The Writing Centre provides free writing support to Tyndale University College and Seminary students. Our friendly, knowledgeable tutors are here to help you at any stage of an assignment and offer suggestions to strengthen your writing.
Lina Balsamo, Writing Centre Director
Favourite Quote:
"Run mad as often as you choose, but do not faint." - Jane Austen
Favourite Punctuation Mark:
The question mark. My inquisitive personality delights in making discoveries, and I believe that one of the best ways to learn is simply by asking questions. Would you agree?
Writing Centre Tutors, 2012-2013:
Charity Cebula
Program: 4th Year English
Favourite Quote:
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
Favourite Punctuation Mark:
Overtime I've come to appreciate the comma, a complicated but useful little punctuation mark, because, when used correctly, it adds personality, depth and clarity to sentences in a way that no other punctuation mark can.
Jasmine Owen
Program: MTS (Missions Minor)
Favourite Quote:
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer."
- Henry David Thoreau
Favourite Punctuation Mark:
The dash. It's playful, flexible, clever... and best of all, it allows you the freedom to wander off in thought, but just as effortlessly brings you back.
Jessica Ferg
Program: 4th Year Honours English (Psychology minor)
Favourite Quote:
"Life, like a dome of multi-coloured glass, stains the white radiance of Eternity."
- Percy Shelley
Favourite Punctuation Mark:
The semi-colon, because it's such a tricky punctuation mark to place. There always seems to be a mystery surrounding how to use it. However, when used properly, it always makes a powerful statement.
Andrew Schmidt
Program: M.Div. Pastoral
Favourite Quote:
"You can't help respecting anybody who can spell Tuesday, even if he doesn't spell it right; but spelling isn't everything. There are days when spelling Tuesday simply doesn't count." - A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner
Favourite Punctuation Mark:
Oh ellipsis...How I love thee. How else can I convey thoughts too deep to fully develop, sentences which lack a need for completion? How else can I add an informal pause, or let my informal sentences drift off into an aposiopetic silence? Oh ellipsis...
Emily Puccini
Program: 4th Year English (History minor)
Favourite Quote:
"Every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It is enough to drive one mad. I have such a desire to do everything, my head is bursting with it." - Claude Monet
Favourite Punctuation Mark:
The exclamation mark. It must be used with taste and caution, and only to highlight your most dramatic sentences. Read Poe or Shakespeare for some good examples.