Found 258 articles starting with S:

Saccharin vs. Saccharine

Saccharin vs. Saccharine: Navigating Distinctions in Sweeteners Understanding the differences between "saccharin" and "saccharine" involves recognizing variations in terminology and usage. This article aims to clarify the distinctions bet...

sacrifice - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: The children appreciate the sacrifice of their parents. noun
Example: ...

sacrilegious - correct spelling

adjective
Example: The bumper sticker was sacrilegious and offended many drivers....

safety - correct spelling

noun
Example: The child sought the safety of her mother’s arms....

sagacious - vocabulary

adjective
Able to discern and distinguish with wise perception; having a keen practical sense. What arouses the indignation of the honest satirist is not, unless the man is a prig, the fact that people ...

salacious, salutary

Woe to the person who confuses these two in the wrong situation.Salutary means “wholesome” or “designed to create a healthy improvement.”Salacious means “appealing to sexual desire.”...

salary - correct spelling

noun
Example: Though small, his salary put a roof over their heads and food on their plates....

salient - vocabulary

adjective
Conspicuous or prominent; projecting or pointing outward; springing, jumping. Has the art of politics no apparent utility? Does it appear to be unqualifiedly ratty, raffish, sordid, obscene, a...

salutary - vocabulary

adjective
Promoting or favorable to health, healthful; promoting some beneficial purpose, wholesome; designed to effect improvement. Columbus stood in his age as the pioneer of progress and enlightenmen...

Sample Page

This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say s...

Sample Page - Build Your Vocabulary


Learn 406 words smart people should know. Ideal for those studying for college-entrance exam...

Sample Page - Common Grammatical Mistakes


This Grammar eBook explores common grammatical mistakes people make. ...

Sample Page - Developing a Powerful Writing Style

This Grammar eBook will teach you how to develop a powe...

Sample Page - Egg on Your Face


This Grammar eBook discusses the Top 25 Grammatical Mistakes. ...

Sample Page - Rules on Punctuation


This Grammar...

Sample Page - The Awful 'Like' Word


Download this free eBook. Send the file to all your contacts. The 'like' word threatens your car...

Sample Page - Understanding the Parts of Speech


This Grammar eBook explains all you need to know about the 8 ...

sanctimonious - vocabulary

adjective
Making an ostentatious display or hypocritical pretense of holiness, piety, or righteousness. Recently, I boarded a flight from Boston to New York. As I sat down, the attendant announced that ...

sandal - correct spelling

noun
Example: She slipped her sandals on her feet and went to the beach....

sandwich - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: He fixed a ham sandwich for his lunch. noun
Example: We must ...

sanguine - vocabulary

adjective
Optimistic (and cheerfully so), hopeful, confident; reddish, ruddy.Note: Do not confuse sanguine with sanguinary. Sanguinary means “bloodthirsty” or “accomp...

sanguine, sanguinary

Sanguine might be one of the most misused words in the English language, and that is partly because it has two meanings that seem almost the opposite of each other.Sanguine means “reddish,” ...

sardonic - vocabulary

adjective
Scornfully or bitterly sarcastic, mocking, cynical, sneering. Freud, Jung thought, had been a great discoverer of facts about the mind, but far too inclined to leave the solid ground of “criti...

satellite - correct spelling

noun
Example: The spy satellite provided remarkably clear pictures of the camp....

satiate - vocabulary

verb
To satisfy fully the appetite or desire of; to satisfy to excess. I am no longer sure of anything. If I satiate my desires, I sin but I deliver myself from them; if I refuse to satisfy ...

Saturday - correct spelling

proper noun (often serving as an adverb
)Example: We have a meeting scheduled for Saturday. proper noun...

Savior vs. Saviour

Languages can shift over time, even in different parts of the world. Many differences in spelling and usage have grown prominent between British and American English. Saviour and savior, for instance, are American and British Eng...

Savior vs. Saviour

Languages can shift over time, even in different parts of the world. Many differences in spelling and usage have grown prominent between British and American English. Saviour and savior, for instance, are American and British English spellings of the...

savvy - correct spelling

adjective
Example: The savvy writer learned to twist the plot and surprise the reader....

scarcely - correct spelling

adverb
Grammar.com's section on the Parts of Speech discusses the demise of -ly adverbs. Click here for that discussion....

scary - correct spelling

adjective
Not scarey.Example: My wife hates scary movies....

scene - correct spelling

noun
Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses scene and seen. Click here for that discussion.Example: In the...

scenery - correct spelling

noun
Example: The beautiful scenery in Virginia attracts many visitors....

scents - correct spelling

noun (plural of the noun scent) and verb (third-person singular of the verb scent...

schadenfreude - vocabulary

A German word meaning the delight in the suffering of others. It often appears capitalized, as all German nouns are capitalized. But in English, the lowercase is perfectly proper.Pronounced: shahd-n-froi-duh. ...

