“Shed some light” means “to help explain” or “to clarify.”
“Shed some light on” is a phrasal verb and means the same as “throw some light on” and “cast some light on.” You can also use these phrasal verbs without “some.”
For example:
Her diagnosis shed some light on why she’s been feeling ill lately.
No one could throw some lighton how the phenomenon happened.
The new approach casts light on what went wrong.
A Grammar Check can make sure you use phrases like “shed some light” correctly.
What’s the meaning of shed some light?:
Commonly confused words
“Altogether” is an adverb, meaning you should use it when you want to describe a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a clause, or a sentence. It typically means “completely” or “entirely.” For example, saying “The plan failed altogether” is equivalent to saying “The plan failed completely.”
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The choice of lay or lie in this phrase depends on the verb tense you are using. When referring to the act of putting yourself in a horizontal resting position, the correct phrase is “lie down” (e.g., “I’m going to lie down on the couch”). When referring to something you’re going to do to something else, “lay down” is the appropriate phrase to use (e.g., “I’m going to lay down this lamp so it doesn’t fall”).
However, it’s important to note that “lay” is also the past tense of lie, so it makes sense to use “lay down” when referring to putting yourself in a horizontal position in the past (e.g., “Yesterday I lay down for an hour after practice”).
In short, when describing the act of reclining yourself horizontally in the present tense, use “lie down.” But when describing a past act of reclining yourself, use “lay down.”
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Use “lying down” as the present participle of “lie down.” In other words, use “lying down” when describing the reclined position one is in (e.g., “She’s lying down on the towel). However, it’s also acceptable to simply use “lying” (e.g., “She’s lying on the towel).
Use “laying down” when referring to the action of placing something or someone in a horizontal position (e.g., “He’s laying down flowers across the path”). Remember, “lying” and “laying” are the present participles of “lie” and “lay,” respectively.
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You “lie in bed.” “Lie” is a verb that means “to be or put oneself in a reclined position” (e.g., “I will lie in bed because I’m tired”). “Lay” is a verb that means “putting something or someone else in a horizontal position” (e.g., “I need to lay my baby down in her crib”).
In British English, the noun “inquiry” has been traditionally defined as a request for information in formal and legal contexts, whereas “enquiry” was used in a broader sense. However, in modern-day usage, “inquiry” is more common in both general and formal contexts, while “enquiry” is still strictly reserved for general matters.
“Inquire” is more popular in American English and is used to mean “ask questions about something” (e.g., “I will inquire about prices”).
In British English, “inquire” is also used more frequently, whether seeking information about either general or formal matters. However, “enquire” is also used, but only with informal requests (e.g., “I enquired about the nearest tourist destinations”).
QuillBot’s paragraph rewriter can help you vary your language to accurately express your meaning.
“Whomever” can follow a preposition as an object pronoun but must directly refer to someone who is the recipient of an action, which is not the case here.
If the pronoun is functioning as the subject, meaning it is performing the verb, use “to whoever” (e.g., “to whoever enjoys”).
If the pronoun is functioning as the object, meaning it is the recipient of the verb or the object of the preposition, use “to whomever” (e.g., “to whomever I see”).
A bowl is both concave and convex, depending on which part you’re looking at.
The part that holds the food is concave, which means it curves inward. The outer part of the bowl that is placed on surfaces is convex, which means it curves outward.
Something is described as “concave” if it curves inward, like the part of the spoon that holds food. Conversely, something that curves outward is described as “convex,” like the other part of a spoon.
A concave mirror curves inward, towards the middle. This causes light rays that strike the mirror to converge, resulting in distorted reflections that appear magnified or inverted, depending on the object’s distance from the mirror.
A convex mirror curves outward, which results in a wider, more magnified view. Convex mirrors are commonly used in car side-view mirrors and security cameras.
Inquiring is the present participle form of “inquire,” while enquiring is the present participle form of “enquire.” Both are correct spellings, but “inquiring” is the preferred variant in American English (e.g., “He was inquiring about the sale”).
Every other day is an adverbial phrase that means “on every alternate day.”
For example, the statement “I usually call my mother every other day” means that the person does not telephone their mother every day; there is usually a day in between each call.
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“Obtaining” is the present participle of the verb “obtain,” which means “to get something through effort” (e.g., “I am obtaining the necessary permits”).
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“Obtainable” is the adjective form of the verb “obtain,” which means “to get something through effort.” When something is obtainable, it means it is possible to acquire it (e.g, “The tickets are expensive but obtainable”).
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Principle is a noun that describes a rule or standard in science or the law (e.g., “It is a fundamental principle of law that a person is innocent until proven guilty”), or personal and public ethics (e.g., “Olga decided not to take the job as the company’s practices went against her principles”).
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“Crawfish” and “crawdad” both refer to the same animal—crustaceans that look like and are related to lobsters but are found in rivers, streams, swamps, and other bodies of freshwater.
Although there is a lot of overlap, the term “crawfish” is more popular in the southern parts of the United States, while “crawdad” is preferred in specific areas, such as North Carolina and Oregon.
No, lobsters and crawfish are not the same animal, but they are closely related. Lobsters are arthropods that live in saltwater, while crawfish live in freshwater.
“Mudbugs” is a colloquial term used in certain parts of the United States when referring to crawfish, which are crustaceans that are related to lobsters but live in freshwater.
“Paid” and “payed” are commonly confused because they are pronounced the same.
Paid is the past tense or past participle of the verb “pay,” which refers to the act of exchanging money for a service or goods received (e.g., “I paid for the holiday with the overtime I had been paid during the year”).
Payed is the past tense or past participle of the verb “pay,” meaning “allow a length of rope or chain to pass through your hands in a controlled way” (e.g., “I payed out the rope slowly as my student descended the cliff”).
“Paid” and “payed” are commonly confused because they are pronounced the same.
The past tense and past participle of the verb “pay,” meaning “exchange money for goods or services received,” is paid (e.g., “With the part exchange deal I paid money in addition to the value of my old car”).
There is a less common meaning of “pay” which is to let rope or chain through your hands in a controlled way. It is typically used in boating and climbing contexts, but it can be used in any situation where that action takes place (e.g., “The rescuers payed out the safety rope as the lifeguard entered the water”).
Lose weight is the correct phrase. Lose and loose have different pronunciations, meanings, and grammatical functions. Lose means to no longer have something which you had previously.
Lose has a long “o” and a “z” sound. It is a verb that means “suffer loss” or “misplace.”
Loose also has a long “o” sound, but the “s” is soft. It is an adjective or adverb that means “not tight” or “not secure.” Occasionally loose is used as a verb meaning “release.”
You used to have some weight which you no longer have, so you lose weight. It means that your clothes will now be loose as they are no longer so tight.
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you make sure you’re using lose and loose correctly.
You can try this handy mnemonic to remember when to use “lose” vs. “loose”:
Lose (get rid of) one “o” to lose [looz] something—this might help you to remember that lose is the word you want if you are talking about misplacing something or failing to win.
Both “walk toward” and “walk towards” are correct. The main difference between toward and towards is between American English and British English. Toward (without an “s”) is more common in American English, and towards (with an “s”) is preferred in British English.
The guide gestured towards the cathedral. (British English)
The guide gestured toward the cathedral. (American English)
It is always best to be consistent in your spellings.
“Fewer” is a comparative word that means “smaller number of.” It’s typically used with a countable noun to describe a smaller number of something compared to something else (e.g., “There are fewer people in this line”).
The common guideline is to use “less than” when modifying uncountable nouns (e.g., “less than a gallon left”) and “fewer than” when modifying countable nouns (e.g., “fewer than three people”).
However, there are many exceptions to this rule. For example, when describing time (“less than thirty minutes”) or money (e.g., “less than thirty bucks”), “less” is the standard word to use, although time and money can be divided into countable units.
“Lair,” which is spelled similarly to “liar,” is a noun that refers to the resting place of a wild animal (e.g., “We found the coyote hiding in a lair”) but can also refer to someone’s secret hiding spot (e.g., “I used to imagine that my room was Batman’s lair”).
The word there is used in a variety of different ways. It’s sometimes confused with their and they’re, but they have distinct meanings and spellings.
It is often used as a pronoun with “is”/“are” to say something exists or does not exist (e.g., “Is there a post office near here?”).
It is also frequently used as an adverb to indicate location (e.g., “Please put it down over there on the table”) or to refer to a place already mentioned (e.g., “Have you ever been there before?”).
There are a few words that can be used as synonyms for “while” when used as a noun meaning “a short period of time,” including:
Duration
Time
Period
The following words can be used as synonyms for “while” when it is used as a subordinating conjunction that indicates a contrast between two people or things:
In spite of is a preposition that means “regardless of,” “even though,” or “notwithstanding.”
It introduces a prepositional phrase providing some contrasting information (e.g., “In spite of his lateness, Jimmy strolled into class as if nothing were wrong”).
In spite of and despite can be used interchangeably (e.g., “Despite his lateness …”).
The correct phrase depends on the context of the sentence.
When rooting for a team, the correct phrase is “let’s go.” “Let’s” is a contraction of “let us.” Saying “let’s go, team” means you’re cheering them on as a fan or as part of the team. “Let’s go” can also be used to express impatience with someone (e.g., “Let’s go! We don’t have all day”) or, in a more literal sense, to suggest that you and at least one other person depart (e.g., “Let’s go home”).
“Lets go” only makes sense when you’re using “lets” as the third-person singular present tense form of the verb phrase “let go,” meaning “release” (e.g., “She always lets go of the rope too soon”).
The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you rewrite sentences to express your meaning clearly.
“Let” can be used as a verb that means “give permission to” or “allow.” Therefore, “let them” means “allow them” or “permit them” (e.g., “Let them try to guess”).
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If you presume something (i.e., if you believe that something is true based on likelihood or probability), then that belief is a presumption. For example, believing that your favorite baseball team is going to win the championship because they have won the last two in a row is a presumption.
“Presumption” can also mean “audacious attitude or conduct” (e.g., “His presumption in taking the CEO’s parking spot was met with disbelief”).
To assume something means to see something as true, although you have little evidence or reasoning to support it. Therefore, an assumption is a belief based on no proof (e.g., “My assumption about him turned out to be wrong”).
“Assumption” can also refer to the act of taking something upon oneself (e.g., “it was an assumption of power”).
