What Are Acronyms and Initialisms?

Acronyms and initialisms are both abbreviations that are formed by the first letter of each word in the phrase. But there are subtle differences between the two. 

Acronyms use the first letter of each word in the phrase that we pronounce as one word. For example, we often shorten President of the United States to POTUS. 

Initialisms also use the first letter of each word, but each letter is pronounced individually. For example, we pronounce R-S-P-C-A for the acronym for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

The table below gives some examples of both.

How to Introduce Acronyms and Initialisms

You should always introduce an abbreviation, whether an acronym or initialism, in full the first time you use it, unless it is ubiquitous or certain to be familiar to the reader. For example, few people are likely to know what MICR stands for, so the first time you use it, you should write it in full, with the acronym or initialism in brackets: 

Magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR) 

After introducing the term, you can just use the acronym or initialism. 

However, it’s likely that most people will know what TV stands for, so you don’t have to spell it out, unless the style guide you are using specifies that all acronyms and initialisms must be spelled out. 

As a proofreader, you can either fix this in the text (if you know for sure what term the client has abbreviated) or leave a note for them to introduce the term in full, with the abbreviation in brackets.

Do Acronyms and Initialisms Need Articles?

As a general rule, when an acronym is a proper noun, no articles (i.e., the, a/an) are needed:

She works for NASA.

But this is, however, only true when the acronym is used as a noun. When you use an acronym to qualify another word or term, articles are used where appropriate:

She is a NASA employee.

The NASA mission was a success.

In the first example, NASA is qualifying employee. Without the acronym, we would not know where this person works, just that she is an employee. 

In the second example, NASA is qualifying mission. But, in this sentence, we are talking about a specific mission that NASA conducted, hence the use of the definite article the. 

If an acronym is not a proper noun, you will generally add an article in front of it:

He reacted with a GIF of a keyboard-playing cat.

I can’t use my card because I’ve forgotten the PIN.

Initialisms work a little differently. An initialism that is a proper noun will typically require a definite article:

She works for the FBI.

But you should not use articles with initialisms that refer to substances, diseases, or conditions:

DDT is banned in some countries.

He suffers from RSI.

Again, though, this is only the case where you are using an initialism as a noun. Where you are using an initialism to qualify another word or term, use an article:

The DDT ban exists to counter its adverse effects on the environment.

Here, DDT is modifying ban to specify the type of ban the person is referring to. 

Which Article Should I Use?

In English, we typically use a before words beginning with a consonant sound and an before words beginning with a vowel sound. This is also true of acronyms and initialisms. However, the names of some consonants (e.g., F, M) begin with vowel sounds, while the vowel U starts with a consonant sound. It’s important to remember here that it is the sound rather than the letter that determines which indefinite article you should use:

An FBI agent saw a UFO.

A GIF of an ABBA album cover.

How to Punctuate Acronyms and Initialisms

As a rule of thumb, acronyms and initialisms do not have periods between the letters in UK English. Over time, this style of punctuation (e.g., C.E.O.) has also largely fallen out of vogue in US English, where it used to be much more common. The major exception to this is with the terms US and USA.

In US English, the general rule is to use periods when you use U.S. or U.S.A. as a noun: 

U.S. and U.S.A. 

I am visiting the U.S. next week. 

But, when you use US or USA as an adjective or a modifier, periods are unnecessary: 

US and USA

The US company, Amazon, is one of the highest grossing companies in history. 

Of course, this very much depends on the style guide you are using. If you are uncertain about whether a particular acronym or initialism should have periods between the letters, it is always advisable to check the client’s style guide and adapt the style accordingly.

How to Capitalize Acronyms and Initialisms

Use all caps to write most acronyms and initialisms. There are, however, a few exceptions.

You almost always capitalize initialisms, regardless of dialect. US English treats acronyms the same way. However, some British and Australian English style guides suggest only capitalizing the initial letter of acronyms.

A few specific acronyms and initialisms are lowercase except where they appear at the beginning of a sentence (in which case we capitalize the first letter). Most common among these are e.g. and i.e.

Additionally, some acronyms have become so well known that we consider them words. For many of these words, it’s no longer common knowledge that they were acronyms to begin with. 

The table below gives some examples.

Capitalization can also be a matter of stylistic preference. For example, while PIN is common, the Guardian recommends pin number and the BBC recommends Pin number. Although number is redundant here, it is commonly used, so many news sites still include it in their style guides.

As there is room for variation here, it’s always best to check your client’s style guide.