Schadenfreude vs. Freudenfreude

Can we be conscious of an emotion when we have no word to describe it? “Schadenfreude”...

schedule - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: We studied the fall basketball schedule. noun
Example: We will ...

science - correct spelling

noun
Example: My son studied science in college....

scientific - correct spelling

adjective
Example: Their scientific findings led to a valuable invention....

scissors - correct spelling

noun
Example: She cut the cloth with her scissors....

scurrilous - vocabulary

adjective
Grossly abusive; expressed in coarse, vulgar language. Every two years the American politics industry fills the airwaves with the most virulent, scurrilous, wall-to-wall chara...

Sea vs. See

When do we use “sea”?Always used as a noun, “sea” mainly defines a very large, natural expanse of salt water. The same word can also be used when trying to express a large expanse of something, such as a big gathering of people....

Seam vs. Seem

Seam vs. SeemFirst and foremost, one of the main reasons why “seam” can and should never be replaced with “seem” can be seen grammatically: “Seam” is always used exclusively as a noun, whereas “seem” is always used exclusively as a v...

season - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: The rainy season comes in the spring. noun
Example: I will ...

secede - correct spelling

verb
Example: The disgruntled taxpayers wanted to secede and form a new county....

Second Person

English grammar is not very complicated it just needs a little bit of concentration and understanding. When ...

secretary - correct spelling

noun
Example: The secretary of the board read the minutes of the last meeting....

seen - correct spelling

verb (past participle of the verb see)Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses scene and seen. Click here for...

seen, scene

Seen is the past participle of see. Note that it is not the simple past tense of ...

seize - correct spelling

verb
Not sieze.Example: She will seize this opportunity for her family....

Seize vs. Cease

The enemy countries ceased fire and then one seized the other’s air force base. Does the above sentence makes sense to you? It uses two homophones i.e. a pair or words that have same pronunci...

Semi Colon

Punctuation is the basic element of English grammar and without it a sentence is not only incomplete but als...

Semicolon Goes Outside

The semicolon should be placed outside quotation marks. When the quoted matter ends with a semicolon, the semicolon is dropped. According to the editor, writers do make mistakes when "quoting from research sources";...

Semicolons and Independent Clauses

A semicolon separates two or more independent clauses joined without a coordinating conjunction: The Court required police to warn suspects of their constitutional rights; in doing so, it made judicial histor...

Semicolons Instead of Commas

If the series is long and complex or any one element has a comma within it, separate each element of the series with a semicolon: The company has offices in Greensboro, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia;...

Semicolons Separating Elements in a Series

Semicolons Instead of CommasWe reviewed this rule when we discussed the serial-comma rule in the discussion on the comma above. It bears repeating, however. When elements in a series are long and complex or involve internal p...

Semicolons with Quotation Marks

Semicolon Comes OutsideThe semicolon should be placed outside ending quotation marks. When the quoted matter ends with a semicolon, the semicolon in the quotation is dropped: The agen...

seminar - correct spelling

noun
Example: He conducted a seminar in effective writing in Shanghai....

sense - correct spelling

noun and verb
Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses sense and since. Click here for that discussion....

sense, since

A sense can be any one of the faculties: taste, touch, hearing, smell, sight, or equilibrium. It can also mean “understanding” or “perception.”Since means “from a certain point in time up un...

sensible - correct spelling

adjective
Not sensable.Example: She wore sensible shoes....

sensuous, sensual

Both words mean “of or appealing to the senses.” The difference in usage is that sensual is more closely associated with physical senses and sexual desires. Sensuous is used to describe things that ...

sentence

A grammatically complete sentence has a subject and a conjugated verb, as in Mary sang. A sentence is also an in...

Sentence

In order to understand and have full command over English language, you need to know what about its grammar....

sentence - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: A complete sentence has a subject ...

sentence adverb

A sentence adverb modifies an entire sentence or clause. According to top authorities, adverbs, including those ending in ‑ly, can modify entire sentences. Here are some examples drawn from reputable sources: ...