Yes, it is acceptable to use the word “amongst,” especially when using British English. However, because it is less common in American English, some may consider it out of place or overly formal.
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“Among others” is a phrase that is used to indicate that not all items or individuals of a larger group are being specifically mentioned (e.g., “There were many teachers, counselors, and students, among others”).
“Among other things” can also be used in the same manner (e.g., “We studied science, math, and art, among other things”).
Both “among others” and “amongst others” are acceptable, but it should be noted that “among” is the more popular variant in both American and British English. In American English, “amongst” can be considered overly formal or even pompous.
Our AI Rewriter can help you rewrite texts to express your meaning.
Everybody has is correct, and everybody have is incorrect. Have and has cannot be used interchangeably.
“Everybody” is one of the singular indefinite pronouns even though it refers to “all the people.” When “everybody” is the subject of a sentence, the verb “to have” should end in “-s” (e.g., “Everybody has an opinion about artificial intelligence”).
Only plural indefinite pronouns agree with the verb “have” (e.g., “Both of my parents have interesting hobbies”).
When you’re using “everybody” and other pronouns in your writing, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors.
Use “for sale” when you want to indicate that something is available for purchase (e.g., “That car in front of us is for sale”).
Use “on sale” when you want to indicate that something is being sold at a discounted price (e.g., “I only paid ten bucks for this because it was on sale”).
Our AI Rewriter can help you automatically rewrite texts to express your meaning.
“Sale” is exclusively used as a noun that denotes the transaction of goods and services for money (e.g., “Those puppies are for sale”).
“Sell” primarily functions as a verb describing the action of trading items or services for monetary payment (e.g., “I want to sell this to the highest bidder”). However, it is sometimes used as a noun to refer to the act of selling, though this usage is less common (e.g., “That’s an easy sell”).
Yes, “had had” is grammatically correct when used in past perfect tense constructions to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past.
For example, in the sentence “She realized she had had too much candy when she started getting a sugar rush,” the first “had” is an auxiliary verb, and the second “had” is the main verb in its past participle form.
“Have” and “has” serve different grammatical functions and cannot be used interchangeably. In American English, collective nouns are treated as singular nouns. Therefore, they are typically accompanied by “has,” not “have.”
When describing someone as correct or accurate, the correct phrase to use is “you’re right” (e.g., “You’re right about the movie being way too long”).
When referring to someone’s moral or legal entitlement to be able to do something, the correct phrase is “your right” (e.g., “It is your right to freely express yourself”).
When requesting for someone to exert maximum effort or when describing their top performance or achievement, the correct phrase is “your best” (e.g., “Do your best and you’ll have no regrets”).
“You’re best” is a spelling mistake and should be avoided.
The past tense and past participle of “lead” is “led,” meaning that the correct phrasing is “has led” (e.g., “She has led us to the best places in town”).
Yes, technically, “conversate” is a word, although it is considered nonstandard and should be avoided.
The correct verb to use is “converse,” which means “to have a conversation with someone” (e.g., “They wanted to converse about possibly remodeling the school’s gym”).
Our AI Rewriter can help you quickly rewrite texts to express your meaning.
However, some style guides advise using hyphens in certain instances. For example, the AP Style Guide suggests using a hyphen when the root word is a proper noun (e.g., “inter-American”), and the Chicago Manual of Style recommends including a hyphen to avoid a double “a” or “i” (e.g., “intra-arterial”).
“Worser” may be found in archaic texts, but it is considered nonstandard and should be avoided in modern and formal writing.
When describing something as having lesser quality compared to something else, the correct word to use is “worse,” which is the comparative adjective form of “bad” (e.g., “The dessert was worse than the entrée”).
When describing something as having the lowest quality or condition compared to something else, the correct word to use is “worst,” which is the superlative adjective form of “bad” (e.g., “That was the worst play I’ve ever seen”).
The correct phrase is “too bad,” which is used idiomatically to show sympathy (e.g., “That’s too bad that you couldn’t go”) or indifference (e.g., “Too bad; we all have to work”).
When describing someone as the most bad of them all, the correct phrase is “you’re the worst,” not “you’re the worse” (e.g., “You’re the worst instructor I’ve ever had”).
The correct phrase is “worst-case scenario,” not “worse case scenario,” and means “the worst possible thing that could happen in a situation” (e.g., “We prepared for the worst-case scenario”).
In this expression, “worst-case” is functioning as a compound adjective and is typically hyphenated.
“To” is frequently used as a preposition that indicates the direction of movement (e.g., “Let’s go to Paris”) or as part of an infinitive verb (e.g., “I want to read”).
“Too” is an adverb that means “very” or “also” (e.g., “I want a cupcake, too”).
The term “columns” describes elements that are placed vertically (e.g., a stack of coins) or formed linearly (e.g., a column of smoke). It can also refer to pillars on the outside of a building (e.g., the columns of ancient Greek buildings).
In spreadsheet programs like Excel and Google Sheets, rows are the boxes that run from left to right (typically labeled numerically) and columns run up and down (typically labeled alphabetically).
No, a comma is not always required before “too,” although it can be added for clarity (e.g., “I, too, passed the exam”) or emphasis (e.g., “I tried it, too”).
The “o” in “opossum” can be voiced or silent, meaning it can be pronounced “uh-paw-sum” or “paw-sum.” However, the former pronunciation is preferred in scientific and academic settings.
“Objective” is an adjective that means “relating to facts, data, and evidence rather than opinions and biases” (e.g., “The results were based on research and are therefore objective”).
However, the word “objective” can also be used as a noun that means “goal” (e.g., “The objective was to return the gift without her noticing”).
Subjective is an adjective that describes something as relating to opinions, personal interpretations, and individual experiences instead of unbiased data (e.g., “Love is subjective because it can mean different things to many people”).
“Objectivity” is a noun that refers to the state of being “objective” or focusing on facts rather than opinions (e.g., “His objectivity in the debate was evident”).
“Subjectivity” is a noun that refers to the quality of being subjective or influenced by personal interpretations and opinions instead of facts (e.g., “Her subjectivity affected the outcome of the case”).
The correct spelling of this phrase is beck and call. It is part of the expression “to be at someone’s beck and call,” which means “to be ready to follow someone’s orders.”
David is at the beck and call of his mother.
Beg and call is a misspelling of this phrase, but it may occasionally appear in a different context if you combine the verbs “to beg” and “to call.”
I beg and callbut she doesn’t want to listen to me.
The correct version is tune in to because “tune in” is a phrasal verb. “To” often follows “tune in” as part of an infinitive verb phrase, but “in” and “to” should be kept separate.
I’m tuning in to my favorite TV show this evening.
Please tune in to Radio 5 at 3 p.m. tomorrow afternoon!
Alright and all right are both correct spelling variants of the same word. You can use “are you alright” or “are you all right.” The latter is accepted by more dictionaries and is considered less informal.
Alright and all right are both correct spelling variants of the same word. You can use “doing all right” or “doing alright.” The former is accepted by more dictionaries and is considered less informal.
Alright and all right are both correct spelling variants of the same word. You can use “everything is alright” or “everything is all right.” The latter is accepted by more dictionaries and is considered less informal.
Grayandgreyare two spellings of the same noun, adjective, or verb. The spelling depends on the type of English:
InAmerican English, you use “gray,” sograyed outis correct.
InBritish English, you use “grey,” sogreyed outis correct.
The adjectivegrayed outorgrayed outrefers to something like a menu item or button on a computer screen that’s not highlighted, indicating that it’s inactive.
It’s important to choose one spelling and use it consistently. TheQuillBot Grammar Checkercan help you with this
There are two variants of the indefinite article:aandan. You use “a” when the word starts with a consonant sound and “an” when the word starts with a vowel sound.
The word “historic” can be pronounced with a hard “h” (consonant sound) or silent “h” (vowel sound). You should choose the indefinite article that fits your pronunciation.
There are two variants of the indefinite article:aandan. You use “a” when the word starts with a consonant sound and “an” when the word starts with a vowel sound.
Thenoun“hour” is pronounced with a silent “h” (vowel sound), so you should use “an.
There are two variants of the indefinite article:aandan. You use “a” when the word starts with a consonant sound and “an” when the word starts with a vowel sound.
The “u” in “unique” is pronounced like the word “you,” which is a consonant sound. This means you should use “a.”
There are two variants of the indefinite article:aandan. You use “a” when the word starts with a consonant sound and “an” when the word starts with a vowel sound.
The word “honor” is pronounced with a silent “h” (vowel sound), so you should use “an.”
Burntandburnedare two spellings of the same verb. The usage depends on the variant of English.
InBritish English, both “burned” and “burnt” are used for both the verb and adjective, butburnt-out light bulbis a bit more common.
InAmerican English, “burned” is used as a verb, while “burned” and “burnt” are used interchangeably as adjectives. However,burned-out light bulbis more common in American English.
It’s important to choose one spelling and use it consistently. TheQuillBot Grammar Checkercan help you with this.
Its and it’s are often confused. “Its” is the correct possessive form of “it,” whereas “it’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.”
“Its” is used to indicate possession by an animal or thing (e.g., “its revenue,” “its paw”). Possessive adjectives like “its” are always followed by a noun.
The most common version is paper flyer. Even though flier and flyer are often used interchangeably, most language authorities favor “flyer” to refer to a leaflet.
Both frequent flier and frequent flyer can be used to describe someone who flies often. Even though flier and flyer are often used interchangeably, most language authorities favor “flier” to refer to someone who flies.
The most common version is marketing flyer. Even though flier and flyer are often used interchangeably, most language authorities favor “flyer” to refer to a leaflet.
Defence and defense are two spellings of the same noun. The spelling depends on the type of English.
In American English, “defense” is most common, so self-defense is correct.
In British English, “defence” is standard, so self-defence is correct.
In both cases, also make sure to hyphenate the term.
The same distinction applies to similar words, such as offence or offense, licence orlicense, and pretence or pretense. It’s important to choose one spelling and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
Visual aid is the only correct spelling. It describes a visual instructional device (e.g., a diagram) to help others understand the information presented. It can also refer to a device that helps one to see, such as glasses or a magnifying glass.
Aid often follows an attributive noun or adjective (e.g., “visual”) to specify the type of help.
Teacher’s aide is the only correct spelling. It refers to someone who assists a teacher but is not a qualified teacher themself. The noun “aide” means helper or assistant and always refers to a person.
