WHICH Is a Pronoun, so It Needs an Antecedent
Communication is difficult enough under the best of circumstances, so we need to do everything possible to ensure that our writing is as clear and unambiguous as possible. One extremely common mistake that hampers clarity and can result in ambiguity is failing to have...
THE REASON IS BECAUSE vs. THE REASON IS THAT
One of our newsletter subscribers wrote to ask us which phrase—"the reason is because" or "the reason is that"—is correct. Here are two examples of those constructions in a sentence: The reason we were late is because there was an accident on Interstate 26. The reason...
Between or Among?
Which sentences correctly use between or among? I am having trouble choosing from among the three candidates we interviewed for the manager's position. The contract dispute was to be settled in negotiations between the subcontractor, the electrician, the engineer, and...
Using a Hyphen with Adjectives
We talk about hyphens in several different articles on this site. One article distinguishes hyphens from en and em dashes. Another talks about open, closed, and hyphenated compound words. This article focuses on using a hyphen with adjectives. Start with a Quiz on...
Criteria, Media, and Memorandums
Which of these sentences using the words criteria, media, or memoranda are correct? We will use several criterias in selecting our new office manager. Our most important criteria for an office manager is organizational skill. Before I interview applicants, I tell them...
Drug or Dragged?
Before we begin, let's see what you already know. Can you tell which sentences correctly use drug and dragged? She dragged me to the doctor last week because I had been sick for such a long time. Until she was four years old, my daughter drug her blanket behind her...
Loan or Lend?
Can you identify the correct use of loan or lend? We went to the bank to ask the manager to loan us $500,000. Sharon agreed to lend me a hand next weekend as I pack to move. If people want to remain friends, they should avoid loaning one another money. If you thought...
Using Numbers, including Percentages
Style manuals do not agree on the issue of when writers should spell out numbers and when they should use numerals. And even a single style manual will point out that the guidelines change according to the type of number and the context in which it is being used....
Like or As?
The distinction between like and as, which was once a darling of the grammar police, is growing more faint by the day. Just this morning, I read the following sentence by someone whom I consider among the best living writers, Maria Popova: Like Whitman did with...