Once upon a time, in a far away land named Brisbane, there lived a lovely florist by the name of Marie Claire (ok, so she still lives there now). She makes the most beautiful flower arrangements, then takes pictures of them to post them on her lovely blog, Poppy and Myrtle (isn't that name delightful?) One … Continue reading Stationary vs. Stationery

Hello love muffins! It's time to get a glass of wine and sit down to read another grammar lesson from your favorite fairy! Today, we're going to learn about the difference between then and than; because if you're over the age of 8 and still making this mistake, you might as well scream from the … Continue reading Then vs. Than

Hello Fairy Godwriter fans! Today, we are going to focus on those Mensa members who love to interject the word "literally" into every sentence. How many times have you been at a social event, listening to someone tell a story, and they ruin it by saying some preposterous statement, such as: "I had such a … Continue reading I Literally Want You To Learn This Stuff

Hello blog lovers! We are gathered here today to discuss the things you care about! Isn't that fun, my little darlings? Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens... Did the Von Trapp children care about those things? What do you care about? Your loved ones? Glittery stars in … Continue reading You Actually Could Care Less

Hello, my little wonders! I'm trying to summon all of my natural cheery disposition to conduct today's lesson. This is because, while there are certain grammar mistakes that are *somewhat* understandable, others make me clutch the pearls over my chest in consternation. The following is one of those incomprehensible errors. Think of a time when … Continue reading The Should’ve Lesson

Greetings little darlings! Today we are going to talk about the subjunctive mood. Sometimes, it seems as if the only people who care about its correct usage besides myself, are Queen Elizabeth II, Katie Couric, and Ted Mosby. And while I very much appreciate their commitment to speaking English properly, it is time for the … Continue reading The Subjunctive Mood

A few years ago, before I became a gracious Fairy Godwriter, I watched in a little bit of horror (and a little bit of delight) as Carrie Bradshaw (of Sex and the City fame) read a note from Big's wife, Natasha. "Dear Carrie,  Thank you for supporting women in the arts by attending the luncheon.  … Continue reading They’re, There, and Their

Hello, my wonderful readers! Today is a lovely day, isn't it? Whether it's cheerfully sunny or enchantingly cloudy wherever you are, it most definitely feels like the perfect day to discuss the difference between affect and effect. I've heard several people stating that they don't really know when to use one or the other, which, … Continue reading Affect vs. Effect

Hello, my fabulous people! Today's topic is one that causes much confusion, even though it's a really simple concept. At the risk of sounding like a total nerd (which I am and love it very much), let's talk about the difference between who and whom. a review of basic sentence structure When we are talking … Continue reading Who vs. Whom

Hello, fabulous online wisdom seekers! Once upon a time, in elementary school (you'll have to pardon me, I don't remember in which grade), we were taught about contractions (i.e., when you take two words of a phrase and turn them into one word). For example, instead of saying "It is Wednesday," you would say "it's … Continue reading Your vs. You’re