When you save something just for someone, do you say that you it's especially or specially for them? Either sounds correct. And that is understandable because both especially and specially are adverbs, which are often interchangeable. At the same time, there are situations where either is a better choice. How do we determine which is... Continue Reading →
Word War: Farther vs Further
The only time someone told me my grammar sucks was when I told him to get the first cab going home because his house was farther than mine. That led to an argument whether the correct word was farther or further. To be fair, he was drunk, and I was rather under the influence of alcohol—fine,... Continue Reading →
Word War: Octopuses vs Octopi
When you see a bunch of octopus and your friends ask you how many there are, would you say you saw eight octopuses or octopi? Speakers of the English language are divided about the plural of the word octopus. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Oxford English Dictionary, and American Heritage Dictionary affirm that both plural forms are correct, with... Continue Reading →
Word War: Disinterested vs Uninterested
When your friends talk about a subject that you are not keen about, are you disinterested or uninterested in joining the discussion with them? These words are normally used interchangeably, and quite loosely, by a lot of people, but are there any differences between the two? Quite so. Disinterested can be used to mean “impartial;... Continue Reading →
Word War: Thankful vs Grateful
When your friend buys you coffee at the start of your shift, are you thankful or grateful for their actions? In normal conversations, we use these words interchangeably, and there seems to be no confusion nor miscommunication at all. So is there really a big difference between being thankful and being grateful? The definitions have... Continue Reading →
Let the Words Flow: Simple Tips on Writing Poetry
Poetry has been one of my outlets ever since I was younger. It helps me vent some steam without bothering anyone, and it helps me release pent up emotion. Lately, some of my friends have asked me to write an article to help them write their own poetry. Well, I believe, writing poems cannot be... Continue Reading →
Word War: Unlike vs Dislike
When a friend posts something on Facebook and you find it annoying or—for the lack of better wor—stupid, do you unlike it or do you dislike it? Both words are used interchangeably by most people on the Internet, but not by grammarians who are in the know. Do you know the difference between the two?
Word War: Celebrant vs Celebrator
When you celebrate your birthday, are you the celebrant or the celebrator? For some people, the words may seem synonymous and interchangeable, while some may not have even heard the word celebrator. Most people use the phrase “birthday celebrant” to refer to people who celebrate their birthday. Now, is this correct or is this only... Continue Reading →
The Origin of Christmas
How many Christians are aware that Christmas actually has pagan origins and that Christ’s birth was not referenced in the Bible to have taken place on December 25? Then, when was Jesus born? How did Christmas come to be an accepted holiday of Christ’s birth?
The Environmental Impact of Plastic Straws
With the advent of technology, our lives have become more convenient. At the same time, these conveniences often come with negative effects. For instance, the simple plastic straw. It comes with almost every cold beverage we enjoy on a daily basis. It may look harmless, trivial even. In fact, it is one of the most... Continue Reading →