Paediatric vs. Pediatric This article answers all your questions about the spelling of these two words along with definitions, origins, usage and examples. Read along and you will get to know the difference between the two ... |
paid - correct spelling paid - verb (past tense and past participle of the verb pay) Example: She paid... |
Pail vs. Pale Confusing them, sometimes often, is a natural result of how similar they are - so you are owed a clear explanation of their definitions, in order to understand once and for all, when to use "pail" and when to use "pale". So, if y... |
Pain vs. Pane Pain vs. Pane The first thing to remember regarding the differences between "pain" and "pane" is their gra... |
Palate vs. Palette vs. Pallet Ever come across words in your writing experiences which sound the same? However and in whatever accent you pronounce them, they always seem to sound exactly alike. Their spellings ... |
palpable - vocabulary noun
Plainly or readily seen, heard, or understood; evident; obvious; capable of being felt or touched; tangible. Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. ... |
pamphlet - correct spelling pamphlet - noun
Example: The pamphlet described various mutual funds.... |
panacea - vocabulary noun
A remedy or medicine for all disease, a cure-all; a solution for all difficulties or problems. "It's not all rubbish," cried Amory passionately. "This is the first time in my life I've argued Socialism.... |
pandemic - vocabulary adjective, noun
Affecting a whole people, all classes, or the whole world, as a disease; general or universal, as in pandemic fear of a pandemic. “The threat of an influenza... |
panicky - correct spelling panicky - adjective
Example: She became panicky when her car failed to start.... |
parable - vocabulary noun
A brief story used to teach a truth or moral lesson; a statement or comment that conveys an indirect meaning through analogy or comparison. He put before them another parable: “The king... |
paradigm - vocabulary noun
A pattern or model; a set of assumptions, values, concepts, and practices that forms a way of viewing reality for the people who share those assumptions, etc., especially in an intellectual discipline. ... |
paragon - vocabulary noun
A pattern or model of excellence. Based on the novel by Charles Baxter, the movie is ostensibly an exploration of love in its many forms, but mostly it sticks to the credulity-and-patience-straining kin... |
parallel - correct spelling parallel - adjective, noun, and verb
Example: They learned the art of parallel structure in Gram... |
parallel construction When you write a series of elements in a sentence, each element must (1) appear in the same grammatical form and (2) perform the same grammatical function. This is the rule of parallel construction. If any element fails to satisfy either criterion, y... |
Parallelism Rule of Parallel StructureNote: We devote an entire section to parallel structure in the eBook Develo... |
parallelism - correct spelling parallelism - noun
Example: They learned the art of parallelism in Grammar.com’s eBook Developing a Powerful Writing Style.... |
Paralyze vs. Paralyse “The patient’s spinal cord is paralyzed,” said the doctor. ... |
Parentheses and Other Punctuation Drop Other PunctuationBefore the closing parenthesis, drop almost all punctuation, such as commas, semicolons, and colons.PeriodsRetain a period inside the closing parenthesis if you've writte... |
Parenthesis Punctuation is the basic element of English grammar and without it a sentence is not only incomplete but als... |
Parenthetical Pauses If the information in a parenthetical pause relates closely to the sentence, enclose it in commas. Otherwise, use the dash or parentheses: The committee's decision, to say the least, sparked considera... |
Parentheticals Within Parentheses If you write a parenthetical statement and need to include another parenthetical statement within it, then enclose the second one in brackets: While visiting Virginia, Dr. Smith and his assistant (Fred Jones, who woul... |
Parents - Take Note Bribe Your ChildrenParents, you might try an exercise out on your children. Bribe them. Put a $10 bill on the breakfast table and challenge them to make it through a second helping of waffles without using the tobelike... |
parlance - vocabulary noun
A manner or way of speaking, vernacular, idiom, as in legal parlance. Every president after Jefferson has professed agreement with Jefferson’s concept that the freedom of the American press to ... |
parliament - correct spelling parliament - noun (capitalized when referring to a particular parliament) Example: He served with distinction in the English Parliament.... |
parody - vocabulary verb
A satirical or humorous imitation, usually of a serious piece of literature; any humorous, burlesque, or satirical imitation of a person, event, etc. The parody is the last refuge of th... |
parsimonious - vocabulary adjective
Unduly sparing in the use or expenditure of money; stingy; cheap. The noun form is parsimony. England, however, as it has never been blessed with a very pa... |
participle Every main verb has two kinds of participles: a past participle and a present participle
.The past participle shows up in verb conjugati... |
Participle We read about the term participle somewhere around in grade 2 or 3 when our English teacher was telling us s... |
particular - correct spelling particular - adjective and noun
Example: His particular talent will strengthen the team. adject... |
partner - correct spelling partner - noun and verb
Example: Our partner in the venture put up most of the money. noun... |
parts of speech We have eight parts of speech in the English language: (1) nouns, (2) verbs, (3) adjectives, (4) adverbs, (5) pronouns, (6) ... |
Parts of Speech To become an accomplished writer, you must know all about these eight parts of speech. Each is discussed thoroughly in ths section. See below for a table of contents.Download Our Grammar eBooksYou may download our... |
passed, past The word pass has more than two dozen distinct meanings as a verb, another dozen as a noun, and perhaps that many again as part of a ... |
passive voice An action verb is either transitive or intransitive. A transitive verb can hook directly to a noun or pronoun (the direct object). An intransitive verb cannot ... |
Passive voice and why we need it Here are some more practical examples of passive voice usage - ... |
Past Continuous Tense ... |
Past Indefinite Tense ... |
past participle The past participle shows up in verb conjugation in two ways: (1) to form the perfect tenses with the auxiliary verb have (I ... |