How to Make Acronyms and Initialisms Plural

You can pluralize acronyms and initialisms in the same way as any other noun, but failing to do so is a common error: 

Portable Document Format > PDF 

Then:

Portable Document Formats > PDF ❌

You should treat acronyms and initialisms the same way as other nouns when making them plural, so:

Portable Document Formats > PDFs  ✅

Note that you should not capitalize the s, as it does not represent a word.

Proofreading Acronyms and Initialisms

Your main goal as a proofreader should always be to ensure clarity and consistency. As such, there may be exceptions to the rules set out in this post. If you are unsure about anything, your first port of call should always be to check the client’s style guide. If no guidance is available, concentrate on clarity and consistency, and leave a comment for the client if necessary.

Becoming A Proofreader

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The post What Is the Difference Between an Acronym and an Initialism? appeared first on Knowadays.

In today’s blog post, you’ll learn:

• What active and passive voice are
• Examples of them in context
• When you should opt for passive voice
• How to change passive voice to active voice when proofreading documents

What Is Active Voice?

Active voice is a sentence construction where the subject performs the action. In active voice, the subject is the doer, and the action is directed toward an object.

This form of expression is straightforward, direct, and often more engaging for readers. As a result, writers are encouraged to use active voice.

Active Voice Examples

Sentences that use active voice follow this formula:

Subject + Verb (action) + Object.

For example:

The chef prepared a delicious meal.

The team won the championship.

Mark threw the ball.

We use active voice when we want the reader to focus on the subject and action of the sentence.

You might notice that fiction writers often use active voice in their stories. It works particularly well in character-driven narratives, where the focus is on the character’s emotions and decisions. Active voice can help writers “speed up” the narrative by making the action more direct and immediate. Similarly, because active voice places emphasis on the subject performing the action, it can help readers place themselves in or envision a scene more vividly.

What Is Passive Voice?

On the other hand, passive voice is a construction where the subject receives the action. In passive voice, the object becomes the sentence’s subject, and the doer is placed at the end or omitted.

Passive Voice Examples

Sentences that use passive voice follow this formula:

Object + A “Be” Verb (e.g., is or were) + Past Participle of Main Verb + By + Agent.

For example:

A delicious meal was prepared by the chef.

The championship was won by the team.

The ball was thrown by Mark.

When Should You Use Passive Voice?

Readers tend to favor active voice due to its direct and clear tone. However, there are times when it’s appropriate to use passive voice:

1. When you want to emphasize the action: Passive voice can be useful when the action itself is more critical than the doer. For instance, “The documents were stolen” emphasizes the theft over who committed it.
2. When there is an unknown or unimportant doer: If the doer is unknown or unimportant in a sentence, passive voice is a handy choice. For example, “Mistakes were made” doesn’t specify who made the mistakes.
3. To create object-centric focus: When you want to emphasize the object or the recipient of the action, passive voice is apt. “A new product was launched” places emphasis on the product, not the entity that launched it.

How to Change Passive Voice to Active Voice

Proofreaders often encounter passive sentences that can be improved for clarity and readability. Making such changes isn’t difficult. The key is identifying the subject performing the action and restructuring the sentence accordingly. Let’s look at some examples of passive-to-active transformations:

Passive: The presentation was given by Tom.

Active: Tom gave the presentation.

Here, we’ve shifted the focus from the passive “was given” to the active “gave.”

Passive: The report has been reviewed by the manager.

Active: The manager has reviewed the report.

In this example, we’ve restructured the sentence to highlight the manager as the doer of the action.

Passive: The project will be completed by the team next week.

Active: The team will complete the project next week.

A client might prefer using passive voice, so it’s best to verify that they are happy with your changes. You can simply do this by leaving a comment in the document.

Summary: Active vs. Passive Voice

Understanding the difference between active and passive voice is vital for effective communication. Active voice is direct and engaging, while passive voice can be useful when focusing on the action or when the doer isn’t important.

Changing from passive to active voice involves identifying the subject or doer and reordering the sentence accordingly.

By mastering both voices, you can help your clients tailor their writing to their audience and purpose as well as improve clarity and readability.

Becoming a Proofreader

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In this blog post, we’ll delve into the world of auxiliary verbs, including a specific subset called modal auxiliary verbs. You will learn:

• The definitions of auxiliary and modal auxiliary verbs
• The way they are used in context
• The special role they play with main verbs

What is an Auxiliary Verb?

