A light verb adds little meaning to the action of the sentence. Interestingly, these verbs have the ability to both help and hinder your writing.
Articles Tagged grammar and usage
2022’s Word of the Year
The end of the year is a good time to celebrate the words that represent the past 12 months. Here’s our breakdown of 2022’s words of the year.
Rewriting the Zombies: Using “Likely” for “Probably”
In this series, learn why zombie rules don’t work and what rule you can follow instead. This week, we’ll tackle the “likely” and “probably.”
The Good and Bad of Mnemonic Devices
Mnemonic devices are useful when learning difficult-to-memorize information, however, beware that some mnemonics will do more harm than good.
5 Questions to Ask About a New Word
If you’re looking for new words to express new ideas or old ideas in new ways, here’s five questions you should ask before using a new word.
Learning to Love Passive Voice
Though some editors are against the use of passive voice, there are many instances where this language style can benefit the written work.
Do This, Then Do That: Coordinating “Then” Usage
Although the word “then” is often used as a coordinating conjunction, many editors still disagree on whether this is grammatically correct.
How to Hear the Tone in Writing
Identifying the author’s tone while editing is crucial. Luckily there are two important editor-friendly elements to help with this.
Using Science to Define the Art of Writing Style
In addition to the editing they were hired for, copyeditors are tasked with maintaining and refining the author’s unique writing style.
Dealing With Religious Terms: Many Faiths
How do you balance the needs of a diverse audience on religious topics? By respecting everyone.
