Common Errors
Discover a wealth of insights on common writing errors and how to avoid them. These articles break down frequent mistakes in grammar, punctuation, and style, offering practical tips to elevate the quality of your writing. Perfect for anyone striving for clarity and precision in their communication.
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What Are Sentence Fragments? (And How to Fix Them)
What Are Sentence Fragments? (And How to Fix Them)
Published Jan 30, 2026
Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences – and in most forms of writing, they’re considered incorrect. But in the right context, they can be a powerful stylistic choice. So, when should you avoid them, and when can you bend the rules? In this post, we’ll explore: Let’s take a closer look. What Is a Sentence Fragment? […]
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UK English vs. US English Punctuation: Key Differences
UK English vs. US English Punctuation: Key Differences
Published Jun 25, 2025
If you’re working as a freelance proofreader, you’ll likely encounter documents written in both UK and US English. And while these dialects share many similarities, there are some crucial differences that can affect your work. Most people know about spelling and vocabulary differences (like organise vs. organize or trousers vs. pants). But when it comes […]
15 Commonly Misused Phrases to Look Out for While Proofreading
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What Is the Difference Between an Acronym and an Initialism?
Published Nov 30, 2023
Last Updated May 27, 2025Do you know the difference between an acronym and an initialism? They are both types of abbreviations, and both terms refer to shortened forms made up of a set of capitalized letters (rather than a shortened word, such as Dr.). However, they have different meanings and work in different ways. To help you nail down […]
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Word Confusion: Biennial vs. Biannual
Published Oct 19, 2023
Last Updated Sep 25, 2025Do you know when to use biennial vs. biannual? While the two words look and sound similar, there is a meaningful difference. Some similar words are so familiar and so different in meaning that, should a client muddle them up, you will notice them right away. For instance, if an essay refers to Darwin’s theory […]
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What Is the Difference Between Affect and Effect?
Published Apr 17, 2023
Last Updated Nov 26, 2024Affect and effect are examples of homophones – two words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. People frequently confuse the two words because we often use affect and effect in similar contexts. This blog post will explore the difference between affect and effect and help you know which one to use – […]
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10 Egg-Cellent Examples of Eggcorns
Published Apr 08, 2023
Last Updated Nov 21, 2024We’ve all done it – misheard a common phrase and made it our own. The phenomenon even has its own name: an eggcorn. “But that’s not even a real word!” we hear you cry. Well, that’s exactly the point! Although we can’t give you any chocolate eggs for Easter, we can give you a whole […]
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Who vs. That: What’s the Difference?
Published Mar 27, 2023
Last Updated Mar 04, 2024Although we often replace who with that and vice versa, specific usage rules apply to these words. This blog post will help you understand those rules and provide examples for how to use them. Who vs. That Who and that are relative pronouns. This means we use them to introduce a dependent clause (also known […]
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Does Punctuation Go Inside or Outside of Quotation Marks?
Published Mar 25, 2023
Last Updated May 27, 2025Quotation marks might seem like a minor detail, but they play a major role in helping readers understand what’s being said, cited, or shouted in a sentence. Whether you’re presenting character dialogue in a novel or referencing expert insights in an essay, quotation marks and the surrounding punctuation guide the reader through who said what. […]
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How to Use Ellipses in Writing (With Examples)
How to Use Ellipses in Writing (With Examples)
Published Mar 06, 2023
Last Updated Jan 08, 2026Ellipses – those familiar “dot, dot, dot” marks – have a surprising range of uses. In this guide, we explore what ellipses are, when to use them, how to format them correctly, and how you can help your clients make the most of them in their writing. What Are Ellipses? An ellipsis (singular) is a […]
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British vs. American English: -Ise or -Ize?
British vs. American English: -Ise or -Ize?
Published Feb 20, 2023
Last Updated Jun 03, 2025The verb endings “-ise” and “-ize” often get confused. Usually, the correct ending depends on which English dialect your client is using. Here’s our guide on using these spellings in British and American English and what you need to consider when proofreading. British vs. American Spelling For the most part, American English exclusively uses the […]