Grammar

Every March, people around the world don their greenest clothes, raise a pint, and cheer “Happy St. Patty’s Day!” But here’s the thing: there is no St. Patty. Well, technically there was a St. Patty—but she wasn’t the saint we celebrate on March 17. More on that in a moment. First, let’s clear up a […]

Language is as much an art as it is a science. It evolves and morphs over time, reflecting shifts in culture, technology, and human expression. For copyeditors, navigating the complexities of language means walking a fine line between prescriptive and descriptive grammar. These two approaches to language not only influence how editors approach their work

Language is a living, breathing entity. It evolves over time, adapting to the needs and habits of the people who use it. Yet, some grammar rules refuse to die—even when they no longer serve any practical purpose. These so-called zombie grammar rules linger in classrooms, style guides, and the minds of overly strict editors. For

With so many words that sound exactly the same, it’s no wonder people struggle with learning the English language—even those of us whose first language it is! Morning vs. mourning is one of those tricky word pairs that lots of people get mixed up.  I explain the difference in this blog post, provide example sentences,

If you hear someone use the words brake or break, you really need to understand the context of what they’re saying because there is no audible difference between these two words. Brake and break are homophones, so they sound alike but have different meanings.  In this post, I will explain what each word means and

It’s very easy to get confused by coarse vs. course. These two words sound identical but have different meanings, which makes them homophones.  Coarse Meaning Coarse is an adjective that means composed of large parts or rough in texture. It can also be used to describe someone who is “crude or unrefined in taste, manners,

Principal and principle are two of the most commonly confused words in the English language. People often confuse them because they are homophones, which means they sound alike but have different meanings. One is the head of a school, and the other is a rule. Keep reading to find out which is which and take

I’ve written a lot of posts about word pairs that sound the same or are spelled alike. These words trip people up all the time! But what about the words that describe these tricky grammar conundrums? What is the difference between a homophone, a homograph, and a homonym? Homophone Meaning Homophones are two or more

The Latin abbreviations et al. and etc. are commonly confused words, but they don’t mean the same thing! This article will help you understand the difference between et al. and etc. so you can make sure to always get them right when using them.  Read on for more information about what each of these abbreviations

Understanding the difference between e.g. and i.e. is important when you want to demonstrate good grammar and writing skills, but it can be hard to remember which one goes where in a sentence! It’s one of the most common mistakes writers make. This article will help you understand the difference between e.g. and i.e. so

Historic vs. historical are very close in meaning, but there is a subtle difference between these easily confused words. One relates to moments or buildings that are important in history, whereas the other relates to something in the past that was not necessarily important.  Hundreds of years ago, they would have been considered synonyms, but

Affect vs. effect is one of those tricky grammar conundrums you see popping up time and time again. These words look so similar that it’s easy to get them confused.  In this blog post, I explain the difference between affect and effect with examples and give you a quick trick for remembering when to use

Many people confuse the words imply and infer. They often think that the two words mean the same thing, but this isn’t true. Imply and infer are not synonyms; they are actually the opposite of each other. To imply is to hint at something, but to infer is to make an educated guess based on

The words vein, vain, and vane are homophones. Although they are all pronounced the same way, they have different meanings. The word vein is used to describe a bodily tube that carries blood toward the heart. A vain person is someone who thinks they are more important than they really are; for example, someone who

Does discreet vs. discrete ever trip you up? As commonly confused words, discreet and discrete seem like they should mean the same thing, but they don’t. Discreet is a more formal word meaning “careful in dress or behavior.” Discrete is an adjective that means “separate.” People get confused because they sound the same, but they’re

I’m back with more easily confused words. Biannual and biennial are both homophones, which means they sound similar but have different meanings. It’s also worth noting that there’s a third option that some people may also find confusing—semiannual! In this blog post, I will take a closer look at these words and their differences and

Do appraise and apprise mean the same thing or is there a difference? These verbs are easily confused, but they don’t have the same meaning. Appraise means to value, and apprise means to tell.  Appraise Meaning What does appraise mean? Appraise is a transitive verb that means to estimate the value of something or to

There are many confusing word pairs in the English language, but there are not many instances where there are four words that could be confused for each other! Censer, censor, censure, and sensor are all words that sound similar or look similar but have different meanings. When writing, it’s important to choose the right word

What is the difference between gorilla and guerrilla? One is an ape; the other is a rebel soldier. Gorilla and guerrilla are homophones, which means they sound the same (both pronounced “goh-rill-uh”), but they have different meanings. In this blog post, I explain what each word means and provide examples so you can see them