In this issue:

• Do I say "a" or "the"?
• Valentine's Day...did you know?
• NEW! Ask the questions you've always been too embarrassed to ask!
• Spotlight on...Louis Schwarz
• It's been 10 years!
• What does the color RED mean to you?

Let us take care of your words.

DO I SAY "A" OR "THE"?

One of the most common challenges in English is when to use "a" or "the" in sentences. How do you know when it should be "a boy" or "the boy"? And how do you know when to use "an" even if the word begins with a vowel, like "university"?

"A" (or "an") is used for general nouns that aren't specific. For instance:

An athlete from the ski team will represent the U.S. in the Deaflympics.

But if you're talking about a specific noun, then use "the." For instance:

The athlete in the red shirt will represent the U.S. in the Deaflympics.

As a general rule, use "a" for nouns starting with a consonant (b,c,d,f,g...) and use "an" for nouns starting with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u). For instance:

A team
An athlete
A sport
An event
A medal
An achievement

The exceptions to this rule include:

A before u and eu (when pronounced like "you"): a European, a university, a unit.
An before a silent h: an hour, an honor.

This does get confusing, but with practice, it all eventually makes sense. For a fun quiz, visit http://www.better-english.com/grammar/the.htm. Some great Web sites with more information:

• http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/articles.htm

• http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/blathe.htm

VALENTINE'S DAY...DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that Esther Allen Howland, a female entrepreneur, started the American valentine manufacturing industry in the mid-1800s?

Howland was born in 1828 in Worcester, Massachusetts. After graduating from Mount Holyoke College in 1847, she received her first English valentine. Fascinated with the idea of making similar valentines, Howland imported the necessary paper lace and floral decorations from England. As she began taking orders for valentines, she was surprised to discovered a demand for more than she could provide. She then recruited friends to assist her, and issued her first advertisement in a Worcester paper, The Daily Spy, on February 5, 1850. The assembly line operation in her home eventually led to a thriving business grossing $100,000 annually. Howland retired in 1881, selling her business to the George C. Whitney Company.

Source: http://www.emotionscards.com/museum/vals.html

NEW! ASK THE QUESTIONS YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOO EMBARRASSED TO ASK!

Is there an ASL or English question you've always wanted answered, but were too embarrassed to ask? Worry no more! We can answer your questions and give you tips and suggestions. Sample questions:

• How is an adverb different from an adjective?

• I want to send e-mail to my boss and share some frustrations I have, but I feel my grammar isn't clear enough. I don't want her to think I'm dumb or unqualified. What can I do?

• How do I improve my letter writing skills?

Send your question to info@tswriting.com and we will answer your question in this column. Your name will be kept anonymous.

SPOTLIGHT ON...LOUIS SCHWARZ

Starting in this issue, we'll be profiling some of our clients. In this issue, we're talking with one of the most renowned financial experts in the community: Louis Schwarz. The always bow-tied Schwarz runs Schwarz Financial Services (www.deaftax.com and www.schwarz-financial.com).

It's only fitting that we chat with Louis Schwarz, given that tax time is only two months away. Schwarz, a certified financial planner (CFP) and registered financial consultant (RFC) who is deaf, owns Schwarz Financial Services in Maryland. The company is celebrating a remarkable milestone: its 35th anniversary.

"In 1971, a few friends asked if I could help with their income tax returns," Schwarz remembers. His friends were so pleased with his work that they told other people, who then contacted Schwarz. He laughs as he remembers, "My first service fee in 1971 was $25 per tax return." His investment and tax services are now available to people across the U.S.

Schwarz Financial strives to always put the client first and never letting anyone leave without understanding all the pros and cons of financial planning and investing. The question, though, on everyone's minds is: Why does Schwarz always wear a bow tie? "When I was working as a chemist, I got acidic spots on my ties when the ties fell outside of my lab coat. I changed to a bow tie to avoid that," he explains. "My grandfather also always wore a bow tie, so I guess I inherited that trait!"

Special congratulations to Schwarz Financial Services for 35 years of outstanding financial planning and tax services!

Mention T.S. Writing Services to Schwarz Financial Services and receive an additional $5 discount in addition to the current $35 special, for a total savings of $40!

IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS!

Ten years ago, the deaf community was rocked by one of the most bizarre stories to ever unfold. Holly Daniel, who claimed she was deaf, appeared in television and print advertisements featuring real-life Saturn car owners. She was later exposed as a hearing, uncertified interpreter who had pretended to be deaf for as long as two years prior to the advertisement campaign. She earned thousands of dollars and weaved an astounding web of lies, including telling people she had a hearing twin sister who they confused her with – when in reality, there was no sister.

Today, ten years later, Trudy Suggs is taking a look back on that experience as the reporter who unveiled the strange details surrounding this mystery. She is traveling the nation, presenting at various conferences, schools and events, sharing her photographs, videos and eye-opening documents from this story. If you'd like to book this fascinating presentation for your event, send an e-mail to info@tswriting.com.

WHAT DOES THE COLOR RED MEAN TO YOU?

Many folks will tell you that their favorite color is red. This shouldn't be too surprising, since people often associate red with things that are positive, romantic or powerful. However, there are probably just as many folks who will tell you that their least favorite color is red.

Ask anyone who has struggled with the English language how they feel about the color red. Many will think back to their childhood and the feelings of dread every time they received corrected assignments from their English teachers – which were usually covered in a sea of RED marks!

A new trend in education is to use purple ink instead of red ink to correct assignments. Experts have found that the use of red ink often contributes to students feeling judged, vulnerable and inadequate. Red ink has also become negatively associated with feelings of ridicule and failure – not an ideal source for support and motivation. These feelings, if not remedied, often carry over into all areas of academic life and work life that involve writing.

More than any other color, red is most effective in capturing attention or evoking emotion. Other than holidays, what is the first thing you think of when thinking about the color red? Your response to this question is greatly influenced by who you are, what you value, and your own personal life experiences.

ABOUT TSW

T.S. Writing Services, LLC, provides writing, editing, design and translation services for American Sign Language and English users. For more information, visit www.tswriting.com.