Writers (yes, even me) sometimes joke about having license to make up new words, but the ones that already exist have meanings ascribed to them, so you… Read more “Words mean things”
Tag: word choice
A portmanteau does so much more than hold your coat
Athleisure. Brunch. Franglais. What do all these words have in common? They’re known as portmanteau words, which combine portions of two (or more) individual words to create… Read more “A portmanteau does so much more than hold your coat”
Me, myself, and I
Who’s there? It’s me. Who’s there? It is I! Pop quiz: which of the above exchanges is grammatically correct? If I tell you it’s the second one,… Read more “Me, myself, and I”
I think I can, I think I can…
I bet most of you can think of a time when you’ve been corrected on your use of the word “can” – probably by an older adult… Read more “I think I can, I think I can…”
Let your cover letter tell your story
I used to think cover letters were a pain in the neck. Just one more blasted thing I had to do before applying for a job, something… Read more “Let your cover letter tell your story”
The effect is that it affects your credibility
Affect and effect. What’s the difference? One tiny letter at the beginning of the word. Use the wrong one, and you’re “ffect.” (Go on, say it out… Read more “The effect is that it affects your credibility”
Like, such as, and why the difference matters
When I copy-edit, there’s an invisible checklist of things I look for. Obviously, grammar and spelling errors are the most important things to fix, as they look… Read more “Like, such as, and why the difference matters”
Alison Larabie Chase 