Word Usage & Grammar Guide

Commonly confused words, grammar rules, punctuation guides, and writing help (bookmark this)

Grammar Rules & Guidance

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  Forming Compound Words | Guide to Compound Types>

  We tried to compound this, but it didn't work out.

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  A Guide to Double Possessives>

  They're perfectly grammatical.

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  Do the Names of the Seasons Get Capitalized?>

  On common nouns and falling leaves

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  Should You Never Use Adverbs?>

  And if so, what about 'never'?

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  The Truth About 'Y': It's Mostly a Vowel>

  We need 'y' to be a consonant, but it acts more like a vowel.

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  The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals>

  Find out why 'poets laureate' and 'poet laureates' are both acceptable.

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  Centuries and How to Refer to Them>

  Is it the 1600s or the 16th century?

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  The Double Negative: It's Not Unusual (Sometimes)>

  It's not the worst rule to break

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  I Before E Except After C>

  The famous rhyme is wrong. Here's why.

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  Prepositions, Ending a Sentence With>

  Yes, you can end a sentence with a preposition

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  8 Grammar Terms You Used to Know, But Forgot>

  If someone has to grammar-splain to you, it may as well be your dictionary

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  Hypercorrections: Are you making these 6 common mistakes?>

  When your 'correction' is incorrect

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Commonly Confused

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  'Affect' vs. 'Effect'>

  How to pick the right one

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  Is it one word or two?>

  27 words with commonly confused spacings

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  Until, Till, 'Til, or 'Till?>

  Or should you give up and find another word?

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  How to Use 'Lay' and 'Lie'>

  Tripping Up English Speakers for 700 Years

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

  For example, the different ways to use them in a sentence

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  A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’>

  Whose line is it? Well, who's asking?

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  'That' vs. 'Which'>

  Which one should you choose?

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  How to Use They're, There, and Their>

  They are among the most commonly confused words.

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  When To Use 'Then' and 'Than'>

  Here’s how to keep them straight.

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  When to Use It's vs. Its>

  A Simple Rule to Avoid Embarrassment

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• Are Grammar Critics Making a Usage Error? >

  The difference between 'grammar' and 'usage'

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Punctuation Guides

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  A Guide to Em Dashes, En Dashes, and Hyphens>

  Be dashing—and do it well

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  A Guide to Using Semicolons>

  You too can become a semicolon master!

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  How to Use Word Division Dots and Syllable Hyphens>

  A dot and a hyphen have meaning in the dictionary.

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  Should that word have a hyphen?>

  On open, closed, and hyphenated compounds

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  A Guide to Using Colons>

  We'll get to semicolons later.

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  The Other Kind of 'Apostrophe'>

  It's when we speak to you and it's like you're not here.

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  To Use or Not Use the "?" in Requests>

  "Would you read this, please." (Wait, where's the question mark?)

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  All About Ellipses ...>

  It's time to stop calling them 'dot dot dot'

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

  Lots of writers use comma splices, but many editors and teachers don't

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  Why Do We Use Apostrophes to Show Possession?>

  The role of the apostrophe has shifted over time

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Writing Help

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  What is figurative language?>

  Paint a picture with words

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  Active vs. Passive Voice: What's The Difference?>

  It’s cut and dried until it’s not.

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  Point of View: It's Personal>

  First, second, and third person explained

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  Sorting Out Essential and Nonessential Clauses>

  When are commas needed? And what are relative pronouns?

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  33 Transition Words and Phrases>

  'Besides,' 'furthermore,' 'although,' and other words to help you jump from one idea to the next.

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  31 Useful Rhetorical Devices>

  'Simile' and 'metaphor' are just the beginning

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  On "The Big Three" Writing Nonrules - An Excerpt from 'Dreyer's English' by Benjamin Dreyer>

  An excerpt from 'Dreyer's English' by Benjamin Dreyer

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  The Difference Between Dependent and Independent Clauses>

  Some clauses have an indie feel to them.

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  Showing Off Your [Sic] Moves>

  It's not just for pointing out errors.

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  5 Writing Rules Destroyed by the Dictionary>

  Omit needless rules

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  Poetic Forms: 13 Ways of Looking at a Poem>

  Sestina, anyone?

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