Word Usage & Grammar Guide

Commonly confused words, grammar rules, punctuation guides, and writing help (bookmark this)

Grammar Rules & Guidance

Forming Compound Words | Guide to Compound Types>
We tried to compound this, but it didn't work out.
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A Guide to Double Possessives>
They're perfectly grammatical.
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Do the Names of the Seasons Get Capitalized?>
On common nouns and falling leaves
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Should You Never Use Adverbs?>
And if so, what about 'never'?
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The Truth About 'Y': It's Mostly a Vowel>
We need 'y' to be a consonant, but it acts more like a vowel.
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The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals>
Find out why 'poets laureate' and 'poet laureates' are both acceptable.
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Centuries and How to Refer to Them>
Is it the 1600s or the 16th century?
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The Double Negative: It's Not Unusual (Sometimes)>
It's not the worst rule to break
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I Before E Except After C>
The famous rhyme is wrong. Here's why.
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Prepositions, Ending a Sentence With>
Yes, you can end a sentence with a preposition
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8 Grammar Terms You Used to Know, But Forgot>
If someone has to grammar-splain to you, it may as well be your dictionary
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Hypercorrections: Are you making these 6 common mistakes?>
When your 'correction' is incorrect
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Commonly Confused

Are Grammar Critics Making a Usage Error? >
The difference between 'grammar' and 'usage'
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Punctuation Guides

Writing Help