Even if your copy is on message and reads well, small errors can sink you.
Every month, our team — led by proofreader Sarah Muench — shares a proofreading tip or two to help you strengthen your content, one detail at a time.
Prepositions at the End of a Sentence
Prepositions at the end of a sentence: Is this still wrong? Yes! No! There's quite a bit of disagreement here at Active Voice, but that's because prepositions are a matter of preference. For example: Who [...]
Gender-Neutral “They,” “Them” and “Their”
As the world becomes more cognizant of gender identity and fluidity, so, too, must our copy. Traditional grammar rules lay out subject-verb agreement, but what happens when you're referring to someone who uses they/them/their as [...]
“Gibe” or “Jibe”?
“To gibe” is defined as to taunt or sneer (“gibe” is also a noun, meaning a taunt), while “jibe” indicates a directional change or to agree. For example: The friends’ stories about what happened last [...]
“Try to” vs. “try and”
Let's try to understand the difference between these two options. For starters, you can also try and understand the difference. The prevailing argument is that "try to" is more correct because when the verb "try" [...]
Earth or earth
When do you capitalize Earth, and when is it lowercase? Earth (capitalized) is used when referring to the name of the planet, especially alongside other planets and in this kind of scientific context. Examples: Of [...]
The Correct Way to Write Time Zones
How much time do you have? This question is a bit more complex than one might imagine. First, is it EST or EDT? What do those even stand for? Is there a difference? EST = [...]
Style Question: LGBTQ
LGBTQ is acceptable in all references for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender or for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer and/or questioning. It might be tempting to refer to “the LGBT community,” but in reality, [...]
There Is/Are to Start a Sentence
Should you avoid there is/there are at the beginning of a sentence? The short answer: Yes. Is it incorrect? No. But let's be honest, you can do better. Using "there is" or "there are" sounds [...]
Do I Need a Comma Before “Too”?
You've likely seen it both ways: the word "too" with or without a comma before it. That's because the rules on this one are a bit loose and based on the writer's intent. However, if [...]
How to Identify a Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is a sentence with two or more independent clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as its own sentence. Example: We launched our newest residential living experience, and prospective residents immediately began [...]