An auxiliary verb is used alongside the main verb in a sentence to convey additional information about tense, mood, or voice. Because they assist the main verb, they are also known as “helping verbs.”

The most common English auxiliary verbs are “be,” “have,” and “do.”

Auxiliary Verb Examples

Here are some examples of how auxiliary verbs work:

1. Tense

Auxiliary verbs can be used in various tenses.

The future tenses show events or actions that have not happened yet. They use the auxiliary verb will.

Simple future: She will be at the party.

The continuous tenses show ongoing actions that are yet to be completed. They use a conjugated form of the auxiliary verb be, combined with the present participle of the main verb.

Present continuous: Ron is dancing. (am, is, are)

Past continuous: He was eating. (was, were)

Future continuous: They will be working when you arrive. (will be)

The perfect tenses show that an action has been completed. They use a conjugated form of the auxiliary verb have, along with the past participle of the main verb.

Present perfect: I have been to England. (have, has)

Past perfect: They had been painting the kitchen. (had)

Future perfect: I will have finished studying by July. (will have)

2. Questions

We use auxiliary verbs to form yes/no questions in English.

Do you like strawberries?

Is she coming to the party?

Have you finished your homework?

Are you moving to Spain next year?

We can also use auxiliary verbs in tag questions – a small question that is “tagged” onto the end of a sentence – to add emphasis:

You like coffee, don’t you?

You’re related to Penny Miller, aren’t you?

It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?

3. Negatives

Auxiliary verbs are necessary when forming negative sentences (i.e., sentences that use the word “not.”) We use them with the adverb not between the subject and the main verb, forming the negative verb.

I do not want any more tea.

She has not seen him all day.

They were not wearing suits at the meeting.

4. Voice

Auxiliary verbs are also essential for showing voice (active vs. passive voice). The auxiliary verb be is used with the passive voice to show that the doer of an action is not the subject. The active voice, on the other hand, shows that the subject does the action.

Active voice: Peter rides his bicycle.

Passive voice: The bicycle is ridden by Peter.

As you can see, we need to change the main verb (ride) into its past participle for the passive voice. The passive can also be in the past (was/were) or the future (will be).

Auxiliary verbs are vital for adding nuance and context to sentences, making them a fundamental element of English grammar. It’s important to know that many foreign languages, such as German and Spanish, don’t use auxiliary verbs when forming questions. You should keep this in mind when you proofread documents from ESL clients.

What Are Modal Auxiliary Verbs?

Now let’s explore modal auxiliary verbs – or simply, modal verbs! They are a special category of auxiliary verbs that express necessity, possibility, permission, ability, or obligation. We use these verbs to modify the meaning of the main verb in a sentence.

The most common English modal verbs are “can,” “could,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “must,” and “ought to.” Modal verbs also include may and might.

Here are some examples of modal auxiliary verb usage:

1. Expressing Ability and Possibility

We use modal verbs to express ability and possibility:

She can speak French fluently. (ability)

We might stay another week. (possibility)

2. Expressing Permission

Modal verbs express granting permission and asking for permission:

May I borrow your pen? (asking for permission)

You can use my laptop. (granting permission)

3. Expressing Obligation

Modal verbs are used to express obligations and suggestions:

Students must complete the project by Monday. (obligation)

You should visit the CN Tower when you go to Toronto. (suggestion)

Modal auxiliary verbs are essential for conveying shades of meaning in sentences and are often used to express the speaker’s attitude or certainty about a particular action or situation. Moreover, we use modal verbs in hedging language when we’re unsure of the accuracy of our statements.

Becoming a Proofreader

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The post What Are Auxiliary Verbs? (With Examples) appeared first on Knowadays.

May and might unwittingly trip up writers, proofreaders, and editors due to their minuscule differences. That’s why we’re sharing this post on the difference between may and might in English.

In this post, we’ll cover:

1. The definitions of may and might
2.  When to use may and might
3. Examples of may and might in sentences
4. The differences between may be and might be

By the end of the post, you’ll better understand the differences between may and might. Additionally, you’ll know when to use them in a sentence and be able to recognize when to use them correctly in writing.

What Does May Mean?

May functions as a modal auxiliary verb, which clarifies the main verb of a sentence. It suggests a high degree of probability that something will happen.

How to Use May in a Sentence

May comes before the main verb, and can be used to:

1. Suggest a high degree of probability that something will occur. In this case, we would use may in the present tense.

It may snow today, but I will drive to work anyway.

2. Ask for or grant permission. Again, we would use this in the present tense.

May I open the window?