Past Participle - The -ed Verb Every verb also has a past-participial form, which, for most verbs, you create by adding ‑ed, ‑d, or ‑t. As with present participles, you’ll sometimes have to double up an ending consonant: The past participle of occur... |
Past Perfect Continuous Tense Beginners of English language sometimes face difficulties in understanding and applying the correct tenses w... |
Past Perfect Tense Tenses hold vital importance in English grammar and language. The term tense has literal meaning of stress o... |
past tense The past tense of a main verb shows what happened or what state of being existed earlier at a definite time. When you use the past tense, the activity or state of being is over, finished, done (I ... |
Past Tense - How to Form Here’s the tense the novelist should use, for the past tense describes what took place yesterday and not right now on the beach. Thus, from our novel of purple beach prose above: Juan looked longingly at Teresa, who ... |
Past Tense vs. Past Participle Past Tense vs. Past ParticipleSome people confuse the past tense with the past participle. Usually, they will use the past participle instead of the correct past tense. You will hear some people say I ... |
past-participial phrase Regular verbs typically form their past participles by adding ‑ed. Irregular verbs, however, form their past participles in some other way. For example,... |
past-perfect progressive tense There are six progressive tenses
. Some grammarians refer to the progressive tense as the progressive aspect of a verb. The progressive tense shows an “ongoingness” of the action denoted by the verb.Th... |
past-perfect tense The perfect tenses are formed by using the auxiliary verb to have and adding the past participle of the main verb
. Thus, the ... |
past-progressive tense There are six progressive tenses
. Some grammarians refer to the progressive tense as the progressive aspect of a verb. The progressive tense shows an “ongoingness” of the action denoted by the verb.Th... |
pastime - correct spelling pastime - noun
Not pasttime.Example: Playing poker is his favorite pastime.... |
patience - correct spelling patience - noun
Example: The loud barking caused him to lose his patience.... |
patience, patients Patients often go to the doctor’s office.Patience is the ability to tolerate the inevitable delay when waiting at the doctor’s office.Example: In most hospital waiti... |
patronize - vocabulary verb
To give a store or business one’s regular patronage; to trade with; to behave in an offensively condescending way. “Of course,” his mother persevered, “some of the programs are not very good, but we oug... |
paucity - vocabulary noun
Smallness of quantity; scarcity. It is very strange, and very melancholy, that the paucity of human pleasures should persuade us ever to call hunting one of them.—Samue... |
pavilion - correct spelling pavilion - noun and verb
Example: They rented the picnic pavilion for their son’s birthday. noun... |
peace - correct spelling peace - noun
See piece
.Example: The country had not experienced peace in decades.... |
peace, piece Peace is “tranquility” or “the absence of war.”Piece means a “portion” or “part,” usually of a larger item or group of similar items.Example: There would never be ... |
peaceable - correct spelling peaceable - adjective
Example: He proposed a peaceable solution to settle the nerves of all parties.... |
Peak vs. Peek Let's take a closer look to what "peak" and "peek" mean in order to clarify every puzzling aspect of "peak vs. peek". Peak vs. Peek... |
peak, peek, pique A peak is a “summit” or a prominent “point” that protrudes from another object or series of values.To peek means to “glance quickly.”To pique means... |
Peal vs. Peel "Peal" and "peel" may sound almost the same. This, for a non-native English user, might be confusing. If you find yourself wondering which spelling is correct for your context, or aim to understand what each word means and how it... |
pear - correct spelling pear - noun
Not pair.Example: He selected a pear, not an orange.... |
peculiar - correct spelling peculiar - adjective
Example: She wore a peculiar hat, which caused the children to laugh.... |
pecuniary - vocabulary adjective
Of or relating to money. No genuine equality, no real freedom, no true manhood or womanhood can exist on any foundation save that of pecuniary independence. As a right over a ... |
pedagogy - vocabulary noun
The science and art of teaching; the function or work of a teacher. The first thing to know about Lan Samantha Chang, who has been named the new director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, is that she has s... |
Pedal vs. Peddle ... |
pedantic - vocabulary adjective
Ostentatious in one’s learning; characterized by a detailed, often ostentatious, attention to formalisms, especially in teaching. Here, Nabokov's aristocratic dilettantism is perfect, because ... |
Peddle vs. Pedal English spelling is full of apparent idiosyncrasies – native speakers and learners alike grapple with doubling consonants, how to form plurals, ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’’, and have to dodge umptee... |
peddle, petal, pedal Peddle means “to sell.” Peddled is the past tense and past participle of that verb.... |
Peer vs. Pier Pier and peer are homophones, meaning they sound alike but are spelled differently, and mean different things. They are also easily confused words. The spell-check application in word-processing softwar... |
pejorative - vocabulary adjective
Characterized by a belittling, disparaging, or derogatory force or effect.noun
The statement itself. Never . . . use the word gossip in a pe... |
pencil - correct spelling pencil - noun and verb
Example: He sharpened his pencil and began the audit. noun
Exam... |
penetrate - correct spelling penetrate - verb
Example: Bullets failed to penetrate the armored car.... |
peninsula - correct spelling peninsula - noun
Example: The peninsula of Florida attracts many elderly people, who, as a rule, hate snow.... |
penultimate - vocabulary adjective
Next to the last. When I was a school-boy, during the penultimate decade of the last century, the chief American grammar was “A Practical Grammar of the English Language,” by ... |
penurious - vocabulary adjective
Excessively sparing in the use of money; extremely stingy; extremely poor or destitute. These new "malefactors of great wealth" are not just distant figures hurrying toward their private jets ... |
people - correct spelling people - noun and verb
Example: “… that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people,... |
People Is” vs “People Are” Let’s begin with the most simplistic statement: “People are…” is correct. “People is…” is not correct.... |