Job aid is the only correct spelling. It’s an instructional tool (such as a checklist) to improve work efficiency. The noun “aid” can be placed after an attributive noun or adjective (e.g., “job”) to describe the type of help given.
Practice and practise have different uses in American and British English.
In British English, “practice” is used as a noun and “practise” as a verb.
In American English, “practice” is used for both the noun and verb.
“To practice” is the infinitive form. In British English, you’d use to practise (with an “s”), and in American English, you’d use to practice (with a “c”). A QuillBot grammar check can help you use one type of English consistently.
Practice and practise have different uses in American and British English.
In British English, “practice” is used as a noun and “practise” as a verb.
In American English, “practice” is used for both the noun and verb.
“Practice” in “exam practice” is a noun, so you should use exam practice in both American and British English.
It’s important to choose one type of English and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
11:45
THREE: Practice and practise have different uses in American and British English.
In British English, “practice” is used as a noun and “practise” as a verb.
In American English, “practice” is used for both the noun and verb.
“Practice” in “choir practice” is a noun, so you should use choir practice in both American and British English.
It’s important to choose one type of English and use it consistently. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you with this.
Organisationandorganizationare two spellings of the same noun. The spelling depends on the type of English.
InBritish English, you use “organisation.”
InAmerican English, you use “organization.”
Canada largely follows the UK guidelines, but for words containing -iz-, they follow American guidelines. This meansorganizationis standard.
The same difference applies to words that end in -ize or -yze, such as recognize or recognise, analyze or analyse, finalize or finalise, minimize or minimise, and organize or organise.
It’s important to choose one type of English and use it consistently. TheQuillBot Grammar Checkercan help you with this.
Organisationandorganizationare two spellings of the same noun. The spelling depends on the type of English.
InBritish English, you write “international organisation,” unless you follow Oxford style guidelines. In that case, you write “international organization.”
InAmerican English, you write “international organization.”
The same difference applies to words ending in -ize or -yze, such as recognize or recognise, analyze or analyse, finalize or finalise, minimize or minimise, and organize or organise.
It’s important to choose one type of English and use it consistently. TheQuillBot Grammar Checkercan help you with this.
No, “everytime” is not a word; it’s a misspelling of the two-word adverbial phraseevery time.
Even though some other compounds with “every-” are written as closed compounds (e.g., “everyone,” “everyday”), you should always add a space between the two words in this case.
The correct version is “something to that effect.” In this instance, “effect” is part of an expression and can’t be replaced without changing the meaning of the expression.
However, in other instances, you can determine whether you should use affect or effect by replacing “effect” with a similar noun (such as “outcome”).
If the sentence still makes sense, “effect” is correct.
Use whoseto show that something belongs to a person or thing, for example, “The tortoise, whose legs were short, could never keep up with the hare.” In this sentence, whoseshows that the legs belong to the tortoise.
Use whoseto show that something belongs to a person or thing, for example, “The tortoise, whose legs were short, could never keep up with the hare.” In this sentence, whoseshows that the legs belong to the tortoise.
Immigrationandemigrationare bothnounsthat are used to describe the process of moving from one country to another. “Immigration” focuses on individuals who immigrate to, or arrive in, a new country (e.g., “We discussed the country’simmigrationlaws”).
On the other hand, “emigration” focuses on those who emigrate from, or leave, their home country to live in a different one (e.g., “Too muchemigrationcan financially cripple a country”).
Amigrantrefers to a person who migrates or moves regularly, often in search of employment or better living conditions. Similarly, the word “migrant” also refers to animals that travel long distances from one habitat to another (e.g., “Many species of whales are migrants”).
Additionally, “migrant” is sometimes confused with the words “immigrant” and “emigrant.” However, “migrant” emphasizes that the movement to a new place happens regularly rather than once.
Emmigration is an incorrect spelling of “emigration.” It should be avoided, as the correct spelling of the word is always emigration (e.g., “We discussed the possibility of emigration”).
This word is closely related to theverb“emigrate.”
The correct phrase is ensure success, meaning to make sure that something is successful. To insure is to take out an insurance policy on something or guarantee it through some other type of transaction, so you can’t insure success—at least not literally.
Desertion is a noun derived from the verb desert, meaning “abandon a place or person.” It is found mainly in military contexts when military personnel leave their post without permission (e.g., “The private was charged with desertion”) but can also be used in relation to child desertion (e.g., “Billy’s parents had both been accused of child desertion”).
The word “photo shoot” is most commonly written as two words (e.g., “I have a photo shoot scheduled for 1 PM”), but “photoshoot” (written as one word) is becoming increasingly popular and acceptable (e.g., “I scheduled a photoshoot”).
Yes, a photoshoot (i.e., a session in which a photographer takes photos of someone or something) is sometimes casually referred to as a “shoot” (e.g., “Let’s have a shoot!”). However, keep in mind that it is a colloquial expression.
“Besides that” (with an “s”) is a phrase that means “other than that” (e.g., “I know you want to swim, but is there anything you hope to do besides that?”).
Remember, “beside” (without an “s”) functions as a preposition that means “next to.” When someone says, “beside that,” as in “can you place the book beside that,” they are asking for you to place the book next to something else.
When you are talking about the principal city in a state, then the word you want is capital (e.g., “Providence is the capital of Rhode Island”). The building in the capital city where the legislature meets is the capitol (e.g., “Alaska’s capitol in Juneau is rather underwhelming”).
In Washington, D.C., the US Capitol is given an uppercase “C.”
The principal city of a country or state is known as the capital city (e.g., “Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya”). The building where the legislatures meet is sometimes called the capitol (e.g., “Honolulu’s capitol is one of the more unusual legislative buildings in the USA”).
Not every legislative building is called a capitol; for instance in the UK it is called the Houses of Parliament, and when the two houses of the French parliament meet together, they do so at the Palace of Versailles.
When referring to the meeting place for the US Congress, Capitol has an uppercase “C.”
If you are empathetic then you have empathy, which is the ability to share or understand other people’s emotions because you can imagine how you would feel in other people’s situations (e.g., “She was very empathetic when I told her about my problems”).
If you are being sympathetic to someone, you are being nice to them by showing that you understand their feelings.
It is often used in the context of a negative experience (e.g., “He was very kind and sympathetic when I told him my bad news”) and belongs to the same word family as the nounsympathy.
Another word for compliments is “praise” (e.g. “I received a lot of praise for my performance”).
Other synonyms for the nouncompliment include “polite remark” and “flattering comment.”
Note that compliment and complement are commonly confused words. A complement (spelled with an “e”) is something that goes together well with something else.
The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you find synonyms for words like “compliment.”
A compliment (spelled with an “i”) is a polite remark that shows that you like something (e.g., “I got a lot of compliments at my art show”).
A complement (spelled with an “e”) is something that goes together well with something else (e.g., “This wine is a perfect complement to a summer dessert”).
The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using words like “compliments” and “complements” correctly.
Yes, years labeled “BC” (e.g., 700 BC) are older than dates labeled “AD” (e.g., AD 900).
Keep in mind that BC stands for before Christ and refers to years that happened before the birth of Jesus Christ. AD stands for anno Domini, which means “in the year of the Lord” in Latin, and refers to years after the birth of Jesus Christ.
BC dates are typically formatted by writing the year followed by “BC” (e.g., 550 BC). The BC era starts with 1 BC and goes backward until 10,000 BC.
“BC” always comes after the year. For example, 700 BC essentially means “700 [years] before Christ [was born];” therefore, “BC 700” would be incorrect.
AD dates are traditionally formatted by writing “AD” before the year (e.g., AD 400) but can sometimes be found with “AD” placed after the year (e.g., 400 AD).
“AD” indicates years after the assumed birth of Jesus Christ, starting with AD 1, all the way until the present day.
However, in modern usage, “AD” is often omitted for dates after the first century, especially in informal contexts. For example, the use of “AD” is not necessary when referring to the year 2024.
“Going well” is the correct choice (e.g., “My new job’s going very well, thanks”), because you need to use the adverb “well” rather than the adjective “good” in this expression.
However, “good” is also used as an adverb in informal speech (e.g., “It’s going really good, thanks”). But this is considered incorrect in most situations, so don’t use “good” as an adverb in formal writing or speech.
The same applies for “doing good” vs. “doing well” (i.e., “He’s doing very well in his new job” is correct).
The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you ensure you’re using the correct phrasing in your writing.
“I’m well” and “I’m good” are both grammatically correct responses to the question “How are you?”
The verb “to be” is a linking verb and can be followed by an adjective. “Good” is an adjective, and although “well” is the adverb form of “good,” it is also an adjective meaning “healthy.”
“I’m good” is less formal than “I’m well,” so “I’m well” is the better choice for most formal contexts (e.g., a job interview), particularly because some people consider “I’m good” to be incorrect.
Use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to ensure you choose the right word in your writing.
“Bear and bare” are commonly confused words. The correct spelling is bear in the phrasal verb “bear down.”
For example, “She was bearing down on him fast” (i.e., she was moving closer to him), or “We need to bear down hard” (i.e., we need to make more effort).
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you make the correct choices between commonly confused words such as “bear and bare.”
When you sneak up on someone or something, you approach without being noticed. Sneak up is always followed by the preposition “to” or “on.”
We can use sneak up literally, to describe a person or creature moving stealthily, or we can use it figuratively to describe how events sometimes seem to arrive without our noticing (e.g., “As always, the examinations had sneaked up on us”).
You can find synonyms for phrases like “sneak up” using the QuillBot Paraphraser.
In British English, “snuck” is regarded as nonstandard and should not be used in academic writing. Instead, it is sometimes used informally in British English, and it will often carry a humorous tone because of its nonstandard status.
You can check your grammar and spelling with the QuillBot Grammar Checker.
To whom (not “to who”) is the correct choice in the formal letter greeting “To Whom It May Concern.”
“To whom” is also the correct option at the beginning of a question (e.g., “To whom shall I give it?”).
But bear in mind that “whom” has a very formal stylistic effect, which you may want to avoid. In most everyday contexts, it is better to use “who” and put the preposition “to” at the end (e.g., “Who shall I give it to?”).
“To whom” (not “to who”) is also grammatically correct at the beginning of an adjective clause (e.g., “The man, to whom she was married for ten years, did not attend”). But again, “who” is often the better option, with “to” in a later position (e.g., “The man, who she was married to for ten years, did not attend”).