Sentence Structures

A sentence is any group of words that appear together and make up a complete thought. There are different ty...

separate - correct spelling

adjective and verb
Not seperate.Example: They put their two sons in separate bedrooms. adjecti...

separation - correct spelling

noun
Example: They dreaded the long separation from each other....

septuagenarian - correct spelling

noun and adjective
Not septagenarian.Example: Though my father was a septuagenarian, he stilled mowed the yard and ...

sergeant - correct spelling

noun
Example: The staff sergeant issued the order....

serial-comma rule

When you join three or more elements in a series, put a comma before the conjunction (usually and or or). Thus: red, white, and blue. This is the s...

Serial-Comma Rule - Red, White, and Blue

When you use a coordinating conjunction to join two elements of a series, no comma comes before the conjunction. But when you join three or more elements, the preferred rule requires a comma before the coordinati...

Serial-Comma Rule ‑ Examples

Here are some examples of correctly using the serial comma: The flag is red, white, and blue. (Three predicate adjectives.)In her will, the woman left jewelry, coins, stocks and bonds, but...

Serial-Comma Rule ‑ Red, White, and Blue (2)

Comma, Comma, and CommaWhen you use a coordinating conjunction (usually and or or) to join two elements of a series, no comma comes before the conjunction. But when you join three or more el...

service - correct spelling

noun, adjective, and verb
Example: They provided a valuable service for their customers. noun...

Serving as Other Parts of Speech

Prepositions Serving Double DutyMany words that serve as prepositions also serve as other parts of speech. The word up, for example, acts as a preposition: He looked ...

set, sit

Generally, sit is something you do yourself, while set is something you do to something else.The verb sit is ...

Setup vs. Set up

The English language often presents challenges with its nuanced distinctions between seemingly similar words. A prime example of this is the difference between setup and set up. Though they may appear interchangea...

Seven Varieties of Pronouns

The first pronouns our forbears invented were the (1) personal pronouns, words that could substitute for Igor, Amber, and other members of the tribe. Then they invented (2) reflexive and intensive pronouns, those ‑self word...

several - correct spelling

adjective
Example: We have several programs to propose....

severely - correct spelling

adverb
Grammar.com's section on the Parts of Speech discusses the demise of -ly adverbs. Click here for that discussion....

Sex vs. Gender

The terms 'sex' and 'gender' are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, yet they signify fundamentally different concepts in the fields of linguistics, sociology, and psychology. This essay aims to elucidate the distinctions between ...

Sexism - Other Solutions

Other tricks can help you avoid the problem of sexist writing:1. When you need a possessive pronoun, don’t write his or her. Instead, use an article so that the need for a pronoun goes away. ...

Sexism - Proposed Solution

Make your antecedents plural.Refer to people, not a person. Refer to readers, not a reader. Talk about neighbors, not a neighbor. Then you can use they, their...

Sexist Writing

Sexist Writing - A QuagmireWhen Amber, Igor, and Miss Hamrick developed our language, they dreamed up another rule:Pronouns must agree with the gender of the nouns they replace or refer to. A ...

shall vs. will vs. going to

A lot of people get confused on correct usage ...

Shall we fix the chapter title?

The chapter title read: “You and him confuse the case of pronouns.” Let’s fix it:You and he confuse the case of pronouns.Remember, when a pronoun acts as a subject, you...

shall, will

In American English, the auxiliary verb will universally shows futurity for all persons: first, second, and third. Thus: I will go to the ...

Shear vs. Sheer

Her sheer hard work sheared all the obstacles in her way to success. Sheer and shear are two words that have the same origin and sound but entirely different meanings. They are often confused...

shepherd - correct spelling

noun and verb
Not shephard or sheperd.Example: The shepherd guarded his sheep. noun...

sheriff - correct spelling

noun
Example: The sheriff arrested the burglar....

shining - correct spelling

verb (present participle of the verb shine) and adjective
See shinning
.Example: ...

shinning - correct spelling

verb (present participle of the verb shin)See shining
.Example: He was sh...

Ship vs. Boat

Introduction The English language presents various challenges, particularly when it comes to words that appear similar yet have distinct meanings. Among these are "ship" and "boat," two terms frequently used to describe floating vessels....

shish kebab - correct spelling

noun
Example: We served shish kebab at the party....

shone, shown

Shone is both the past tense and the past participle of shine, which means “emit light.” (Shine...

should - correct spelling

auxiliary verb
Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses should and would. Click here for that discussion....

Should I use "oldest friend" or "longest friend"?