People vs. Peoples vs. Pupils Person When we refer to a human being, we say a person. For example, a ni... |
perceive - correct spelling perceive - verb
Example: She failed to perceive the jealousy of her coworkers.... |
perception - correct spelling perception - noun
Example: That’s your perception, but you are wrong.... |
perfect - correct spelling perfect - adjective and verb
Example: The perfect couple got married in the garden. adjective... |
perfect tenses The perfect tenses are under attack by many misinformed, but otherwise well-educated, writers and speakers. The tense does express qualities of verbs that are otherwise incapable of expression and is therefore worth retaining.We have three pe... |
Perfect Tenses - How to Form In addition to the three main tenses of present, past, and future, the English language allows us to make three statements about accomplished facts. We use one of the three perfect tenses to show an action that ... |
Perfect vs. Prefect Perfect (adjective) means something that is flawless or complete. ... |
perform - correct spelling perform - verb
Example: We waited for her to perform on the piano.... |
Perform vs. Preform Perform Perform means to showcase one’s skill in something. It can be a dance, song or even an exam. For example, • He performed well during the semester exams. • The group performs well whe... |
performance - correct spelling performance - noun
Example: The performance by the tenor overshadowed the other singers.... |
perhaps - correct spelling perhaps - adverb
Example: Perhaps she will call tonight.... |
Perhaps from now on you’ll say… Our chapter title looked like this: “Like, I’mlike gonna learn how to like talk.”Ouch. From now on, perhaps you’ll say …“I’m going to learn how to talk.”Please Note:... |
Period Punctuation is the basic element of English grammar and without it, a sentence is not only in... |
Period Goes Inside Quotation Marks The period goes inside the closing quotations marks. Ed said, "Here is a sentence with the period properly placed inside the ending quotation marks." (Period goes inside.) Previous:... |
Period with Parentheses or Brackets Where Does the Period Go?If an entire sentence or group of sentences appears in parentheses, then put the period inside the closing parenthesis. This is a parenthetical sentence. Thus:Parenthetically ... |
Periods with Quotation Marks Periods Come InsideWith only one exception, the period always comes inside closing quotation marks. This rule applies even if only one quoted word ends the sentence. Thus: ... |
permanence - correct spelling permanence - noun
Example: She wanted a sense of permanence in her new home.... |
permanent - correct spelling permanent - adjective
Example: The conservatives wanted to make the tax breaks permanent.... |
permissible - correct spelling permissible - adjective
Not permissable.Example: Paving the roads is a permissible role of government.... |
permitted - correct spelling permitted - verb (past tense and past participle of the verb permit) and adjective
Example: She ... |
pernicious - vocabulary adjective
Causing serious ruin or harm; injurious; deadly. The machine has had a pernicious effect upon virtue, pity, and love, and young men used to machines which induce inertia, and ... |
perpendicular - correct spelling perpendicular - adjective and noun
Example: The lines are perpendicular to each other. adjectiv... |
perquisite - vocabulary noun
A payment, advantage, benefit, or privilege received beyond regular income or salary; something claimed as an exclusive right.Note: The expression “perk” comes from perquisite. ... |
perquisite, prerequisite These words have entirely different meanings. A perquisite is a privilege or a benefit often given in addition to wages or salary. We often refer to the shortened version: perk.A ... |
perseverance - correct spelling perseverance - noun
Example: Her perseverance enabled her to succeed.... |
persevere - correct spelling persevere - verb
Example: If you persevere, you will get the promotion.... |
persistence - correct spelling persistence - noun
Not persistance.Example: The persistence of the salesman began to irritate us.... |
persistent - correct spelling persistent - adjective
Not persistant.Example: The persistent salesman irritated the visitors.... |
person The concept of person applies to pronouns and reflects a universal truth: There are only three types of people on earth. We have the speaker (first person), the listener (second person), and the person being gossiped a... |
Person - Three People Only Three People Exist on EarthAmber, Igor, and Miss Hamrick realized a long time ago that people mostly talk about only one thing—other people. That is, they gossip. They recognized, therefore, a universal truth:Whe... |
personal - correct spelling personal - adjective and noun
See personnel
.Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses persona... |
personal pronoun We have seven kinds of pronouns in the English language (personal pronouns, reflexive and intensive pronouns, relative pronouns, ... |
personality - correct spelling personality - noun
Example: The politician’s jovial personality attracted a strong following.... |
Personification vs Anthropomorphism Do you know the difference between Personification vs Anthropomorphism? Personification and anthropomorphism are two kinds of literary devices that are ... |
personnel - correct spelling personnel - noun
See personal
.Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses personal and personnel. ... |
personnel, personal Personnel is an administrative group or a group of people involved in a particular business, group, or activity.Personal has a host of meanings: “relating to a specific person” (a ... |
Perspective vs. Prospective Perspective” and “prospective” constitute a great example of paronyms. The two words have very similar spellings, that are written and pronounced with a high degree of similitude, but which have different lexical meanings and grammatical functions, r... |
perspicacious, perspicacity - vocabulary adjective
Perspicacious: having a keen mental understanding or perception; shrewd; astute; discerning.noun
Perspicacity: keen menta... |
perspiration - correct spelling perspiration - noun
Example: His nervousness caused excessive perspiration.... |
persuade - correct spelling persuade - verb
Example: She tried to persuade her daughter to study at night.... |
persuasion - correct spelling persuasion - noun
Example: Writing with persuasion will help your career.... |
pertain - correct spelling pertain - verb
Example: This statute does not pertain to our case.... |
perusal, peruse - vocabulary noun
Perusal: the act of reading carefully or thoughtfully; scrutiny; survey.verb
