Imagine you are scripting a speech for a company event. You know that your tone needs to be formal, and you think of the word “thus.” But is it correct to say “and thus”? It is correct to say “and thus” to show a cause-effect relationship. “Thus,” as a standalone word, is an adverb you …
Many of your teachers have probably explained that you should only start sentences with certain words or parts of speech. Conjunctions have always been a no-no, but what about adverbs? You can start a sentence with the adverb “also.” It is specifically a conjunctive adverb that we use to connect two independent clauses. “Also” indicates …
When you are ready to finish an email, you may begin to wonder what sounds better, “Kind regards” or “Best wishes”? That all depends on to whom you are sending an email. “Best wishes” is a phrase that expresses optimistic hope for someone’s future. It’s common in greeting cards and letters, but it is a …
Have you ever received an email within a multinational company where someone to you to “Revert to us”? What did they mean, and is this phrase grammatically correct? “Revert to us” is a phrase you may hear in a business setting, but you should avoid using “revert to us” to mean “reply” in the U.S. …
Mathematics seems to throw letters our way on occasion, despite consisting primarily of numbers. We can forgive this in algebra, but when those letters seem to twist into strange symbols like the upside-down T, many of us feel lost all over again. The upside-down T (or ⊥) refers to perpendicular lines, which are two lines …
Imagine you’re leaving work, and your best friend gives you a call to say that they’re bringing you your favorite meal. You’re full of thank you’s and gratitude, but your friend simply responds with “anytime.” “Anytime” means “you’re welcome” when you use it colloquially. As society moves away from more formal language, using synonymous words …