May 13, 2013

'Continual' and 'Continuous'

There are some subtle differences between these words, but they have a lot in common, too.

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May 6, 2013

The Peculiar Power of 'Every'

If you say "the man and woman are," why is it you'd say "every man and woman is"?

That's the peculiar power of "every."

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April 29, 2013

Forgo and Forego

These two little words cause a lot of problems for a lot of people. Here's how to keep them straight.

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April 22, 2013

Done vs. Finished

It's one of the most popular mom corrections of all time: the idea that you can't say "I'm done" to mean you've finished eating. Unfortunately, Mom had it wrong ...

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April 15, 2013

Flat Adverbs

Think it's wrong to say "Drive slow"? Not so fast ...

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April 8, 2013

When to Hyphenate Prefixes and Suffixes

Knowing when to use a hypen with a prefix or suffix isn't as easy as it should be ...

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April 1, 2013

Could Care Less

The term "I couldn't care less" could be losing ground to "I could care less." But should you use it? Ummm ... I'm going to say no.

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March 25, 2013

'Home In' or 'Hone In'?

Every hear someone say they're going to "hone in on something"? They probably meant "home in."

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March 18, 2013

'Mens Department,' 'Womens Shoes' & 'Childrens Toys'

Apostrophes may be getting less common in terms like farmers market and teachers college. But does that mean it's okay to skip the apostrophe in mens department, womens shoes, or childrens toys? No.

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March 11, 2013

Copular Verbs and Their Complements

Copular verbs, also called linking verbs, are different from other verbs because they're not modified by adverbs. Because they refer back to the subject, they're usually followed by adjectives, as in "I feel bad" or "This coffee tastes good." Here's the full story ....

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