Peruse: to read thoroughly and carefully; to examine o... |
petulant - vocabulary adjective
Showing sudden or impatient irritation, especially over something trifling; irritable, peevish, fretful, petty. The faces of most American women over thirty are relief maps of petulant... |
pharaoh - correct spelling pharaoh - noun
Not pharoah.Example: The tomb of the pharaoh contained gold and jewels.... |
Phase vs. Faze Content about Phase vs. Faze has been temporarily removed...... |
phenomenon, phenomena The word phenomenon is singular
. Its plural is phenomena.... |
phlegmatic - vocabulary adjective
Not easily roused to feeling, emotion, or action; composed, calm, self-possessed; having a sluggish, unemotional temperament. Phlegmatic natures can be inspired to en... |
phoney vs. phony Which spelling is correct? Both are acceptable. British English prefers phoney, while American English prefers phony.... |
Phrasal verbs with back 1. Back up Back up someone – to give support t... |
Phrasal verbs with ‘Get’ Get – as a separate word get means to acquire or have something. When combined ... |
phrase A phrase is a multiword group having no conjugated verb in it. We have various kinds of phrases, which perform all sorts of functions in the language. Basically, the phrases can serve as nouns, ... |
Phrase The language of English is full of adventures and new things when one comes to exploring it. If you are a ne... |
physical - correct spelling physical - adjective and noun
Example: The physical activity was too much for the elderly man. ... |
physician - correct spelling physician - noun
Example: He became a successful physician after years of study in medical school.... |
Pi vs. Pie Pi (π) is a mathematical constant that represents the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. It is an irrational number, meaning it cannot be expressed as a finite decimal or a fraction. The value of pi is approximately 3.14159, a... |
picture - correct spelling picture - noun and verb
Example: The picture showed the family at the beach. noun
Exam... |
piece - correct spelling piece - noun
See peace
.Example: He ordered a piece of cake.... |
pigeon - correct spelling pigeon - noun
Not pidgeon.Example: The pigeon looked for food in the park.Example: ... |
pilgrimage - correct spelling pilgrimage - noun
Example: During her illness, she made a pilgrimage to the shrine.... |
pique - vocabulary verb
To excite a degree of anger and resentment, as in She was piqued by their refusal to attend the party; to excite interest or curiosity in; to arouse or provoke to action. "It naturally happens ... |
pistachio - correct spelling pistachio - noun
Not pistacchio.Example: The pistachio nut broke his fingernails when he tried to open it.... |
pitiful - correct spelling pitiful - adjective
Example: The pitiful little orphans just wanted some love and attention.... |
plagiarize - correct spelling plagiarize - verb
Example: Way too many students plagiarize by copying information from the Internet and using it in their term papers.... |
plain - correct spelling plain - adjective
Not plane
.Example: The plain brown wrapper made him suspicious ... |
plane - correct spelling plane - noun and verb
Not plain
.Example: The top of the box formed a horizontal ... |
planning - correct spelling planning - verb (past tense and past participle of the verb plan) and noun ... |
playwright - correct spelling playwright - noun
Not playwrite.Example: As a playwright, he penned many award winners.... |
pleaded, pled The preferred past tense and past participle of the verb to plead is pleaded... |
pleasant - correct spelling pleasant - adjective
Example: The pleasant breeze wafted through the cabin.... |
please - correct spelling please - adverb and verb
Example: Would you please turn off the radio. adverb
Exam... |
pleasure - correct spelling pleasure - noun and verb
Example: He took great pleasure in handing out the awards. noun... |
plebeian - vocabulary adjective
Commonplace, vulgar or coarse in nature; of or associated with the great masses of people; relating to or belonging to the ancient Roman plebs.noun
A member of the common pe... |
plenitude - correct spelling plenitude - noun
Not plentitude.Example: There was a plenitude of food from many nations.... |
plight - correct spelling plight - noun and verb
Example: We found ourselves in a terrible plight. noun
Example:... |
plural Nouns and pronouns are either singular or plural. Nouns typically form their plurals by adding ‑s, (boys), ‑es (torches), or ‑ies (cit... |
plurale tantum A NOUN which is invariably plural in form, even though it may be singular in sense. Examples include oats, cattle, remains, pants, scissors, binoculars, pyjamas, shorts and tweezers. Such nouns are awkward to count: we cannot say ... |
Plurals of Nouns Notice that words are characterized as nouns by their ability to form plurals. (Some pronouns have this ability as well, e.g., other and others.) You will form the plural for most nouns by adding ‑s or ‑es. Jus... |
pneumonia - correct spelling pneumonia - noun
Example: He barely survived the pneumonia.... |
pocket - correct spelling pocket - noun and verb
Example: He hid the pistol in his pocket. noun
Example: ... |
poignant - vocabulary adjective
Profoundly touching or moving; strong in mental appeal; affecting the emotions. There are few sorrows, however poignant, in which a good income is of no avail.... |
poinsettia - correct spelling poinsettia - noun
Not pointsettia.Example: The red poinsettia graced the Christmas table.... |
poison - correct spelling poison - noun and verb
Example: She put out some rat poison in her attic. noun
Example... |
Pole vs. Poll The director promised to strike the poll in the ground if the results of the pole were in his favor.... |
policeman - correct spelling policeman - noun
Example: The armed policeman overpowered the thug.... |
political - correct spelling political - adjective
Example: The political debate lasted far into the night.... |
population - correct spelling population - noun
Example: The U.S. population now exceeds 300 million.... |
pore, pour, poor To pore means “to read” or “to ponder.”To pour means "to cause a liquid or granular solid to flow."Poor means to be "of bad quality or low economic status."... |
portend - vocabulary verb
To indicate in advance, especially by previous signs; to presage, foreshadow; to signify, mean. “Rise in Cases of West Nile May Portend an Epidemic” —Denise Grady ... |
portent - vocabulary noun
Anything that indicates what is about to happen; a significant threat; a marvel or prodigy, something amazing. Self-parody is the first portent of age.—Larry McMurtry ... |
portray - correct spelling portray - verb
Example: She will portray the events in a positive light.... |
