The "Right" Way to Use Quotation Marks

By Suzanne Richardson

People all over the world are using quote marks incorrectly. What's the big deal, you ask? Well, an incorrect quotation mark can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

Richard Lederer, grammar expert and author of Comma Sense, has this to say on the subject: "Don't become a Typhoid Mary carrier of Quotation Bloatation, a symptom of which is those gratuitous quotation marks that increasingly surround words that have no business being quoted.... [S]ome people somehow think that quotation marks help emphasize the designated words. But all those squiggles do is make the reader chortle, 'Oh, is that statement supposed to be a famous quotation by a high muckety-muck?' Or, because 'Fresh' Fish is anything but fresh: 'Is somebody trying to be sarcastic?'"

According to the Purdue University Online Writing Lab, you should use quotes only in the following situations:

• When you are recounting a conversation or other dialog.

• When you are quoting a book, movie, play, song, poem, or other work.

• When you want to indicate words used ironically, with reservations, or in some unusual way.

• When you are writing out the title of short works (songs, short stories, essays, short poems, one-act plays, book chapters, newspaper or magazine articles, or episodes of a television/radio series).

Purdue includes two guidelines for how NOT to use quote marks:

• Do not put quotation marks around the titles of your essays.

• Do not use quotation marks for common nicknames, bits of humor, technical terms that readers are likely to know, and trite or well-known expressions.

Now that you know the rules, you'll never misuse quotation marks again. Unfortunately, most of the world's population will still be flaunting their ignorance on signs everywhere. Check out "The 'Blog' of 'Unnecessary' Quotations" (written by 24-year-old Ph.D. student Bethany Keeley) to find plenty of examples of quotation abuse.

The Spice That Makes You Smile

By Kelley Herring

The gentle waft of simmering bouillabaisse certainly puts a smile on my face. But the delightful aroma and taste isn't the only reason this dish can make you feel happy. In fact, one key ingredient could have as much mood-boosting benefits as a common anti-depressant.

Earlier research pointed to saffron, an ingredient in bouillabaisse, as a potential anti-depressant. And new research published in the journal Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry confirms this pricey spice's ability to alleviate the doldrums.

In the eight-week study, researchers compared saffron's anti-depressant activity to fluoxetine (the generic name for Prozac). Forty adults, meeting the criteria for major depression, participated. Group 1 patients received a capsule filled with 15 mg of saffron (C. sativus) morning and evening. Group 2 received 10 mg of fluoxetine morning and evening. At the end of the trial, researchers found that saffron had the same mood-boosting benefits as the drug.

So how much is 15 mg of saffron, anyway? That's less than a tenth of a teaspoon. Most saffron is sold by the gram, at about $15.

While you can season your paella or bouillabaisse with saffron, a good way to make this spice a mood-lifting mainstay in your diet is to mix it right into your favorite organic, chicken-based pre-made soups. Or brew a cup of Spicy Saffron Tea. Just add one teaspoon of saffron, four crushed cardamom pods, and three teaspoons of erythritol to four cups of boiling water. Steep for 20 minutes. Enjoy.

[Ed. Note: Kelley Herring is the founder and CEO of Healing Gourmet (www.healinggourmet.com), and is editor-in-chief of the Healing Gourmet book series.]

Word to the Wise: Purblind

"Purblind" (PUR-blind) means (1) having greatly reduced vision or (2) lacking insight or discernment. The word is derived from Middle English.

Example (as used by Eric Evans in an issue of History Today): "On and on the weary litany of purblind negativity proceeds."
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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2282, 02-19-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.