Grammar & Usage

Commonly Confused

'Canceled' or 'cancelled'?

One L or two?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

In which we definitively answer a thoroughly uncontentious question

Words You Always Have to Look Up

The dictionary is here to help

'Lose' or 'loose'?

Keep this somewhere you won't forget it

Is it 'home in' or 'hone in'?

Both are used, but 'home in' does a better job of hitting the mark.

What's the difference between 'sympathy' and 'empathy'?

You don't know how it feels

'A' and 'An' and the Patterns of Their Use

Which gets used where?

The Difference between 'Race' and 'Ethnicity'

How they differ and overlap

Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms

The same, but different

On 'Biweekly' and 'Bimonthly'

Sorry, not sorry

'Insure' vs. 'Ensure' vs. 'Assure'

Here's how to make sure

Is it 'Forty'? Or 'Fourty'?

This is usage

How to Use 'Lay' and 'Lie'

Tripping Up English Speakers for 700 Years

‘Cannot’ vs. ‘Can Not’: Is there a difference?

You can learn all about them

Is It 'Day today' or 'Day-to-day'?

What about Day Tomorrow?

Rack vs. Wrack

Choosing which one to use can be nerve-racking

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

The dictionary is always here to help

Is it 'doctor's appointment' or 'doctor appointment'?

The doctor is in, but whose appointment is it?

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

The whole truth about a confusing idiom.

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

You'll get used to it

'Awhile' vs. 'A While'

There are rules, but who's listening?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

A case can be made for either

When to Use It's vs. Its

A Simple Rule to Avoid Embarrassment
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