portrayal - correct spelling portrayal - noun
Example: His portrayal of the king impressed the critics.... |
Poser vs. Poseur There are some very confusing pairs of words in English language which have very different me... |
positive - correct spelling positive - adjective and noun
Example: The positive results of the meeting increased our confidence. ... |
positive state Adjectives and adverbs exhibit a positive state, which simply shows the attribute expressed by the adjective (hot) or adverb (quickly). If the adjective or adverb seeks to show that som... |
Positive, Comparative, Superlative Postive, Comparative, Superlative - Good, Better, BestRecall how we defined nouns as words capable of having plurals and possessive endings. Adjectives (and their first cousin, the adverb) also have a feature that di... |
possess - correct spelling possess - verb
Example: He wanted to possess fancy cars and fancy clothes.... |
possession - correct spelling possession - noun
Example: He sold his last possession and moved to the beach.... |
possessive - correct spelling possessive - adjective and noun
Example: He was overly possessive, so she left. adjective... |
possessive case The personal pronouns (and the relative or interrogative pronoun who) exhibit case
. The case of a pronoun reveals how th... |
Possessive pronouns vs. Possessive adjectives Possessive The word possessive itself... |
possessives One of the distinctive features of the noun is its ability to own something, to possess something. We show this act of possession by adding a possessive ending, typically an “apostrophe ‑s” (Fred's report) to a ... |
Possessives of Nouns Words are also characterized as nouns by their ability to form possessives. Again, some pronouns have this ability as well (other, other’s). So before we explore the main functions of nouns, let’s pause to address an issue that spar... |
possibility - correct spelling possibility - noun
Example: He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.... |
possible - correct spelling possible - adjective
Example: Lying was a possible response, but she decided to tell the truth.... |
potato - correct spelling potato - noun
Example: The baked potato came with sour cream.... |
potatoes - correct spelling potatoes - noun (plural of the noun potato) Example: He grew corn, beans, and potatoes.... |
Pour vs. Pour Take a look at the above two sentences. One of them is not correct. Can you identify which one? Pore... |
practical - correct spelling practical - adjective
Example: Let’s take a practical approach and ignore all those theories.... |
practically - correct spelling practically - adverb
Grammar.com's section on the Parts of Speech discusses the demise of -ly adverbs. Click here
f... |
Practice vs. Practise With "practice" and "practise" being distinct due to only one letter, you might be tempted to think it's the same situation as in the case of "device" and "devise". More exactly, that this different spelling shows that one is the noun and the other i... |
prairie - correct spelling prairie - noun
Example: The cowboy felt at home on the prairie.... |
pray, prey To pray means "to meditate or communicate with God."As a verb, prey means “to hunt.” As a noun, prey... |
precarious - vocabulary adjective
Dependent on circumstances beyond one’s control; lacking in stability or security; subject to change; based on unproved premises; perilous. A politician never forgets the precarious... |
precede - correct spelling precede - verb
Not preceed.Example: The best man will precede the groom in the procession.... |
precedence - correct spelling precedence - noun
Grammar.com’s section on Problem Words discusses precedence and precedent. Click here for that discussio... |
precedence, precedent, precedential - vocabulary noun
Precedence: the fact or act of preceding, as in The first patent application receives precedence in Europe; priority in place, time, or rank because of superiority, as in The company relied on its prec... |
precedent, precedence The meaning of the word precedent in law—a judicial decision that sets a rule—is very close to the common usage of the word: an “example” or “custom resulting from long practice.” A lawyer might find several prec... |
preceding - correct spelling preceding - adjective and verb (present participle of the verb precede) Not preceeding.Example: He looked at the footnote ... |
precise - correct spelling precise - adjective
Example: The architect studied the precise measurements of the room.... |
preclude - vocabulary verb
To prevent the occurrence or existence of something; to exclude from something. Anyone who has breast-fed knows two things for sure: The baby wants to be fed at the most inopportune times, in the most i... |
precocious - vocabulary adjective
Unusually mature or advanced in development, especially in mental aptitude; usually in reference to children. What might be taken for a precocious genius is the genius of chil... |
precursor - vocabulary noun
A person or thing that precedes; a person, animal, or thing indicating the approach of something or someone, a harbinger. In his very rejection of art Walt Whitman is an artist. He tried to produce a ce... |
predicate Every sentence or clause has a subject and a predicate. The subject is a noun, pronoun, or group of words acting as a noun, and the words ... |
Predicate Do you know what a predicate is? It sounds somehow familiar but only a few of us really understand the meani... |
predicate adjective A predicate adjective is an adjective appearing in the predicate of a sentence or clause and modifying the grammatical subject of t... |
predicate nominative A predicate nominative is also called a subject complement or a predicate noun. The predicate nominative typically follows the verb to be
. Sometimes a predicate nom... |
predicate noun See predicate nominative
.... |
predictable - correct spelling predictable - adjective
Example: New polls show the predictable winners in the election.... |
predilection - vocabulary noun
A tendency or inclination to think favorably about something, a preference, as in a predilection for Mozart. The parrot holds its food for prim consumption as daintily as any debutante, [with] ... |
predominant, predominate As an adjective, predominant describes something with the greatest influence or authority.As a verb, predominat... |
prefer - correct spelling prefer - verb
Example: We can go to the opera, if you prefer.... |
preference - correct spelling preference - noun
Example: My preference is Coke, not Pepsi.... |
preferential - correct spelling preferential - adjective
Example: The boss’s daughter received preferential treatment.... |
