Grammar & Usage

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Point of View: It's Personal

First, second, and third person explained

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

Beyond 'simile' and 'metaphor'

Popular

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

Be dashing—and do it well

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

A guide to plural and possessive names

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

For example, the different ways to use them

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

As in: learned, alleged, and wicked

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

In which we definitively answer a thoroughly uncontentious question

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Because spelling is tricky

Words You Always Have to Look Up

The dictionary is here to help

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

Here's your explanation, and you're welcome

Commonly Confused

Commonly Confused

What's the difference between 'sympathy' and 'empathy'?

You don't know how it feels

Punctuation

See All

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
See All

Spelling & Pronunciation

Spelling & Pronunciation

The Many Plurals of 'Octopus'

But which is correct?

Usage Notes

See All

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

Fun, Funner, Funnest

Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'

8 Grammar Terms You Used to Know, But Forgot

Plus yodeling

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'
See All