Let’s Get This Straight

Welcome to Homophones Wednesday! “Straight” and “strait” are pronounced the same, but have different – if somewhat subtle – meanings. Read more

Perspective vs. Prospective

Easing into 2023 with a special request from fellow word nerd…and a tip for remembering which is which. Read more

Peak or Peek (or Pique?)

Love a good set of homophones…

So I jumped on the comment by my SO Jim about how often people confuse “peak” and “peek.” Here are some thoughts on how to keep them straight when you’re writing:

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You Could or Couldn’t Care Less?

If you don’t give a hoot about something, what’s the correct way to phrase it?

Saying you “couldn’t care less” about something means you are not the least bit concerned about or interested in it. In other words, you cannot possible care less than you already do.

Ask an English teacher and grammarian, and it’s likely they will agree that “could care less” is wrong because – logically – it should mean the opposite of “couldn’t care less.” If you could care less, it means you do care a little, right? Read more

Are Double Periods a Thing?

While reviewing a legal contract, a friend saw a sentence that ended “etc..” She called and asked, “If a sentence ends in an abbreviation, do you add a second period?”

  • The short answer is…NEVER.
  • The long answer is…NEVER EVER!

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What’s Your Business Love Language?

My colleague Emily Oliver, owner of Goals Garden, recently shared info about a networking event called, “What is Your Business Love Language?” Not only did this resonated with me, but it inspired this pre-Valentine’s Day Wordsmith Wednesday post!

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Double Negatives

Recently, my partner Jim mentioned that he’s noticed more and more people using double negatives. And he wondered why.

A double negative is when two negative statements are applied to the same subject in a sentence. Double negatives are often used in everyday speech, and examples abound in popular song lyrics – from the Rolling Stones’ “I can’t get no satisfaction” to Pink Floyd’s “We don’t need no education.”

Beyond the fact that communication has become a lot more casual these days, I’m not aware of any reason why people may be using double negatives more often.

But I do know this: when it comes to proper grammar, they are generally considered a no-no. Read more

The Colon/Capitalization Question

As you might suspect, I’m addressing the colon/capitalization question because I often wonder if I’m doing it right. Since I write for a living, you’d think I’d have it figured out. But my confusion is justified – because the answer to the question, “Do you capitalize a word after a colon?” is…sometimes.

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Better Than or Better Then?

It’s August. With any luck, you’re relaxing somewhere, enjoying your favorite {adult} beverage. So, I’ll get right to the point: “then” and “than” are NOT the same word. And here’s the basic difference:

  • “Then” is used when you’re talking about something relating to time. It’s the choice for phrases like “just then,” “back then,” and “every now and then.” And after words like “since” and “until.”
  • “Than” is the got-to when you’re talking about comparisons: “older than,” “stronger than,” “less than,” “bigger than.” It also follows the words “other” and “rather.”

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Does Bad Grammar Make You Look Unprofessional?

I get it – not everyone cares as much about good grammar as I do. But proper grammar usage actually DOES make us look more professional – even in this era of fewer words and shorter attention spans.

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