Chances are you’ve come across the Oxford Comma debate — there are some passionate perspectives on all sides. But that is not the only debate regarding commas. What about the use of the comma around the word “so”? You may need a comma after “so” if it’s part of an introductory clause of a sentence, …
Dr. Patrick Capriola
A compound word is one where two words join together to form a new word, and the new word often has a new definition. “Home page” and “homepage” are examples of how words change over time. In the case of “home page” versus “homepage,” which is the correct spelling? The Chicago Manual of Style prefers …
English grammar is riddled with rules, and some of the most confusing are those regarding the degrees of comparison for adjectives. For examples, take the two-syllable word “quiet.” Is it “more quiet” or “quieter”? The words “quieter” and “more quiet” are both grammatically correct examples of the comparative form, although “quieter” is far more common, …
Both spoken and written English has undergone continuous change over centuries — no more so than in its spelling. For example, is it “taught” or “tought,” and what is the past tense of “teach”? There is no such word as “tought” in common usage today. Taught is correct both as the past tense and past …
The English language can be quite complex at times. Just when you think you’ve mastered a concept, something will come along that will throw doubt your way. One common source of confusion is what verb form to use after “everyone” — Is it “everyone is” or “everyone are”? “Everyone is” will be the correct choice. …
“Per se” is a Latin term that some English speakers and writers use frequently and, often, unnecessarily. Occasionally, you’ll even see someone write the term as “per say,” so what is the correct spelling and use of the term? “Per se,” is correct as it is a Latin phrase for “by itself” or “in itself,” …