Using “to whom” in a restrictive adjective clause produces sentences that can be difficult to read (e.g., “This is the man to whom she was married”). Here you can leave out “whom” altogether and move “to” to a later position (e.g., “This is the man she was married to”).
The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using “who” and “whom” correctly.
By whom (not “by who”) is the correct choice at the beginning of a question (e.g., “By whom was it written?”).
But “whom” has a very formal stylistic effect, which you may want to avoid, so in most everyday contexts it is better to use “who” and put the preposition “by” at the end (e.g., “Who was it written by?”).
“By whom” (not “by who”) is also the grammatically correct choice at the beginning of an adjective clause (e.g., “The Rector, by whom he was appointed, made no comment”). But again, “who” is often the better option, with “by” in a later position (e.g., “The Rector, who he was appointed by, made no comment”).
The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using “who” and “whom” correctly.
From whom (not “from who”) is the correct choice at the beginning of a question (e.g., “From whom did you get it?”).
But “whom” has a very formal stylistic effect, which you may want to avoid, so in most everyday contexts it is better to use “who” and put the preposition “from” at the end (e.g., “Who did you get it from?”).
“From whom” (not “from who”) is also the grammatically correct choice at the beginning of an adjective clause (e.g., “His colleague, from whom he learned so much, retired last year”). But again, “who” is often the better option, with “from” in a later position (e.g., “His colleague, who he learned so much from, retired last year”).
The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using “who” and “whom” correctly.
For whom (not “for who”) is the correct choice at the beginning of a question (e.g., “For whom is this delivery?”).
But “whom” has a very formal stylistic effect, which you may want to avoid, so in most everyday contexts it is better to use “who” and put the preposition “for” at the end (e.g., “Who is this delivery for?”).
“For whom” (not “for who”) is also the grammatically correct choice at the beginning of an adjective clause (e.g., “The teacher, for whom he was supposed to be substituting, was in her classroom”). But again, “who” is often the better option, with “for” in a later position (e.g., “The teacher, who he was supposed to be substituting for, was in her classroom”).
The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using “who” and “whom” correctly.
The formal letter greeting “To Whom It May Concern” is a fixed expression. Who and whom are often confused, but it is incorrect to write “To Who It May Concern.”
The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using “who” and “whom” correctly.
Buyed is not recognized by dictionaries as a word in standard English. The simple past tense form of the verbbuy is bought, and the past participle is also bought. Buy is an irregular verb, so it doesn’t follow the regular pattern for forming the different tenses.
Bought and brought are commonly confused, but they are completely different words and cannot be used interchangeably.
You can use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to ensure you’re using the past tense of “buy” correctly.
Bought and brought (the past tense of “bring”) are often confused. But they cannot be used interchangeably.
Buy is an irregular verb, so it doesn’t add “-ed” to form the past tenses. The past participle is used to form the perfect tenses (e.g., “Have you bought any new shoes lately?”) and the passive voice (e.g., “There were no ice creams left—they had all been bought by the previous customer”).
You can ensure you’re using the past participle of “buy” correctly with the QuillBot Grammar Checker.
Borne out is the past participle of the phrasal verb “bear out,” which means “confirm/prove” (e.g., “Her suspicions were borne out when the investigation revealed the truth”). “Born and borne” are commonly confused. “Born” is the correct spelling in the phrase “to be born” when it refers to “a child coming into the world” or “something coming into existence” (e.g. “He was born on a Monday,” “And so a new chapter was born”).
The free QuillBot Grammar Checker will help you select the correct spelling of commonly confused words such as “born” and “borne.”
Bourne out of is an incorrect spelling of the phrase “to be born” followed by the preposition “out of.”
The correct spelling is “born out of.”
The expression “to be born out of wedlock” means “to be born to parents who were not married” (e.g., “The child was born out of wedlock”).
The phrase “to be born out of” means “to originate from/be a result of” (e.g., “His writing is born out of experience,” “The decision was born out of necessity”).
Born and borne are commonly confused, “borne” is the past participle of the verb “bear” when it means “carry,” “support,” or “accept.”
The QuillBot Paraphrasing Tool can help you rewrite sentences and find new ways to express your meaning.
Discrete variables take distinct values (e.g., whole numbers), and you get them by counting (e.g., The number of cars that pass a certain point).
Continuous variables take values that can be infinitely subdivided (e.g., decimal numbers), and you get them by measuring (e.g., the weight of a loaded car).
Discrete and continuous variables are both quantitative variables.
Discrete and discreet are sometimes confused, but they have different meanings and can’t be used interchangeably. “Discreet” means “tactful,” “prudent,” or “modest.”
Use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “discrete” in your specific context.
Discreet and discrete are sometimes confused, but they have different meanings and can’t be used interchangeably. “Discrete” means “separate” or “distinct.”
Use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “discreet” in your specific context.
Scarf down is an informal phrasal verb meaning “eat something quickly and eagerly.” It’s typically followed by a noun or noun phrase (e.g., “I watched him scarf down two burgers”).
Sometime(one word) refers to an unspecified point of time, whereas some time (two words) refers to a duration of time. Therefore, the correct phrase is “sometime next week” (e.g., “Are you available sometime next week?”).
“Sometime” (one word) means “at some unspecified point in time” (e.g., “I should try it sometime”), whereas “some time” (two words) refers to a span of time (e.g., “I took some time to practice”).
The correct phrase is “better than” when you’re making a comparison, as in “Ice cream tastes better than yogurt.” Always use “than” when you mean “in comparison to.”
Only use “better then” when you mean “better at that time” (e.g., “We took photographs in the evening because the light was better then”).
The correct choice is “more than ever” because “than” goes with comparison words like “more” (e.g., “After her first week in the dorms, Darcy appreciated her mother’s cooking more than ever”).
Use “than” when you could also say “in comparison to.”
Fazed is the past participle or simple past form of the regular verb “faze,” which means “to disturb or upset” (e.g., “The interview questions were difficult but did not faze her at all”).
Phased is the past participle or simple past form of the regular verb “phase,” which means “to carry out in phases” (e.g., “The transition to the new system will be phased over six months”).
However, we normally use the phrasal verbs “phase in” and “phase out” to express the gradual introduction of a change (e.g., “The new system will be phased in slowly/The old system will be phased out slowly”).
The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using words like “fazed” and “phased” correctly.
Willn’t is not a word listed in standard dictionaries.
However, it has been used to spell out a contraction of “will not” used in some spoken dialects of English.
For instance, in chapter eight of the novel Shirely by Charlotte Brontë (1849), which is set in Yorkshire, England, the character William Farren says, “I willn’t do’t. I’m not for shedding blood.”
The standard contraction (short form) of “will not” is won’t (this is sometimes misspelled “wont.” However won’t and wont do not mean the same thing).
You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help ensure you’re using “won’t” correctly.
Use further to compare distances (e.g., “After driving a little further, we found the hotel”). When used in this sense, the words further and farther can be used interchangeably.
Also use “further” when you mean “more” (e.g., “Zoe did further research”), “to advance” (e.g., “The fundraiser will further a great cause”), or “furthermore” (e.g., “The moon is full, and further, Mercury is in retrograde”).
When you’re unsure whether further is the right word, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid mistakes.
According to some style guides, look no further is better than look no farther (e.g., Students who need a quiet place to study should look no further than the library”).
“Further” usually refers to distances that are figurative rather than literal.”
“Farther” usually describes distances that are literal (e.g., “We walked farther and saw a hawk’s nest”).
Further along and farther along are both correct ways to say “to a more advanced point.”
Some style guides recommend “farther” for physical distances (e.g., “As Sean hiked farther along the trail, he noticed more wildlife”) and “further” for literal distances (e.g., “As the semester moved further along, the students became more confident”).
Some style guides suggest that “farthest” is a better word for geographic distances (e.g., “During track practice, Gayle ran the farthest of anyone else on the team”).
When you’re uncertain about whether to use farthest or furthest, a QuillBot Grammar Check can help you avoid mistakes.
The first syllable of “weary” [wear-y] rhymes with the word “here.”
Be careful when using weary or wary because they have different meanings. You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to make sure you’re not mixing them up.
Therefore is a conjunctive adverb meaning “consequently” and links two ideas to describe a result. It is spelled with an “e” at the end (therefore and therefor are two different words).
Therefore at the beginning of a sentence exampleThe office is closed next week. Therefore, there will be some delay in replying to emails.
Don’t put a comma before or after “and therefore” if it is part of a compound predicate (i.e., the two verbs are “sharing” the same subject).
Therefore in a compound predicate exampleThe product was damaged andtherefore reduced in price. [Verbs sharing the subject, “the product”]
If you use “therefore” midsentence to deliberately “interrupt” the flow of the sentence for emphasis, it needs commas before and after it. But bear in mind that this will emphasize the information that comes before it.
Therefore used for emphasis exampleThe office is closed next week. Calls, therefore, will not be answered. [“Calls” is emphasized, e.g., to communicate that emails will be answered]
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use “therefore” correctly in your writing.
Therefore at the beginning of a sentence exampleThe office is closed next week. Therefore, there will be some delay in replying to emails.
Don’t put a comma before or after “and therefore” if it is part of a compound predicate (i.e., the two verbs are “sharing” the same subject).
Therefore in a compound predicate exampleThe product was damaged andtherefore reduced in price. [Verbs sharing the subject, “the product”]
If you use “therefore” midsentence to deliberately “interrupt” the flow of a sentence for emphasis, it needs commas before and after it. But bear in mind that this will emphasize the information that comes before it.
Therefore used for emphasis exampleThe office is closed next week. Calls, therefore, will not be answered. [“Calls” is emphasized, e.g., to communicate that emails will be answered]
Note that therefore and therefor are two different words. “Therefor” doesn’t generally need commas before or after it.
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you punctuate “therefore” correctly in your writing.
“I wish I were” is the grammatically correct phrase because it uses the past subjunctive form of “to be,” which is “were” (e.g., “I wish I were on vacation”). This form is used to express wishes or hypothetical situations contrary to reality.
However, “I wish I was” is becoming increasingly acceptable in casual speech and writing.
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you use “was and were” correctly in your writing. Try it today.
Imply is a verb that means to “hint” or “suggest without stating directly” (e.g., “The restaurant advertisements imply that the menu is kid friendly”).
