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Should I use "oldest friend" or "longest friend"?

"Oldest friend" typically refers to a friend that a person has known for the most amount of time, regardless of how often they may see or communicate with each other. It emphasizes the length of the friendship, and suggests a deeper connection or his...

Born in vs. Born at

In English, prepositions such as "at" and "in" are used to convey different types of information about time and place. When referring to a person's birthplace, "born at" and "born in" are two common expressions used to convey information about the sp...

Chiasmus and Antimetabole

Chiasmus Chiasmus (pronounced ki-AZ-muss) is an ancient literary device, as old as ancient Greek verse and Hebrew scripture, which when used appropriately can be an effective way to transform your writing. It is basically, a rhetorical figure of spe...

A Comprehensive Guide to the World's Most Difficult Grammars

Top 5 languages with the most difficult grammar Learning a new language may be thrilling and challenging at the same time. While learning certain languages is very simple, learning others takes more time and effort. The top five languages with the m...

Correcting Spoken Grammar Errors

Most of us will make the occasional mistake when speaking, whether we confuse an irregular verb tense or pronounce a word incorrectly. Whether English is our mother tongue or a second language, we might feel a bit embarrassed when our mistakes are ca...

Acronym vs Anacronym

Do you know the difference between the words Acronym vs Anacronym? At first glance, we might be tempted to think that the two words, “an acronym,” mistakenly merged into the one word, “anacronym” – indeed, it appears that way! But, in ...

Personification vs Anthropomorphism

Do you know the difference between Personification vs Anthropomorphism? Personification and anthropomorphism are two kinds of literary devices that are used to give depth and emotion to our descriptions. In this article, Personification vs ...

May vs Might

Most of us use “may” and “might” interchangeably. We often choose one or the other without giving it much thought and both sound right in most situations. But there are contexts and nuances to take into consideration. In this articl...

Irony vs Sarcasm

Irony and Sarcasm are both language devices that are used to shape meaning.Meaning can be expressed in complex ways. We are able to create double meanings; we can say things that we don’t mean, while our meaning hides in that which is unsaid; we ca...

Cognitive Dissonance vs Cognitive Consonance

Cognitive Dissonance and Cognitive Consonance are the opposite of each other, but they certainly live side by side: if you pay attention to your mental state, you might discover that you are feeling either one or the other. • How do you deal w...

Dog Language: Words from A Dog’s World

If you are thinking about getting a dog, or if you already have a dog, it is important to know some of the vocabulary in the dog world. In this article, you will find:• Words that describe the life of a dog• Words that describe the jobs that...

The Use of Repetition as a Rhetorical Device: Anaphora, Epistrophe, and Symploce

Do you know these three words: Anaphora, Epistrophe, and Symploce?In this article, The Use of Repetition as a Rhetorical Device, I will:1. Discuss the use of repetition as a rhetorical device. 2. Define Anaphora, Epistrophe, and Symploce - ...

People Is” vs “People Are”

Let’s begin with the most simplistic statement: “People are…” is correct. “People is…” is not correct.Well, wait a minute!• Does that mean that the word “people” is a singular noun or a plural noun? • And how is it use...

Coffeehouse Language: Vocabulary for a Great Cup of Coffee

Did you know that coffee grows on trees?The goal of this article is to clarify and organize some basic concepts relating to coffee and its consumption.We will first describe the process used to bring coffee to you, from tree to table. We will th...

Compared To vs Compared With: What is the Difference?

The phrases “compared to” and “compared with” are used interchangeably and are usually assumed to have the same meaning. But do they?  In this article, we will take a closer look at the verb “compare” when it is coupled with the...

Backup and Back up? What’s the Difference?

We all use the word Backup. Or is it Back Up? ·       Are they identical, both equally right and acceptable? ·       Is one spelled correctly and the other simply wrong? ·       Do they...

Common Yiddish Idioms in English

Did you know that the word “bagel” is taken from Yiddish?How about the origin of the word “glitch”? Did you ever use the word “schlep”?  Also from Yiddish!Continue reading to learn about Common Yiddish Idioms in English:&nb...

6 American Football Expressions

Many expressions from American football have made their way into our everyday speech and we use football expressions without even realizing that we are echoing the language of the football stadium.This article defines 6 American Football Expressions,...

Idolatry vs. Idiolatry vs. Ideology: What’s the Difference

Idolatry, idiolatry, ideology. These three words look somewhat the same. They sound somewhat the same. Do you think that these three words are similar in their meaning, as well?Continue reading to learn the definition of these words and how...

Fake News: How to Check Your Facts

Fake news is essentially false information that is presented as true and appears at first glance to be from a trustworthy source. But don’t believe all that you read.In this article, we will define the term fake news and discuss the importance...

Artisan vs. Artesian: What is the Difference?

Do you think the words “artisan” and “artesian” belong to new-age, eco-friendly lingo?Do these two words mean the same thing?Are they pronounced differently, or do they sound the same?In this article, I will define these two words, ...

More So Vs. Moreso: Which is the Correct Spelling?

More so and moreso mean the same the thing. But which spelling should we use? Here is the simple answer: The two-word phrase, more so, is the official spelling and, as such, it is considered the correct spelling. The one-word phrase, m...

Regard vs. Regards: Which is Correct?

Do we say, “in regard to” or “in regards to”?Do I “send you my regard” or “send you my regards”?Do you end your correspondence “with best regard” or “with best regards”?"Regard" or "regards." How do we know which one to use?In...

Bait vs. Bate: Do You Know the Difference?

You know the expression, “…with bated/baited breath…” What do you think? Is it spelled "bait” or “bate”? Are you sure?The words “bait” and “bate” are homophones, which means they are pronounced the same, but their spelling ...

Today’s Slang: 15 Traditional Words That Have New Meanings

Slang is often invented and used by the youth of each generation. These new words, or new ways of using existing words, provide the young with a way of defining their identity, separate from their parents and from the adults of their time. When using...