If you’re not trying to placate traditionalists, then don’t let their’ “careful usage” throw you for a loop. Do your homework instead.
Articles Categorized The Art of Language
Grammar, spelling, usage, style—this section is all about the mechanics of language. Improve your writing and editing by reading on!
The Many Dance Partners of “Enamored”
Enamored with and enamored by are standard English. They aren’t labeled “nonstandard” or even “informal” in dictionaries that list them.
Grammar Bite: Active vs. Passive Voice
You want to keep your readers engaged with your writing to the end. One way to do this is to use more active voice and less passive voice in your writing.
Grammar Bite: Don’t Dangle Your Participle
What’s a participle and how on earth would you know it’s dangling? A quick grammar lesson to help you fix danglers and say what you mean.
Nine Words to Avoid in Your Writing
Don’t let your readers get distracted from your message by using a word that riles them up. Become familiar with skunked terms.
Does Spelling Still Matter?
R u srs? Of course spelling still counts! The key is in its application. Why spelling matters and the value of good writing.
You’re Very Organized, But Are You Very Trained?
Is it correct to say that someone is “very organized,” as opposed to “very well organized?” If so, is it correct to say “very educated,” or “very trained?”
A Word for the Digital World
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.
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.
