Derek Haines

English teacher, writer, and author. Passionate about grammar, creative writing, and self-publishing. Always exploring new tools and tech to help writers succeed.

Avatar for Derek Haines
Biweekly And Bimonthly Confuse Readers

Biweekly And Bimonthly Are Confusing, So Don’t Use Them

Is it biweekly or bimonthly? These words are notoriously confusing because they both have two meanings. Biweekly can mean twice a week or every two weeks. Bimonthly can mean twice a month or every two months. Because of this confusion, the best advice for writers isn’t to choose one—it’s to avoid them entirely to ensure…

Biweekly And Bimonthly Are Confusing, So Don’t Use Them Read More »

They As The Third-Person Singular Pronoun

How To Use They As A Third-Person Singular Pronoun

Using THEY as an alternative third-person singular pronoun is very common now because English doesn’t have a gender-neutral equivalent. Of the three singular pronouns, both HE and SHE are gender-specific. However, IT is only suitable for objects, things, and perhaps animals. That’s why they is a far better alternative because it is inclusive and avoids making…

How To Use They As A Third-Person Singular Pronoun Read More »

Morning Suit And Mourning Suit

Morning Suit And Mourning Suit – Which One To Wear?

What’s the difference between a morning suit and mourning suit? A morning suit is formal attire worn for daytime events like weddings or horse races. A mourning suit (with a “u” for unhappy) is black clothing worn to show grief at a funeral. While they sound exactly the same, they serve completely different purposes. Origins…

Morning Suit And Mourning Suit – Which One To Wear? Read More »

Describe The Weather

How To Describe The Weather In Writing With Better Vocabulary

When you describe the weather in writing, you set the scene for your story or a part of your story. It’s an opportunity to show readers the setting rather than tell them about the weather using a couple of quick adjectives. Using highly descriptive or figurative language and a variety of grammar structures helps you…

How To Describe The Weather In Writing With Better Vocabulary Read More »

Scroll to Top