There is only thing scarier than Friday the 13th, and that's the rules of colon usage. So today we'll master our fears by understanding how to use colons with examples inspired by the movie "Friday the 13th."

Colons are most commonly used to introduce what follows. Use a colon when the first part of a sentence is an introduction, lead-in or buildup to the second part.

Usage 1: Implicit Questions

A sentence can consist of an implied question and its answer -- the first part raises a question, and the remaining words respond to it. The colon acts as the dividing line.

Note that the first part of the sentence must be an independent clause (that is, it must be able to stand alone). It doesn't matter if the second part of the sentence is independent or dependent.

• It's easy to become a counselor at Camp Crystal Lake: all they do is run through the woods.
• Head counselor is a highly regarded position: Just ask Kevin Bacon.

Here's what happens if the first part of the sentence is a fragment (dependent):

• In a word, Jason is: merciless.

But there's an exception. If a fragment can stand alone and does not require anything else to complete its meaning, or if it is a single word being defined, then you can put a colon after it.

• A word of caution: Look out for Jason's relatives too.
• Slasher: a movie that draws you in with the promise of gratuitous sex and violence

Usage 2: Lists or Series

Use a colon to introduce a list or series. (This is actually a continuation of the first rule, because it is still in a question-and-answer format.)

The list can be laid out horizontally:

• A few things make Jason scary: his machete, his mask and his breathing problem.

Or the list can be laid out vertically:

• Some items to bring with you if you are hired at Camp Crystal Lake:

• running shoes
• cellphone
• tourniquet

Via this column, we'll explore one grammar rule each week. If you have a grammar question you'd like me to address, please drop me a line at grace.lavigne@prnewswire.com and I'll do my best to answer it.

Latin may be a dead language, but Latin phrases and words are still present in many languages all over the globe. Knowing a few Latin expressions will not only help you improve as a reader, but also as a writer, because Latin phrases can help us express ourselves in different and interesting ways.

Make a resolution this year to incorporate more Latin phrases into your everyday speech and writing -- and maybe consider keeping your resolutions this time, because according to some conspiracy theorists and (possibly) the honorable Mayans, 2012 could be your last chance

The following examples were inspired by end-of-the-world predictions:

Ad hoc: something created for a specific purpose, kind of like "impromptu"

• When you can see the asteroid coming with your naked eye, it's too late for an ad hoc escape plan.

Bona fide: made in good faith without fraud or deceit, kind of like "legitimate"

• If the sky starts raining fire, you will know it was a bona fide prediction.

De facto: in fact; common in practice, but not established by law

• Putting a paper bag on your head is the de facto attire for the apocalypse.

Et cetera: commonly abbreviated as "etc.," meaning "unspecified additional items," kind of like "and other things" or "and so forth"

• Put together an end-of-the-world survival kit containing canned food, flashlights, blankets and offerings to the gods.

Et alii: commonly abbreviated as "et al," meaning "and others" or "and the rest" to stand for a list of names

• The skies will eventually clear and the new reptilian overlords will lay down the ground rules for you, me, John, Jane, et al.

In perpetuum: forever, perpetually

• Hopefully the gods will be kind and it will not rain pestilence in perpetuum.

Per se: by itself or in itself (or by/in oneself or themselves), kind of like "intrinsically"

• The Mayans aren't pessimists per se, but their prediction sure seems depressing.

Quasi: having some resemblance (but not imitation)

• Don't listen to quasi prophets like Harold Camping, the Mayans are the real deal -- they were from a long time ago.

Sic: "thus" or "so," inserted in [brackets] in printed text to indicate that an odd or questionable reading is what was actually said or printed

• Original: December will be a moth to remember.
• Intention: December will be a month to remember.
• Revision: December will be a moth [sic] to remember.

Verbatim: word-for-word, in the exact words

• We must record the reptilian overlords' words verbatim, so as not to cause confusion like in the past.

Vice versa: with the order changed or with the relations reversed

• Order changed: We should keep working on the bunker in my backyard and then we can work on your bunker, or vice versa.
• Relations reversed: Scientists hold some contempt for conspiracy theorists, and vice versa.

Remember: Take the 2012 apocalyptic prediction c um grano salis (with a grain of salt) and have a great year regardless, because vita brevis (life is short) either way!