You may sit down now.

3. Describe hypothetical situations. We can use may to describe present-tense and confident negative hypotheticals.

Example of present-tense hypothetical:

You may qualify for a discount.

Example of confident negative hypothetical:

You may not use my computer under any circumstances.

What Does Might Mean?

Like may, might also acts as a modal auxiliary verb, clarifying a sentence’s main verb. Might describes past-tense hypotheticals and expresses a lower degree of certainty than may.

Might is a more robust word choice when describing hypotheticals in the past. Moreover, we would not use might to give or ask for permission.

How to Use Might in a Sentence

Might can be used to:

1. Describe a hypothetical with a lower degree of certainty.

I might stay for another week.

2. Describe past hypotheticals.

Todd might have missed a great opportunity when he turned down that promotion.

3. Clarify a statement of possibility rather than permission.

My boss told me that I may not leave work early, and I might scream.

4. Express negative hypotheticals without absolute certainty.

I might not get all the answers right, but I know the answer to this question!

 5. Communicate a polite suggestion.

You might want to take four courses during your first semester of university.

6. Ask for permission, but not grant it.

Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?

Summary: May or Might?

May is typically used in the present tense and expresses a high probability. In contrast, might is used in the past-perfect tense and expresses a lower probability.

If you are in doubt as to when to use may and might, consider this table below:

What About May Be and Might Be?

The may and might rules also apply to may be and might be.

Mike may be coming to dinner tonight.

You might be wise to your father’s advice.

However, writers sometimes confuse may be with maybe. Both express uncertainty, but while may be is a verb, maybe is an adverb or noun used alongside a verb, or by itself as an answer to a question. It usually appears as the first word of a sentence. Consider our examples:

Tim may be able to help you move today.

Maybe you should go to bed early tonight.

Becoming a Proofreader and Editor

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• The definitions of between and among
• Some examples of how the two words are used in sentences

Keep reading to learn more!

What Does Between Mean?

Between is a preposition used to describe two or more things that are separate and distinct from each other. It is commonly used:

1. In the space that separates two items (I stood between my parents.)
2. In the time that separates two events (I have time between my classes to meet.)
3. To indicate the beginning and ending of a range (Choose a number between 1 and 10.)
4. To show that something is being shared (Stuart and Matthew shared the pizza between them.)
5. To indicate that two or more things are connected (The passage between the hall and the kitchen was dark.)

You may have heard people say that you should only use between when discussing two objects (and among when talking about more than two objects), but that’s not strictly true. You can use between when referring to any number of items, as long as the items are clearly distinct from each other.

How to Use Between in a Sentence

As you may have noticed in the examples above, the word between always comes before the words it is describing and is usually followed by two or more singular nouns.

She walked between the cars.

The coffee shop is between the museum and the library.

In some instances, you can use between at the start of the sentence, usually when you want to emphasize something.

Between the two of us, I think they’re lying.

Here, we are emphasizing that the following clause should remain a secret.

What Does Among Mean?

Among is also a preposition. It has a similar meaning to between, but it is used when we are talking about people or things that are not distinct and can be viewed as a group. For example:

He sat among his classmates.

It can also mean that an item is located more or less centrally in relation to several other items. For example:

I set the cat among the pigeons.

How to Use Among in a Sentence

Like between, among usually comes before the object it describes and is usually followed by a plural noun.

She was a friend among foes.

I lost him among the crowd.

You can use among at the start of a sentence too, but this is less common because it sounds awkward. It’s usually best avoided!

Among all the cities in Europe, Rome is my favorite.

Summary: Between or Among?

So, is it between or among?

If you are ever in doubt, there are many online dictionaries that will help you clear up any confusion.

Becoming a Proofreader and Editor

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The post Between or Among: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Knowadays.

What Are Parentheses?

Parentheses (also known as round or curved brackets) are a type of punctuation mark. They’re always used in pairs and are the most common form of brackets.

Words that are enclosed in parentheses represent nonessential information and can be placed within or after a sentence. This information generally contains an explanation or opinion on something expressed in the sentence.

To test whether something is essential or not, just remove the words contained within the parentheses. If the sentence still makes sense, then those words aren’t essential (but they may still be helpful).

A few other, but less common, uses of parentheses include:

• Abbreviations and acronyms
• Date ranges
• References, sources, and in-text citations
• Numbered or lettered horizontal lists

Examples of Parentheses in Sentences

Most style guides recommend that at the end of the sentence, the final punctuation mark goes outside the second (closing) parenthesis. But if the nonessential information contains an exclamation or a question, it’s okay to put it inside the parentheses.