"Oldest friend" typically refers to a friend that a person has known for the most amount of time, regardless of how often they may see or communicate with each other. It emphasizes the length of the friendship, and suggests a deeper connection or his...

Should vs. Ought to vs. Must

Should – generally should is used to indicate an advice or the best suggestion for a situation. ...

should, would

In American English, we use the auxiliary verb should with all three persons (first, second, third) to express a sense of duty. Thus: ...

shoulder - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: His injured left shoulder kept him on the sidelines. noun
Example: He ...

show vs. shew

Professor R. L. Trask (Ph.D. in linguistics) has the following to say on show and shew: Except in quotations and in certain legal contexts, the spelling shew for show is now obsolete and should not be used. The past t...

Showing Abbreviation

A Sentence Ending with an AbbreviationThe period shows abbreviations such as Co., Ave., Corp., Bldg., and a host of others. If a sentence ends in an abbreviated word, the single period serves double duty to ...

shriek - correct spelling

verb and noun
Not shreek.Example: She will shriek when she learns about the new car. verb...

sibilant - vocabulary

adjective
Characterized by a hissing sound; in phonetics, noting sounds like those spelled with s, sh, z, zh, as in a sibilant consonant.noun...

siege - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: The siege of the city cut off all supplies. noun
Example: The military...

sight - correct spelling

noun and verb
Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses sight, site, and cite. Click here for that discussion....

signal - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: The traffic signal failed to work and caused an accident. noun
Example: ...

significance - correct spelling

noun
Example: Congress failed to understand the significance of voter discontent....

significant - correct spelling

adjective
Example: This significant discovery will revolutionize communications....

similar - correct spelling

adjective
Not simular.Example: We faced a similar problem before....

similarity - correct spelling

noun
Example: The similarity between the two brothers was remarkable....

simile - correct spelling

noun
Example: The writer correctly used the like word to create the simile “like a fox.”...

simile - vocabulary

noun
A figure of speech in which two dissimilar things are explicitly compared, often introduced with like or as, as in she runs like the wind. Simile and...

similitude - vocabulary

noun
Similarity, likeness, resemblance; a person or thing that is the match or like another. When he had a mind to penetrate into the inclinations of those he had to deal with, he composed his face, his gest...

simple, simplistic

Simple means “easy,” “plain,” or “naive.”Simplistic is a pejorative adjective meaning “overly simple, facile.”Careful writers reserve ...

simply - correct spelling

adverb
Grammar.com's section on the Parts of Speech discusses the demise of -ly adverbs. Click here for that discussion....

simultaneous - correct spelling

adjective
Example: These simultaneous events will attract large crowds....

sincerely - correct spelling

adverb
Grammar.com's section on the Parts of Speech discusses the demise of -ly adverbs. Click here for that discussion....

singular

Nouns and pronouns are either singular or plural
. Nouns typically form their plurals by adding ‑s, (boys), ‑es (torches), or ‑ies (citie...

site - correct spelling

noun and verb
Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses sight, site, and cite. Click here for that discussion....

site, sight, cite

Cite means either “to quote” or “to commend” and is usually a verb
. As a noun, cite means “a short citation or reference.”...

Situations Requiring the Subjunctive Mood

Let’s explore the modern uses of the subjunctive mood.1. situations contrary to fact 2. wishes 3. suppositions 4. commands1. Situations Contrary to FactLet’s look at the contr...

Six Major Tenses of Verbs

Now you’re ready to conjugate to skip in the six tenses of verbs.To conjugate a verb, you must include all tenses: present, past, future, present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect. You must account for all persons: first, sec...

Skeptic vs. Sceptic

There are many spelling differences between American and British English. In some cases, the same word will be spelled one way in American English and another way in British English. There are times when this inconsistency is ver...

skiing - correct spelling

verb (present participle of the verb ski) and noun
Example: He was skiing down the steep trail when the accident occurred. ...

Slash vs. Backslash

The terms "slash" and "backslash" refer to two distinct symbols commonly used in written language, computing, and other disciplines. While they might seem similar at first glance, they serve different purposes and have different connotations in va...

Smooth vs. Smoothe

In the English language, subtle variations often distinguish between seemingly similar words. One such pair is "smooth" and "smoothe." Let's delve into their nuances and usage. 1. Smooth "Smooth" is a common adjective used to descr...

