The decision of whether to capitalize the word “the” in front of a country name can be a tricky one for a couple of reasons. First, you will likely see capitalization used in different ways depending on who is writing and where the writing appears. Second, there isn’t one consistent rule you can follow that will always give you the right answer. However, if you just understand two small details, you will be able to work out whether (and when) you should capitalize “the” in a country name. Let’s start with the main question. Pluralized Country Names Don’t Get a Capital “The” As a general rule ..read more

If you have a job, you probably have people you work with. But what should you call them? Before you answer with something off the cuff, know that we are talking about the different spellings of coworker and co-worker. Which one is grammatically correct? We have the answer in today’s post. You Can’t Pick Your Coworkers, but You Can Choose Your Co-Worker Hyphenation The shortest answer to the coworker versus co-worker discussion is that it’s a trick question: Both are valid as a noun that refers to someone else who works alongside you. The spellings are different yet similar because both became ..read more

Two common figures of speech in English are the simile and the metaphor. Sometimes their functions are confused or mistaken. In this discussion we’ll further explore what a metaphor means and how it can enhance our writing when properly used. What Does Metaphor Mean? Before we focus on the meaning and function of a metaphor, let’s first establish its difference from a simile. Both similes and metaphors help to further understanding and expand imagination concerning thoughts and ideas. They achieve this by creating figurative rather than literal associations. A simile directly compares one thin ..read more

Even among those who pay attention to grammar, the none is versus none are debate can be a spirited one. Do you know which one is correct? We don’t want you to get it wrong or to follow misguided advice. That’s why we are going to clear things up in today’s post. As a starting point, let’s address one issue that causes a lot of confusion. None Can Be Singular or Plural Some people will tell you that none are is always incorrect because none is singular. However, in certain contexts, none can carry a plural connotation. None can be short for “not one is” or “no single one,” which are singular u ..read more

The ampersand (the “&” symbol) is an unusual feature of the English language. It supposedly has survived in a limited form since the days of the Roman Empire. Despite the mark’s longevity, people may still sometimes have questions about when and how to use it. In formal writing, use of the ampersand to replace the word “and” is typically not encouraged. However, as we’ll see in a moment, the mark still has a function within specific formal references, as well as a couple of everyday purposes within informal writing. In today’s post we’ll consider how to put the ampersand to work those cont ..read more

When and how to capitalize titles of works and titles of formal rank or professional status can remain a common question. We’ll focus on that topic today for additional clarity. (Note that style for capitalizing titles can vary among stylebooks and in-house style guidelines. What we share here offers a baseline that you can follow; the rules are not absolute. If you would like further insight into the subject, you can review our related topics using the links at the end of this article.) Capitalizing Titles: Works For titles of books, screenplays, stories, TV shows, songs, and so on, capitaliz ..read more

Why do so many people dislike the word “moist”? It’s a good question. Even if you are one of those who can’t stand the sound of that particular word—and there are many who can’t—you might not be able to explain why. In this discussion, we’ll consider the issue people have with this much-maligned word, along with a few things you can learn from the reasons why it’s so unpopular. What’s Wrong With the Word Moist? As it turns out, there isn’t a single reason people hate the word moist. It’s usually a combination of a few different things: The sound. The word moist simply hits the average person’s ..read more

Suppose you are writing about a type of dog – or even to your favorite dog – and need to mention a type or breed. Should the dog breed be capitalized? This is a common question in American English for a couple of reasons. First, because dogs are a big part of our lives, they come up fairly frequently in writing. And second, even if you understand the rules, they seem to be applied inconsistently. With that in mind, let’s see if we can get to the bottom of the issue. Why You Shouldn’t Usually Capitalize Dog Breeds Dog-breed names are most often descriptions rather than proper nouns, and in thes ..read more

Grammar in American English includes many finer details. One topic that involves several is punctuation in a quote, a subject that still often prompts questions from our readers. In this review, we’ll explore proper punctuation in quoted content. Punctuation in a Quote: Quotation Marks Use quotation marks to set off all direct quotations. Quotation marks are used in pairs; the first mark indicates the beginning of the quotation and the second mark conveys its conclusion. Note also that the speaker and the verb should not be included within the quotation marks. “I would like to purchase a new ..read more

As Independence Day approaches, many of you may be wondering how to write the name of the holiday—is it Fourth of July or 4th of July? The Chicago Manual of Style refers to the holiday as “the Fourth of July” or “the Fourth.” The Associated Press Stylebook lists “Fourth of July” and “July Fourth” as acceptable in formal writing.  When expressing the date rather than the holiday, writing either July 4 or the 4th of July is acceptable. When writing a complete date in a sentence, use a comma to separate the day of the month from the year, and—what most people often forget—always put one afte ..read more