Grammar

The adjective phrase, the least worst, has been a topic of debate among grammar enthusiasts for a very long time. Many argue that you should avoid it in writing because it is not grammatically correct. In grammar, a superlative adjective defines only one thing as the best, worst, least, or most. In this sense, the…

We use the word none in writing to indicate the absence or lack of something, but its grammatical usage can be a little tricky. Whether none is a singular or plural pronoun is a very common question for writers. The uncertainty arises because English grammar doesn’t always provide clear-cut rules, and none is a perfect…

When you check a thesaurus, the conjunction AND is usually in the list as an AS WELL AS synonym. But it is a little misleading because it is often not possible to interchange these words in a sentence. Generally, and indicates items or things of equal value while as well as introduces an addition, but…

I’ve not, and I haven’t, are both perfectly correct contractions in writing and speaking. This is because some auxiliary verbs, followed by not, can be contracted in two ways. You can either contract the verb or the word not. While the two forms are equal in meaning, your preference might depend on the variety of…

A periodic sentence and anastrophe are similar because both change the regular order of words. The principal difference is that a periodic sentence delays the main point or clause until the end of a sentence for emphasis. However, anastrophe alters the typical word order within a phrase or clause to achieve a similar outcome. For…

Grammatical moods indicate the purpose of a sentence by using specific verb forms. Contrary to what you might think, a mood in grammar has nothing to do with emotions, feelings, or sentiments. Moods define a phrase’s intent, including functions such as facts, commands, doubts, uncertainties, or conditions. Understanding how to use these choices can help…

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…

The verb get is unusual because it has two different past participles: gotten and got. You might think that the preference for either one is simply between US and British English usage. But it’s more complicated than that because the two words have different and distinct uses. Making the right choice is not so much…

There’s no doubt that the hyphen is disappearing slowly from written English. It’s far more common today to use email rather than e-mail. Perhaps this one word, along with technology, started the hyphen’s demise. However, it’s not all over yet for the humble little dash. It still has many uses, but most of all, it…

Can you end a sentence with a preposition? It’s a question writers have constantly debated, so there are varying opinions. The traditional rule is to avoid ending sentences with prepositions, but this rule now seems outdated. Ending a sentence with a preposition is often the most natural and effective way to write. One of the…