Snicker vs. Snigger

Meanings: Snicker: The term "snicker" refers to a suppressed or stifled laugh, expressing amusement subtly. It conveys a lighthearted sense of mirth without an overt display. A snicker is often a discreet expression of amusement ...

so

Don’t hesitate to start a sentence with So. It’s a coordinating conjunction, and great writers have been starting sentences with conjunctions for hundr...

So our chapter title should read…

You are leaving out the word are.Or perhaps:You’re leaving out the word are....

So the title to this chapter should read…

The chapter title read: “Their mixing up they’re theres.”Do you see the problems? They are mixing up their...

So to fix the title of this chapter…

Our chaper read: “Should you take out it’s apostrophe?”But now you know that “it’s” is a contraction of “it is.” And you know that “its” is the possessive case...

So vs. Such

So So is a conjunction. It can join t...

Soccer vs. Football

Introduction The terms 'soccer' and 'football' often create confusion among speakers of English due to their differing uses in various regions of the world. While both terms refer to the same sport, their linguistic origins and regional ...

Social And Cultural Influence On Education

This also holds true for seeking academic help. In the US, you may be encouraged to seek help to write your assignment. This has led to the popularity of online assignment help websites and similar academic providers. Again, Asian standards may not e...

soften - correct spelling

verb
Example: He tried to soften the criticism....

Sole vs. Soul

Sole vs. SoulWhether it’s for a paper you’re writing or for your own general knowledge, it’s essential to know the distinct meanings of “sole” and “soul” in order to use them properly in your writing.But before we get  in...

solecism - vocabulary

noun
A nonstandard or ungrammatical usage, as in There’s lots of cars on the road.A solecism can also refer to a social impropriety, especially in British English. “This [feeding fruitc...

solemn - correct spelling

adjective
Example: The funeral was a solemn event....

solider - correct spelling

adjective (comparative state of the adjective solid)Example: This material provides solid...

Somber vs. Sombre

Somber and sombre are a pair or words that are opposite to homophones that is, they have different spellings but same meaning. The words like these with different spellings and same meaning causes equal confusion to writers as does the homophones ...

somnolent - vocabulary

adjective
Tending to produce sleep; drowsy, sleepy. Gringoire, stunned by his fall, lay prone upon the pavement in front of the image of Our Lady at the corner of the street. By slow degrees his senses ...

Son vs. Sun

Son vs. SunBesides their similar spellings and the fact that they both function as a noun within most phrases, the words ``son” and “sun” actually have nothing else in common. They are not synonyms, or words from the same semantic fi...

Soon vs. Early

“I am planning to start a business soon…” “I will have an early lunch tomorrow…”...

sophistry - vocabulary

noun
A false, tricky but plausible argument understood to be such by the speaker himself and intentionally used to deceive.  . . . that phrase of mischievous sophistry, “all men are born fre...

sophomore - correct spelling

noun and adjective
Example: The college sophomore won the award. noun
Example: He improv...

sorcerer - correct spelling

noun
Not sorceror.Example: The sorcerer performed some intriguing tricks....

soul - correct spelling

noun and adjective
Example: A glass of wine is good for the soul. noun
Example: We enjoy...

source - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: The reporter refused to reveal his source for the story. noun
Example: ...

Sources Cited

In these discussions on Grammar.com, I cite some of my favorite sources. To save space, I use the “short citations” below: Short Citation...

souvenir - correct spelling

noun
Not souvenire.Example: Caitlin bought a souvenir at the top of the Empire State Building....

special - correct spelling

adjective and noun
Example: Their wedding was indeed a special occasion. adjective
Example: ...

Specially vs. Especially

Specially Specially is an adverb that is used to indicate something done ...

specifically - correct spelling

adverb
Grammar.com's section on the Parts of Speech discusses the demise of -ly adverbs. Click here for that discussion....

specified - correct spelling

verb (past tense and past participle of the verb specify)Example: She specified exactly wh...

specimen - correct spelling

noun
Example: He groaned when the doctor asked him for a specimen....

speech - correct spelling

noun
Not speach.Example: The Constitution guarantees our freedom of speech....

split infinitive

Every verb has a base infinitive form. We think of the infinitive as the verb with the preposition to in front of it: as in to have, to hold, ...

Split Infinitives

Perhaps no “rule” of grammar sparks more controversy than the “rule” against splitting infinitives. Leading experts on the English language, however, point out that the split infinitive appeared in the great works of English as early as the thirteent...

sponsor - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: The sponsor of the football game produced some clever ads. noun
Example: ...

spontaneous - correct spelling

adjective
Example: The spontaneous demonstration unsettled the mayor and his cronies....

spurious - vocabulary

adjective
Not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the pretended or proper source; counterfeit. Jargon is the verbal sleight of hand that makes the old hat seem newly fashionable; it g...