“Imply” is often confused with the verb “infer.” However, these words cannot be used interchangeably. If you’re unsure about whether to use imply or infer, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid mistakes.
Infer is a verb that means to “make a conclusion based on indirect evidence” (e.g., “Since the clouds are getting darker, we can infer that rain is coming”).
“Infer” is often confused with the verb “imply.” However, these words cannot be used interchangeably. If you’re unsure about whether to use infer or imply, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid mistakes.
The phrasal verbslog on and log in are interchangeable and mean to “connect to a computer system” (e.g., “The password didn’t work when I tried to log on to my online banking”).
The nounslog-on and log-in are also interchangeable and mean the details (e.g., username and password) that you need to access a system.
Log on (verb) and log-on (noun) are the most common variants in American English.
Knowing whether in vs on vs at is correct often depends on the specific context.
If you are on time, you are not late or haven’t missed a deadline.
On time in a sentence examples I have to leave now if I want to be on time for my appointment.
We have a reputation for completing projects on time.
My plane landed on time.
If you are in time, you are not too late for an event or not too late to do something (i.e., you still have the opportunity to do it, but you may be later than planned/arranged or have missed a deadline).
In time examples in a sentenceIf we leave right now, we’ll get there in time for the start of the film.
The project will be completed in time for Christmas.
We got to the boarding gate just in time; they were about to close.
Knowing whether in vs on vs at is correct often depends on the specific context.
If you say someone is “in bed” it means they are sleeping or resting in their bed or have not got out of their bed to start their day (e.g., “It’s time to get up. You can’t stay in bed all day!”).
We say “on the bed,” “on her bed” etc. to indicate the location of something placed above the bed covering (e.g., “I left your washing on your bed,” “Please don’t sit on my bed with your shoes on.”
Knowing whether in vs on vs at is correct often depends on the specific context.
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you rewrite sentences to ensure you’re using prepositions correctly in your writing.
“Maybe” can also mean “approximately” (e.g., “It’ll cost maybe 100 dollars”) or “sometimes” (e.g., “The monsoon lasts for three maybe four months”).
It’s important to note the difference between may be vs maybe as they can’t be used interchangeably. “May be” (two words) is the modal verb “may” followed by the verb “be.”
Use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “maybe” in your specific context.
It’s important to note the difference between may be vs maybe as they can’t be used interchangeably. “May be” (two words) is the modal verb “may” followed by the verb “be.”
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use “maybe” and “may be” correctly in your writing.
“Mabye” is a common typo (misspelling) of the adverb “maybe.” It is not a word.
It’s important to note the difference between may be vs maybe as they can’t be used interchangeably. “May be” (two words) is the modal verb “may” followed by the verb “be.”
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you pick up typos in your writing.
It’s important to note the difference between may be vs maybe as they can’t be used interchangeably. “May be” (two words) is the modal verb “may” followed by the verb “be.”
“Maybe” is also sometimes used as a noun to refer to someone who has not fully committed to something or to mean an “uncertainty.”
Maybe used as a noun examplesPerson A: Are you coming to the presentation on Monday? Person B: I’m not sure; you can put me down as a maybe.
We can’t make such an important decision on the basis of so many maybes.
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use “maybe” and “may be” correctly in your writing.
Bear in mind that “elder” and “older” and eldest and oldest are not always interchangeable. “Elder”/“eldest” can only be used to refer to a person, and this is generally a member of a group of relatives (e.g., a sibling).
Use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “older” in your specific context.
Bear in mind that “elder” and “older” and eldest and oldest are not always interchangeable. “Elder”/“eldest” can only be used to refer to a person, and this is usually a member of a group of relatives (e.g., a sibling).
However, bear in mind that the phrase “in the meantime” is much more common than “in the meanwhile.”
If you’re not sure whether to write meantime or mean time, then you probably need the adverb “meantime” (one word). “Mean time” (two words) is a timekeeping term (e.g., Greenwich Mean Time).
Use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “in the meantime” in your specific context.
The word “mean” is used in a very wide range of contexts.
For instance, in math, the mean is the average of a set of numbers (e.g., “To calculate the mean of ten numbers, add them together and divide by ten).
“Mean time” (e.g., Greenwich Mean Time), is based on the average solar day. But bear in mind that meantime and mean time have different meanings.
In informal speech, “mean” is sometimes used as an adjective to describe something as excellent (e.g., “She plays a mean game of chess”).
The phrase mean streets is used to describe a socially deprived urban area that is often perceived as dangerous (e.g., “She comes from the mean streets of New York but now lives in a glittering Beverly Hills mansion.”
When used as a verb, “mean” refers to the act of conveying or expressing certain information (e.g., “I don’t know what that word means”).
You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use the word “mean” correctly in your writing.
“Recur” is frequently the preferred choice in the context of regularly or periodically repeating events/occurrences (e.g., “This theme recurs throughout the book”).
If we’re describing something that happens again, but not regularly or periodically, then “reoccur” is often preferred (e.g., “This theme reoccurs in the second act of the play”).
You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use “recur” and “reoccur” correctly in your writing.
Recurringly is a rarely used alternative to the adverb “recurrently” and means “repeatedly” (e.g., “He has voiced this opinion recurringly”).
It’s important to note that the related words recurring and reoccurring both mean “happening again,” but “recurring” generally also suggests frequent or regular repetition (e.g., “a recurring pattern”).
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use “recur,” “reoccur,” and their related forms correctly.
Reaccuring is not a word. It is a misspelling of the word “reoccurring,” which is the present participle form of the verb “reoccur.”
Bear in mind that the wordsreoccurring and recurring both mean “happening again,” but “recurring” generally also implies frequent or regular repetition (e.g., “a recurring dream”).
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help avoid common misspellings such as “reaccuring.”
Reccuring is a common typo (misspelling) of the word “recurring” (spelled with one “c” and double “r”). “Recurring” is the adjective form of the verb “recur.”
Bear in mind that the adjectives recurring and reoccurring both mean “happening again,” but “recurring” also conveys the idea of frequent or periodic repetition (e.g., “a recurring nightmare”).
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help avoid common typos such as “reccuring.”
Can’t (the contraction of “cannot”) is spelled with an apostrophe between the “n” and the “t” (i.e., “cant” is a common misspelling of “can’t”).
Along the same lines, confusion over can not or cannot leads to the common misspelling of “cannot” as “can not” (two words).
The word “cant” (with no apostrophe, and pronounced so it rhymes with “ant”) is an uncountable noun referring to statements that are not genuinely believed by the person who makes them but said because they are the normal, accepted thing to say in the given situation (e.g., “His speech was filled with empty platitudes and cant”).
You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you avoid misspellings and typos such as “cant” for “can’t.”
Yes, can’t is the contraction of “cannot” (i.e., the negative form of the modal verb “can”).
It’s generally best to use “cannot” instead of “can’t” in formal writing.
Along the same lines, confusion over cannot vs can not sometimes leads to the misspelling of “cannot” as “can not” (two words instead of one).
“Cant” (with no apostrophe) is a noun referring to statements that the speaker doesn’t really believe in, often made because they are considered the usual, accepted thing to say in the given situation (e.g., “It was nothing more than cant; stock phrases and jargon that told us nothing new”).
You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you avoid missing out apostrophes in contractions like “can’t.”
Can’t is a contraction. It is the contraction of “cannot” (i.e., the negative form of the modal verb “can”).
Other commonly used contractions include “I’m,” “we’ve,” and “mustn’t.”
These short forms are very common in everyday speech, but they are generally avoided in formal writing (e.g., academic writing).
It’s important to note that “cannot” is not a contraction, and cannot and can not are not interchangeable. The correct negative form of “can” is “cannot” (written as one word).
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use contractions correctly in your writing.
A contraction is a short form of word combinations we commonly use in speech. For instance, “I’m” is the contraction of “I am,” “let’s” is the contraction of “let us,” and “can’t” is the contraction of “cannot.”
Most contractions have an apostrophe where a part of the full form is left out, but some don’t (e.g., “gonna” for “going to).
We don’t generally use contractions in formal writing (e.g., academic writing).
You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use contractions appropriately in your writing.
The standard way of spelling entitled is with an “e”; intitled is an archaic (outdated) spelling.
On a similar note, if you can’t decide whether entitled or titled is correct for stating the title of a movie, book etc. (e.g., “The painting is titled/entitled Blue”), you can use either word because both are correct (although many style guides recommend using “titled” for this meaning).
A QuillBot Grammar Check will help you pick up spelling errors such as “intitled.”
However, elicit and illicit cannot be used interchangeably. The adjective “illicit” is used to describe something as “forbidden,” “illegal” or “socially improper.”
Why not use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “elicit” in your specific context?
Ellicit is a common misspelling of the verb “elicit” (i.e., it should be spelled with only one “l”).
One of the reasons for this is that elicit and illicit are commonly confused, and “illicit” is spelled with double “l.”
“Elicit” means to “receive or obtain” a reaction, a response, or information. So, if you are attempting to elicit a reaction or information from someone, you are trying to obtain it, often in a subtle or indirect way.
A QuillBot Grammar Check can help you pick up typos such as “ellicit” in your writing.
“Hero” is spelled the same in the singular form whether you’re referring to a brave champion or a large sandwich. But, in the plural, the people are “heroes” and the sandwiches are “heros.”
“Later” functions as an adverb of time (e.g., “I will do it later”) and a comparative adjective (e.g., “Can we start the meeting a bit later tomorrow?”).
Be careful not to confuse later and latter. “Latter” means “toward the end” of a period or segment of something (e.g., “The product is in the latter stages of development) or refers back to the second/last thing in a list (e.g., “Of the two options, the latter makes much more sense”).
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use commonly confused words such as “later” and “latter” correctly in your writing.
The latter half means “the second half” of something, especially a period of time (e.g., “His work enjoyed a revival during the latter half of the 19th century”).
We don’t generally say “later half” to refer to the second half of something (later and latter are commonly confused words).
Looking for another way of expressing “latter half”? Why not try out QuillBot’s free Paraphraser?
You can use latter in a sentence as a noun to refer back to the second of two things or the last thing in a list (e.g. “Neither the former nor the latter of the two options were acceptable”).
It also functions as an adjective meaning “near the end” of a period or part of something (e.g., “The problem occurs during the latter stages of the process).
