic you start to shake with fear. You want to move but you can’t! You have stood there so long until your feet were frozen in the ice and snow. What could you do? How can you make this stop? How could this have happened?
The whispers began to become louder and closer. The whispers became so close you can feel shivers up and down your spine! Your hair stands up on your head, and your face turns beet red! You start to scream for help, but there’s no one who can help you, or hear you scream! Frozen in that moment in time felt like an eternity!
Darkness falls! The sky is pitch black. No stars are shining, and the moon isn’t giving her light. Fog creeps in so thick it could be cut with a knife. The stream turns into black mud and stones. The branches on the trees turns into long arms thrashing about, and the snow turns into liquid ice. There’s nowhere to run because you can’t move. There’s no where to hide because you are out in the open, you can’t scream because you know that no one will hear you!
Footsteps walk along the path of mud and stone, stops on front of you, and says, “Welcome to my world trespasser.” I have been watching you for a while. Why are you here, and what do you want!? Are you trying to take what’s mine? You respond by saying “NO!” What do you want with me? Why are you doing this!? What did I do for you to treat me like this?! Well, I don’t like trespassers on my land. I don’t want you here so, I must eliminate you to teach you a lesson. No one will ever come here again! NOW, SHUT UP!! I must think of how I am going to do this.
The voice was silent, not even making the slightest sound, when all of a sudden, BOOM! Thunder began to roll, lightening started to flash, and hail stones started falling like rain from the sky. No covering, no shelter, and no fire for warmth. You just stood there paralyzed with fear and trembling down to your bones.
Suddenly everything stopped. It was quiet, it was the kind of quietness you could feel. You were still frozen in the ice and snow, but the hailstones turned into an ever burning flames. The stars came out, but the moon stayed in. The voice spoke and said, “Have you learned your lesson?” You replied “Absolutely’. If you are caught again trespassing on my land, I will not have a heart. See, I am the Whispers in Winter! Not in a good way, now LEAVE! The ice melted from your feet. You ran until you made it home. You went inside of your house and slammed the door behind you and locked it. You said that you would never go back there again! You sat down and closed your eyes for just a few minutes. You slept very long breathing deeply. You woke up after a while and realized you were still in your pajamas. You thought to yourself, how did I get into my pajamas? I sat down with my clothes on, and how did I get into bed? Who put me in the bed?
While sitting there in the bed, you hear a knock at the door. You go to the door to see who it is, but no one was there. Your face flushed red, and your palms were clammy. You then knew who it was knocking at the door. “ The Whispers of Winter!!
What is your favorite drink?
I like Blackberry Merlot because it is smooth, tart, and sweet. I can drink it with anything,, or I can have a glass of it to sip on. I don’t drink it much though, but whenever I do have it I enjoy it.
Normally I drink it room temperature, but sometimes I drink it chilled. I like how it relaxes me. It doesn’t give me a hangover like beer did when I drank it, but wine has always been my favorite drink to sip on.
What’s your favorite drink you like to sip on? Drink responsibly and have a good time.
Updated on July 1, 2023 · Grammar
Ah, the comma. Of all the punctuation marks in English, this one is perhaps the most misused. And it’s no wonder. There are lots of rules about comma usage, and often the factors that determine whether you should use one are quite subtle. But fear not! Below, you’ll find guidance for the trickiest comma questions.
While a period ends a sentence, a comma indicates a smaller break. Some writers think of a comma as a soft pause—a punctuation mark that separates words, clauses, or ideas within a sentence.
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Commas have quite a few uses in English:
There are a lot of technical English words in that list, but don’t worry. We explain everything in detail below.
When you have a list that contains more than two elements, use commas to separate them.
Julie loves ice cream books and kittens.
Julie loves ice cream, books, and kittens.
Julie loves ice cream, books and kittens.
(The comma before the and in a list of three or more items is optional. See below, under “Serial comma,” for more information.)
Your list might be made up of nouns, as in the example above, but it could also be made up of verbs, adjectives, or clauses. Imagine, for a moment, that you have just finished doing three chores. The chores were:
If you were to list these three chores in a sentence, you would write:
I cleaned the house and garage, raked the lawn, and took out the garbage.
or
I cleaned the house and garage, raked the lawn and took out the garbage.
