Common Expressions Archives

Different From or Different Than?

Consider the two sentences below. They are almost identical, except for one word: A Labrador is different from a Golden Retriever. A Labrador is different than a Golden Retriever. Potentially, one of those sentences sounded like nails on a chalkboard to you. On the other… continue reading

Duly Noted: properly recorded or acknowledged" (can be used sarcastically)

What Does Duly Noted Mean?

Updated November 20, 2021 – The meaning of duly noted is: “properly recorded” or “acknowledged.” The first word, duly is an adverb that corresponds to the adjective due. To “note” something means to record it. For instance, a secretary might make sure that the meeting minutes are duly… continue reading

Common Expressions

The Differences in Alum, Alumni, Alumnus, and Alumnae

There is perhaps no more commonly used Latinate term in modern society than alumni and its variants. Unless you are incredibly well-versed in the dead language of the Romans. Masculine and Feminine, Singular and Plural Here is a topline explanation with this group of Latin… continue reading

The Difference Between Bi & Semi

Bi- is a prefix that means twice or two; semi- is a prefix meaning half. Do you receive a paycheck on the fifteenth and thirtieth of each month? Would you say you are paid bi-monthly or semimonthly?If a magazine is published every two weeks, it is a biweekly… continue reading

Is It A While or Awhile? Learn the Difference!

Awhile is an adverb, meaning “for a period of time.” A while is a noun phrase, meaning “a period of time.” In 2001, American band Staind released a song called “It’s Been Awhile” as a single from their album Break the Cycle. Even today, it’s still one of the… continue reading

Graphic explaining to use Etc. (et cetera) for things and et al. for people

Everything about Etc. (Et Cetera)

What is Etc. (Et Cetera)? A Latin phrase, Et cetera combines the words Et, which means “and,” and Cetera, which means “the rest.” The abbreviation of et cetera is etc. You can use etc. when you present a list that you will not complete. It tells the reader that the list has other items, in addition… continue reading

picture of a woman covering her face with words "Faux Pas"

Common Expressions

What is a Faux Pas? Definition and Examples

The English and French languages have a long and complicated history, just like the history between France and the United Kingdom. But it’s not necessary to be a history buff in order to understand the influence of French on the English language. An impressive one-third… continue reading

Road Sign graphic with words farther and further

Farther vs. Further

Let’s talk farther vs. further. You’ll see people using both farther and further to mean “more distant.” In American English, however, most speakers favor the word farther for physical distances and further for figurative distances. Farther It isn’t too surprising to learn that farther is defined as “at or to a greater distance.” Here’s an… continue reading

Neither Nor & Either Or

When presenting two alternatives, you’ll often use a “neither … nor” or an “either … or” construction. Here’s how these constructions work in a sentence: You can choose either pancakes or waffles for your breakfast. My dad’s car is neither brown nor green. Either is used to present possibilities that are both valid… continue reading

Reinventing the phrase: “As Per Our Conversation”

Nobody wants to be known as a boring conversationalist, and one way to avoid that reputation is to steer clear of predictable speech patterns. Do you overuse the phrase “per our conversation?” Here are five less frequently-used variations to try out! As mentioned As agreed… continue reading