I’m not usually peevish about language use, but “on account of” is a pet peeve of mine. Here’s why it’s okay to use it anyway.
Articles Tagged language
Don’t Let Your Modifiers Dangle
Modifiers are words or phrases that help clarify the meaning of another word in the same sentence. Learn about how letting them dangle can affect your writing.
Back to (the) School(s)
Should the word “the” should be included in the phrase “back to school”? Here are the rules regarding one of the most popular words in the English language.
Ending the Tug of War Over Parallelism
Parallelism is something copyeditors and writers often disagree about. With a little research and a lesson in grammar, we can end this age-old debate.
Vocab Builder: It’s Kismet
Enhancing our vocabulary with new words is a great way to spice up your writing and keep readers engaged. This list will help when you’re feeling repetitive.
Writing with Suffixes: How to Ate Your Words
Writing with suffixes is just as important as writing with prefixes. Let’s start with the suffix “-ate” and some real-world examples of its usage.
Writing With Prefixes: Intra and Inter
“Intra” and “inter” are a pair of prefixes that people often confuse. Let’s investigate the differences using real-world examples and definitions.
Language by the People
What qualifies a usage as “proper” grammar? Perhaps the better question is who qualifies a usage as “proper”? Let’s dig a little deeper.
When Adverbs Fall Flat
We’re taught from a young age that adverbs end in –ly and modify verbs. This is correct, however, adverbs are more complicated than the rule implies.
The Reason Why is Because…
Many editors believe that the phrase “reason why” is redundant. That’s true, but it’s also true that why means “for which,” resulting in “reason for which.” Let’s determine whether this phrase fits into your sentence.