Via this column, we'll explore one grammar rule each week. If you have a grammar question you'd like me to address, please drop me a line at grace.lavigne@prnewswire.com and I'll do my best to answer it.

The Grinch hates "i.e." and "e.g.," perhaps because his shoes are too tight, or maybe because his head just isn't screwed on right -- but the Grinch can't stop grammar from coming!

"Id est," often abbreviated as "i.e." stands for "that is," and is used in place of phrases like "in other words" to make a statement more clear.

• The Grinch hated Christmas, i.e., the whole Christmas season.
• His heart was two sizes too small, i.e., he's a mean one.

"Exempli gratia," often abbreviated as "e.g." stands for "for example" and is used in place of expressions like "including" when you are not intending to list everything under discussion.

• Every Who down in Whoville, e.g., the tall and the small, was singing without any presents at all!
• The Grinch eventually brought back everything, e.g., toys, parcels.

So remember, Christmas comes without gifts and decorations, e.g., ribbons, tags, packages, boxes and bags! Christmas doesn't come from a store, i.e., it means a little bit more!

Via this column, we'll explore one grammar rule each week. If you have a grammar question you'd like me to address, please drop me a line at grace.lavigne@prnewswire.com and I'll do my best to answer it.

Whether he likes it or not, Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge taught us something important about the holiday spirit: Don't be greedy, or you'll be haunted by three ghosts.

But more importantly, we learned from the Cratchets that you can have a happy holiday whether or not you a lot of money, if you're with your loved ones!

This week, we'll learn how to deck our sentences with if and whether correctly using examples from "A Christmas Carol."

Grammar bless us, everyone!

Main Rule: Use if in conditional sentences and whether when showing two possible options.

When You Can Use If/Whether Interchangeably:

•  Bob Cratchet didn't know whether Scrooge would pay him on Christmas Eve.

• Bob Cratchet didn't know if Scrooge would pay him on Christmas Eve.

Both of these sentences mean that Scrooge may or may not pay Bob Cratchet on Christmas Eve.

When You Cannot Use If/When Interchangeably

• Bob Cratchet didn't know whether Scrooge would pay him on Christmas Eve or Christmas.

In this case, whether implies two options: Scrooge will pay Bob Cratchet on Christmas Eve, or Scrooge will pay Bob Cratchet on Christmas.

But what if we use if instead?

• Bob Cratchet didn't know if Scrooge would pay him on Christmas Eve or Christmas.

It's possible that Scrooge might pay Bob Cratchet on Christmas Eve, it's possible that Scrooge might pay Bob Cratchet on Christmas -- but now it's also possible that Scrooge might not pay Bob Cratchet at all.

Here are two more examples that show why it's best to use the word whether when there are only two possibilities, even when the meaning won't change if you use the word if:

• The ghosts are coming for Scrooge if he continues to live an immoral life.

This sentence is conditional, because the ghosts are only expected if Scrooge remains bad.

• The ghosts are coming for Scrooge whether or not he continues to live an immoral life.

This sentence is not conditional, because the ghosts will come either way.

Use whether when there are two choices, and use if for conditional sentences.

What About "Whether or Not"?

Whether or not is generally just extra fluff, but it can be necessary if you're trying to emphasize both options of whether equally. It means "regardless of whether":

• The merriment of Christmas will continue, regardless of whether Scrooge likes it.
• The merriment of Christmas will continue, whether or not Scrooge likes it.

Bah humbug!

"Myriad" is derived from the Greek word for "ten thousand." Today, "myriad" means "a great number." "Myriad" is countless, just like the word "many."

It was first used in English as a noun, as in "there was a myriad of Christmas presents," but in modern times (as in the last few centuries), it is used as an adjective too, as in "there were myriad Christmas presents."

Here is the truth: Myriad is correct as both a noun and an adjective.

This week, we'll use frenzied holiday shopping to discuss "myriad" vs. "myriad of."

Noun: Myriad of

• When a myriad of shoppers are gathered around the last two remaining coffee makers that are on sale, run away.
• Myriads of crazy people in search of holiday deals will be at the mall, so be careful parking, it could be like bumper cars.

Adjective: Myriad

• To entertain yourself, count the myriad grumpy faces around you while standing on line.
• Deep breaths will do wonders for the myriad psychological problems shoppers encounter at the register.

Do you prefer myriad or myriad of?