Commas can be confusing for many. The rules aren’t always clear, and a lot of the times putting a comma becomes a matter of judgment. It becomes a matter of whether a comma will enhance the meaning or improve the legibility of the text. However, even when there are clear cut rules, these can be …
English
Using commas with words is quite a pain in the neck. We think we know what to do, yet at times we don’t. This very dilemma happens to be true with the word “sometimes,” an adverb of frequency that also means “occasionally.” This article, however, would like to focus only on when to use a …
Let’s have a look at the word “genuine.” If we wanted to turn it into a noun, should we use the suffix “-ness,” giving us “genuineness,” or should we use the suffix “-ity” to produce the word “genuinity”? Well, let’s find out! Is it “genuinity” or “genuineness”? The correct answer is “genuineness.” That’s the …
Here is a nugget of valuable, albeit blunt, advice: don”t believe people who claim grammar isn’t important — because the opposite is true. Poor diction and writing mechanics can rob you of job opportunities and even limit your social circles. Because despite the best of intentions, we humans harbor heaps of unconscious judgment about how …
People wonder whether we can contract “there are” to “there’re,” or would that be plain wrong? Let’s try to answer that question right about now. Table of Contents What does “there’re” mean? Choosing between “there’re” or “there are” Using “there’re” in a sentence The correct way of pronouncing “there’re” “There’re” …
Everyone knows their address, but it’s a fact that many people experience anxiety when asked to enter that address into a form or write it on an envelope. What should be a simple matter of putting in a street name, a street number and possibly apartment or suite number becomes unnecessarily complicated by arcane …
The above sentence might seem trivial to you, but there is actually more to it than meets the eye. Obviously, people laugh at funny things. Yet, there is something odd about laughter itself. We laugh before we can even speak, and it is a unique way for us to bond with other people. Books have …
There are some standard phrases that you are going to come across time and again. For instance, I’m sure you’ve heard someone say, “Excuse me, but …,” which is a simple way of grabbing someone’s attention without seeming too intrusive. You can follow that phrase with a request, a question, or any other “imposition.” You …
If you’ve ever watched the news in the United States of America, you’ve undoubtedly come across the expression “the tri-state area.” You might have heard it during a weather report, a crime report, or something that had to do with the elections. Moreover, “tri-state areas” have been mentioned in countless movies, TV shows, and radio …