For my birthday, my mom made chocolate cake (that’s my favorite).

She decided to put pineapple on the pizza (does anyone like that?), so we didn’t eat it.

Today, my coworker was excited about getting a small promotion (senior burger-flipper).

We need to examine the Department of Defense’s (DOD) new security strategies.

Plato (428 BC–348 BC) wrote about a lot of Socrates’ teachings.

You need to bring the following things on the hike: (1) proper shoes, (2) adequate water, (3) a good hat, and (4) some light snacks.

Parenthesis vs. Parentheses

These words look similar because they both have Greek origins. They might seem a little difficult to understand, but the difference between them is quite simple: one is the singular form and the other is plural.

• Opening parenthesis: (
• Closing parenthesis: )
• A pair of parentheses: ()

What Are Brackets?

Brackets (also known as square brackets) are a type of punctuation mark that is also used in pairs to set aside nonessential information, but they generally function differently from parentheses.

Brackets aren’t as common and are generally used for quotations. They show new or condensed information or revisions that the author has added to a quote to improve overall clarity or flow.

If you want to show that part of a quotation has been removed, you can add an ellipsis between brackets in the middle of the quote.

You can also use [sic] to show that the original quote contained an error. That way, the reader won’t think that you were the one to introduce the error.

Finally, square brackets can also be used if you need to put extra information inside other brackets.

Examples of Brackets in a Sentence

As with parentheses, make sure you include all relevant information inside the square brackets.

Original: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”

Revised: “[T]ry to become a man of value.”

Original: “My first mission trip was difficult, and it was hard adjusting. But, I believe I did a good job.”

Revised: “My first mission trip was difficult […] But, I believe I did a good job.”

“His mom told all of them to make there [sic] beds.”

Jim bought three new cars (he also bought two motorcycles [a Harley and a Kawasaki]).

Becoming an Editor or Proofreader

If proper punctuation usage is something that interests you, consider checking out our Becoming a Proofreader and Becoming an Editor courses.

There are a number of learning modules that will teach you everything you need to know about parentheses, brackets, other punctuation, and much more. You can even give our free trial a go today!

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In our complete guide to subject and object pronouns, we explain how these words work. We’ll help you banish the confusion between I and me, they and them, and who and whom.

What Are Pronouns?

Pronouns are an essential part of language. They stand in for a particular noun in a phrase or sentence when the audience is already familiar with the noun being referred to.

For example, when two sentences refer to the same noun, you can repeat the noun:

My horse is a champion. My horse has won many competitions.

Or you can replace the noun with a pronoun in the second sentence:

My horse is a champion. He has won many competitions.

Using a pronoun instead means you can avoid repeating the noun phrase my horse.

Pronouns take different forms depending on the role they play in a sentence or clause. These changing forms are what cause the difference between I and me, us and we, he and him, etc.

Let’s take a look at how and why subject and object pronouns differ.

What Is a Subject Pronoun?

A subject pronoun is the pronoun that is performing the action described in a sentence. The subject pronoun stands in for a subject from an earlier clause.

In English, the subject pronouns are:

• I
• We
• You
• He
• She
• They
• It
• Who

Identifying a subject pronoun is usually simple because most of the time (with the exception of questions), it will come before the verb:

I am feeding the cat.

Here, I is the subject pronoun performing the action of feeding, and the cat is the object involved in the action.

Subject Pronoun Examples

To help wrap your head around how subject pronouns work, take a look at them in action:

1. I ran faster than anyone else.
   Here, the first-person pronoun I acts as the subject performing the action ran.
2. The cat looked very thin. It was begging for food.
   In this example, the third-person subject pronoun it replaces the noun the cat. It is performing the action of begging.
3. I don’t know who broke into my room.
   The pronoun who here describes the subject that performed the action of breaking in.

What Is an Object Pronoun?

When a pronoun is the thing being acted upon or having an action done to it, we call it an object pronoun.

The object pronouns in English are:

• Me
• Us
• You
• Him
• Her
• Them
• It
• Whom

An object pronoun should come after the verb because the person or thing represented by the pronoun is the recipient of the action indicated by the verb:

She told us the truth.

An object pronoun may also follow a preposition, and as such, it’s the object of the preposition. This is also known as the prepositional object, meaning a noun or pronoun affected by a preposition.

The exit was closer to him.

