As humans, we often talk about the impossible or unreal, and to do that, we use a tiny but important word: "if." But when we talk about something that is unreal, hypothetical or improbable, we switch it up. Usually, a conditional sentence includes a past-tense verb and a modal verb and looks something like this: [...]
The school principal's principal principle is to pay off the principal. "Huh?" you might be thinking. But yes, the above sentence is grammatically correct. You can easily decipher this and use the words "principal" and "principle" correctly by simply reviewing some definitions: Let's start with principal. We've all dreaded this word at one point or [...]
Is the phase of bad grammar you're going through fazing you? We're here to set you straight. Phase, a noun, has several definitions, but we'll keep it simple and go with the top two: A particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes A distinguishable part in a course, development, or cycle How [...]
We've all tried to see the positive side of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it's pollution subsiding in India or having more time to bake sourdough bread at home. In the grammar world, we hope that coronavirus is shedding a light on how to use certain terminology properly. The phrase "social distance" and its variants are [...]
OK, this is one of those that I used to always have to look up. Then I came up with a mnemonic device. Pallet is the wood platform goods are stacked on for shipping and storing. (Pallets keep things straight and orderly, just like the two Ls in the spelling.) Palette is the rounded board [...]
Can you guess the only difference between toward and towards? (Hint: It's not a trick question.) The only difference is, you guessed it, an "s." You may have a preference, and so do predominately English-speaking countries. The U.S. and Canada more often prefer "toward." Australia and the United Kingdom use "towards" more often. AP Style prefers [...]
The ways to incorrectly write big numerals in copy seem infinite. But with these simple AP Style rules, you'll establish consistency and put your readers at ease. With millions, billions and trillions, always use figures except in a casual reference: Correct: I just won a million dollars!Correct: The capital campaign will top $1 billion by [...]
If you're like me, you cringe when you hear someone on reality TV say, "Don't take it personal." At that moment, I fear that it will catch on like wildfire across the world and this will be adopted as a new language rule. The correct way to express this sentiment is: "Don't take it personally." [...]
Though it might seem like we're focusing on only two sets of words here, this proofreading tip provides some base knowledge about compound words, adverbs and adjectives. "Every day" and "any time" are phrases that are sometimes placed together as compound words used as adjectives or adverbs. On their own, though, they refer to exactly [...]
What's the difference between among and between? Or is it among between and among? Just some copy editor humor there. :::crickets::: But really, what is the difference and when do you use these two words? Actually, it's not as clear as you might think. Generally speaking, "between" is used when referring to one-to-one relationships. "Among" [...]
