English Grammar
Which vs. That: When to Use Each (Grammar Rules)
When you’re deciding whether to use which or that in a sentence, you only need to remember one primary rule. Isn't that great news for the grammar world? So let’s not beat around the which vs. that...
Is It Peeked, Peaked, or Piqued My Interest?
Peek, peak, and pique are homophones, meaning that they sound exactly alike while they have different meanings and uses. English is brimming with homophones, some of the most commonly used ones...
When Is It Necessary To Use a Comma Before or After But?
You just wrote a sentence with the word but in it; now you’re staring at it, wondering whether you need to insert a comma before but, after but, or not at all. Did I just describe your current...
Into vs. In To
Say this word aloud: into. Now say these two words aloud: in to. They sound exactly the same when you say them, right? Yet the one-word into and the two-word phrase in to have different meanings and...
Do I Underline Book Titles?
The short answer is: no. You don’t underline book titles in formal writing. But how you do designate book titles in your writing may vary, even from one piece of writing to another. Read on and I’ll...
Metaphor vs. Personification (Grammar Rules)
In our writing toolbox, personification and metaphors are figurative language devices that can help to give our words impact and clarity. It’s easy to confuse the different types of figurative...
Home In or Hone In? (Grammar Rules)
Home in and hone are easily confused because they sound similar when we say them aloud. But fear not, there are a few easy tricks for you to remember whether you want to use home in or hone. So...
The 8 Parts of Speech Plus Articles
Every single word we use in a sentence belongs to a larger grouping in the English language called parts of speech. In simpler terms, it’s safe to think of the parts of speech in English grammar as...
What’s a Conjunction in English Grammar?
Conjunctions have one primary function: to connect words, phrases, and clauses. You can think of conjunctions like referees in sports games because they help keep your sentences inline or coordinate...
What’s an Adverb in English Grammar?
An adverb is a modifying word that can modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs by making their meanings more specific. Adverbs indicate when, where, how, and to what degree. You can think of an...