For the most part, double negatives in modern English are regarded as things to be avoided. Phrases such as “ain’t got no” and “don’t need no” are a few cringe-worthy examples of double negatives. However, sometimes even grammar enthusiasts can fall victim to more subtle forms of double negatives. Here are a few tips to […]
Why is it we have project managers but systems analysts? Gumball machines but singles bars? How do we determine which noun in a compound noun to make singular and which to make plural? Below are a few tips in helping you to decide, but first some terminology: The first noun in a compound noun is […]
It’s not uncommon to hear people use “drank” and “drunk” interchangeably. However, there is actually a difference in how the two words are used. “Drank” is the simple past tense of “drink,” whereas “drunk” is the past participle, which must be combined with an auxiliary verb. Remember: Simple past tense is something in the past, […]
Many of us have been told since elementary school that you can’t start a sentence with “because.” The truth is, it’s perfectly acceptable as long as you’re writing a complete sentence. “Because” is a concluding adverb which means that what follows after it is a subordinate clause that can’t stand alone. Don’t visit Vermont in […]