preferred - correct spelling preferred - verb (past tense and past participle of the verb prefer) and adjective
Not prefered.Example: She ... |
Prefix English seems quite a simple language at first glance, but when you dig deep into it i.e. when you try to ex... |
Prefix Words IntroductionMany words start with prefixes; e.g., nonresident, antitrust, coparty, and a spate of others. As a writer, you must learn the rules of hyphenation. So let's start with this observation:... |
Prefix Words - Exceptions to the Rule Important ExceptionsThere are some exceptions to the basic rule that prefix words do not include the hyphen: Root word is capitalized. Root word is a date. Hyphenate to avoid ambiguity. ... |
prejudice - correct spelling prejudice - noun and verb
Example: In the 1960s, they fought the war against racial prejudice. noun... |
premier, premiere Premier is both a noun and an adjective associated with the highest status or rank.Premiere can be used as a noun ... |
premise - vocabulary noun
A proposition on which an argument is based or from which a conclusion is drawn. In law, premises refers to land and buildings on the land.verb
To assume or state as a propos... |
preparation - correct spelling preparation - noun
Not preperation.Example: Careful preparation ensured the physician’s success.... |
prepare - correct spelling prepare - verb
Example: He tried to prepare a gourmet dinner.... |
preposition A preposition is one of the eight parts of speech
. The preposition serves as a dab of glue, sticking a noun, a group of words acting as a noun, or a pronoun onto the ... |
Preposition Prepositions are one very important component of English language and English grammar. Do you know what a pr... |
prepositional phrase When a noun or pronoun combines with a preposition, it forms a prepositional phrase, which primarily acts as either an adjective (the book ... |
Prepositional Phrase - Two Parts The prepositional phrase consists of two major parts:1. the preposition 2. the object of the prepositionThe object is the noun (or pronoun) attached to the sentence by the preposition. That noun might be a true noun, a noun phrase, or... |
Prepositions - Definition, Overview, and Lists of Examples WelcomeBelow you’ll find links to our discussion on prepositions. We recommend that you start with the first topic,Prepositions - Words T... |
Prepositions - Words That Glue Now let’s explore a very important part of speech, the preposition. This little word helps us hook nouns onto sentences. When we do, we form prepositional phrases. When you complete this section, you might decide that a preposition is a good word to ... |
Prepositions – At vs. In vs. On In, at and on are commonly used prepositions and are used in different situations – be it telling adate, or time, or about a place and so on. Let’s discuss these prepositions and their uses in detailwith reference to time.... |
prerogative - vocabulary noun
Exclusive privilege or right, obtained or exercise because of rank or office, as in prerogatives of a member of Congress. Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just... |
prescience, prescient - vocabulary noun
Prescience: knowledge of events before they take place.adjective
Prescient: perceiving significance of events before ... |
prescription - correct spelling prescription - noun
Example: The doctor’s prescription alleviated her pain.... |
presence - correct spelling presence - noun
Example: She felt a strange presence in the room with her that night.... |
Present Continuous Tense ... |
Present Indefinite Tense ... |
present participle All main verbs have a present-participial form. Just add ‑ing and you've got a present participle. Sometimes you have to drop a silent ‑e as in writing. And sometimes you double an ending consonant,... |
Present Participle - The -ing Verb Every verb in the English language has a present participle, and you form it the same way for every verb: Just add ‑ing. Sometimes you’ll have to drop an ending silent ‑e, as in write and writing. Sometimes you’ll ... |
Present Participle - The -ing Verb Every verb in the English language has a present participle, and you form it the same way for every verb: Just add ‑ing. Sometimes you’ll have to drop an ending silent ‑e, as in write and writing. Sometimes you’ll ... |
Present Perfect Continuous Tense ... |
Present perfect tense First let’s understand the syntax – Use has/have and 3rd form of verb to form pre... |
Present Perfect Tense ... |
present tense The present tense of a verb designates an action or state of being going on or existing at the time of speaking or writing, as in John walks across the street or She ... |
Present Tense of Verbs Some authors write novels in the present tense, and it drives me bats. Whenever I browse in a bookstore, seeking the latest in top beach literature, I always sneak a few peeks to make certain the author does not use the present tense in the narrative... |
present-participial phrase All main verbs have a present-participial form. Just add ‑ing and you've got a present participle
. Sometimes you have to drop a silent ‑e as in writing. And sometim... |
present-perfect progressive tense There are six progressive tenses
. Some grammarians refer to the progressive tense as the progressive aspect of a verb. The progressive tense shows an “ongoingness” of the action denoted by the verb.Th... |
present-perfect tense The perfect tenses are formed by using the auxiliary verb to have and adding the past participle of the main verb
. Thus, the ... |
present-progressive tense There are six progressive tenses
. Some grammarians refer to the progressive tense as the progressive aspect of a verb. The progressive tense shows an “ongoingness” of the action denoted by the verb.Th... |
presently, currently See currently, presently
.... |
president - correct spelling president - noun
Example: The company’s president addressed the meeting of the shareholders.... |
presumption, presumptuous - vocabulary noun
Presumption: that which may be logically assumed to be true until disproved; an assumption. In law, a fact assumed because of the proof of other facts; in patent law, for example, a patent enj... |
presumptuous - correct spelling presumptuous - adjective
Not presumptious.Example: She dismissed her presumptuous servants.... |
Pretence vs. Pretense This not very common word is often confused for its alternative half making it difficult for young writers to make a decision on what the right spellings of the word are. Consider t... |
prevalent - correct spelling prevalent - adjective
Example: Illicit drugs were prevalent at the party.... |
prevaricate - vocabulary verb
To use ambiguous or evasive language for the purpose of deceiving or diverting attention; to tell a falsehood; to lie. Lying is the same as alcoholism. Liars prevaricate even on their d... |
