Should You Inquire or Enquire?
This one is very easy if you are an American. In American English, inquire is the preferred form. If you are in Great Britain, however, things get a bit more tricky. Enquire is used of informal questions, but inquire is used of official investigations. Examples: I am going into that pub to enquire whether they […]
Assure, Ensure, or Insure … When to Use Which
These three words cause a lot of confusion. There are some simple ways to remember which one should be used in what circumstance. I referred to the ultimate English reference tool, Fowler’s Modern English Usage, to ensure that I gave you the most accurate information on this sticky little problem. Assure is a verb meaning […]
Today I Am a Prophet Who Wants to Make a Profit
And I want to tell you about the difference between the words prophecy and prophesy. A prophecy is a prediction. This word is a noun, and it’s pronounced /PRAH fuh see/. Example: Cassandra warned the Greeks not to take the Trojan horse into the city, but because of Apollo’s curse, no one believed her prophecy […]
Some Pointers for New Bloggers — NOT Just Grammar
Hey folks! I’m seeing a lot of new faces here on Blogit (handles, anyway), which is marvellous. But I also see a lot of people making some of the same mistakes I did….I’d like to save you some time, trouble, and embarrassment. Don’t make a whole new blog for each post. Group your posts into […]
Unh, Thag Use Big Word…
and nine-tenths of the population probably has no clue what Thag meant. I have come across the word solipsism or one of its variants three times in one day. That’s not exactly a common word among the general population, yet the first two times I met it, I nodded politely and read on. The third […]