The new store is farther down the lane. Or The new store is further down the lane. Can you tell which of the above sentences is correct? What if I told you that both of them are perfectly fine! So, does that mean farther and further mean the same? Well, not always! Farther and further are commonly used English words, but it is also common to get confused while using them. Read More…

The knowledge of the structure of language is essential if we want to create well-formed sentences that aptly deliver the intended idea. In this post, we look at a special structure — the elliptical construction. An elliptical construction is the one in which a word or phrase implied by context is left out of a sentence, typically because it is a reiteration of a previous word or phrase. Read More…

In academic writing, it is wise to be careful in one’s statements to differentiate between facts and claims. This is customarily known as “hedging.” Hedging is a pragmatic linguistic device that expresses tentativeness or skepticism on one’s proposition and exhibits politeness and open-mindedness. People use hedged language for various purposes, but most often to: Read More…

It is interesting how an article, when it precedes a word, can change the meaning of the sentence altogether, and one such word is “Few.” The context becomes completely different when the article “a” precedes it. The words few and a few are often used interchangeably; the difference is subtle but notable. While few connotes a negligible quantity or an insignificantly small number, a few signifies ‘some’ or ‘a handful.’ For instance, Read More..

The words assure, ensure, and insure are classic examples of how the most common English words are used in the wrong context. While it is easy to mess up these words, if you understand what they mean and how different they are from each other, it becomes easier to use them correctly. Read More…

Some English words invite confusion every time someone tries to use them. Many might think that only the words with overlapping meanings would be difficult to use correctly. However, surprisingly, such a confusion is quite common around words having very distinct meanings as well. Read More..

When someone gives you an opinion, should you thank them for their advice or advise? Well, if you have ever wondered about the difference between the two words or have used them interchangeably, you are not alone! Advice and advise are among the most commonly confused words because they are both used to refer to a suggestion or an idea. Read More..