Grammar, Punctuation & Phrases
A collection of answers to grammar, spelling and punctuation questions, plus explanations on the origins of popular phrases.
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Is Human Composting the Greenest Burial Option?
What's With Germany's Strict Burial Regulations?
Unleashing Majestic Power: Exploring the Symbolism of Lion Tattoos
Unveiling the Profound Symbolism of Spider Tattoos
Unraveling the Symbolic Tapestry of Dragonfly Tattoos: Meanings, Designs, and Transformative Power
Does Sound Bowl Healing Work?
Every Celtic Knot Holds Meaning Within Its Intricate Design
What in the World Is a 'Shoey'?
The Most Common Words in English Aren't Nouns or Verbs
10 Most Common Letters in English That Every Wordle Player Should Know
The Hardest Tongue Twister in English Is...
What's the Science Behind Mood Rings?
10 Things We Love to Hate About the '70s and '80s
Celebratory Yard Signs Are Having a Major Moment
5 Family Traditions for New Babies
5 Family Anniversary Traditions
5 Family Traditions for Daughters
Are Black Magic Spells Powerful? The Truth Behind Their Strength
Is a Solar Eclipse a Rare Spiritual Event? Rituals for Aligning Your Energy
Is Witchcraft Dangerous? Debunking Myths vs. Reality
What Are the Most and Least Popular Birthdays in the U.S.?
The Firm vs. the Family: How Does the British Monarchy Really Work?
What's the Difference Between a Duke and an Earl?
Deciphering Generation Names, Birth Years and Stereotypes
How the Millennial Generation Works
Millennials Are Making Birthday Cards a Thing Again
St. Patrick's Day: Spiritual Meaning in a Simple Shamrock
14 Weird Christmas Traditions to Perplex and Delight You
Where to Find the Best Christmas Markets in Europe
5 Black-Red-Yellow Flag Designs Around the World
Which Blue and White Flag Is That? 9 Possibilities
Telling One Green-White-Orange Flag From Another
How to Tell If She’s Cheating: Common Clues and Behaviors
Signs She’s Not in Love with You – She’s Just Playing Along
7 Signs He Likes You More Than Just a Friend
The 'Memento Mori' Meaning Is Meant to Inspire and Humble
Methuselah Lived Nearly 1,000 Years, According to the Bible
Cherubim According to the Bible (Not Arrow-shooting Cupids)
How Synanon Went From Rehab Philosophy to Violent Cult
Branch Davidians and David Koresh's End of the World
The Unification Church: Mass Marriages and a Moonie Messiah
Quiz: Finish That Jingle!
How One Woman Unexpectedly Became the Voice of Siri
There's a Healthier Way to Consume Your Media
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Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank page, wondering if your paragraph is too short, too long, or just right? Well, you're not alone in asking how many sentences are in a paragraph. It can be hard to tell whether you've provided enough information and if, most importantly, it is easy to read and effectively communicates your main point.
There are countless adjective examples in everyday language, but for simplicity's sake, most adjectives are one-word components that enhance or modify nouns. Any sentence may contain two or more adjectives, but the function of each adjective remains the same.
By Mitch Ryan
Similes are like spices for writing: Used in the right proportion, they can add zest and verve to your prose. Once you're familiar with them, you'll likely notice that simile examples abound in everyday speech, writing, song lyrics and even advertising slogans.
By Zach Taras
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Figurative language is a cornerstone of expressive writing. Unlike literal language, which conveys information plainly and directly, figurative language introduces an imaginative spark, offering the reader new ways to view ideas and emotions.
By Marie Look
Do you know when to use to vs. too? In spoken English language, the two words sound exactly the same, but they have different meanings.
By Sascha Bos
There are plenty of examples of people being caught red-handed in real life. But what does it really mean?
British slang is known to contain some of the most colorful colloquialisms in the world, so queue up as we bandy about a few cheeky ones.
By Alia Hoyt
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The word "hack" has evolved so much over time that, instead of suggesting a shadowy criminal act, it now means you've found the very best way to do something.
Surely you've heard the phrase before. You've probably used it. But where did it come from and what is the meaning behind it?
"Then" and "than" have confused some people for ever - probably because they sound alike. However, there's an easy way to know which word to use.
Who's got the lowdown on whose birthday it is today? "Who's" and "whose" are always a challenge to get right, but we've got some pro tips.
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Knowing when to use a semicolon is a matter of remembering that a semicolon is a cross between a pause and a period.
These two words are often used interchangeably and incorrectly, so here's how to know when to use "affect" vs. "effect."
The fad for abbreviations like LOL is nothing new. In fact, this trend in the 1840s spawned the greatest abbreviation of all, "OK." Let's look at the history behind "America's greatest word."
By Dave Roos
Y'all, the contraction of the words "you" and "all," is making its move out of the American South to places as far afield as Australia.
By Carrie Tatro
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SOS was the most commonly used distress signal from the turn of the 20th century until before WWII. But exactly what does SOS mean?
We use these abbreviations all the time, but what do they actually mean?
Many people think 'Latine' is a better gender-inclusive term than 'Latinx.' Here's why.
How did blue collar, white collar (and pink collar!) end up in our lexicon, and what are the origins of their meanings?
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It's a strange phrase when you think about it, as people don't normally ride pigs. So where did it come from?
The origin of this false grammatical no-no is lost to history. But, we still shy away from starting sentences with coordinating conjunctions. And here's why.
When you're holding something together with nothing more than spit and perhaps some duct tape (duck tape?), what is the correct term, jury- or jerry-rigged?
To be "on the lam" means to be on the loose or on the run, but what does "lam" mean and where does this colorful phrase come from?
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It's a phrase appropriate to Thanksgiving as well as other times of the year. But the most popular origin story has a disturbing explanation.
By Alia Hoyt
No one ever says "heveled" or "gruntled." Do these words even exist? Not every word needs an opposite to prop it up. Here's why.