Category: Spelling

Imagine that you are walking down the street and you accidentally bump into someone coming from the other direction. That person continues walking. Moments later, you realize there is a fifty-dollar bill taped to your jacket. You turn around, but the person has already disappeared into a sea of others. Shortly after, you text your …

Let's say you're starting a group at your school or in your industry. You know you have a gathering of like-minded students or professionals. Would you refer to your group in writing as an organization or an organisation? On that note, why do we have two separate but similar spellings floating around? Let's answer that. …

You have a big test coming up, so you spend long evening hours guzzling power drinks and preparing. You later find yourself continuing well into the morning hours. Would you then say that you are studying overnight or over night? Overnight vs. Over Night Let's start by clearing up any confusion: overnight is the correct …

Should you write setup or set up? Which one is correct? We will look at the difference between the expressions so that you will be set up for success with them in your writing. The Difference Between Setup and Set Up Setup and set up are obviously alike, and both can be correct in certain …

As we're wont to note on our website, the English language—and American English in particular—is a living, breathing entity. It changes and grows with the times and occasionally across regions as well. It's no surprise, then, that we sometimes get questions about newer words and regional spellings. Today we'll discuss whether the dialectical ya'll or …

You may have seen both yours and your's written before, particularly if you read blogs and social media. (Both forms can appear often in text messages too.) How do you know which word treatment is correct? Let's get to the bottom of that—along with the reason why so much confusion surrounds this topic. Yours vs. …

Two of the most commonly confused and misused words in American English are your and you're. Do you know the difference between them? If not, you'll appreciate this review. We're going to discuss the definition of each word as well as its proper usage. Let's jump in! Your vs. You're: The Basics We'll start by …

Suppose you have a date coming up and want to take your partner to a place where live actors will perform in a play. If you are writing your note in American English, should you invite that person to the theatre or the theater? We'll give you a quick answer to the theatre vs. theater …

Let's say you need to speak with a boarding agent about your flight. Or perhaps you're interested in an associate's progress on a project, or you just want to see how a friend's day is coming along. Any of these inquiries might be described as “checking in.” It's an easy concept to understand and to …

Imagine you're taking a walk through the forest. From the corner of your eye, you spot a quick movement followed by a mischievous giggle. Moments later you see through the brush a small, childlike creature sitting and smiling. You have discovered an elf! Just as you are thinking how you will explain this sighting to …