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As mentioned above, when you are listing three or more items, commas should separate each element of the list. However, the final comma—the one that comes before the and—is optional. This comma is called the serial comma or the Oxford comma.
Simon needs bread, milk, and butter at the grocery store. (With serial comma)
Simon needs bread, milk and butter at the grocery store. (Without serial comma)
I still have to buy a gift, pack the suitcases, and arrange for someone to water the plants while we’re at the wedding. (With serial comma)
I still have to buy a gift, pack the suitcases and arrange for someone to water the plants while we’re at the wedding. (Without serial comma)
Whether or not you use the serial comma is a style choice. Many newspapers do not use it. Many trade books do use it. In your own writing, you can decide for yourself whether to use it—just be consistent.
Keep in mind, though, that occasionally the serial comma is necessary for clarity.
I dedicate this award to my parents, Jane Austen and Albert Einstein.
The sentence above will almost certainly cause readers to do a double take. Without a serial comma, it looks like “Jane Austen and Albert Einstein” is an appositive, rather than the second and third elements in a list. To put it another way, the writer seems to be saying that her parents are Jane Austen and Albert Einstein. A serial comma eliminates the possibility of misreading, so even if you’re not using serial commas in your writing, make an exception for sentences like this:
I dedicate this award to my parents, Jane Austen, and Albert Einstein.
Use a comma before the coordinating conjunction but if it is joining two independent clauses:
Cleo is a good singer but she’s an even better dancer.
Cleo is a good singer, but she’s an even better dancer.
If but is not joining two independent clauses, leave the comma out.
My teacher is tough, but fair.
My teacher is tough but fair.
Life is, but a dream.
Life is but a dream.
When correcting a comma splice by adding and—that is, when joining two independent clauses with and as a coordinating conjunction—put the comma before and.
When you have a list that contains only two items, don’t use a comma before the and.
My dog Charlie is cute, and smart.
My dog Charlie is cute and smart.
Cleo’s favorite activities are singing onstage, and relaxing in the sunshine.
Cleo’s favorite activities are singing onstage and relaxing in the sunshine.
When you want to join two independent clauses, you need a conjunction or a semicolon; a comma alone isn’t strong enough to join them. This kind of mistake is called a comma splice.
We were out of milk, I went to the store.
You can fix a comma splice by adding a conjunction or changing the comma to a semicolon.
We were out of milk, so I went to the store.
We were out of milk; I went to the store.
Or you can simply write the two independent clauses as separate sentences.
We were out of milk. I went to the store.
A clause that is nonrestrictive offers extra information about something you have mentioned in a sentence, but that information isn’t essential for identifying the thing you’re talking about. Nonrestrictive clauses are usually introduced by which or who and should be set off by commas.
Posey’s Cafe, which Chester recommended, is a fantastic restaurant.
The clause “which Chester recommended” is nonrestrictive because “Posey’s Cafe” is already specific. Identifying it as the restaurant recommended by Chester doesn’t narrow it down any further.
My wife, whom I love dearly, is a brilliant physicist.
The clause “whom I love dearly” is nonrestrictive because you could remove it and it would still be clear what person you’re talking—“my wife” is already specific.
A clause that is restrictive adds information that is necessary in order to identify whatever it is referring to. Restrictive clauses are often introduced by that or who and should never be set off by commas.
The cafe, that Chester recommended, is a fantastic restaurant.
The cafe that Chester recommended is a fantastic restaurant.
The clause “that Chester recommended” is essential information in the sentence above. If you removed it, there would be no way to tell which restaurant you were talking about.
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that refers to the same thing as another noun in the same sentence. Often, the appositive provides additional information about the noun or helps to distinguish it in some way. If you could remove the appositive without changing the meaning of the sentence, it is said to be nonessential and should be set off with commas. If the appositive is necessary, it’s said to be essential and should not be set off with commas.
My partner, Angela, is a wonderful cook.
The painter, one of the city’s most promising young artists, began showing his work in galleries before he was sixteen.
