When you come across an unfamiliar word while reading, how do you try to understand its meaning? Chances are you use context clues—even if you’ve never heard of that term. Faced with a sea of unfamiliar words, beginning readers learn many techniques for decoding words and expanding their vocabularies. Teachers use the term decoding to refer to the ability to see a written word and read it …
If you’ve ever wondered why it’s spelled practice in some contexts and practise in others, it mainly comes down to British versus American spelling. But which is which? When to use practise or practice In American English, the spelling practice is the only one commonly used—and it’s used for both the noun (commonly meaning “habit or custom” or “repeated exercise to acquire a skill”) and the verb …
A lot of questions come to mind when ordering coffee. Will the barista spell your name right on the cup? What size should you get? And what do venti, trenta, and those other sizes actually mean at Starbucks? What do grande, venti, and trenta mean at Starbucks? First of all, here are the size options traditionally offered at Starbucks: tall (12 ounces), grande (16 ounces), …
If you’ve ever followed a tasty soup recipe, you probably reached a step where it asked to use a certain broth or a stock. Even if you are a soup specialist, you may have wondered if it is OK to use broth when a recipe calls for stock or vice versa. In this article, we will break down the technical differences between stock and broth. …
Learning a new language has many benefits. Not only are you able to connect with more people in this world and expand your cultural awareness, but as you learn a new language, you’re also training your brain. Language lessons can improve memory, concentration, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills. According to most estimates, there are more than 7,000 languages spoken around the world—and as you consider which language …
Is there a difference between onto and on to? Does the space change the meaning? And when should one be used instead of the other? In this article, we will explain the difference between onto and on to, explore when and how they are typically used, and provide example sentences that show them in use. The single word onto is most commonly used as a …
The words left and right are closely associated with differing “wings” of the political spectrum. But how did liberal politics become associated with the word left, anyways? And why are conservatives labelled as right? When we discuss the origins of words, we often warn against origin stories that sound too good to be true. Well, in this case, the history of the terms left and …
Is there a difference between into and in to? Does the space change the meaning? And when should one be used instead of the other? In this article, we’ll go into detail about the difference between into and in to, explain when and how each is used, and provide examples of how they typically appear in sentences. The single word into is a preposition that’s …
From shows like Squid Game to musical sensations like Twice and BTS, it’s no secret that Korean pop culture is trending worldwide. In the US and elsewhere, people can’t get enough of all things Korean, from food to music, movies, and fashion. Korean pop culture is so huge, in fact, that it’s spawned its own category of words: K-words. In the US especially, adding a …
Peal and peel are pronounced exactly the same and look very similar, but their meanings are quite different. In this article, join us as we peel back the layers of difference between peal and peel, show how to use the forms pealing and peeling, and provide examples of how these words are used in sentences. Peal and peel are homophones: they sound the same but …
Whoever you are, you’re not alone in being confused about when you should use whoever and whomever. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between whomever and whoever, cover when and how to use each one, and provide example sentences showing exactly how each one is used. If you haven’t yet, read our guide to who vs. whom first. It provides the foundation for the …
Listen up, everyone: we know you all have questions, so let’s talk about the terms guys and you guys. You may be asking if there are any good substitutes for such useful terms. The answer is yes, and we have suggestions for each and every one of you. (Including some that we just used without y’all even noticing it). For years, the term guys and expressions …
