Stop! Grammar Time: passed and past

I see a lot of younger writers struggling with the use of passed and past. I know they sound the same, but they have very different meanings.
To start with, past is a noun; passed is a verb.  But to complicate things, past is also a modifier; it can be an adjective or an adverb.  Let’s [...]

Stop! Grammar Time: the misuse of ’s

Of all the grammar mistakes out there, one of the most common is the use and misuse of ’s.  You see it everywhere you go; shopping centres, restaurants, e-mails, forum posts.
And it drives me crazy.
Here’s a little test for you.  Is it:
a) Sarah’s Journal or
b) Sarahs Journal?
Is it:
a) Fresh bagel’s or
b) Fresh bagels?
Is it:
a) Its [...]