Academics

Many people use these two terms interchangeably, which leads a new English speaker to wonder which form is correct — “here is” or “here are”? As with all English constructions, it’s important to know when to choose singular or plural verb forms. In the case of “here is” and “here are,” both are correct, and …

“Throughout” is a helpful word to add to your vocabulary, but it can be tricky to know which way to write it. Is “throughout” or “through out” correct?  Throughout is correct and should be written as one word. When through and out are used as separate words they retain their individual meanings. While the compound …

“A,” “an,” and “the” function as articles appearing before nouns. “A” and “an” are both indefinite articles because they do not specify which one of anything, while “the” is a definite article indicating the author knows what the noun refers to. When applying indefinite articles, is “a usual” or “an usual” proper grammar? A usual …

“I’m” is a contraction for “I am,” and we often use them interchangeably. However, if you’re writing in a formal setting, you may wonder which one you should use. Is it “I’m” or “I am”? “I am” is the preferable form in most cases. I am is a little more formal and can even stand …

Learning to speak English entails making sure that you use the correct verb form. Verb errors are very obvious to native speakers and are an important aspect to master as you work towards fluency. A common confusion arises when considering whether to say, “There is people” or “There are people.” “People” is the plural noun …

Two words in the English language that confuse native speakers and English language learners alike are “lay” and “lie.” Both words involve someone or something in a horizontal position, but which one should you use? Is it “laying in bed” or “lying in bed?” Lying in bed is correct. Both “laying” and “lying” are the …