Recently Added Articles Page #66

two, too, to

Two is the number right after one.Too means “also.”To is a preposition that helps specify direction or location. The word to also helps specify the infinitive form of a verb.Example: They will never escape because there are too many people who wa...

unconscionable, unconscious

To be unconscionable means "not guided by conscience" or "not in accordance with what is just or reasonable" or "unscrupulous."To be unconscious means to be "unaware" or "unable to think."Example: His unconscionable act of vengeance left the other pl...

unexceptionable, unexceptional

To be exceptional means to be “superior” or “uncommon.”Exceptionable means “objectionable” or “open to debate.” The prefix “un” creates the opposites of both terms.Unexceptionable means “not open to debate” and unexceptional m...

venal, venial

Venal means “open to corruption or without honor.”Venial means “easily forgiven” or “minor.”Example: The venal officer was guilty of more that just venial offences....

waist, waste

Your waist is between your stomach and your hips.To waste means “to squander” or “to consume thoughtlessly.”Example: The main reason for the enlargement of his waist was his reluctance to waste food....

whether

The word whether is a subordinating conjunction that introduces subordinate clauses. Many writers believe that or not must follow whether.Not true. The word whether implies the or not.The or not expression is necessary when you mean “regardless of ...

who, whom, or whose

The word who is the subjective or nominative case. It acts as a subject of a clause (The runner who won the race) or as a predicate nominative, that is, a pronoun linked to the verb to be or other linking verb (Who’s who).The word whom is the objec...

whole, hole

Whole means “entire.”A hole is an “opening,” “empty spot,” or rarely a “flaw.”Example: We asked the whole work crew to dig the hole....

whose, who's

Whose is the possessive form of the pronoun who. Many think that whose can refer only to people or living things, but savvy writers use it all the time to show possession by an inanimate object or abstraction. The technique avoids an awkward of which...

wonder, wander

Wonder means “awe,” “astonishment,” or “surprise,” and can be used as a noun, verb, or adjective associated with that meaning.Wander means “to move about aimlessly,” “to roam,” or “to go astray.”Example: The sales people wonde...

xylophone

Note: Here's an interesting "Word History" from Dictionary.com:Alphabet books for children frequently feature the word xylophone because it is one of the few words beginning with x that a child (or most adults, for that matter) would know. The majori...

yet

Don’t hesitate to start a sentence with Yet. It’s a coordinating conjunction, and great writers have been starting sentences with conjunctions for hundreds of years. You can remember the coordinating conjunctions by referring to the acronym BOYFA...

you're, your

Note: We thoroughly discuss the differences between these words in the Common Grammatical Mistakes section of Grammar.com. Click here for the beginning of that discussion.Your is the possessive form of the pronoun you.You’re is the contraction of t...

Zeitgeist

This German word, often appearing in the uppercase, means “the spirit of the times” or “the general intellectual or temper characteristic of a particular period of time.” These days, it’s perfectly acceptable to write the word in the lowerc...

Problem Words - Definition, Overview, and Lists of Examples

The TroublemakersMany words in the English language set traps for even the most accomplished writer. Here, on Grammar.com, we’ve provided discussions of over 200 of these troublemakers. (Scroll down for an alphabetical list.)Glossary LinksIn the di...

Download Grammar eBooks

Besides, we've kept the prices of our Grammar eBooks low. Very low.Safe and Secure: Downloads are safe and secure. Also, we will keep your name and email address private. We will not share them with anyone else. That's our promise.Please Note: To&nbs...

Parts of Speech

To become an accomplished writer, you must know all about these eight parts of speech. Each is discussed thoroughly in ths section. See below for a table of contents.Download Our Grammar eBooksYou may download our entire discussion of the Parts of Sp...

Frequently Misspelled Words

.freq-table { border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0; border: 1px #bbb solid;}.freq-table > div { border-bottom: 1px #ddd solid; padding: 4px 8px;}.freq-table > div:not(:nth-child(3n)) { border-right: none;}.freq-table > div:not(:nth-child(4n)...

a lot - correct spelling

a lot noun Not alot, which is simply not a word. You wouldn't climb atree, would you? Example: He took a lot of pictures. ...

a while, awhile - correct spelling

a while, awhile nounNot awhile, which is an adverb.Example: Wait here for a while. The expression a while is a noun form.Example: Wait here awhile. The word awhile is an adverb.See while. ...

ability - correct spelling

ability nounExample: Her ability as a leader impressed us. ...

absence - correct spelling

absence nounExample: Absence makes the heart grow fonder....

absent - correct spelling

absent correct spelling of absent adjectiveExample: The absent board member submitted her proxy....

abundance - correct spelling

abundance nounExample: We harvested an abundance of corn....

accelerate - correct spelling

accelerate verbExample: The Lexus accelerates faster than a VW Bug....