Do you find the semicolon perplexing, or even scary? If so, this article will demystify this often misunderstood punctuation mark. Used correctly, semicolons can transform your writing from so-so to sophisticated. Examples of correct and incorrect usage are included. If you thought semicolons were just for winking, this article’s for you! […]
In spoken English, there is no difference at all between the pronunciation of “it’s” vs “its”. In written English, however, you are always faced with a decision between these two forms. Although the grammatical differences between the two forms are quite straightforward, learners of English and native speakers alike can sometimes make mistakes when using them.[…]
One of the most common errors in English is to confuse the words “affect” and “effect”. These words have two completely different meanings. One is a verb while the other is a noun. If you mix them up, you will only confuse whomever you’re writing to. The Difference Between Affect and Effect “Affect”, with an[…]
It’s not uncommon for people who are new to speaking English to have problems with homonyms (words that sound the same but are spelled differently). Even those who are native English speakers often have trouble choosing which word they want to be using in their writing. Unfortunately, misusing these words will quickly lead to your[…]
While one of the most common language mistakes that English speakers often make is confusing homonyms (words that soon the same but are spelled differently). It can be very confusing trying to discern between two very similar words that are slightly different. So is the case with “further and “farther.” So often confused that some people[…]
Because human language is constantly in flux, evolving and reshaping with the times, many words and phrases change meaning over time. The field of linguistics was born of a need to keep track of, categorize, and catalog all of these changing nuances of language. Many terms currently used in daily conversation actually have archaic definitions which[…]