3-minute read
...are some verbs where the spelling changes slightly in this situation (e.g., try → tries). However, even these singular third-person verbs end in an “s.” The Simple Past Tense The simple past tense describes an action completed in the past. It doesn’t matter whether the activity happened a long time...
...to write a document, including issues related to spelling, grammar, and punctuation. But different style guides focus on different issues. Here, then, are some of the major style guides you may encounter. Academic Style Guides Academic style guides are used by academic publishers and universities. As well as spelling and...
...“oll korrect,” a comical misspelling of “all correct.” Why did “OK” catch on while the fad of comical misspelling faded? We’re not entirely sure. As proofreaders, though, we’re grateful that deliberate typos are no longer in fashion. Do Okay and OK Mean the Same Thing? Short answer: Yes! Both “OK”...
4-minute read
...must include all non-standard spelling and capitalization as well as hashtags, links, and even emojis. If you can’t recreate an emoji, you should include its name (e.g., grinning face with big eyes). (Here’s a full list of emoji names.) When counting 20 words, note that emojis, hashtags, and links each...
2-minute read
...fire to make it burn more strongly: The campers used bellows to increase the temperature of the fire. In whichever form it is used, the correct spelling is with a double “l.” Summary: Below or Bellow? Although these words have almost identical spellings, they have significantly different meanings: ● ...
...“won” is always a verb (i.e., an action word). So if you’re referring to an action that happened in the past, the correct spelling will be “won.” For a number or pronoun, you’ll want the spelling “one.” And if you’d like any more help with the spelling or word choice...
...wall. The “-ed” spelling is more common, especially in American English. But both versions are accepted, so it is ultimately a matter of preference. Importantly, “leant” and “leaned” both contain the word “lean.” As such, we can see how they are related and how they both relate to the idea...
...uses the same spelling. By (Preposition or Adverb) “By” is a very common word in English with quite a few uses. Most often, it is a preposition (i.e., a word that shows the relationship between a noun and another part of a sentence). Its uses in this case include saying:...
5-minute read
...spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Many British style guides, however, recommend omitting the final comma: I believe in good spelling, grammar and punctuation. The exception is that both American and British English use a serial comma to ensure clarity. For example, the following sentence is ambiguous: I’m going out with my...
...struggle, though, remember the phrase “There is a knack to kneading dough,” as the silent “k” in “knack” should help you remember the spelling of “knead!” In addition, if you would like some extra help to make sure your writing is free of spelling mistakes and other errors, our expert...
...before the year in a date. Where to place the apostrophe when writing decades. When to use a hyphen when writing centuries. Common spelling mistakes related to dates. Read on below to make sure your writing is error free every time. 1. American and British Date Formats American English uses...
6-minute read
...Gregg Reference Manual: A Manual of Style, Grammar, Usage, and Formatting has been a popular choice in the world of corporate communications for over 50 years. And it will meet all your professional writing needs. As well as basic information on spelling, grammar, and punctuation, though, it includes advice on...