Grammar & Usage

Having a Think About 'Another Think/Thing Coming'

'Thing' wins the popularity contest.

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Be dashing—and do it well

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

How to pick the right one

Popular

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

The dictionary is always here to help

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Should that word have a hyphen?

On open, closed, and hyphenated compounds

Rack vs. Wrack

Choosing which one to use can be nerve-racking

Are 'Funner' and 'Funnest' Real Words?

We got a whole mess of fun here, folks

Words You Always Have to Look Up

The dictionary is here to help

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

A case can be made for either

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

When each letter can be seen but not heard

Commonly Confused

Commonly Confused

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Here's your explanation, and you're welcome

Usage Notes

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8 More Grammar Terms You Used to Know: Special Verb Edition

These grammarians are going places

First, Second and Third Person Explained

First, second, and third person explained

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

Beyond 'simile' and 'metaphor'

Can you use 'comprised of'?

It's been in use for centuries.

Is it 'graduated' or 'was graduated from'?

No, this will not be on the test
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Spelling & Pronunciation

Spelling & Pronunciation

The Many Plurals of 'Octopus'

But which is correct?

Punctuation

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How to Use Word Division Dots and Syllable Hyphens

Dictionary secrets, revealed!

A Guide to Using Colons

We'll get to semicolons later.

To Use or Not Use the "?" in Requests

"Would you read this, please."

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

The shifting role of the apostrophe

Comma Splices: What They Are and How to Correct Them (or not)

Adventurous writers pull them off regularly
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