Hyphens and dashes are easy to mix up. After all, they’re both horizontal lines that come between words and their difference in size is less than a millimeter. These punctuation marks look similar—often colloquially being referred to as “long lines”…
Each time I’m confronted with the word “each” or a phrase that includes “each,” I find myself stalling out and wondering if I’m using the correct verb with it. On the surface level, it seems like a no-brainer that in…
Email and e-mail are both acceptable, but that doesn’t mean they are interchangeable. Some style guides prefer you to use the hyphen, while others require the spelling without the hyphen. And then there is the word mail, which has a similar meaning to both email and e-mail.…
One of the best things about reading a well-crafted plot twist is being able to tell yourself, “Aha! I knew it wouldn’t be that easy….” or “Oh, wow! I knew something was coming, but not that!” Are you looking for a…
‘Anybody’ and ‘anyone’ are two words that people use regularly, and sometimes interchangeably. This might lead you to question if these words mean the same or if they have different connotations. Such pairs of words are common in the English Language and…
Many writers often struggle with using homophonic words correctly in their writing. One common confusion is between “in vein” and “in vain”. While these two phrases sound similar, they have completely different meanings and can drastically change the message you…
We use which and that every day. Just because these words are regularly used doesn’t mean they’re easy to use. In particular, the way they’re used with different kinds of clauses can cause a lot of confusion, but there’s an easy way out, keep…
Syntax and semantics are words associated with language study, but as linguistic expressions, they have different meanings. Syntax refers to how words are ordered and formed while semantics give meaning to our words. Are you struggling to understand the difference…
Ever wondered how many words make up a short story or novella? It’s a common question among writers and readers alike. Are you curious about the word count that defines these literary forms? When it comes to writing, word count…
Fantasy literature has long been a beloved genre, filled with iconic characters, magical worlds, and epic quests. However, with so many stories following similar patterns and themes, it can be challenging to find unique and original ways to stand out…