Be careful not to confuse later and latter because you can’t use them interchangeably.
Why not check that you’re using “latter” correctly in your sentence with QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker?
Embedded is the simple past tense form and past participle of the verb “embed,” which means to fix firmly in a material or to make something an important part of a larger whole.
Embedded (verb) in a sentence examplesThe sword had been magically embedded in the stone.
The company embedded this principle in its corporate culture.
Embedded is also an adjective used to describe something that is firmly fixed or established in something else.
Embedded (adjective) in a sentence examplesThe diamond is embedded in gold.
Social media has become embedded in modern life.
You can spell this word imbedded or embedded, but “embedded” is much more common.
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use the word “embedded” correctly in your writing.
“Imbedded” is not a synonym for “embedded” because imbedded and embedded are alternative spellings of the same word. “Embedded” has become the more standard spelling in modern English.
Why not use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “embedded” in your specific context?
You can spell embedded with an “e” or an “i” (i.e., imbedded or embedded), but “embedded” is more common in modern English and recommended in many style guides. It is therefore best to spell it “embedded” in formal writing (e.g., academic writing).
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re spelling “embedded/imbedded” correctly in your writing.
The possessive nounpeoples’ is correct when you want to talk about something that belongs to more than one cultural or ethnic group.
If you want to talk about something that belongs to one specific cultural or ethnic group, you would use the form people’s.
For example, “the Spanish people’s opinions” refers to the opinions of just the Spanish. But, “the French and Spanish peoples’ opinions” refers to the opinions of both groups.
If you are writing in a legal, official, or technical context, it may be better to use persons’ as the possessive plural. This is because “persons” is preferred to “people” as the plural of “person” in these contexts.
We can use persons or people in English to mean slightly different things.
“Persons” means “several individuals,” while “people” means “a group of humans.”
The slight difference in the meanings of these words comes from their Latin origins.
“Persons” comes from the Latin “persona,” meaning “mask,” or “character.” “Persona” evolved to mean “individual,” and that meaning is preserved in the English words “person” and “persons.”
“People” comes from the Latin “populus,” which means “population,” or “group of humans.” This is why the English “people” has its group-focused meaning.
“People” is the more common plural of “person” in general English. It means “human beings,” especially as a group (e.g., “Ten people came to my party,” or “English people love tea”).
“Persons” is found in formal, legal, technical, and official contexts. It means “various individuals” (e.g. “The court will try these four persons for their crimes,” or “Police are working to find the missing persons”).
If you’re not sure which word is the best choice in your writing, use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to check.
In the phrase cue the music, “cue” (not “queue”) is the correct spelling.
You say “cue the music” to instruct someone to start playing music at a specific point in a stage performance (e.g., a play) or a live broadcast (e.g., a radio show) or to add music to video or film at a specific point (e.g., “We should cue the music here when she opens the curtains”).
When deciding if cue or queue is the correct spelling for a particular context, it’s important to make the right choice because the two words have different meanings.
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use commonly confused words such as cue and queue correctly in your writing.
In the phrase on cue, “cue” (not “queue”) is the correct spelling.
If something happens “on cue,” it happens precisely when expected or at a favorable time. People often use it ironically to mean “just my luck that that should happen at that particular time” (e.g., “And as if on cue, it started to rain just as I left my apartment”).
It’s important to choose the right word when deciding whether cue or queue is correct because they have different meanings.
Why not try out QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you avoid errors with commonly confused words such as “cue” and “queue”?
Ques is not a word (but is sometimes used as an abbreviation for the word “question”). Cues is the plural of the noun “cue” (e.g., “Visual cues of nervousness include fidgeting and avoiding eye contact” or “Do you sell pool cues?”).
The plural of the noun “queue” is “queues” (e.g., “There are always queues at the checkouts).
Making the right choice when deciding if cue or queue is the word you want is important because they have different meanings.
“Cues” is also the third-person singular form of the verb “cue” (e.g., “The sound engineer cues the music”).
Similarly, “queues” is the third-person singular form of the verb “queue” (e.g., “Sometimes she queues up for hours”).
Why not try out QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? It will help you pick up errors in the spelling of tricky words such as “queue” and “cue.”
It’s sometimes tricky to decide if peek or peak is the correct spelling for a particular context because these two words are homophones (i.e. They are pronounced the same but have different meanings).
Why not try out QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “peak” in your specific context?
To pique your interest means to “make you curious.” So, if your interest has been “piqued” by something, you are now curious about it.
Pique your interest in a sentence examplesWe need to think of a good headline for the article that will pique people’s interest.
OK, so now you’ve piqued my interest—that sounds like a really exciting opportunity!
Knowing if pique, peek, or peak is the correct spelling for a particular context is tricky because all three of these words are pronounced in the same way but have different meanings.
Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you pick up errors in the use of commonly confused words like “pique,” “peek,” and “peak” in your writing?
Pique (not peak) is the correct spelling in the phrase “pique someone’s interest,” which means to “arouse someone’s interest.”
Pique your interest, pique my interest etc. examplesWe hope this introduction has piqued your interest in the subject.
I read the first few chapters, but it didn’t really pique my interest.
Knowing whether to spell it “pique,” peak, or pique is tricky because these words are homophones (i.e. They have different meanings but are pronounced in the same way).
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? It’s a great tool for avoiding mistakes with commonly confused words like these.
Through can be a preposition, adverb, or adjective and has many meanings. It is also commonly confused with the past tense verbthrew, which sounds the same but has different meanings.
Both “walk thru” and “walk through” are acceptable depending on the context.
“Walk thru” and “walk through” mean the same thing:
To move through a place
To go over something carefully
The difference is that “thru” is the informal spelling of “through.” You’ll find “thru” in informal writing like text messages or social media posts, or in contexts where word count or space is limited, like signs.
So if you are texting a friend, you might say, “Want to walk thru the park on our way to class?”
But if you’re writing a report or a story, you would want to say, “The students walked through the park on their way to class.”
Don’t confuse “thru” and “through” with the verb “threw.” These words sound the same but have different meanings.
When talking about dates, “through” means “to and including.” So in a formal context, you could say, “We work Monday through Friday.” But if texting a friend, you could say, “We work Monday thru Friday.”
Don’t mix up “thru” and “through” with “threw,” the simple past tense of the verb “to throw.”
We use the verbinvoke to mean “use” (a law, principle, or right), “reference” something (to support what we are saying or doing), or “call upon” (a god, spirit etc.).
Invoke in a sentence examplesHe plans to invoke a centuries-old law to assert his claim to the inheritance.
The venue for the speech was deliberately chosen to invoke the memory of the historic gathering that took place there.
This ritual is performed to invoke the spirits for guidance and protection.
Deciding if invoke or evoke is the right word for a certain context can be difficult as the difference in meaning is sometimes quite subtle.
Try a free Grammar Check to help you make the right choice between commonly confused words.
Synonyms for the verbinvoke in connection with laws, rules, and rights include:
Exercise
Assert
Claim
Employ
Use
Synonyms for invoke when used to mean “deliberately reference something” (in order to support what you are doing or saying) include:
Cite
Reference
Quote
Call upon
Appeal to
Synonyms for invoke when used to mean “ask for help” from a supernatural force, spirit, or god include:
Call upon
Summon
Conjure
Appeal to
Call forth
If you’re considering whether invoke or evoke in the correct choice for your context, bear in mind that, although they can have related meanings in some contexts, they are not synonyms.
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you find the best synonym for “invoke” to fit your specific context.
The nounprevention describes actions and measures designed to stop something from happening, particularly in order to avoid a negative outcome or to reduce risk.
In the field of health care, “prevention” is sometimes used as a synonym for the term “preventive health care” when referring to policies, initiatives, and interventions aimed at reducing the risk of illness and disease.
Prevention in a sentence examplesThe government’s new health policies focus on prevention by promoting access to vaccinations and preventive services.
Residents are calling for new prevention measures following the devastation of the floods.
On a related note, although you can use the adjectivespreventive or preventative interchangeably to mean “intended to prevent,” many style guides recommend using “preventive” as it’s shorter and more commonly used, particularly in formal writing.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? You can use it to check if you’re using “prevention” correctly in your text.
It is a common way of formally and respectfully addressing a woman in spoken American English (e.g., in customer service settings). It is not used in combination with the woman’s name.
Ma’am in a sentence examplesCan I be of any assistance, ma’am?
On a related note, it’s important to make the right choice between madam or madame—only use the French word “madame” if you’re addressing a woman from a French-speaking country.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you avoid spelling errors and typos in your texts?
The short form of madam is ma’am (e.g., “Good morning, ma’am. How can I help you?”).
On a related note, you can’t spell “madam” as either madam or madame—only use the French word “madame” to address a woman from a French-speaking country.
Why not run your texts through QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you pick up typos and grammar errors?
The correct spelling of the short form of “madam” is ma’am (e.g., “Good afternoon, ma’am. How are you today?”).
And bear in mind that you can’t spell “madam” as either madam or madame—only use the French title “Madame” when addressing a woman from a French-speaking country.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you improve the fluency, vocabulary, tone, and style of your writing?
Yes, between typically functions as a preposition (e.g., “There were short breaks between the lectures”).
However, it is classified as an adverb when placed at the end of a phrase like this: “There were three lectures with some short breaks between.”
“Between” is often interchangeable with “in between,” but note that you can’t spell “in between” as either inbetween or in between—it’s always spelled as two words.
A QuillBot Grammar Check can help ensure you’re using words like “between” correctly.
You can spell this word OK or okay; they are both correct spellings. The important thing is to use the same spelling consistently throughout your text. If you are using a style guide, check to see if it specifies a particular spelling.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you check your texts for typos and spelling errors?
Ok (more commonly OK or okay) is a word in its own right. It is not short for “okay,” which is simply a different spelling of the same word.
Experts believe that the roots of this word lie in the 19th century initialism “O.K.,” which was short for “oll korrect”—a humorous alteration of the phrase “all correct.”
Both me and my family and my family and I can be correct. Use I or me depending on what sounds right when you remove “and my family” from the sentence.
Me and my family or my family and I examplesExample sentence: Me and my family went to the movies. Sentence without “and my family”: I went to the movies … [“Me” sounds wrong] Correct sentence: My family and I went to the movies.
