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.
Articles Tagged usage
Mostly Useful Redundancies
Critical language experts often encourage editors to remove redundancies from written works. However, redundancies are not all bad, and there are times when repetition can help the author drive their message home.
What’s It Worth? A Confusing Use of the Apostrophe
Writers and editors commonly misunderstand what we use the apostrophe for and what possession is. And this misunderstanding dates back to the 18th century!
Rewriting the Zombies: “Curate” and “Reveal”
Zombie rules seem follow you around like the undead, though some are just stylistic choices. Here’s a breakdown on the outdated rules involving “curate” and “reveal.”
Passersby or Passerbys: Clarifying the Confusion of Plural Compound Nouns
Should you use “attorneys general” or “attorney generals”? Here’s everything you need to know about how to pluralize compound nouns.
Directing Action with Light Verbs
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.
Centering Around Logic
Those who prioritize logic in their writing often avoid phrases like “center around.” However, this common idiom is not as bad as you think.
Is ‘Alternate’ an ‘Alternative’?
Are you taking an “alternate” route or an “alternative” route? We tackle this common grammar debate with a little help from the dictionaries.
Grammar Bite: “Action” as a Verb
Working with language can be puzzling, especially when dealing with business jargon. In this grammar bite, let’s explore using “action” as a verb.
Hyphenating X-Year-Olds Part 2: What We Actually Do
Would you write 56-years-old, or 56 years old? There’s more than one answer, so let’s investigate why so many writers disagree.