In this example, him is the object pronoun affected by the preposition to.

And it’s incorrect to follow a verb with a subject pronoun rather than an object pronoun:

I hugged he. ✘

I hugged him. ✔

…or to place an object pronoun before a verb:

Him hugged me. ✘

He hugged me. ✔

Object Pronoun Examples

Now it’s time to look at some examples of object pronouns in use:

1. His shoes didn’t fit in the suitcase, so he had to leave them behind.
   The third-person object pronoun them replaces the noun his shoes, which were left behind.
2. The real hero was my mom. We should give her a medal.
   The object pronoun in this sentence is her, which replaces the noun my mom. The action of the verb give is affecting her.
3. The man was the one to whom I was speaking earlier.
   Despite the change in sentence structure here, we can see that whom replaces the noun the man. It is the object of the preposition to.

Compound Subject and Compound Object Pronouns

Writers from all backgrounds can get tripped up when it comes to compound nouns.

Compound nouns occur when a sentence has two or more subjects acting together or two or more objects being acted upon.

Using multiple pronouns or a mixture of nouns and pronouns can lead to some confusion over which pronoun to use.

A common error involves mixing up the subject pronoun I and the object pronoun me:

You and me have red hair. ✘

You and I have red hair. ✔

She painted Harriet and I. ✘

She painted Harriet and me. ✔

By removing the additional nouns, you can easily see why some of the examples above are wrong:

Me have red hair. ✘

She painted I. ✘

If you aren’t sure whether the subject or object pronoun is correct in such cases, try the above trick.

Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor

If you’re hungry for more language lessons, you can find dedicated modules on grammar, punctuation, and much more in our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses. And you can get 15% off if you buy both as a bundle.

Take your career to the next level and start training to become a freelance editor today with our free trial.

The post A Complete Guide to Subject and Object Pronouns appeared first on Knowadays.

This post will examine:

• The most common types of run-on sentences: comma splices, fused sentences, and polysyndetons
• How to fix a run-on sentence

What Is a Run-On Sentence?

A run-on sentence contains multiple independent clauses without including proper punctuation. This means that two or more independent clauses appear as one sentence without being joined by a conjunction or separated by a period or semicolon.

The three most common types of run-on sentences are:

1. Comma splices
2. Fused sentences
3. Polysyndetons

1. Comma Splices

Sometimes referred to as a comma fault, this error happens when a comma, instead of a semicolon, separates independent clauses without the use of a conjunction.

It has been very sunny lately, I really hope it will rain soon.

She went for a walk, there was a dog there, it jumped up on her with muddy paws.

2. Fused Sentences

These run-on sentences are often the easiest to detect because they make your writing difficult to read. A fused sentence combines independent clauses without any punctuation at all.

I like that movie I want to watch it again.

My daughter likes to run outside she comes home dirty all the time.

3. Polysyndetons

When most people think about run-on sentences, they often think about polysyndetons. You form these when your sentence uses more conjunctions than it requires.

George really likes to read books and he watches a lot of movies and when he has spare time he draws pictures.

We are running a little late, so we should probably take a taxi, or we could try to walk, but I don’t know if that is a good idea because we have a lot to carry and my back is sore.

How to Fix a Run-On Sentence

While it may be easy for you to spot a run-on sentence when reviewing someone else’s work, how you fix the problem will depend on the type of error you are dealing with. Luckily, the solutions are quite simple. Here are four methods that show you how to correct mistakes:

1. Separate the clauses into standalone sentences.
2. Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
3. Use a semicolon to separate the clauses (sometimes, a colon, en dash, or em dash is appropriate).
4. Turn one of the independent clauses into a subordinating clause.

Remember that you can often use more than one of these four solutions to fix a specific run-on sentence.

Fixing Run-On Sentences: Examples

1. Separate the clauses into standalone sentences:

We are running a little late, so we should probably take a taxi, or we could try to walk, but I don’t know if that is a good idea because we have a lot to carry and my back is sore.  ✘

We are running a little late. We should probably take a taxi or try to walk. But I don’t know if that is a good idea because we have a lot to carry, and my back is sore.  ✔

2. Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction:

It has been very sunny lately, I really hope it will rain soon.  ✘

It has been very sunny lately, so I really hope it will rain soon.  ✔

3. Use a semicolon to separate the clauses:

I like that movie I want to watch it again.  ✘

I like that movie; I want to watch it again.  ✔

4. Turn one of the independent clauses into a subordinating clause:

My daughter likes to run outside she comes home dirty all the time.  ✘

Because my daughter likes to run outside, she comes home dirty all the time.  ✔

Becoming an Editor or Proofreader

If spotting errors in sentences and their structure interests you, consider checking out our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses. We have many learning modules that will teach you everything you need to know about punctuation, grammar, spelling, and much more. Sign up for our free trial today.