Chocolate, my favorite treat, always makes me feel better after a bad day.
Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven” is a classic.
Nick Jonas’s brother Kevin is the most underrated Jonas. The detective Sherlock Holmes is one of literature’s greatest sleuths.
A comma normally follows a participial phrase that introduces a sentence:
Grabbing her umbrella, Kate raced out of the house.
Confused by her sister’s sudden change in mood, Jill stayed quiet.
When an adverbial phrase begins a sentence, it’s often followed by a comma, but it doesn’t have to be, especially if it’s short. As a rule of thumb, if the phrase is longer than about four words, use a comma. You can also use a comma after a shorter phrase when you want to emphasize it or add a pause for literary effect.
After the show, Cleo will be signing autographs.
Behind the building there is enough space to park two limousines.
Without knowing why, I crossed the room and looked out the window.
In 1816 life was very different.
Suddenly, a frightened black cat sprang from the shadows.
But if there is a chance of misreading the sentence, use the comma:
Before eating the family said grace.
Before eating, the family said grace.
When writing a date in month-day-year format, set off the year with commas.
July 4, 1776, was an important day in American history.
I was born on Sunday, May 12, 1968.
If you are using the day-month-year format, however, commas are unnecessary.
Applications are due by 31 December 2024.
Use a comma between a day of the week and a date:
On Tuesday, April 13, at three o’clock, there will be a meeting for all staff.
Please join us on Saturday, June 10, 2023, for the marriage of Annie and Michael.
When you are referencing only a month and year, you don’t need a comma.
The region experienced record rainfall in March 1999.
When multiple adjectives modify a noun to an equal degree, they are said to be coordinate and should be separated by commas. One way to tell whether the adjectives are coordinate is to try switching the order of them. If the sentence still sounds natural, the adjectives are coordinate.
That man is a pompous, self-righteous, annoying idiot.
That man is a self-righteous, annoying, pompous idiot.
The sweet, scintillating aroma of cinnamon buns filled the kitchen.
The scintillating, sweet aroma of cinnamon buns filled the kitchen.
If multiple adjectives are used but are not coordinate—that is, if one of them is more closely related to the noun being modified than the other(s), and thus they sound unnatural if the order is changed—don’t separate them with a comma.
The adorable, little boy was eating ice cream.
The little, adorable boy was eating ice cream.
The adorable little boy was eating ice cream.
Interrupters are little thoughts that pop up in the middle of a sentence to show emotion, tone, or emphasis. A parenthetical element is a phrase that adds extra information to the sentence but could be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. Both interrupters and parenthetical elements should be set off with commas.
The weather I was happy to see was beginning to clear.
The weather, I was happy to see, was beginning to clear.
Geoff’s cooking skills if you can call them skills left something to be desired.
Geoff’s cooking skills, if you can call them skills, left something to be desired.
It was sadly the last day of camp.
It was, sadly, the last day of camp.
Mary unlike Anne is very organized.
Mary, unlike Anne, is very organized.
An attributive tag is a phrase, like “they said” or “she claimed,” that identifies the speaker or writer of a quote or piece of dialogue. Attributive tags can come before, after, or even in the middle of a quote. Use commas to separate attributive tags from quotations.
The professor remarked, “How attentive you have been today!”
“Once you know the solution,” Tiffany said, “the whole problem seems very simple.”
“You have ice cream on your nose,” my friend giggled.
“When you leave the house,” my mother yelled, “don’t slam the door!”
If a quotation before an attributive tag ends in a question mark or exclamation point, however, there’s no need for a comma.
“You have a spider on your nose!”, my friend yelled.
“You have a spider on your nose!” my friend yelled.
“Where did that spider come from?”, I asked.
“Where did that spider come from?” I asked.
In American English, commas always go before closing quotation marks.
“Pass me that thesaurus,” said Matthew.
“If you knew what was good for you, you’d finish that essay right now,” my roommate said.
“We’re going down to the soup kitchen to help serve dinner,” her mother called.
In British English, however, unquoted punctuation typically follows the quotation marks. If you are writing for a British audience, put the comma after the closing quotation mark. (Furthermore, British English tends to use single quotes rather than double quotation marks.)
