All posts by Michael Blackwood

Faze vs. Phase: When to Use Each

Ah, the English language – what a delightful labyrinth of quirks and inconsistencies, huh? Today, we delve into the depths of two sneaky homophones: faze and phase. They sound the same but have quite different meanings. Don’t get fazed by their trickery! Faze vs. Phase: Definitions Faze: This is a verb. It describes something that […]...

Lose vs. Loose: When to Use Each

It’s easy to confuse lose and loose. They are similar looking, with only a minor difference in their pronunciations. This article breaks down their major differences.  Lose, which is pronounced “looz,” with a Z sound, is a verb that is all about letting go, missing out, or suffering defeat. Think of it as something slipping […]...

APA vs MLA: What Are the Differences?

In academic writing, there are two major style guides: APA and MLA, each with its own citation style. They both have the goal of ensuring clarity and consistency in scholarly works, but they have distinct rules and formats. Let’s take a look. APA and MLA: The Major Distinctions On the whole, APA and MLA are […]...

What Is a Pronoun? A Simple Guide

Pronouns Substitute for Nouns Simply put, pronouns substitute for nouns. (For more on the parts of speech, check out this article.) Nouns are people, places, things, and ideas. Some nouns are: apple, car, Becky, mountain, kitchen, time, happiness. Pronouns include he, she, it, they, who, and more.  Pronouns are used to refer to people and […]...

Colons vs. Semicolons: When to Use Each

Colons (:) and semicolons (;) are easily confused. While they’re similar, they serve distinct purposes in sentence structure. In this article, I’ll describe the nuances of using colons versus semicolons and provide you with the tools to use them correctly. Colons serve primarily as a signpost for what comes next in a sentence: they introduce […]...

Who vs. That — When to Use Each

In the English language, we use pronouns as linguistic shortcuts, streamlining communication by replacing nouns. Among these pronouns, who and that are often confused. In general, who refers to people while that refers to things. Would you like more details? Keep reading. Who — The Human Touch Who is a pronoun that refers to people […]...

Your vs. You’re — What’s the Difference?

Folks often confuse your and you’re in written English. They are homophones, words that sound alike but have different meanings. (Check out our other articles on homophones like whole/hole and it’s/its.) Your is a possessive pronoun, indicating something belongs to someone, while you’re is a contraction of you are.  Let’s delve into these distinctions and […]...
Illusion Vs. Allusion — What’s The Difference?

Illusion vs. Allusion — What’s the Difference?

Illusion and allusion are two words that often cause confusion due to their similar-sounding nature, but they have distinct meanings and applications in the English language. In this article, we will unravel the complexities of illusion and allusion, providing clear examples to illuminate their disparate roles. Illusion — A Deceptive Mirage Illusion refers to something […]...
It's vs Its - When To Use Each

Its vs It’s — When to Use Each

When do you put an apostrophe in its/it’s? How do you know? This issue commonly confuses English writers — pros and newbies alike. It’s easy to confuse the two, considering the (often befuddling) rules of English.  With this article, we’ll put the confusion to rest.  The Difference between Its and It’s The difference between these […]...
What’s the Difference between e.g. and i.e.?

What’s the Difference between e.g. and i.e.?

People commonly confuse the abbreviations “e.g.” and “i.e.,” as they are used in similar contexts and function in similar ways. They are both abbreviations of Latin phrases. However, they do not mean the same thing, and they are not interchangeable. E.g. is used for specific examples, while i.e. is used to rephrase or to define […]...
That vs. Which — When to Use Each

That vs. Which — When to Use Each

Learning the difference between that and which is one of the biggest challenges of English grammar. They have similar functions and are used in similar sentences. But there is a difference, and it can change the meaning of the sentence.  I’m going to break down the grammar rules of these two words and provide plenty […]...
When To Use A Comma Before "And"

When to Use a Comma before “And”

Commas serve two main functions: separating items in a list and separating independent clauses. Whether you put a comma before “and” depends on the situation.  Putting a comma before and in a list is generally optional, though style guides have different rules on this.  In general, you should always put a comma before and if […]...
Acronym vs Initialism

Acronym vs. Initialism — What’s the Difference?

In spoken and written language, we often shorten long words and phrases into different kinds of abbreviations. Sometimes, single words are abbreviated, like when we say “prep” for prepare or when we write “min” for a minute.  Phrases with multiple words are often shortened into initialisms and acronyms, which are both abbreviations that use the […]...