Example sentence: She has helped my family and I a lot. Sentence without “and my family”: She has helped me … [“I” sounds wrong] Correct sentence: She has helped my family and me a lot. [“My family” usually comes before “me” or “I”]
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? It can help you with tricky grammar choices, such as when to use “I” or “me.”
If you’re not sure whether you need the word fiancé or fiancée: the person noun “fiancé” is the male form, and “fiancée” (with an additional “e”) is the female form.
However, there is a trend toward using “fiancé” as a gender-neutral term for both men and women.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help keep your texts free from grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors?
While fiancé is increasingly being used as a gender-neutral expression instead of distinguishing between fiancé or fiancée, these words are still typically used gender-specifically (i.e., “fiancé” for a man and “fiancée” for a woman).
Have you tried out QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you pick up typos and grammar errors in your writing?
If you’re not sure whether fiancé or fiancée is the correct word: the person noun “fiancée” refers to a woman (i.e., it is the female form), and “fiancé” typically refers to a man.
However, “fiancé” is increasingly being used as a gender-neutral term (i.e., to refer to both men and women).
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you identify spelling, grammar and punctuation errors in your writing?
The correct form of “hang out” is hung out (not hanged out) in the simple past tense and present perfect tense (e.g., “I hung out with my friends,” “We’ve never hung out together”).
If you’re not sure whether to use hung or hanged as the simple past or past participle form of the verb “hang,” always use “hung,” except when you’re referring to “death by hanging.”
Have you tried out QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? You can use it to help choose the correct verb forms.
Hopped is a form of the verb “hop,” whereas hoped is a form of the verb “hope.”
“Hopped” is the simple past tense and past participle form of “hop” (e.g., “We hopped from island to island”), but “hoped” is the simple past and past participle form of “hope” (e.g., “We had hoped to do some island-hopping, but we didn’t have enough time”).
Similarly, if you’re not sure whether hoping or hopping is the word you need, “hoping” comes from the verb “hope” and “hopping” from the verb “hop.”
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? It can help you identify errors with verb forms in your writing.
This tip will help you if you’re wondering whether the word you need is criteria or criterion: in formal contexts, use criteria as a pluralnoun and “criterion” as a singular noun.
Correct use of criteria and criterion examples
The criteria are objective.
The criteria is objective.
What are your criteria?
What is your criteria?
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to pick up errors in subject-verb agreement such as “criteria is.”
On a related note, if you’re not sure whether conscience or conscious is the right word, “conscious” is an adjective and means “deliberate,” “aware,” or “physically alert.”
Why not use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the perfect synonym for “conscience” in your specific context?
Synonyms for the adjectiveconscious when the meaning is “aware” include:
Mindful
Aware
Cognizant
Appreciative
Perceptive
Synonyms for conscious when the meaning is “deliberate” include:
Intentional
Deliberate
Thoughtful
Considered
Purposeful
Synonyms for conscious when the meaning is “physically alert” include:
Responsive
Awake
Lucid
Alert
On a related note, if you’re having trouble deciding whether conscious or conscience is the word you’re looking for, “conscience” is a noun and refers to your sense of right and wrong.
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser will help you find a synonym for “conscience” to fit your specific context.
On a related note, conscience and conscious are commonly confused words, so be careful not to mix them up—“conscience” is your sense of right or wrong, while “conscious” normally means “aware.”
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser will suggest synonyms for “conscientious” that fit your specific context.
Your moral conscience is your sense of what is morally right and wrong (e.g., “Members of Congress often have to vote along party lines rather than according to their moral conscience”).
On a related note, if you’re not sure whether the word you need is conscience or conscious, bear in mind that “conscious” is an adjective that normally means “aware,” but “conscious” is a noun referring to your sense of right and wrong.
Have you tried Quillbot’s free Paraphraser? You can use it to help you find alternative ways of expressing the concept of “moral conscience.”
The phrase peace and quiet refers to a state of calm where there is little noise or activity to disturb you (e.g., “There’s a big park nearby where you can go for some peace and quiet”).
On a related note, if you’re not sure whether you need the word quite or quiet, “quite” normally means “very” or “completely.”
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser? You can use it to find alternatives to the phrase “peace and quiet” in your writing.
The verb quieten means to “make or become calm or quiet” and is mainly used in British English. The alternative “quiet” is much more common in American English.
Quieten in a sentence examplesShe tried to quieten the baby by singing to it.
The crowd suddenly quietened as he stepped on the stage.
This statement will do little to quieten his critics.
On a related note, if you’re not sure whether quite or quiet is the word you’re looking for, “quite” typically means “very” or “totally.”
You can use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find synonyms for the verb “quieten” in your writing.
Awfully quiet means “very quiet.” It is typically used to describe a person who is being unusually silent (e.g., “You’ve been awfully quiet all day; is everything OK?”).
On a related note, if you’re not certain whether the word you’re looking for is quite or quiet, “quite” usually means “very” or “completely.”
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser? You can use it to help you find other ways of expressing “awfully quiet” in your writing, such as “not said a word.
The concept of quiet quitting refers to the workplace. If someone is quiet quitting, they are not putting much effort into fulfilling their work duties—just enough to avoid being fired. This might be because they feel tired, overworked, or undervalued or are reserving energy for life outside of work. They do not actually quit because they are content to continue with this level of effort, perhaps while waiting for a better opportunity to present itself.
On a related note, if you’re sometimes confused about whether the word you need is quite or quiet, “quite” typically means “very” or “totally.”
The correct spelling is gunsight (written as one word) or sight. A “gunsight” or the “sight” of a gun is a device attached to a gun that you look through to help you aim accurately.
The phrases on site and on sight have different meanings.
“On site” is an adverbial phrase meaning “at the location” (e.g., “I would like to meet you on site, so I can look at the construction work in person”) or an adjective meaning “at the location” (e.g., “We would like to carry out an on-site inspection, so we can look at the construction work”).
“On sight” is an adverbial phrase meaning “as soon as you see” something (e.g., “The soldiers were ordered to shoot anyone who entered the zone on sight”).
The correct spelling is sightseeing. It means going to the places that tourists like to visit in a particular region or city (e.g., “I didn’t have much time for sightseeing on my business trip to New York”).
Deciding if the correct spelling is site or sight can be tricky because these two words are homophones.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? It can help you avoid making errors with homophones such as “sight,” “site,” and “cite” in your writing.
The compound nounwebsite is typically written as one word. You can write it as web site (two words), but this is much less common, so it is best to write it as one word in formal writing such as academic writing.
On a related note, it matters if you spell it site or sight, because these two words are homophones with different meanings.
Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you avoid mixing up homophones such as “cite,” “site,” and “sight.”
For weight, use “light.” “Light” means “not heavy.” For example, “This box is big but very light.”
“Lite” means the diet version of something (e.g., “lite soda”) or the less complex version of something (e.g., “the lite edition of the software”). It should only be used in informal writing.
If you’re referring to food that’s lower in calories, fat, or sugar than other alternatives, you can say “lite bites.” “Lite” is used to refer to the diet versions of a food or drink.
You could also say “light bites,” as “light” means “not heavy or dense.”
In this context, the choice is up to you. “Lite” is more often used in marketing and advertising language, while “light” is a more neutral word.
Fair use refers to copyright law. Generally, you are not allowed to use material protected by copyright (e.g., video from a film or text from a book) without permission. However, under American copyright law, you may be allowed to use it without permission for certain purposes if you use it in a reasonable way. This is called “fair use” of the copyright-protected material. For instance, a teacher using a short video clip to illustrate something related to their lesson is likely to be considered fair use.
On a related note, it matters if you spell it fare or fair, as these words have different meanings.
The correct spelling is how did you fare? because the verb meaning “get along” is spelled “f-a-r-e” (not “f-a-i-r”).
Knowing whether to spell it fare or fair can be tricky as they are pronounced in the same way. Using QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to avoid spelling errors with homophones such as these.
The correct spelling is that’s not fair because the adjective meaning “reasonable/correct” is spelled “f-a-i-r” (not “f-a-r-e”).
Deciding if the right spelling is fare or fair can be difficult as they are pronounced in the same way. Using QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to avoid making errors with homophones such as these.
The phrase fair and square means “in a fair way” or “fairly.” It is often used with the verbs “win” and “beat.”
Fair and square in a sentence examplesThe other team is complaining that we cheated, but we beat them fair and square.
The Cowboys were the better team and won fair and square.
On a related note, it can be tricky knowing if you should spell it fare or fair, as these words are pronounced in the same way. Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use homophones like these correctly in your writing?
A ghost town is a town where no one lives anymore or where very few people still live, so many of the buildings are empty and derelict (e.g., “It became a ghost town after the coal mine closed in 1981”).
On a related note, it can be difficult to decide whether to call a place a town or city—if it has an airport and a metro system, then “city” is probably the word you’re looking for.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help polish your texts?
Your hometown is the town or city where you lived when you were a child and often where you were born, so you feel a close connection to it. It could be the place where you still live, or you could now be living somewhere else (e.g., “It’s my hometown, but I don’t go back there much because my parents have moved away”).
If you’re looking for another way of expressing the concept of “hometown,” why not use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you?
A cityscape is a view of a city or a city scene depicted in a painting or photograph. It is typically a wide view of the skyline, streets or buildings, often from a high point such as the top of a tall building (e.g., “The movie begins with helicopter views of Chicago’s cityscape”).
Like most expressions containing the word town or city, you can’t use the two words interchangeably in the compound noun “cityscape.”
If you’re looking for a synonym for “cityscape,” why not use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser for some ideas?
On a related note, it can sometimes be tricky deciding whether to call a place a town or city—if it has large infrastructure including a metro system, then “city” is probably the best choice.
Why not use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find a synonym for “city” that fits your specific context?
On a related note, it can sometimes be tricky deciding if especially or specially is the right word. We typically use “specially” with “designed,” “built,” etc. to mean “specifically” (e.g., “It is specially designed for use in cold weather”).
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser? You can use it to find synonyms for “special” in your specific context.
The adjectivesspecial and especial are synonyms. However, “especial” is used much less frequently than “special,” has a formal effect in modern English, and can only be used before a noun (i.e., you can’t use it as a predicate adjective). So, you can say “a special treat” and “an especial treat,” but not “the treat was very especial.”
On a related note, if you’re having difficulty deciding whether especially or specially is the word you need, we typically use “specially” with “made,” “built,” etc. to mean “specifically” (e.g., “I had it specially made”).
