Grammar Quick Fix

Not THAT Witch!

That vs. Which (Restrictive and Non-restrictive Clauses)

So I was tutoring a student today and we got to a point where I noticed she needed to insert “that” into her sentence. After sitting for a few seconds, I realized I wasn’t sure WHY she needed to insert it. All I knew is that it had to be done. That being said, I thought it would be a great idea to do a Grammar Quick Fix about “that” and “which.” Not only will it help me, but hopefully it will help you too! (more…)

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Lie down!

Lay, Lie, Lain, Laid and All Those Other Crazy Things!

Let me start by admitting that I had to research this before I could address this topic. I frequently find that people are confused on how to use lay, lie and laid. The meanings of these words can be innocent to sexually lewd, so it’s very important you know what the right word is!

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Then vs. Than

Then and Than, I find, are words that are not really TAUGHT to anyone, yet everyone expects you to know them. I’ve seen native English speakers confuse the two as well as ESL students. Hopefully this post will help you remember the difference between the two. (more…)

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Squishable sheep!

I.e. vs. E.g.

You know what? I never learned how to use i.e. and e.g. I would just randomly choose one over the other and go with it. Now, after looking up the meanings, I know that I’ve spent YEARS humiliating myself by using these improperly. That being said, if I’m using them incorrectly, odds are–so are you. So let’s take a look at i.e. and e.g., and keep reading to figure out what the deal is with that cuddly sheep! (more…)

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A lot vs. Allot

Alot vs. A Lot vs. Allot

Let’s say you’re typing a paper and you get to a point where you write “alot.” A little red squiggle appears underneath so that you know it’s spelled incorrectly, but what will you choose–a lot or allot? This Grammar Quick Fix will teach you the difference between these three “words.” (more…)

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Superman vs. Jedi

Can vs. Could

Most of us think we know how to use “can” and “could,” but do we know how they’re used or do we use what sounds right? Generally it’s the latter. This post will briefly detail how these two words work. Read more to find out! (more…)

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whose

Who’s, Whose and Whom–oh my!

Today’s post will discuss those tricky “who” words. I actually had to ask the difference between “who’s” and “whose” myself recently, and now I’ll never live it down (apparently it’s hysterical when an English major needs help with English–who knew?). Perhaps even worse than the whole “who’s”/”whose” issue is the “who”/”whom” issue. So if you’ve ever doubted yourself about these words, I suggest you keep reading. (more…)

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Good vs. Well

Good vs. Well

The “good” vs. “well” conundrum has lasted centuries. Ok, I’m exaggerating but really–people don’t know when to use “good” or when to use “well.” Today’s post should help clarify when you are “good” and when you are “well.”

Personally, I feel neither good nor well today.

No seriously, today is just a crummy day. It’s kind of ironic that I’m making this post while being miserable But onto the topic at hand!

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affectvseffect

The Affect of an Effect…or Something Like That

I’ve tried writing this post about three times today. I’ve scrapped it, rewritten it, and tried to find a way to not confuse you or myself. After some screaming, crying, and hair pulling, I’ve researched several sites and have been able to compile what this whole affect/effect nonsense is all about. No seriously. Read this post. I spent about 5 hours on it. (more…)

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yieldsemocolon3

The Horrific Semicolon and How to Use it

That’s right. You read it correctly. I hate semicolons. You would think that, as an English major, I would love all forms of grammar. You would think that I have stuffed animals of each grammatical symbol. Unfortunately, while I would love some grammatically based stuffed animals, I will always hate semi-colons. Now I know all of you probably hate semicolons too, which is why I’m doing this post today–because I’ve had about five requests for it since releasing the site yesterday. So let’s talk semicolons! (more…)

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