A cacophony is “a collection of loud, harsh sounds heard all at once.” It’s disharmony. Discord. Dissonance. Noise.
Usable Usage: Could You Care Less?
Is it “I couldn’t care less” or “I could care less,” and does the difference matter? The question isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
Take a Minute to Write Right
It can be a challenge to refine your writing. Two books I’ve come across, This Won’t Take But a Minute, Honey and Write Right, can make the process easier.
Grammar Bite: Misplaced Modifiers
A modifier is a word or phrase that qualifies a noun or verb. Modifiers should be placed next to the words or phrases they modify. Simple, right? Not quite.
That Which Has a Tail
“That” and “which” may seem interchangeable, but there’s a difference between the two words, and it’s more important than you might think.
Who vs. Whom and Other Writing Bugaboos
Every writer has them: little points of grammar they can never remember. Is it who or whom? When is effect the right word? Is it i.e. or e.g., and what do they stand for anyway?
Grammar Bite: Correlative Conjunctions
“Correlative conjunction” is the grammarian’s fancy term for a pair of conjunctions that join two matching sentence parts, such as “not only…but also” and “both…and”. The trick with these conjunctions is the sentence parts they join must be structured the same way.
The “Due To” Argument: Prescriptivism vs. Descriptivism
How do you feel about the phrase “due to”? Does it just mean “attributable to” to you, or can it also mean “because of”? The answer largely depends on your perspective.
Your Style Sheet: What It Is and Why You Need One
Your editor sent you back your edited manuscript and it looks great. But what’s this other file they sent? Meet your style sheet.
Word Story: Adverse Reactions
“Adverse” usually pairs with “effects,” “reactions,” or “impact.” But do you know what Chaucer first paired it with?
