Academics

Many words in English have multiple meanings, which can confuse people, especially English language learners. The term “case” is one such example that can cause some confusion, in part because it is in several phrases that can be unclear, such as the phrase “is it still the case.” But what does “is it still the …

What makes a statement “absolutely true,” and how do you know if the information is the “absolute truth”? For example, when we feel strongly about something, is it correct to say, “absolutely true”? It is correct to say “absolutely true” when you want to demonstrate how strongly you agree with something. “Absolutely” is an adverb …

“Any place” or “anyplace”?  Though we spell them differently, they sound the same, but do they mean the same thing? While we shouldn’t use one for formal writing, the other is perfectly acceptable. Is it “any place” or “anyplace”?  “Any place” is correct for both speaking and writing. While people often use “anyplace” in spoken …

Phrases like “if I that were the case” and “if that was the case” can cause confusion even for the most experienced English language learner. If you’re wondering which one is correct, the answer is both. The good news: it’s pretty easy to figure out which one you should use.   When speaking hypothetically, if that …

Everyone around you is excited to have a productive and successful day, and there’s so much potential for the day ahead! You want to express some positivity, too, so you decide to tell everyone, “Have a great day ahead!” But, as a few people throw you a confused glance, it leaves you wondering, is it …

Imagine that you are sitting down to write a letter and greet two people at once. You want to sound formal, but you ask yourself, “Is it correct to say, ‘dear both’ when addressing them?”  It is not considered good form to say “dear both,” although it is technically correct. Saying or writing “dear both” …