Ryan Fisher, Author at BusinessWritingBlog

To touch base - the meaning of phrase originates in baseball.

Expressions and Phrases

What Does “Touch Base” Mean?

Let’s discuss the meaning and original of “touch base.” Colloquial idioms can be extremely difficult for native English speakers and English learners. They are confusing to use with a grammar context, and they people often don’t know what they mean. In the case of “touch… continue reading

Vocabulary

Someday or Some Day. Which One Should You Use?

The English language is full of pitfalls. Compound words can be especially tricky, as they act as a singular word yet have the characteristics of two separate words. For instance, “some day” and “someday” are often used interchangeably, even though they have different meanings, and belong… continue reading

Expressions and Phrases

What Does “as Thick as Thieves” Mean?

You’ve likely heard people described “as thick as thieves.” It’s an idiom (a phrase with a meaning the words don’t tell you). While this isn’t necessarily a negative saying, it can bring some negative meanings, so it is important to know when it truly applies… continue reading

Expressions and Phrases

What Does “Throw My Hat in the Ring” Mean?

When it comes to a challenge, you may have heard someone say they are going to “throw their hat into the ring.” There has to be more to this casual phrase you heard on a Monday or Tuesday night, right? Or, are people talking about tossing… continue reading

Vocabulary

Cavalry vs Calvary: Which is the Correct Term?

Let’s have a look at a confusing pair of words: cavalry vs. calvary. First the quick answer: Cavalry refers to horseback mounted troops Calvary describes the place surrounding Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was famously crucified Now let’s look under the hood. You may have seen… continue reading

Vocabulary

Drier vs Dryer: What’s the Difference?

As with most words pronounced the same, “drier” and “dryer” are two homophones that cause much confusion for English writers. A “homophone” is a term that refers to words that have the same pronunciation yet different spellings. These words are especially tricky to use in English writing,… continue reading

Vocabulary

Soar vs Sore: What’s the Difference

Have you ever seen an eagle “sore?” Or should it be “soar?” You see, this is the issue that many writers face when trying to use these two words. They sound similar, have the same pronunciation, but have different meanings (also known as homophones), making them difficult… continue reading

A graphic showing addressing "Jist or Gist? by showing that "Gist" is the correct spelling, while "Jist" is a incorrect

Spelling

Jist or Gist? Meaning, Origin and Examples.

Jist or Gist? Many colloquial or slang terms get thrown around in professional circles, especially if used verbally. One great example of this is the word “Gist.” Or is it “jist?” Let’s give you the gist of it: “gist” is the correct spelling of the word,… continue reading

Graphic showing the phrase "it's great to connect with you" as an alternative to "nice to e-meet you"

Email

How to Say “Nice to Meet You” via Email

Out of all the pleasantries that can be commonly heard both in the business world and in our daily lives, “it’s nice to meet you” seems to be one of the most popular. In addition to being common, it is also efficient and commonly understood,… continue reading

Grammar and Usage

Is “Data” Singular or Plural?

Let’s tackle a hotly contested topic in the English language: “Is data singular or plural?” Data: Singular or Plural? The answer to this question comes down to a few points of contention. As a foreign word, people argue whether “data” should follow English plurality rules or the… continue reading

Author Archives: Ryan Fisher