The post How to Fix a Run-On Sentence appeared first on Knowadays.

As an editor or proofreader, understanding what concrete and abstract nouns are and how they work will help you make sure your clients are communicating clearly. That’s why, in this post, we explain:

• What a concrete noun is (with examples)
• What an abstract noun is (with examples)
• How to use concrete and abstract nouns

What Is a Concrete Noun?

Concrete nouns describe things that exist in a tangible, physical way.

In other words, if you can perceive something through any of the senses – sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch – then you can call it a concrete noun.

Dog, for example, is a concrete noun because a dog is something you can see, hear, and touch (and occasionally smell).

Wind is also a concrete noun, even though it isn’t something you can see, because you can still feel and hear it.

Confusingly, you can also refer to fictional things, such as imaginary places, objects, and characters, as concrete nouns. This is because, even though they don’t physically exist in the real world, they play the role of something physical in the fictional world.

Most concrete nouns refer to:

• Living things (e.g., woman, dragonfly, King Henry VIII)
• Inanimate objects (e.g., stairs, rocks, water)
• Places (e.g., village, South Africa, forest)

Concrete nouns can also be any type of noun that isn’t abstract, including common, proper, singular, plural, countable, or uncountable nouns.

Concrete Noun Examples

• friend
• cat
• person
• father
• rabbit
• clouds
• chocolate
• dust
• tea
• light
• music
• stairs
• forest
• mushrooms
• siren
• rock
• water
• fire
• perfume
• village
• South Africa
• city
• farm
• library

What Is an Abstract Noun?

Abstract nouns refer to anything you can’t see, hear, smell, taste, or touch.

Abstract nouns most often refer to:

• Emotions (e.g., joy, guilt, surprise)
• Ideas or concepts (e.g., agriculture, Cubism, childhood)
• Characteristics (e.g., humor, courage, brevity)
• Measurements of time (e.g., day, June, weekend)

Though we say we “feel” emotions, we don’t do so literally. And while the consequences of an emotion or an idea may be physical, the emotion or idea itself isn’t.

For example, you might wipe away someone’s tears if they’re experiencing sadness, but sadness itself isn’t something you can physically touch.

Abstract nouns can be difficult to get your head around, but once you learn to check whether you can physically experience something, you can tell more easily whether that thing is an abstract or a concrete noun.

Abstract Noun Examples

• confusion
• freedom
• friendship
• agriculture
• extinction
• birth
• Cubism
• childhood
• Buddhism
• humor
• courage
• brevity
• summer
• day
• June
• weekend

How to Use Concrete and Abstract Nouns

While concrete nouns are different from abstract nouns, both types follow the same standard grammar rules all nouns do, such as the subject–verb agreement requirement.

It’s still important to know the difference between a concrete noun and an abstract one, however, because you can use these types of nouns for different purposes.

Concrete nouns help us to communicate information about the physical world clearly, whether that world is real or fictional.

Abstract nouns, on the other hand, can introduce more complex ideas and allow us to explore things beyond the physical realm.

Imagery and Abstract Nouns

Sometimes, a writer may use concrete nouns to better explain abstract nouns. We see this technique most often in devices such as similes and metaphors:

Happiness feels like the sunrise after a long night.

My fear was a bird in a cage, desperate to get out.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

By comparing abstract nouns to concrete ones, a writer can translate intangible concepts into physical images and convey ideas more clearly.

Telling Nouns Apart

The easiest way to tell concrete nouns apart from abstract nouns is to check whether you can use your senses to perceive the object the noun is describing.

However, there are other differences between the two.

Concrete nouns are far more common and make up much more of the English language than abstract nouns, meaning concrete nouns can be as different from one another in meaning and construction as grandfather and apartment block.

Abstract nouns, meanwhile, have a little more in common with one another. They tend to derive from adjectives. The abstract noun kindness, for example, comes from the adjective kind.