primary auxiliary verb We have roughly 16 auxiliary verbs in the English language. Three are called primary auxiliaries: to be, to have, and to do. These three words perform special functions.The ... |
primitive - correct spelling primitive - adjective and noun
Example: He collected primitive furniture in Virginia. adjective... |
principal - correct spelling principal - noun and adjective
Note: For a discussion of the differences between principal and principle, see Grammar.com’s section on Common Gramm... |
principal parts Main verbs have four principal parts: (1) infinitive (to decide), (2) past tense (decided), (3) past participle (de... |
Principal vs. Principle Our principal ma... |
principal, principle Note: The differences between principal and principle are discussed in depth in the Common Grammatical Mistakes section of Grammar.com. ... |
principal, principle - vocabulary noun
Principal: the head of a school; also means “money” or “the balance on your mortgage.” As an adjective, principal means “main.”Principle: act... |
principle - correct spelling principle - noun
Note: For a discussion of the differences between principal and principle, see Grammar.com’s section on Common Grammatical Mistakes. ... |
Principle vs. Principal Principal As an adjective, Principal means ... |
printout - correct spelling noun
The verb form (complement verb
) is print out.Here’s a usage note from Dictionary.com
.The transition from ... |
prior to, subsequent to The expression prior to means nothing more than before. Yet many professionals insist on using prior to because it sounds intelligent. It isn’t. All it does is stuff up you... |
prioritize The word prioritize gums up the styles of many people lacking an ear for good writing. Delete it from your vocabulary. Instead, use set priorities or establish priorities.... |
privilege - correct spelling privilege - noun
Not priviledgeExample: It was his privilege to be at that meeting.... |
privity, privy - vocabulary noun
Privity: knowledge shared with another or others regarding a private matter. In law, a relationship between or among parties, typically to a contract.Privy: a... |
pro-drop The property of a language in which a sentence does not require an overt subject. Spanish is a pro-drop language: it is perfectly normal in Spanish to say No canto bien (Don't sing well) rather than Yo no canto bien (I don't sing well).... |
probably - correct spelling probably - adverb
Grammar.com's section on the Parts of Speech discusses the demise of -ly adverbs. Click here for ... |
probity - vocabulary noun
Virtue or integrity tested and confirmed; honesty; the trait of having strong moral principles. Once regarded as the model of probity, Mayor Bradley, now 71 years old, is under investig... |
Problem Words - Definition, Overview, and Lists of Examples The TroublemakersMany words in the English language set traps for even the most accomplished writer. Here, on Grammar.com, we’ve provided discussions of over 200 of these troublemakers. (Scroll down for an alphabetical list.)... |
procedure - correct spelling procedure - noun
Example: This medical procedure can save her life.... |
proceed - correct spelling proceed - verb
Example: You must proceed with caution.... |
Proceed vs. Precede Proceed” and “precede” are illustrating a great example of paronyms, words that have very similar spellings, varying through few letters only, but define completely different actions. The fact that they look and sound almost identically are tempting ... |
proceed, precede To proceed means “to go forward,” “to carry on,” or “to originate from a source.” The verb proceed is distinctly intransitive
. That is, you... |
prodigious - vocabulary adjective
Immense, extraordinary in size; wonderful, marvelous. America makes prodigious mistakes, America has colossal faults, but one thing cannot be denied: America is always on the ... |
prodigy - vocabulary noun
A person, especially a child, with remarkable gifts or qualities; a marvelous example; a wonder. Today’s pressures on middle-class children to grow up fast begin in early childhood. Chief among them is ... |
produce - correct spelling produce - verb and noun
Example: This plan will produce the best results. verb
Example... |
Products Page [productspage]... |
profession - correct spelling profession - noun
Example: The medical profession has improved healthcare for all.... |
professional - correct spelling professional - adjective and noun
Example: Their professional approach with their clients ensured their success. ... |
professor - correct spelling professor - noun
Example: The professor urged his students to learn grammar.... |
proffer - vocabulary verb
To offer to another for acceptance.noun
The offer itself. During my employment of seven years or more in Washington after the war (1865–72) I regularly saved part of m... |
profitable - correct spelling profitable - adjective
Example: The company will be profitable early next year.... |
profligacy, profligate - vocabulary noun
Profligacy: the trait of spending lavishly or extravagantly; unrestrained indulgence in sensual pleasure.adjective
Profligate:... |
profuse - vocabulary adjective
Plentiful, copious, abundant; giving or spending freely, often to excess, as in profuse praise. The little flower which at this season stars our woods and roadsides with its p... |
progeny - vocabulary noun
Descendant, offspring, child; something originating or resulting from something else. Preschoolers sound much brighter and more knowledgeable than they really are, which is why so many parents and grand... |
Program vs. Programme Program" and "programme" mean just the same. They are both usual words in English and they can replace one another in any context, as they are perfect synonyms.Given the fact that they are both correctly spelled and have the exact same meanin... |
progressive tense The progressive tense (also called the progressive aspect) is sometimes referred to as the imperfect tense.There are six progressive tenses: present, ... |
prolific - vocabulary adjective
Abundantly producing offspring or fruit, as in a prolific orange tree; very productive, producing in large quantities. Debt is the prolific mother of folly and of cri... |
prolix - vocabulary adjective
Verbose, wordy, extended to unnecessary and tedious length. In a succinct 354 pages (shockingly brief for the normally prolix [Susan] Faludi), she argues that in the months an... |
prominent - correct spelling prominent - adjective
Example: He was a prominent member of his community.... |
promise - correct spelling promise - verb and noun
Example: The politician will promise anything to get elected. verb... |
