What Is? Archives

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

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

What is a newsletter?

What is a newsletter? A newsletter is a bulletin that a society, business, or organization publishes periodically to send out information. It’s also a valuable tool used by companies to provide information to their ecosystem of customers, prospective customers, and subscribers. Newsletters enable you to… continue reading

Graphic with a definition of Nomalizations: turning nouns and adjectives into verbs

From Verb to Noun and Back: Nominalizations

In this post we will discuss nominalization, or the process of turning verbs and adjectives into nouns, through the prism of two distinct styles that literate, communicating adults encounter every day. I refer to the difference between the Impersonal (or I) style and the Personal (or… continue reading

Coordinating Conjunctions | A Note on the Use of “And”

And now, a note on the use of and. And is what some traditional linguists would call the “unmarked form”: other than connection or association, it carries no additional meaning. Of course, we have other coordinating conjunctions, i.e., words that join two elements of equal… continue reading

Go To Hell In A Handbasket – Meaning And Examples

The saying, “go to hell in a handbasket” is another way of saying to “deteriorate” or “become a disaster.” It is normally used to describe when things aren’t going very well for a person. It can also describe when someone’s actions lead them in the wrong… continue reading

A picture of a little boy dressed as a hero

What Is The Plural Form Of “Hero?”

We all need a hero sometimes. But what if the tasks calls for more that one hero? Should we simply add an “s” at the end to end up with “heros?” No, that would indeed be incorrect. So what is the plural of “hero?” In… continue reading

A yellow background. a wooden drawing mannequin scratching his head with a question mark above him and the caption: is "Is" a verb?

What Is?

Is “Is” Considered A Verb?

We get lots of questions on whether the word “is” is considered a verb and what is its function in a sentence . This can be a tough one to figure out, because we use “is” so often in English and in so many different… continue reading

A picture of books, stacked. The caption reads Form Contact & Use

What Are Form And Content & How Can You Use Them In Your Writing?

You may have heard the term “form” or “form content” thrown around in professional and business writing. What is the simple meaning of this term? And how can you use form content to your advantage? What Are Form And Content? “Content” is an idea that is usually… continue reading

A grey background with crawfish on the right side and the caption: "are crayfish and crawfish the same?"

What Is?

Are Crawfish, Crawdads, and Crayfish the Same Thing?

Just because you can put something into a pan or pot doesn’t mean it will be a good meal. Any cook knows the importance of a recipe and everything that a recipe entails. From spices and seasonings to accompaniments and cooking techniques, there’s a lot… continue reading

An allegorical example: a picture of a hare and the tortoise, with the tortoise crossing the finish line with the hare right behind

Allegorical Examples And Allegory Definition

Want a basic allegorical example? How about the tale of the tortoise and the hare. Both went at their own pace until they were challenged to a race. In the end, due to the hubris of the hare, the slower tortoise wins. But what is… continue reading