Parentheses are used to give additional information to the reader—information that might disrupt the flow of the sentence if written as a nonrestrictive clause. Commas may be placed after the closing parenthesis but not before either the opening or the closing parenthesis. If the sentence would not require any commas without the parenthetical material, it should not have any commas with it.
After opening the new cookie tin, Chester had a hard time replacing the lid.
After opening the new cookie tin (and eating several of the cookies), Chester had a hard time replacing the lid.
After opening the new cookie tin, (and eating several of the cookies), Chester had a hard time replacing the lid.
After opening the new cookie tin (and eating several of the cookies,) Chester had a hard time replacing the lid.
A question tag is a word or short phrase that is added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question. Writers often use question tags to encourage readers to agree with them. A question tag should be preceded by a comma.
These willow trees are beautiful, aren’t they?
You didn’t actually write a 600-page vampire romance novel, did you?
I know, right?
When addressing another person by name, set off the name with commas.
Mom, I can’t find my shoes!
Cleo, there’s someone on the phone for you.
Hello, Chester.
You generally don’t need a comma before the connective phrase as well as. However, if you want the element of a sentence introduced by as well as to be read as an interrupter or a parenthetical, setting it off with a comma or pair of commas can communicate that.
Please proofread for grammatical mistakes as well as spelling.
Spelling mistakes, as well as grammatical errors, are distracting to readers.
The phrase such as requires commas if it introduces a nonrestrictive clause.
Coniferous trees, such as pine and spruce, do not drop their needles in the winter.
If such as introduces a restrictive clause, omit the commas.
Trees such as pine and spruce do not drop their needles in the winter.
Using a comma before the adverb too is generally unnecessary but not incorrect.
I like bananas too.
I too like bananas.
Setting too off with commas can add emphasis or make the sentence easier to parse.
I like bananas, too.
I, too, like bananas.
There are a few places in a sentence where a comma should (almost) never appear.
With few exceptions, a comma should not separate a subject from its verb.
My friend Cleo, is a wonderful singer.
Writers are often tempted to insert a comma between a subject and verb this way because speakers sometimes pause at that point in a sentence. But in writing, the comma only makes the sentence seem stilted.
My friend Cleo is a wonderful singer.
Be especially careful with long or complex subjects:
The things that cause me joy, may also cause me pain.
The things that cause me joy may also cause me pain.
Navigating through snow, sleet, wind, and darkness, is a miserable way to travel.
Navigating through snow, sleet, wind, and darkness is a miserable way to travel.
In general, don’t put a comma between two nouns that appear together as a compound subject or compound object.
Cleo, and her band will be playing at Dockside Diner next Friday.
Cleo and her band will be playing at Dockside Diner next Friday.
Cleo will wear a sparkly red blazer, and high heels.
Cleo will wear a sparkly red blazer and high heels.
Occasionally, when a subject or object is made up of two items and the second item is parenthetical, or both items are long, the second item can be set off between two commas.
She, and her cat, live there.
The irritating behavior of certain other members of the food coop, and the recent steep increase in prices of much of the produce there, inevitably dominated the conversation.
In these cases, the writer is using commas to let the reader know where in a sentence emphasis and pauses should fall. They are not grammatically necessary, so the compound subjects still take plural verbs.
A compound predicate is what you have when the subject of a sentence is shared by more than one verb without being repeated. In a compound predicate that contains two verbs joined by a coordinating conjunction, a comma should rarely be used between the verbs
Cleo will sing, and play the banjo.
Cleo will sing and play the banjo.
It’s easiest to make this mistake when the predicate is made up of long verb phrases.
I meant to buy tickets for Cleo’s show, but ran out of time.
I meant to buy tickets for Cleo’s show but ran out of time.
However, it’s occasionally helpful to use a comma in a compound predicate to prevent misreading:
Cleo spotted the man who entered the diner, and waved.
In the sentence above, you need the comma to make clear that it was Cleo who waved, not the man.
Don’t separate a transitive verb from its direct object with a comma.
I’m glad I trained, Charlie not to beg for scraps.
