Margie began teaching in 1964 and joined the court reporting world twelve years later. She taught the machine and all aspects of English for traditional programs before establishing her own online school in 2015. She is the author of English-related books that present practical solutions for applying standard English rules to the spoken word. Through Margie Holds Court, she teaches classes, presents for state and national organizations, authors a blog on all things English, and runs a subscription service to answer daily questions.
I Know You've Been Wondering Where I Am
That Pesky Word SO and Other DilemmasThe word “so” is popping up in all sorts of language patterns. In this class, we will discuss the two ways the word legitimately functions and how it is punctuated in those two places. Then we will talk about trailing off with “so” and starting a sentence with “so.” We will then discuss independent comments, parentheticals, and transitional elements and how to punctuate them. May 31, 10:30 AM PDT, 0.1 CEU
The Dependent ClausePossibly the most important concept to understand in order to punctuate easily – we will define a dependent clause, discuss the three types, and move on to how to punctuate each one. As time permits, we will talk about what happens when one dependent clause is inside another and also what it means to “understand” an introductory word for a clause. June 7, 9:00 AM PDT, 0.2 CEUs
Other Courses from Margie...
| |
Margie Wakeman Wells
Margie began teaching in 1964 and joined the court reporting world twelve years later. She taught the machine and all aspects of English for traditional programs before establishing her own online school in 2015. She is the author of English-related books that present practical solutions for applying standard English rules to the spoken word. Through Margie Holds Court, she teaches classes, presents for state and national organizations, authors a blog on all things English, and runs a subscription service to answer daily questions.
This Saturday, May 16: New Class My plan is to teach a series of short classes throughout the rest of the year. On the docket are sessions on quotes, periods, question marks, maybe number form, and probably one on that heinous hyphen!! I am starting gently: a one-hour class on apostrophes—not just for making words plural but in all those other sneaky places that need that little mark. See below to sign up. The Amazing ApostropheSaturday, May 16, 202610:00 AM Pacific Time Course Content: The...
(left: accepting the Frank G. Tayloe Award right: accepting the DRA Spotlight Award) May 2026 In the Wells household, we are hanging in there, but I have to say this aging thing is real. At 93 and 84 (this month), we are up against it!! Sometimes I think that, were it not for doctor appointments—though we do most often combine them with lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant, El Sombrero, in Manhattan Beach—we would never see the light of day!! I have been delightfully overwhelmed by three...
January 2026 This is personal… As I sit to write this first newsletter of the new year and as I turn 84 in a few months, I am reflecting on my good fortune—my blessings, if you will. I am feeling… THANKFUL for my dear husband, who is soon to be 93 years old. His macular degeneration is worsening though the injections are helping. He is pretty spry for an “old” guy. And he is the same dear man that I married coming up on 30 years ago. BLESSED to have my two sons, a brand-new daughter-in-law,...