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? It can pick up errors such as “especial” used predicatively rather than attributively.
A sighting is when you see something unusual or significant (e.g., “There have been three sightings of the bear on the outskirts of the town”), while siting is a rarely used word that means “locating” or “selecting the location of” (e.g. “The siting of the nuclear facility will be very problematic”).
On a related note, if you’re not sure whether to spell it cite or site, “cite” is a verb, while “site” is typically used as a noun.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? It will help you avoid spelling errors with homophones such as “siting” and “sighting.”
The verbcite means “refer to” or “quote,” while the nounsight means “something you can see,” “what is in view,” or your “ability to see.”
Cite vs sight examplesShe cited it as an example in her speech today.
Did you have time to see all the sights?
The ship was almost out of sight, its funnels barely visible.
I have perfect sight when I’m wearing my glasses.
It can also be tricky to decide whether to spell it cite or site, so remember that “cite” is a verb (“citation” is the noun) and “site” is typically used as a noun.
Course is a noun that refers to an established route (e.g., “the ship’s course”), a class or path of study (e.g, “my English course”), or a part of a meal (e.g., “the main course”). It is also used in the phrase “of course,” meaning “certainly” or “obviously.”
Coarse is an adjective that means rough in texture (e.g., “coarse sandpaper”) or vulgar (e.g., “coarse language”).
QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you make sure you’re using homophones, like course and coarse, correctly.
The phrase break even means to make neither a profit nor a loss.
A company is “breaking even” if its costs are equal to the money it gets from selling things. If you buy a car for $1,000 on Monday and sell it to someone for $1,000 on Tuesday, you have “broken even” on the transaction. If you go to a casino and bet $100 during the evening, but win a total of $100, you have “broken even” on your gambling.
On a related note, deciding if you should spell it brake or breakcan be tricky; the verb “brake” means to engage the system that slows a vehicle down (e.g., “I had to brake hard at the lights”).
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? It will help you pick up errors in the use of homophones like “brake” and “break” in your texts.
The adjectivebroken means “split or cracked” or “not functioning correctly.” The word “broken” is also the past participle of the irregular verb “break.”
Broken in a sentence examplesBe careful of the broken glass on the floor.
I can’t make you toast because the toaster is broken.
Who’s broken the toaster?
On a related note, deciding if the word you need is brake or break is sometimes tricky because they are homophones; “brake” is the word you need if you’re referring to slowing down or stopping a car or bike etc.
If you’re looking for synonyms for “broken,” why not try QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find alternatives that fit your specific context?
You use nonetheless in a sentence to mean “despite that” or “all the same” to highlight how what you are describing either contrasts with or is unexpected given what has just been said or written.
If you use it at the start of the sentence it needs a comma after it. It is often used in the middle or at the end of sentences or clauses beginning with “but,” where a comma isn’t usually required. “Nonetheless” is typically used in formal contexts.
Nonetheless in a sentence examplesThe sales of the product have been disappointing. Nonetheless, the company remains confident in the product’s long-term potential.
Sales have been disappointing, but the company nonetheless remains confident in the product’s long-term potential.
Sales have been disappointing, but the company remains confident in the product’s long-term potential nonetheless.
If you can’t decide whether you should be using nonetheless or nevertheless, they are such close synonyms that you can use them interchangeably.
Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use “nonetheless” correctly in your specific text?
You use nevertheless in a sentence to mean “all the same” or “despite that” when you want to highlight how what you are saying either contrasts with or is unexpected given what has just been said.
When used at the beginning of a sentence it needs a comma after it, but a comma isn’t usually necessary when it appears at the end or in the middle of a sentence (e.g., in clauses beginning with “but”). We typically use “nevertheless” in formal contexts.
Nevertheless in a sentence examplesThe movie received extremely bad reviews in newspapers and magazines. Nevertheless, it has performed well at the box office.
The movie received extremely bad reviews, but it has nevertheless performed well at the box office.
The movie received extremely bad reviews, but it has performed well at the box office nevertheless.
If you’re finding it tricky to decide between using nonetheless or nevertheless, you can use them interchangeably as they are such close synonyms.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? You can use it to help you use “nevertheless” correctly in your specific text.
The terms card shark and card sharp are both used to refer to someone who frequently wins card games like poker (either through skill or deception). The original term was card sharp, but card shark has gained popularity recently and is now considered by many to be an acceptable variant.
Both terms have a somewhat negative connotation, often implying that a person succeeds by preying on less-skilled players. However, some people use the terms positively to refer to a person who is very skilled at gambling card games.
QuillBot’s free Paraphrasing Tool can help you find the right words for whatever you’re writing!
A moral quandary is a very difficult situation in which you must choose between options that conflict based on your principles of right and wrong (e.g., “The protagonist is in a moral quandary, faced with a decision about whether to stay loyal to her friend or help an innocent stranger”).
On a related note, if you’re not sure whether moral or morale is the word you need, remember that “morale” is always a noun.
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you to find alternative ways of expressing “moral quandary” in your specific context.
A moral code comprises the implicitly understood or explicitly stated rules, values, and principles that guide the behavior of an individual or group (e.g., “The community’s moral code emphasizes resolving disputes internally rather than involving the authorities”).
On a related note, if you can’t decide whether the word you need is moral or morale, remember that you can only use “morale” as a noun.
You can use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find alternative ways of expressing “moral code” in your specific context.
Moral decay is a pejorative term referring to a perceived gradual weakening of standards of right and wrong, particularly within a society (e.g., “The party’s leader said he would ‘fight against the moral decay that lies at the heart of the country’s problems’”).
On a related note, if you’re unsure whether the correct word is moral or morale, bear in mind that you can only use “morale” as a noun.
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser will help you to find alternative ways of expressing “moral decay” that fit the context of your specific text.
Morality can refer to the ideas held by an individual, group, or society about what is right and wrong (e.g., “He has a very traditional morality”) as well as the perceived quality or acceptability of behavior or actions in relation to these ideas (e.g., “The morality of the decision was highly questionable”).
On a related note, if you’re finding it tricky to decide if moral or morale is the word you need, remember that you can only use “morale” as a noun.
Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you use the word “morality” correctly in your specific context?
On a related note, if you’re having difficulty deciding if moral or morale is the correct spelling, remember that if it’s functioning as an adjective in your sentence, it has to be “moral” because “morale” is always a noun.
Why not use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find the best synonym for “moral” in your specific context?
You use the phrase lost in translation to explain that a misunderstanding has occurred because something has not been accurately translated into your language, especially because it was translated too literally.
Additionally, it can be used metaphorically to explain misinterpreted messages between people who have the same first language.
Lost in translation in a sentence exampleSomething must have gotten lost in translation. I spoke to our contact in Japan, and they don’t want the new model; they want the old one.
I think that point got lost in translation when I explained it to Maria; I’ll give her a call to clarify what I meant.
On a related note, if you can’t decide if loss or lost is the correct word, remember that “loss” always functions as a noun.
Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to ensure that you’re using an appropriate verb with the phrase “lost in translation”?
You can use diffuse as a verb meaning “spread out” (e.g., “Knowledge of these new techniques gradually diffused throughout the country”) or an adjective meaning “spread out” or “dispersed” (e.g., “How can we make the light less glaring and more diffuse?).
On a related note, if you can’t decide whether diffuse or defuse is the word you need, bear in mind that you can only use “defuse” as a verb meaning “make safe,” “less dangerous,” or “calmer.”
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser? You can use it to find alternative ways of expressing “diffuse” in your specific context.
Diffusion is the process of “diffusing,” meaning to “spread out” or “disperse.” In science, “diffusion” refers to how particles in gases and liquids naturally “spread out.”
Diffusion in a sentence examplesDiffusion of new technology began to accelerate.
A hot gas will diffuse more quickly than a cold one.
It can be tricky deciding whether diffuse or defuse is the right word; use “diffuse” if you mean “spread out.”
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser will help you to find alternative ways of expressing “diffusion” in your specific context.
A color palette is the set of colors used in a painting or design (e.g., “We chose rich shades of orange because we wanted a very warm color palette for this room”).
If you can’t decide whether palette, pallet or palate is the word you need, “pallet” typically means “a wooden platform” and “palate” typically refers to your “sense of taste.”
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to use the term “color palette” correctly in your writing.
A palate cleanser is a food or drink that refreshes your sense of taste to help you appreciate the next thing you will consume (e.g., “White bread is a good palate cleanser for wine tasting”).
You can also use the term “palate cleanser” figuratively to describe anything that offers a refreshing break from an intense or repetitive experience (e.g., “I’ve just finished a very intellectual novel, so I’m going to read a thriller as a palate cleanser”).
On a related note, if you’re having difficulty deciding whether palate, palette, or pallet is the word you need; “palette” typically means “a set of colors” and “pallet” usually refers to “a wooden platform for storing and moving goods.”
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser will help you find alternative ways of expressing the concept of a “palate cleanser” in your writing.
A palette knife is a type of knife with a flat, flexible blade that is used for spreading rather than cutting, primarily used in art (“e.g., “Spread the paint using a palette knife”).
“Palette knife” is also the British English term for “offset spatula” or “icing spatula.”
Appraised is the simple past tense and past participle of the verb appraise, which means “set a value for” (e.g., “The house was appraised at $350,000”).
Apprised is the simple past tense and past participle of the verbapprise, which means “tell or inform” (e.g., “The president has been apprised of the situation”).
QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can ensure you’re using words like appraised and apprised correctly.
On a related note, if you’re not sure whether the word you need is alternate or alternative, we normally use “alternative” when the meaning is the opposite of “mainstream” (e.g., “alternative music”).
Why not use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “alternate” in your specific context?
Aesthetics is the plural form of the nounaesthetic, meaning “style” or referring to a particular artistic movement (e.g., “the Surrealist aesthetic”).
You can use aesthetics when referring to more than one style (e.g., “The two painters’ aesthetics are quite different”).
Aesthetics is also used to refer to the field of philosophy devoted to the nature of beauty. In this case, it is used as a singular noun (e.g., “Aesthetics is concerned with sensory reactions”).
Use aesthetic when you are referring to one particular style (e.g., “a punk aesthetic”) or when using the word as an adjective (e.g., “aesthetic features”).
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you make sure you’re using singular and plural nouns correctly.
