Published on
August 5, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
November 5, 2025
The adverbscontinually and continuously are often used interchangeably, but many style guides recommend using them with distinct meanings for clarity.
Continually means “repeatedly and often” but continuously means “without interruption.”
Continually in a sentence examples
Continuously in a sentence examples
Lightly simmer the mixture for about an hour, checking continually to make sure that it is not boiling too vigorously.
Stir the mixture continuously for at least a minute to avoid lumps.
If the error occurs continually over an extended period, please contact customer service.
If the error tone stops after 30 seconds, try resetting the system. If it sounds continuously, call customer service.
In everyday language, the two words are often used interchangeably to describe events as being persistent over an uninterrupted period of time, even if the events in question are repeated rather than a single uninterrupted event (e.g., “He’s been calling me continually/continuously all day!”).
Published on
August 5, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
November 5, 2025
The adjective blonde describes hair that is light yellow or a very light shade of brown and can also be spelled blond. The preferred spelling is often “blonde” when referring to a woman. “Blonde” is pronounced in the same way as “blond.”
Blond in a sentence examples
Blonde in a sentence examples
He has blond hair.
She has blonde hair.
He dyed his hair blond.
She dyed her hair blonde.
The director wanted a blond as the leading man.
The director wanted a blonde as the leading lady.
NoteSome style guides recommend only using the spelling blond as a gender-neutral word. Others recommend maintaining the traditional distinction between blonde (to refer to women) and blond (to refer to men).
In practice, the two spellings are still being used interchangeably. The important thing is to be consistent with your spelling choice throughout your texts, and, if you are writing for a publication, company or institution, to follow its guidelines.
Published on
July 24, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
November 5, 2025
The words compliment (with an “i”) and complement (with an “e”) have different meanings. Although they are spelled differently, they are pronounced in the same way.
A compliment (noun) is a statement or action that shows that you like or admire something or someone. To compliment (verb) means to say or show that you like or admire something or someone.
A complement (noun) is something that goes together well with something else. To complement (verb) means to go together well with something.
Compliment in a sentence examples
Complement in a sentence examples
He got lots of compliments on his new glasses when he wore them to work.
My boss complimented me on my presentation technique.
Wild rice is an ideal complement to this dish.
I think the colors complement each other perfectly.
A QuillBot Grammar Check can help you avoid mixing up commonly confused words like “compliment” and “complement.”
Published on
July 23, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
November 5, 2025
The nounsempathy and sympathy overlap in meaning because they are both used to describe how we share another person’s feelings or emotions.
Empathy is the ability to understand how another person feels because you can imagine how you would feel if you were in the same situation. In other words, you are able to put yourself in the other person’s shoes.
Sympathy is the feeling that you understand another person’s emotions, especially when you feel sorry for someone who is in a sad or unpleasant situation.
Empathy in a sentence examples
Sympathy in a sentence examples
As a former refugee, she is able to write about displaced persons with real empathy.
His insensitive comments displayed a total lack of empathy for the victims’ suffering.
She thanked the nurses and doctors for the compassion and empathy they had shown throughout her husband’s illness.
He wrote to Paul’s widow to express his sympathy.
There was a lot of public sympathy for the workers, who have been on strike for almost two months.
It’s his own fault, so I don’t really have much sympathy for him.
Published on
July 18, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
November 11, 2025
As of yet and as yet are adverbial phrases meaning “yet.” You use them to say something has not happened up to now, but you expect it to happen at some point.
In formal or academic writing, it is generally best to reduce as of yet or as yet to “yet,” or use an alternative formulation such as “has/have yet to.”
Examples: As of yet in a sentence
We cannot provide you with any further information as of yet.
We cannot provide you with any further information yet.
According to the CEO, a decision has not been taken as of yet.
According to the CEO, a decision has yet to be taken.
