Frequently Asked Questions

Ever been stumped by who vs. whom? Here’s a quick trick that should help you remember whether to use who or whom: If you can swap out the word with “him” or “her,” use whom. But if you can replace the word with “he” or “she,” then you should use who. … continue reading

Did you know that alright is not an accepted spelling of all right? Although one can see the one-world spelling in informal writing, editors (as well as teachers) will always mark it as incorrect. In order to properly use the expression, one must separate the words: all right. Perhaps… continue reading

Is it cannot or can not or can’t? Here, we look at the proper way to use all three variations. Can’t Can’t is simply a contraction of cannot, and therefore not always suitable for formal writing. It is often found in everyday speaking and writing: He can’t drive until… continue reading

The Quick Answer Belated Happy Birthday is the correct order of those words Happy Belated Birthday is incorrect The Nitty-Gritty If you’ve missed your colleague’s (friend’s, family member’s, etc.) birthday and you are sending your best wishes late, there are many options for how to… continue reading

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

What’s the difference between “due to” and “because of”? You may have caught yourself using the phrase “due to” rather than “because of.” You may have done so because it’s simpler and shorter and gives a more formal touch to your writing. However, according to… continue reading

You’ve probably written or read multiple emails today… or within the last hour… or five minutes. Email and business go hand in hand. And we tend to fall back on one common phrase to wrap up every business letter or email we send. Interestingly, tweaking… continue reading

Here’s one question you really need to answer correctly: Is it “bare with me” or “bear with me?” Choose wisely. Otherwise, your email to a coworker saying, “bare with me,” could inadvertently be inviting them to shed their clothes alongside you. Yikes! The correct answer… continue reading

Do you use the abbreviations i.e. and e.g. in your business writing? Do you use them interchangeably, or does each expression have its place? How would you define them if a child asked you what they meant?  To think about how to use e.g. and i.e., choose the correct abbreviation in these examples:… continue reading