Grammar

You probably use the grammatical expletive very often in your writing. But what is it? The definition of the word expletive is an oath or a swear word. But in grammar, it means to use a word or phrase to fill out a sentence without adding to the meaning or sense. The word derives from…

You might think that all words that end in LY are adverbs. But it’s not true because there are also LY adjectives. Not only can some LY words be either adjectives or adverbs, but they can also be both. Knowing your parts of speech is the only way to understand when an LY word is…

In fact, there’s no reason why you can’t start a sentence with a preposition. As with all aspects of writing, though, you should use it in moderation. However, it is an easy way of adding variety. By using it occasionally, it helps you vary the syntax of your sentences. With that in mind, let’s look…

When do you use a comma before which? Here are the quick answers. YES. You use a comma when the word which introduces a nonrestrictive phrase, which is also called a non-defining clause. NO. You don’t add a comma when which comes before a restrictive or defining clause. NO. There is no comma when which…

Learning how to change passive sentences to active voice is a skill all writers need. In most instances, all you need to do is move the subject before the verb. In a passive sentence, there is often the operator word, by before the object. But without one, it can be unclear who or what performs…

When do you use setup vs. set up? It’s an easy mistake to make when you are writing in a hurry. But there’s a simple way to remember how to use setup vs. set up correctly. All you need to do is know that one is a noun and adjective, and the other is a…

Yes, it’s definitely one of the most popular writing tools. But can you replace an editor by using Grammarly? How we write and check our writing is changing so fast because of all the online apps and tools we use. We might not think about artificial intelligence (AI), but it’s the brain behind many writing…

What’s the difference between grammar and syntax? Grammar is a set of rules governing correct word strings in a language or text. Syntax is the arrangement or order of words and phrases to create clear well-formed sentences. It can be a little confusing at first for new writers or students. But it’s easy once you…

Should you add a comma before and in a list of three or more items? Yes, because it eliminates confusion in a sentence. The comma before the word and in a list of three or more things is the Oxford comma. It’s also called the Serial comma. Writers use it to separate the last item…

Do you ever think about the spelling of the number 40 without a U, while other numbers like four and fourteen have one? It’s a strange exception to the rule, but the number has an interesting history. Spelling the number 40 is one of the little oddities of the English language. So what’s the story…