This relationship also means that many abstract nouns end in the same suffixes:

• -ness (e.g., kindness)
• -ity (e.g., sanctity)
• -hood (e.g., parenthood)
• -ship (e.g., relationship)
• -ence (e.g., prominence)
• -ment (e.g., agreement)

Ultimately, whether a noun should be concrete or abstract has more to do with the meaning, tone, and purpose of a piece of writing than with whether the noun’s use is “correct.” But as a proofreader or editor, you should still make sure your client has chosen their words appropriately.

Becoming A Proofreader and/or Becoming An Editor

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The post What Are Concrete and Abstract Nouns? appeared first on Knowadays.

“Fewer” and “less” have been tripping up writers and editors alike since their introduction. But these two adjectives aren’t as indistinguishable as they might first seem.

Read on to discover the difference between “fewer” and “less”, and how to tell which is correct.

What Is the Difference Between Fewer and Less?

“Fewer” and “less” are both quantifiers used to describe amounts. Specifically, they describe an amount that is comparatively lower than something else – in other words, the opposite of “more”.

But this doesn’t mean that “less” and “fewer” are interchangeable. Each word should only be used in specific contexts, depending on the noun it describes.

Read on to find out when it is correct to use “fewer” and when to use “less” instead.

When to Use “Fewer”

“Fewer” should be used when describing countable nouns. As the name suggests, these are nouns that can be physically counted.

One dog, two dogs, three dogs…✔

Generally speaking, countable nouns have both a singular and a plural form:

Dog ➜ Dogs

Child ➜ Children

Book ➜ Books

So if the noun being described has a plural form, you would usually need to use the adjective “fewer”:

I wish the park had fewer dogs.

Fewer children are attending school.

If you hate reading so much, why don’t you buy fewer books?

It can help to think of “fewer” as meaning “not as many.” If you can replace “fewer” with “not as many” without making the sentence sound awkward or unnatural, then “fewer” is the correct word to use.

There are fewer visitors today.

There are not as many visitors today.

Today, they got through fewer questions.

Today, they didn’t get through as many questions.

When to Use “Less”

“Less,” on the other hand, is most often used with uncountable nouns (or mass nouns). These are nouns that cannot be split into discrete components and are instead treated as a single unit.

One food, two food, three food…✘

Uncountable nouns are always singular and do not have plural forms, so if the noun used is singular, the adjective to describe it should be “less.”

He has less food in his pantry.

We have less rice than yesterday.

Despite his obvious advantage, the lion had less courage than the mouse.

While “fewer” means the same thing as “not as many,” “less” can be substituted with “not as much.”

There’s less homework to do next week.

There’s not as much homework to do next week.

Although uncountable nouns cannot typically be counted, e.g., oil, wine, tea, etc., some do become countable if “of” is introduced. In these cases, “less” would no longer be the correct adjective, and “fewer” should be used instead.

The refinery produced one million less barrels of oil today compared to yesterday. ✘

The refinery produced one million fewer barrels of oil today compared to yesterday. ✔

Exceptions to the Rule

Of course, not everything falls so easily into the typical “less” and “fewer” rule. We explain some common exceptions below.

Time and Money

Things can get confusing when it comes to time and money.

The words themselves are uncountable nouns, meaning we would use “less” when describing them.

I always have less money than I think I do.

She would like to spend less time getting ready.

However, both concepts can be split into smaller, specific units:

• Dollars, cents, pounds, euros, etc.
• Seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc.

Even though units of time and money are individual, countable nouns, we still use the adjective “less” for them.

He spent less than two dollars.

Yesterday, toilet paper cost 50 cents less.

It must have happened less than two years ago.

However, in limited circumstances, “fewer” can be used depending on how general or specific the reference to time is.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned after fewer than seven weeks in office.

Weight and Measurements

Weights and measurements can also be split into countable nouns:

• Grams, pounds, ounces, etc.
• Miles, kilometers, centimeters, inches, etc.

But we only use “less”, not “fewer,” when describing them.

After stirring, add no less than 200g of flour. ✔

After stirring, add no fewer than 200g of flour. ✘

In less than 30 yards, turn right. ✔

In fewer than 30 yards, turn right. ✘

Percentages

While a percentage itself is a single quantity, and thus an uncountable noun, this doesn’t automatically mean that “less” is the correct adjective to use.

Instead, you’ll need to pay attention to what the percentage is referring to.

Fewer than 50% of all cats in the US are pets.

In that example, the percentage refers to the countable noun “cats,” so the adjective “fewer” is correct.

Stressed cows produce 30–50% less milk.

In that example, “less” is appropriate because the percentage refers to the uncountable mass noun, “milk.”

Becoming A Proofreader

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