grammar
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What Are Concrete and Abstract Nouns?
What Are Concrete and Abstract Nouns?
Jun 12, 2023
From pigeons to pacifism, all nouns fall into one of two categories: concrete or abstract. As an editor or proofreader, understanding what concrete and abstract nouns are and how they work will help you make sure your clients are communicating clearly. That’s why, in this post, we explain: What Is a Concrete Noun? Concrete nouns […]
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Fewer vs. Less: Which Is Correct?
Fewer vs. Less: Which Is Correct?
May 08, 2023
If you spotted four grammatical mistakes in one document and three in another, are there less errors or fewer? “Fewer” and “less” have been tripping up writers and editors alike since their introduction. But these two adjectives aren’t as indistinguishable as they might first seem. Read on to discover the difference between “fewer” and “less”, […]
A Complete Guide to First, Second, and Third Person
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What Is the Difference Between E.g. and I.e.?
Apr 24, 2023
If you’ve spotted the abbreviations e.g. and i.e. in a piece of writing, you may have wondered what they mean. And you may have wondered if you’re using them correctly! These two Latin terms often cause confusion, even for experienced writers and editors. But knowing the difference is essential if you want to write clearly […]
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What Is the Difference Between Affect and Effect?
Apr 17, 2023
Affect 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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Who vs. That: What’s the Difference?
Mar 27, 2023
Although 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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How to Use Commas with Coordinating Conjunctions
Mar 20, 2023
Coordinating conjunctions can be confusing for new proofreaders, especially when commas are involved. We’re here to make things clear for you with our guide to using commas with coordinating conjunctions. What Are Coordinating Conjunctions? Coordinating conjunctions are words that join words, phrases, or clauses together. We have seven coordinating conjunctions in English, which can be […]
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What Are Dependent and Independent Clauses?
Mar 18, 2023
Understanding independent and dependent clauses is essential to writing and editing – but how exactly are they different? And how should you punctuate sentences with independent and dependent clauses? We’ve got the answers! Keep reading to learn what makes a clause independent or dependent and how to write both correctly. What Is a Clause? A […]
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Such As vs. Like: What’s the Difference?
Feb 13, 2023
While they may seem interchangeable, the terms “such as” and “like” actually have different meanings and are used in different ways. While “like” is used to compare things with similar characteristics, “such as” is used to introduce specific examples. In this blog post, we’ll explore how and when to use these two terms and what […]
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What Is the Subjunctive in English?
What Is the Subjunctive in English?
Jan 28, 2023
The subjunctive is a verb form or “mood” type that typically refers to wishes, demands, proposals, and hypothetical situations (i.e., something that might or could happen). In this post, we will explain what a mood is, and how and when to use the subjunctive mood, especially in UK and US dialects. What Is a Mood? […]
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What Is a Misplaced Modifier? (With Examples)
What Is a Misplaced Modifier? (With Examples)
Jan 23, 2023
Understanding common grammar errors and how to fix them is a key part of working as a proofreader. In this post, we explain what misplaced modifiers are, how to spot the most common types, and how you can correct them in any piece of writing. What Is a Misplaced Modifier? Modifiers are words, phrases, or […]
