GRAMMAR

If you use the wrong one, you can always claim it was a typo.

Semicolon vs. Colon: When to Use Each One

Semicolon-versus-colon is one of the most fearsome face-offs in the grammar game. Here’s how to come out on top.

Insure vs. Ensure: What's the Difference?

Insure and ensure started out as alternate spellings of the same word, but today they have slightly different definitions.

She's ready to captivate her classmates with a rousing debate on each vs. every.

Each vs. Every: What’s the Difference?

There’s a reason why “Every of my feet” sounds so wrong, and why “Almost each foot” is equally weird.

"May I please use can when asking permission to do something?"

Can vs. May: When to Use Each Term

Many a teacher has reinforced the grammar rule that ‘may’ is for asking permission—not ‘can.’ But there’s a little more to it than that.

What Does It Mean to ‘Put the Kibosh’ on Something?

People have multiple theories about the origin of "putting the kibosh" on something, but one is most likely correct.

IRINA KROLEVETC/iStock via Getty Images Plus

7 Surprising Places We Got Phrases About Food

From chopped liver to spilled milk, we examine the origins of seven of the most popular food-related idioms.

When to Use Nor

We’re going to get a bit negative by looking at the various times you can use the word 'nor' over 'neither.'

Capital vs. Capitol

'Capital' has many meanings, including meaning the city that is the seat of government for your state or country. 'Capitol' refers only to 'capitol' buildings.

We Put Grammarly Premium to the Test

We tested Grammarly Premium to see if it's worth the price tag, or if you should stick to your standard spellcheck services.

Photo by Anna Tukhfatullina Food Photographer/Stylist from Pexels

The Meaning of 'Just Deserts'

As you might guess, many people spell 'just deserts' incorrectly, with two s’s in the middle. You might not guess, on the other hand, just how many people do it.

What Does ‘Cabin Fever’ Mean? Plus Other Fever Words

Will it help your cabin fever to learn the origin of that term (and others)? Read ahead to find out what they mean.

Grave Error: A Man Attempting to Fake His Own Death Was Caught Because of a Typo

Robert Berger tried to avoid a jail sentence by forging a death certificate. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the Office of Vital Statistics and Regsitry.

Danny DeVito will help illustrate our point.

Eldest vs. Oldest: What's the Difference Between These Two Age-Related Adjectives?

We often use 'eldest' and 'oldest' interchangeably, but the words shouldn't be swapped out so easily. Here's how to use each.

This woman systematically drinks orange juice while her creative juices are flowing.

Systemic vs. Systematic: How to Use Each Word Correctly

Something systemic—like a disease—means it’s present throughout a system. ‘Systematic’ refers to how a system is operated.

Please, thumbs, step away from the spacebar.

In a Bold Move, Microsoft Office Is Now Flagging Double Spaces Between Sentences as an Error

How many spaces should we include after a period? Microsoft is now quietly telling us that the answer is one.

She may decide to use might in her essay.

May vs. Might: When to Use Each Word

'May' and 'might' are two modal verbs that are often used interchangeably, but there are grammar rules governing which one is technically correct.

What the Death of the Apostrophe Protection Society Means for Grammarians

The head of the society signed off for good, declaring that “The ignorance and laziness present in modern times have won!”

This Scented Candle Is Perfect for the Grammar Police in Your Life

If you're looking for the perfect gift for the person who just can't seem to help themselves when it comes to correcting other people's grammar, grab this candle that smells of "your annoying."

Merriam-Webster Declares They Its Word of the Year

This year, the nonbinary pronoun "they" got a new dictionary definition and some high-profile endorsements.

9 Grammatically Correct Gifts for Language Lovers on National Punctuation Day

In honor of National Punctuation Day, give your loved one a gift that celebrates their love of language—when it's written correctly.

It’s Official: Merriam-Webster Has Added They to Its Online Dictionary as a Nonbinary Pronoun

Two and a half years after the Associated Press OK’d the gender-fluid pronoun, Merriam-Webster follows suit.

Farther vs. Further: There’s an Easy Way to Remember the Difference, and When to Use Which

'Further' and 'farther' are separated by one letter and they're often used interchangeably, but there's an easy way to tell the difference between them.

The Very Particular Grammar Rule You Probably Never Knew—But Use Every Day

Here’s the adjective order rule behind why ‘silver whittling knife’ sounds better than ‘whittling silver knife.’

Why 'Run' Is The Most Complex Word in the English Language

This pithy word may only be three letters long, but it's deceptively complex. According to one lexicographer, it has 645 distinct definitions.

PREV NEXT