Anyone sitting in an English grammar class prior to 2010 probably remembers their teacher getting on a soapbox about beginning a sentence with “so,” “but,” and “because.” Despite this, the stubborn use of “so” to introduce a sentence has only grown in verbal and casual writing. Yes, you may begin a sentence with “so” correctly. …

You are writing an email to someone and thinking about how to start the main body. You can either get directly to the point or take the time to open with some form of pleasantry. Would it be correct to say, “I hope all is well with you”? It is correct to say “I hope …

Imagine you’re writing an email to your team at work. There are a lot of urgent tasks to complete, and you want to encourage the team to work quickly. Is it correct to write about “prompt action”? The phrase “prompt action” is a correct and common collocation in English. We usually use it to express …

There are many differences between American and British English. Normally, these differences are fun and easy to understand. Occasionally, however, a familiar word appears in an odd context to communicate a meaning you were not aware it could convey, and such is the case with “revise.” It is correct to say “revise” when communicating that …

The need to thank a group of people is common. It’s a way to acknowledge the hard work others have done. However, when doing so, is it “Thanks, everybody” or “Thanks, everyone”? Typically, “Thanks, everyone” is the better option because it is a little more formal and fits more situations without disrespect. However, grammatically both …

Do you often use the idiomatic phrase “a little bit”? Or, do you avoid saying it because it seems redundant?  It is acceptable to say “a little bit”, although both “little” and “bit” have similar meanings. For example, you can use the idiomatic phrase “a little bit” with uncountable nouns, such as rice, sugar, or …