Stairs vs. Stares

Language is a fascinating realm, where words can appear similar yet carry profoundly different meanings. Two such words are "stairs" and "stares". Although they are homophones—words that sound alike but have different meanings—this essay explores ...

stanch, staunch

Stanch is the most commonly accepted spelling for the verb meaning “to stop the flow” of a liquid, but staunch is also an acceptable spelling.Generally thoug...

Standard and Non-Standard English

We all know that a language has different dialects and pronunciations in various areas where it is spoken de...

Start a Sentence with a Conjunction

And you may start a sentence with And.You probably learned in grade school: Never start a sentence with but, and, or any other conjunction. Poppycock!Not on...

State vs. Province

Introduction The terms "state" and "province" are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, yet they embody distinct meanings that vary across geographical, political, and cultural contexts. Understanding the nuances of these two...

States of Adjective: -er or more, -est or most

How to Form the States of AdjectivesYou ask, therefore, how to tell when to use the ‑er and ‑est endings and when to use the helping words more and most? There’s no hard and fast rule, but ...

States of Adjectives: -er or more, -est or most

Adjectives Comparative and SuperlativeYou ask, therefore, how to tell when to use the ‑er and ‑est endings and when to use the helping words more and most? There’s no hard and fast rule, bu...

stationary - correct spelling

adjective
Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses stationary and stationery. Click here for that discussion....

stationery - correct spelling

noun
Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses stationary and stationery. Click here for that discussion....

stationery, stationary

Stationery is writing paper.Stationary means “unmoving.”Example: He sat stationary at his desk for hours addressing invitations on ...

statue - correct spelling

noun
Not statute
.Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses statue, statute, and stature. ...

statute - correct spelling

noun
Not statue
.Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses statue, statute, and stature. ...

statute, stature, statue

A statute is an edict, decree, or law passed by a legislature.A statue is a lifelike sculpture that might become valuable when the arms fall off.Stature mea...

Steal vs. Steel

Introduction The English language is rich with homophones—words that sound the same but have different meanings. Two such words are 'steal' and 'steel.' Despite their phonetic similarities, they belong to different parts of speech and car...

Stocks vs. Shares

In the financial world, the terms 'stocks' and 'shares' are frequently used to describe ownership in a company. However, despite their common interchangeability in everyday language, these terms have distinct mean...

stolid - vocabulary

adjective
Revealing or having little emotion or sensibility; impassive; unemotional. The Indian sat on the front seat, saying nothing to anybody, with a stolid expression of face, as if...

stomach - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: He filled his stomach with junk food. noun
Example: He couldn’t ...

Story vs. Storey

Dealing with similar spellings of various words, using them correctly and avoiding misspelling is often overwhelming; though it gets easier once you sort out which spellings refers to what. If you are in doubt about “story” and “storey”, we’ll help y...

Story vs. Storey

Story An absolutely common word, story is used by everyone to describe events that are real or imaginary, usually told for entertainment. Story can be short or long and can descri...

straight - correct spelling

adjective, adverb, and noun
Example: He walked in a straight line. adjective...

strategy - correct spelling

noun
Not strategery. :-)Example: The company’s president developed a new marketing strategy....

strength - correct spelling

noun
Example: His bulging muscles showed his strength....

strenuous - correct spelling

adjective
Example: The doctor advised him to refrain from strenuous exercise....

stretch - correct spelling

verb, noun, and adjective
Example: You should stretch before exercise. verb
E...

striking - correct spelling

verb (present participle of the verb strike) and adjective
Example: The builder was striking...

Strive vs. Stride vs. Strife

Stride Stride is a verb that means to take a careful step towards an aim, or to cross even difficult obstacles in a p...

stubbornness - correct spelling

noun
Not stubbernness or stubborness.Example: His stubbornness irritated his neighbors....

studying - correct spelling

verb (present participle of the verb study)Example: We are studying effective writing....

stultify - vocabulary

verb
To give an appearance of foolishness to; to render wholly futile or ineffectual, usually in a degrading or frustrating way. A calm virility and a dreamy humor, marked contrasts to her level-headedness—i...

Style

...

suasion - vocabulary

noun
The act of urging, advising, or persuading; an instance of persuasion. All gentle cant and philosophizing to the contrary notwithstanding, no people in this world ever did achieve their freedom by goody...