I’m glad I trained Charlie not to beg for scraps.
Mary said, she likes chocolate.
Mary said she likes chocolate.
Correlative conjunctions are conjunctions that come in pairs (such as either/or, neither/nor, and not only/but also) and connect words or phrases in a sentence to form a complete thought. Typically, commas are unnecessary with correlative conjunctions.
Either the blue shirt, or the red sweater will look good with your jeans.
Either the blue shirt or the red sweater will look good with your jeans.
You can wear a pashmina not only for warmth, but also for fashion.
You can wear a pashmina not only for warmth but also for fashion.
Don’t use a comma between an article and a noun.
The company managers accidentally scheduled the, meeting for Saturday.
A, bouquet of flowers may be created using more than one type of flower.
I’ll have an, apple.
The company managers accidentally scheduled the meeting for Saturday.
A bouquet of flowers may be created using more than one type of flower.
I’ll have an apple.
When speaking, we often pause while we think of the next word we want to say. In writing, though, there’s usually no reason to add this pause. If you’re writing dialogue and you specifically want to convey a pause while someone is thinking, use an ellipsis: I’ll have an . . . apple.
Don’t use a comma before than when you’re making a comparison.
This box is lighter, than that box.
This box is lighter than that box.
Hardcover books are more expensive, than paperback books.
Hardcover books are more expensive than paperback books.
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Updated on December 9, 2020 · Product
This article was originally published on August 20, 2019.
Writing on your phone often means writing on the go. It means typing fast, maybe while doing something else at the same time—but it doesn’t have to mean sloppy writing. You might already know that Grammarly’s mobile keyboard makes it easy to compose high-quality, mistake-free text even when you’re on the move. Today we’re enhancing the experience, introducing something new . . . and fresh, and different, and distinctive, and notable.
Next time you’re typing away with the Grammarly Keyboard, stop—no, not stop . . . halt? No, pause! That’s the word we’re looking for—pause for a moment to see a list of synonyms for the word you just typed. Multiple options for alternative words will appear along the top of your keyboard. If you’d like to see synonyms for a word you typed earlier, just move your cursor and the suggestions will change accordingly. It’s a terrific (and convenient) way to diversify your vocabulary and possibly even discover new words. After all, sometimes a few well-chosen words can transform a bland message into an exciting one.
To turn the Grammarly Keyboard’s synonym feature on and off, open up Grammarly’s companion app on your phone. Navigate to Grammarly Settings and tap the switch next to Synonyms.
We think it’s pretty awesome. Great? Grand? No, we think it’s magnificent, and we hope you do, too. A word of warning though—scrolling through those synonyms can be awfully intriguing fascinating engrossing. Make sure you don’t forget to actually send that text!
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For many people, it is a 40-day period—not including the six Sundays—devoted to reflection, repentance, fasting, and preparation prior to Easter.
Unlike Christmas, Easter is not a fixed date on the calendar; it is sometimes described as a “moveable feast.” The Western church decided long ago to set Easter as the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox (the first day of spring). Since the date of Easter varies widely (from March 22 to April 25), the dates of every other holiday-related to Easter vary as well.
The week before Easter is referred to as Holy Week. It begins on Palm Sunday, which recalls Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Thursday of that week is known in some traditions as Maundy Thursday. It is called that because it memorializes Jesus’ final instructions and last meal with His disciples. The term “Maundy” is related to the Latin word mandatum. It means “commandment”. It is also the first word in the Latin version of John 13:34 that records Jesus’ new commandment to His disciples. Since Jesus washed his disciples’ feet that fateful evening, Christians often do as Jesus did and wash one another’s feet.
Good Friday follows. It is the day that commemorates the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Calling the day “good” seems ironic since Jesus died such a horrid death that day. However, what Jesus’ death accomplished for the redemption of the world is the greatest good the world has ever seen.
The Sunday following Good Friday ends the season of Lent and is designated Easter. It may be the most celebrated day on the Christian calendar, for it commemorates Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and the beginning of the new Kingdom. – Adapted from The Voice Bible.
bible.com/bible/1/rom.12.10.KJV
Food for the Soul 