Council vs. Counsel Let’s take a look at council vs. counsel. First, the quick answer: A council is a meeting or a group of people meeting to discuss laws or rules. Counsel refers to advice given or a person who gives legal or professional advice.… continue reading
How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest
Let’s discuss how to write a letter of continued interest. This is a tricky one. You’re interested in a position or business relationship, but you haven’t heard from the addressee in a reasonable amount of time; remember, everybody’s busy. You need an “I’m still interested”… continue reading
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
On the Use and Function of “Dog Whistle” in Politics
In politics, a dog whistle is the use of coded or suggestive language in political messaging to garner support from a particular group without provoking opposition. The concept is named for ultrasonic dog whistles, which are audible to dogs but not humans. -Wikipedia The dictionary… 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
Cover Letter Outline in 2022 with Examples
A cover letter is a simple communication explaining why you, out of all the applicants available, are the best pick for the job. Every company doesn’t require cover letters, but they represent the skills and background experience that help you stand out from the crowd. Before… continue reading
How Do You Spell “Restaurant?”
A commonly misspelled word, the correct spelling is RESTAURANT. Definition A building or a space where people can pay money to eat meals cooked and served on the premises. Examples: In a sentence: We were hungry but too tired to cook, so we decided to go… continue reading
Is “Data” Singular or Plural? Does It Matter?
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… continue reading
Advice vs Advise: Definition and Examples of Use
In this article, we take a close look at advice vs. advise. These similar words can confuse readers and writers due to their proximity in spelling and pronunciation. Let’s define both and learn how you can use them in your writing! Here is the short answer: “advise” is… continue reading
What Is The Meaning Of “Close, But No Cigar?”
There has probably been at least one moment in your life where you have almost fully achieved something but haven’t fully met your goal. In response to this, someone may say, “close, but no cigar.” What exactly does this mean? What Does The Phrase Mean? “Close,… continue reading