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.
It’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
How should you write Mother's Day and Father's Day? Well, the title of this post should have tipped you off, but we won't take any chances. Here's how you can make sure that you don't [...]
Further vs. Farther
Adjectives, adverbs and verbs, oh my! There are so many ways to use these two words, it's no wonder we often misuse them or choose one that works but is a little less correct. That's [...]
Two S’s and an Apostrophe
Do you use an apostrophe at the end of a word that ends in the letter "s"? We see this rule applied differently because different styles vary. For making the possessive form of singular common [...]
If I Was or If I Were?
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 [...]
Principal vs. Principle
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 [...]
Phase vs. Faze
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 [...]
Social Distance, Social Distancing, Socially Distant
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 [...]
Pallet vs. Palette (vs. Palate)
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 [...]
Toward vs. Towards
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. [...]
Millions, Billions, Trillions
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 [...]