Common Expressions Archives

Graphic of a man pointing to the definition of the expression "moot point"

What Does The Expression “Moot Point” Mean?

A moot point is an irrelevant fact because it does not pertain to the current situation. The phrase “mute point” does not exist; it’s a mistake since the word mute means silent. Moot rhymes with “root” while mute rhymes with “beaut.” The Definition of Moot… continue reading

Is It “If I Was” or “If I Were”?

The subjunctive form often confuses many writers, leaving them thinking: is it if I was or were? Why don’t we take a closer look and clear up any confusion. General Rule: You should use were (in place of was) when the statement is contrary to fact. Statements that are… continue reading

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Is It Masters Degree or Master’s Degree?

Updated June 29, 2021 – Being a bachelor is not a requirement to receive a bachelor’s degree, but one does need to show mastery in order to obtain a master’s degree. In any case, you should be able to correctly spell the degree you have; spelling… continue reading

Common Expressions

Business Jargon In All Its Glory

When people come together in a group, they tend to develop new lexicons that is specific to that group and its context. Runners complain about “staying in Zone 2,” Wizards and Witches gossip about “muggles”—and somewhere in corporate-land, a mid-level manager is fervently proclaiming that… continue reading

Uncharted vs. Unchartered – Similar Words

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many changes. It has also given rise to novelties in our everyday life, and has also brought some phrases and grammatical construction to the forefront. For example, do we have less cases than last month, or fewer cases? Do we say… continue reading

Compare to vs. Compare with – Which One?

Compare to vs. compare with: are they the same? Well, there is actually a slight yet very practical difference between ‘compared with’ and ‘compared to.’ While ‘compared to’ underscores a similarity between two things, ‘compared with’ does the opposite. It contrasts them. Now, mixing the two up is hardly… continue reading

Is it Running Amuck or Amok?

We have all seen parents who allow their kids to run amok at the shopping mall. Or do these rowdy little rascals run amuck? You have surely seen both spellings and wondered: “is it amuck or amok?” A Little History The phrase “to run amok” was first used in the… continue reading