Subconscious vs. Unconscious: What is the Difference?

In this article:1. I will define these three levels of mind by comparing them to an iceberg.2....

subject

The grammatical subject of a sentence or clause is a noun, a group of words acting as a noun, or a pronoun
. The subject names what...

Subject Complement

You would have come across the word complement a thousand times while reading, listening or writing English ...

Subject-Verb Agreement - Plural Subjects

Watch OutBefore winding up our discussion of conjunctions, we need to visit the notion of subject-verb agreement in number. When you write a plural subject, you must use a plural verb. When you write a singular subject, you m...

subjective case

No matter what type of writing you are working on, you will sooner or later face the need for proofreading and editing your piece since these are important stages of the entire writing process. Therefore, any...

Subjective Vs Subjunctive

Subjective Subjective is an adjective that means a report or statement submitted based on a person’s individual ideas and opinions. Subjective statements are usually lengthy and represent personal opinions rather than ...

Subjective vs. Objective

Statements that are facts based on evidence and opinions taken from valued judgments need to be differentiated in today’s extremely practical life. To differentiate such statements two terms; subjective and objective are used. In this article, I will...

Subjects Joined by Other Connectors

Watch OutWatch out for along with, as well as, together with, not to mention, and others. These are not conjunctions and do not form plural subjects.Writers often use other connecti...

Subjects Joined by “and”

A compound subject consists of two or more words acting as the subject of the sentence. When the series is joined conjunctively, that is, with the word and, in the vast majority of cases the subject is plural and requires a plural v...

Subjects Joined by “or”

When you have a series joined disjunctively by the word or, the number of the verb is determined by the number of the noun closest to the verb, that is, the last in the series. One apple, one orange...

subjugate - vocabulary

verb
To bring under total control or subjection; to conquer, master, or enslave. To ask strength not to express itself as strength, not to be a will to dominate, a will to subjugate, a will ...

subjunctive mood

First, understand this: The word mood has nothing to do with frame of mind, as in happy or sad. It actually refers to mode, which is the attribute of a verb suggesting the speaker's attitude t...

Subjunctive mood

What is mood? – a mood is a form a verb takes to show how it (the verb) should be regarded. For example, command, wish, request etc… Subjunctive moods tell about a wish or su...

Subjunctive Mood

The mood of a sentence is described as the mood of the sentence. The grammatical mood in English language is...

subordinate - correct spelling

adjective, noun, and verb
Example: He uses too many subordina...

subordinate clause

A subordinate clause is also called a dependent clause
. A dependent clause cannot stand by itself as a sentence. It must attach to an independent clause to form what is called...

subordinating conjunction

We have a long list of subordinating conjunctions. These words are used to start a subordinate clause, which can act as an adjective, adverb, or noun...

subordination

Each sentence has three essential parts: (1) the subject, (2) the verb, and (3) the other stuff, which is governed by the kind of verb chosen. Writers then begin to add to this basic ...

subpoena - correct spelling

noun and verb
Not subpena.Example: The judge issued a subpoena for the records. noun...

substantial - correct spelling

adjective
Example: He bought a substantial interest in the company....

substantive - vocabulary

adjective
Belonging to the real nature of a thing, essential; possessing substance, having practical importance. In law, substantive pertains to provisions of law dealing with rights and duties, as distinguish...

subterfuge - vocabulary

noun
A device or conduct used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, or hide a course of conduct; something used to hide the true nature of conduct or event. Men felt a chill in their hearts; a damp in their...

subtle - correct spelling

adjective
Example: Though the changes were subtle, he noticed them at once....

succeed - correct spelling

verb
Example: He wanted to succeed in his career....

success - correct spelling

noun
Example: “Nothing succeeds like success.” — Sir Arthur Helps, “Realmah” (1868)....

successful - correct spelling

adjective
Example: The successful venture returned handsome profits to the investors....

succession - correct spelling

noun
Example: The people celebrated his succession to the throne.Example: He inherited the property through intestate ...

sudden - correct spelling

adjective
Example: The sudden appearance of his mother at the party embarrassed the college student....

sufficient - correct spelling

adjective
Example: He provided sufficient funds for his children’s education....

Suffix

Learning a language is an art at its best form. If you are a native English speaker, then you would probably...

sulphur vs. sulfur

For many years there has existed a difference in the spelling for the name of element number 16 with the symbol S. British English spelt it "sulphur" while North American Engli...

