Hoping is the present participle of the verb “hope” (e.g., “I was hoping you would come!”), while hopping is the present participle of the verb “hop” (e.g., “Why are you hopping around on one leg?”).
Hoping vs hopping examples
Hoping in a sentence
Hopping in a sentence
We were hoping for better weather, but at least it’s not raining.
We had a great time hopping between the islands just off the costs.
I’m not sure what he was hoping to achieve by doing that.
Published on
November 8, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
January 21, 2025
You are a patient person or have patience if you are able to stay calm in a frustrating situation—if you “have patients,” you are probably a doctor.
Patient is an adjective meaning “able to remain calm rather than become annoyed” (e.g., “You need to be a patient person to work with children”).
Patience is an uncountable noun meaning “the ability to remain calm rather than become annoyed” (e.g., “I don’t have enough patience to work with children”).
“Patient” is also a noun meaning “a person receiving medical treatment” (e.g., “Dr. Sanchez is treating a patient at the moment”). Patients (the plural form of this noun) and patience are often pronounced in the same way in natural, connected speech
.
Patient or patience examples
Patient (adjective) in a sentence
Patience (uncountable noun) in a sentence
Patient (noun: medical meaning) in a sentence
Patients (plural: medical meaning) in a sentence
The doctor was very patient with me and answered all my questions.
You need a lot of patience to work as an assistant in a busy doctor’s office.
I’d like to register as a new patient with Dr. Sanchez.
I’m afraid Dr. Sanchez isn’t accepting any new patients right now.
Use “hung” for all meanings except “death by hanging,” when “hanged” is correct (e.g., “He hung the clothes on the line” vs. “He was hanged for his crimes”).
Hanged vs hung examples
Hanged in a sentence
Hung in a sentence
After arresting him in November 1605, they hanged him the following January.
This painting hung in my grandparents’ living room.
Many people believed they had hanged the wrong man.
Where have you hung the family portrait?
He was hanged for high treason.
These paintings are going to be hung in the hallway.
NoteIn practice, people often use the past tense/past participle form hung to refer to “death by hanging.” However, hanged is the best option for formal writing (e.g., academic writing) because lots of English usage manuals advise against “hung” for this meaning, and some readers will therefore consider it incorrect.
The nounfiancé refers to a man who is engaged to be married, while the noun fiancée refers to a woman who is engaged to be married. Both of these words are pronounced in the same way (with emphasis on either the second syllable
or the third syllable
).
The following two pieces of advice will help you to use me or I correctly in lots of everyday contexts.
If you’re talking about you and someone else, use the word that sounds correct if you take the other person out of the sentence.
TipTo test if “X and me” or “X and I” is correct, recast the sentence without “and X.”
Test sentence: Max and me went to the store. Sentence without the “other person”: I went to … [“me” sounds wrong] Grammatically correct sentence: Max and I went to the store.
Test sentence: He told Max and I to go to the store. Sentence without the “other person”: He told me to … [“I” sounds wrong] Grammatically correct sentence: He told Max and me to go to the store.
In everyday spoken English, we normally use me and not I after the verbbe.
Published on
October 31, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
July 14, 2025
Historic means “important in history” (e.g, “a historic day for the country”), while historical means “to do with the past” (e.g., “historical evidence”) or “to do with history (e.g. “from a historical point of view”).
Historical vs historic examples
Historical in a sentence
Historic in a sentence
She is most famous for her historical fiction.
She lives very near the historic site where the famous battle depicted in her book took place.
The book’s main character’s are all little-known historical figures.
Her latest book is about one of China’s most historic figures.
Researching the book involved searching through thousands of historical records.
You will find her books in the gift shops of all the historic buildings featured in her writing.
NoteThe difference between historic and historical is sometimes subtle. For instance, if someone chooses the word “historic” to describe a landmark, building, or site, etc., they are probably focusing on the important role it has played in history (e.g., “We saw all the historic buildings, including the White House”). But if they choose the word “historical,” they probably just mean that historians think it is important (e.g., “It’s important to preserve the historical buildings located in the downtown area”).
Published on
October 29, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
March 7, 2025
Never mind should be written as two words in almost all contexts.
Never mind (two words) is a phrase meaning “don’t worry” or “let alone” (e.g., “Never mind about that,” “I can hardly remember what I did yesterday, never mind last year!”).
Nevermind (one word) is a noun used in combination with no to mean “no attention,” or “no difference,” (e.g., “Don’t pay it no nevermind,” “It makes no nevermind to me”). It is a colloquial (dialect) word used in some regions of the United States.
Never mind or nevermind examples
Never mind in a sentence
Nevermind in a sentence
Person A: I don’t have any other shoes with me. Person B: Never mind, you can borrow a pair of rain boots.
He’s just being mean; don’t pay him no nevermind!
Person A: The tickets were all sold out. Person B: Never mind, we can go next time they’re in town.
Don’t you worry, ‘cause that don’t make no nevermind.
We won’t get to the end of the street in that car, never mind all the way to Vegas.
Published on
October 28, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
February 25, 2025
The verbproceed means “continue,” “carry on,” or “advance” (e.g., “Please proceed with caution”), while the verb precede means “come/happen before” and is often used in the passive voice. In the sentence, “The film will be preceded by an introduction from the director,” for instance, the introduction comes before the film showing.
Proceed vs precede examples
Proceed in a sentence
Precede in a sentence
After the cocktail reception, we proceeded with the main event.
The main event was preceded by a cocktail reception.
Please proceed down the hall and take your seats in the main auditorium.
A cocktail reception in the lobby will precede the main event in the auditorium.
The project is proceeding according to plan.
The project was a great success thanks to the thorough planning that preceded it.
Published on
October 25, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
March 14, 2025
Purposely and purposefully are often used interchangeably to mean “on purpose” (e.g., “purposely/purposefully avoid someone”), but purposefully can also mean “with purpose” or “in a meaningful or determined way” (e.g., “walk confidently and purposefully”).
Purposely or purposefully in a sentence examples
I think he purposely/purposefully didn’t remind me about the deadline, hoping I’d forget.
Do you think she’s purposely/purposefully avoiding me?
The pricing plans are purposely/purposefully complicated so they’re difficult to compare with others.
We need to approach these kinds of projects more purposefully next time, setting ourselves clearer goals.
We need to approach these kinds of projects more purposely next time, setting ourselves clearer goals.
She strode purposefully ahead, trying to set the pace.
She strode purposely ahead, trying to set the pace.
NoteAlthough purposely and purposefully are commonly used interchangeably to mean “intentionally” or “deliberately,” some style guides recommend using them with separate meanings to avoid any ambiguity (e.g., “purposefully walk” could mean “deliberately not take the bus” or “walk in a determined way”).
According to this advice, you should always use purposely when the meaning is simply “intentionally/on purpose/deliberately.”
I think he purposely didn’t remind me about the deadline.
I think he purposefully didn’t remind me about the deadline.
