Contractions are a common part of the English language. This construct helps shorten phrases or thoughts while speaking or writing without changing the meaning of the words. The average person uses one contraction per sentence. It’s not unusual to see two or three of them when an extended thought is […]
It feels good to have someone greet you with a friendly “Good morning!” This simple phrase tells someone that you care about them and their day while keeping small talk to a minimum. When we greet each other with these words, the concept of capitalization ideas doesn’t enter the mind. […]
A unique aspect of the English language is how apostrophes get added to words in specific situations. They might look like commas, but this addition serves a different purpose. The goal of the apostrophe is to communicate that a letter or letters are missing from a word. It can also […]
“When you join a new team, you’re coming on board in that situation. The entire staff might welcome you aboard the new venture when you arrive.” Would it be better to say it this way instead? “When you join a new team, you’re coming aboard in that situation. The entire […]
What happens when you meet a stranger while going about the business of your day? Some people put their heads down and walk by, ignoring the unknown person to avoid an unwanted conversation. Others might offer a smile or a friendly “Hello.” If you live in a small town, a […]
Have you ever heard someone say that the “grass is greener on the other side?” What about how you “jumped from the frying pan into the fire?” When it starts raining hard outside, someone might tell you that it began to “pour cats and dogs.” What do these sayings have […]
In the movie The Princess Bride, the mysterious man the female lead loves always says, “As you wish.” It is an expression used in the film and real-life that conveys that they can have or do whatever they want. When you watch the movie, the expressions on the performer’s faces […]
It probably feels good when a friend says, “I’m looking forward to see you.” When you haven’t spent time together in ages, the comment builds excitement and joy as the anticipation grows about spending time together. If your friend said, “I am looking forward to seeing you,” the same result […]
You would likely sit on a chair when you need to get some work done in your home office. Would it be the same to get some work done “on” your home office while sitting “in” a chair? Many people confuse the words “in” and “on” when speaking or writing […]
If you speak to someone with an Irish background, they’ll tell you that no one they know has ever used the phrase, “Top of the morning.” It would be even more awkward to say, “Top of the morning to yourself.” That’s because using a reflexive pronoun in that situation would […]