A suffix is one or more letters or syllables added to the end of a root word. For example, when you add the suffix “-ly” to “quiet,” you get “quietly.” Common suffixes include “-ed,” “-ion,” “-ful,” and “-ment.” Suffixes can change a word’s part of speech (e.g., “freedom”), plurality (e.g., “roses”), verb tense (e.g., “worked” or “working”), and more.
Learning about suffixes is extremely helpful for improving vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. The examples and explanations below show how to spell and use a variety of common suffixes. If you want to learn even more about suffixes, follow the links at the end for more suffix examples and a suffixes worksheet.
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker is also a quick and painless way to use suffixes correctly in your writing.
Suffix examplesThe scientist delivered an informative and fascinating presentation about foxes.
Taylor is a famous singer who is very supportive of her biggest fans.
A prefix is a letter or group of letters at the beginning of a root word (e.g., the “micro-” prefix in “micronutrient”). There are over 30 prefixes in the English language. Each prefix changes the meaning of a root word in a specific way. For example, if you add the “in-” prefix (meaning “not”) to “edible,” you get “inedible,” which means “not edible.”
Learning about English prefixes helps with reading comprehension and vocabulary. The prefix definitions and examples below show how a variety of prefixes affect the meaning of root words. If you want to learn more about prefixes, follow the links at the end for more prefix examples and a prefixes worksheet.
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can also help you with correct spelling when you use words with prefixes in your writing.
Prefix examplesIn her autobiography, the triathlete described an extraordinary race in subfreezing temperatures.
Walt pursued a postsecondary degree in microbiology and researched prehistoric unicellular organisms.
Direct speech and indirect speech/reported speech are the two ways to tell someone what another person said. Direct speech repeats the same words in the same order in quotation marks. Indirect speech/reported speech involves paraphrasing with slightly different words, so it doesn’t have quotation marks.
Reported speech and direct speech are useful in many situations, such as taking messages or telling someone about a meeting or conversation. If you’re taking an English proficiency test, you’ll probably use reported speech during the speaking or writing sections.
Direct and indirect speech both have specific grammar and punctuation rules. The following tips and examples show how to use them correctly. And when you’re writing with direct or indirect/reported speech, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors.
Direct and indirect speech examples
Direct speech
Indirect speech/reported speech
Miley said, “I can buy myself flowers.”
Miley said that she can buy herself flowers.
The neighbor just stopped by and asked, “Can I borrow a cup of sugar?”
The neighbor asked if he could borrow a cup of sugar.
I don’t mind where we stay as long as it’s not too far from the venue.
Neither the gym nor the pool was open this morning.
We can take a taxi into town, or there’s a bus that goes every 10 minutes.
She said that we can catch a bus into town from the stop outside the hotel.
Either we can take a taxi or we can walk.
Do you want to fly or drive?
Rather than fly, why don’t we drive?
I’d rather fly than drive.
TipQuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will instantly show you the correct punctuation to use with conjunctions (e.g., whether to put a comma before or, but, or because).
A compound word includes two (and sometimes three) words that function as a single word with a specific meaning. There are three types of compound words in English:
Open (e.g., “line dancing” and “soap opera”)
Hyphenated (e.g., “mind-blowing” and “double-check”)
Closed (e.g., “sunglasses” and “wildflower”)
Compound words are some of the most fun and interesting words in the English language. But how do you remember when to use spaces, hyphens, or one word?
The lists and examples below show the correct format for 150+ compound words. To continue practicing compound words, follow the links at the end of this article to print or download QuillBot’s free compound words worksheet and compound words list.
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can also show you how to format compound words in virtually any piece of writing.
Compound words examplesThe jigsaw puzzle has 1000 pieces and a close-up picture of a hummingbird.
The guests at the sleepover devoured all of the popcorn, hot dogs, and ice cream.
The main character in Overboardfaces a major setback after a shipwreck.
NoteMany of the newest words in major dictionaries are compound words (e.g., “street corn,” “jam band,” and “freestyle”). As language evolves, dictionaries add new words at least once a year. For example, when words like “gift card” became more common, they became official words in dictionaries.
One of the most important aspects of effective writing is using different types of sentences. Sentence variety keeps readers engaged and helps you communicate your ideas precisely.
In English writing, eight types of sentences are possible. There are four types of sentences by structure (simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex) and four types of sentences by function (declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory).
Whether you’re working on essays, cover letters, or personal correspondence, the tips and examples below will help you use all eight of these sentence types effectively and correctly. No matter what types of sentences you’re using, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors.
NoteEach sentence has one of the four possible structures and one of the four possible functions. For example, a simple sentence can be declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory. An imperative sentence can be simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
The word between is a preposition that can indicate locations (i.e., as a preposition of place), times, and amounts, as well as relationships or involvement.
Between examples in a sentenceThere’s a drugstore between the café and the burger place.
They’re building a high-speed rail link between the two cities.
We’re closed between 12 and 1 p.m.
There’s a flat rate for shipments that weigh between 20 and 50 pounds.
The goal is to build new partnerships between the university and local businesses.
TipQuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to use “between” correctly in your writing and distinguish it from in between.
Contractions are words in English grammar that are usually shortened versions of two-word pairs (e.g., “could’ve” for “could have”). Each contraction has an apostrophe (‘) to indicate where one or more letters have been omitted (e.g., “h” and “a” in “could’ve”).
Contractions in writing save space and create an informal, conversational tone. For some academic writing assignments (e.g., essays and dissertations), they’re too informal (depending on the guidelines you’re following). In workplace writing, they’re usually perfectly acceptable.
Contractions examplesAndrew couldn’t find his blue rain jacket anywhere. (could not)
Sarah’s working a night shift, and Devin’s staying home. (Sarah is and Devin is)
The musician who’s headlining the festival won a Grammy. (who is)
I wish we would’ve visited the aquarium when we were in Monterey. (would have)
TipMistakes like missing apostrophes are common with contractions, but QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you get them right. It will instantly show you which contractions are incorrect and how you can fix them.