Sundae vs. Sunday

“Sundae” vs. “Sunday”The main reason why some people tend to confuse “Sundae” and “Sunday” is their similar spellings. To make things even more confusing, both words are nouns as well as common, everyday words in English. Despite sou...

Supercede vs. Supersede

English is a language rife with intricacies, and one such complexity lies in the distinction between "supercede" and "supersede." Let's delve into the nuances and usage of these similar-sounding words. 1. Supercede "Supercede" is a...

supercilious - vocabulary

adjective
Exhibiting haughty, arrogant contempt or superiority for those considered unworthy. In a quick turn of her head, in a frank look, a boyish pout, in that proud glance from lowered lids, so pity...

superfluous - vocabulary

adjective
Being more than is needed or sufficient; excess. Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul....

superintendent - correct spelling

noun
Example: The superintendent of the apartment building enforced the rules....

Superlative Adjective

Most of us who have some basic knowledge and understanding of English language are familiar with the term ad...

superlative state

Most adjectives and adverbs come in three states. The positive state describes the basic attribute (the hot plate, ...

supersede - correct spelling

verb
Not supercede.Consider this usage note from Merriam-Webster: Supercede has occurred as a spelling variant of supersede since the 17th century, and it is common in current publi...

supersede, supercede

The correct spelling is supersede. With an -s, not a -c....

supplant - vocabulary

verb
To force out another, through strategy or schemes; to take the place of. Socialists propose to supplant the competitive planning of capitalism with a highly centralized planned economy....

Supposedly vs. Supposably

The English language is rich and diverse, with many words that may sound similar but have distinct meanings and usages. Two such words are supposedly and supposably. While both can be employed in conversational En...

supposition - vocabulary

noun
Conjecture, assumption; something that is supposed; an opinion based on incomplete evidence. Another and far more important reason than the delivery of a pair of embroidered gloves impelled Hester, at t...

suppress - correct spelling

verb
Example: The judge will suppress this evidence....

Suppression vs. Repression

“Suppression” and “Repression” are two terms that are often used (and confused) in daily language. • Do you know the differen...

surely - correct spelling

adverb
Grammar.com's section on the Parts of Speech discusses the demise of -ly adverbs. Click here for that discussion....

surfeit - vocabulary

noun
Excess, an excessive amount, as in a surfeit of political speeches; overindulgence in eating and drinking; general disgust caused by excess.verb
To supply with anything to ex...

surprise - correct spelling

noun and verb
Example: This news was a surprise to all. noun
Example: His announcement will ...

surrogate - vocabulary

noun
A person appointed to act for another, a deputy; a substitute; a surrogate mother. In law, in some states, a surrogate is a judicial officer charged with probating wills and administering estates....

surround - correct spelling

verb and noun
Example: The police plan to surround the crack house. verb
Example: The archite...

susceptible - correct spelling

adjective
Example: He is susceptible to the flu virus....

suspense - correct spelling

noun
Example: The suspense is killing us....

suspicious - correct spelling

adjective
Example: He was suspicious of the strange behavior of his accountant....

sweat - correct spelling

verb and noun
Example: He learned to sweat the details. verb
Example: The ...

switcheroo noun

I coined this term to describe two-word pairs. The two words are spelled and sometimes pronounced identically. One word acts as a noun, the other as a verb
.A classic example is change. A nouny ...

sycophant - vocabulary

noun
A servile flatterer, especially of those in authority or influence; a fawning parasite. Your future connection with Britain, whom you can neither love nor honour, will be forced and unnatural, and being...

syllable - correct spelling

noun
Example: Good writers strive to use one-syllable words....

symmetrical - correct spelling

adjective
Example: The symmetrical pictures framed the hallway....

sympathy - correct spelling

noun
Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses sympathy and empathy. Click here for that discussion.Example: We ex...

Sympathy vs. Empathy

The terms sympathy and empathy is an addition to th...

Synchronous vs. Asynchronous

The terms 'synchronous' and 'asynchronous' are two concepts that are often used in various fields, including computer science, telecommunications, education, and communication. Despite their contrasting meanings, both terms highlight important asp...

synonym - correct spelling

noun
Example: He checked the dictionary to find a short synonym of the long word....

synonymous - correct spelling

adjective
Example: The preacher believed that Hollywood is synonymous with immorality....

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    Identify the sentence with correct use of the past continuous tense:
    A We will be arriving at the airport shortly.
    B They were playing tennis when it started to rain.
    C He finished his book before the movie started.
    D She has already finished her work.

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