promulgate - vocabulary verb
To make known through public declaration; formally proclaim; publish. Note: In law, we say that Congress enacted a statute. But we say that a federal agency prom... |
pronoun We have seven kinds of pronouns in the English language.A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. Personal pronouns (words like I, me, my, we, our, us... |
Pronoun English language is considered one of the easiest languages on Earth when compared to Chinese, French and Ar... |
Pronoun as the Object of a Preposition Object of a PrepositionA noun attached to a sentence by a preposition is the object of the preposition, which requires the objective case of a pronoun taking the place of the noun.Wrong: A Grammar... |
pronounce - correct spelling pronounce - verb
Example: They must learn to pronounce words properly.... |
Pronouns - Definition, Overview, and Lists of Examples WelcomeBelow you’ll find links to our discussion on pronouns. We recommend that you start with the first topic,Pronouns... |
Pronouns - Words Substituting for Words In this section, we’ll learn about pronouns. We have seven kinds in the English language. They cause all kinds of problems, even to people in positions of power. After all, haven’t you heard someone say, “Evan and myself want to thank you for the won... |
pronunciation - correct spelling pronunciation - noun
Not pronounciation.Example: His lack of education was evident in his pronunciation of ... |
propaganda - correct spelling propaganda - noun
Example: The citizens were accustomed to governmental propaganda.... |
propagate - correct spelling propagate - verb
Example: He sought to propagate a new hybrid tomato.... |
propeller - correct spelling propeller - noun
Example: The plane’s propeller revved up before takeoff.... |
proper noun A proper noun names a specific person, place, time period, work of literature or art, and so on. It begins with a capital letter. Examples include: New York City Friday Shakespeare's play Hamlet Fre... |
prophecy - correct spelling prophecy - noun
Example: The prophecy of the ancient seer came true.... |
prophet - correct spelling prophet - noun
Example: Moses was the greatest prophet in the Old Testament.Example: She turned out to be a false ... |
propitious - vocabulary adjective
Presenting favorable conditions; favorably inclined, auspicious. The time is now propitious, as he guesses, The meal is ended, she is bored and tired, Endeavours to engage her... |
prosaic - vocabulary adjective
Unimaginative, dull, commonplace, matter-of-fact; vapid; humdrum; tiresome. It is better to have a prosaic husband and to take a romantic lover.—Stendhal (Mar... |
proscribe - vocabulary verb
To denounce or condemn something as dangerous or harmful; to prohibit, forbid. The public is harmed when lawmakers proscribe the use of a product that has been proved safe and useful. I... |
prospect - correct spelling prospect - noun (often in the plural
) and verb
Example: The favorable business prospects... |
prostrate - vocabulary adjective
Lying prone, or with the head to the ground, as in a gesture of humility, adoration, or subservience; physically weak or exhausted; utterly depressed or disconsolate.verb
To... |
prostrate, prostate As a verb, to prostrate means "to throw oneself on the floor or lie facedown."The word prostrate also serves as an adj... |
Protasis and Apodosis Each and every grammatical expression has different names for it. Some are more common while ... |
prototype - vocabulary noun
The model or original on which something else is based or formed; a thing or person serving to illustrate typical qualities of a larger class or group; something analogous to a later thing. The Ancient ... |
protract - vocabulary verb
To prolong, draw out, lengthen the duration of.Note: The past-participial adjective protracted often appears, as in protract... |
proverbial - vocabulary adjective
Derives from the noun proverb, which means a popular saying, usually of ancient and unknown origin, that expresses a commonplace truth. In the Bible, a proverb is a profo... |
prowess - vocabulary noun
Exceptional strength, skill, and courage in battle; superior skill or ability. I am really greatly pleased at your standing so high in your form, and I am sure that this year it is better for you to be ... |
prurient - vocabulary adjective
Inclined to lascivious or lustful thoughts and desires. Nothing is more repulsive than a furtively prurient spirituality; it is just as unsavory as gross sensuality.... |
psychiatrist - correct spelling psychiatrist - noun
Example: The psychiatrist testified for the defendant.... |
psychology - correct spelling psychology - noun
Example: She studied psychology in an attempt to understand herself.... |
publicly - correct spelling publicly - adverb
Not publically.Grammar.com's section on the Parts of Speech discusses the demise of -ly adverbs. ... |
puerile - correct spelling puerile - adjective
Example: He engaged in puerile behavior when he made a face at the meeting.... |
puerile - vocabulary adjective
Pertaining to childhood; childish, immature, or trivial. The idea that leisure is of value in itself is only conditionally true. . . . The average man simply spends his leisure as a dog spends... |
punctilious - vocabulary adjective
Strictly observant of the rules or forms prescribed by law or custom; precise, scrupulous. His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wed... |
Punctuation - Definition, Overview, and Lists of Examples WelcomeBelow you’ll find links to our discussion on all punctuation marks. We have broken some of the longer topics into multiple pages. So watch for references to “Pages 1-2-3” at the bottom of the topic. Click the next page... |
punitive - vocabulary adjective
Pertaining to punishment.Note: In law, punitive damages are awarded in civil suits to punish the wrongdoer and serve as an example to deter others from similar, egregious con... |
Purchase Confirmation Thank you for your purchase!... |
Purchase History [download_history]... |
purport - vocabulary noun
The meaning or sense or import, as in the main purport of the article; also the purpose or intent, as in the purport of the trip to Italy.verb
To present, especially... |
pursue - correct spelling pursue - verb
Example: She tried to pursue her dream of fame and fortune.... |
pursuit - correct spelling pursuit - noun
Example: The sheriff and his men were in hot pursuit.... |
pusillanimous - vocabulary adjective
Without spirit or bravery; lacking courage; timid; faint-hearted. A Prince is despised when he is seen to be fickle, frivolous, effeminate, pusillanimous, or irresolute, again... |
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