Elaine Heredia, BA

How Do You Write an Entry in a Journal?

A guide to personal, school, & accounting journal entriesKeeping a journal allows you to record what’s happening in your life and to work through your thoughts and feelings. You might also enjoy writing a journal for s...

How Do You Write a Bibliography? A Guide with Examples

Build a list of sources for an essay or other work with our expert tips A bibliography tells your reader all the sources you cited or used to inform your non-fiction essay, article, presentation, or book. This comprehens...

To Whom It May Concern: How & When to Use This Formal Phrase

How to format a ‘To Whom It May Concern’ letter from start to finish "To Whom It May Concern" is a polite, formal way to open a business letter or email to someone when you don't know their name. Not sure the proper ...

How (and When) to Tell Someone to "Have a Good Evening"

Plus, the difference between "good evening" and "good night" "Have a good evening" is a somewhat formal phrase that you say to wish someone else a pleasant end to their day. Not only is it kind to say it, but anyone who ...

How to Write a Friendly Letter: A Step-by-Step Guide (with Examples)

Learn how to format a friendly letter to send to friends & familyWhen getting in touch with a distant friend or family member, most people opt to send a text or a social media message. But nothing beats a good, old-fashi...

How to Write a Perfect Love Letter from Beginning to End

Plus example love letter openings to take inspiration fromAh, love. You’re head-over-heels for someone, and you’re ready to tell them exactly how you feel. Whether your love is a crush, a long-term partner, or someon...

Writing a Position Paper: Formatting, Outlining, & More

Tips to make your paper polished & persuasiveA position paper explains a person or organization's stance on a specific issue. The goal of the paper is to provide convincing evidence to readers that your position is the c...

Complete Guide to Viking Symbols and Their Meanings

Discover how many Viking symbols are still relevant today Vikings loom large in our imagination as fearsome warriors who believed in gods, dragons, and magical boars (yes, you read that right). Their cultural identity is...

How to Cite the CDC Website as a Source in APA Format

Create in-text & reference list citations in APA with our guideThe American Psychological Association (APA) is the governing body that creates the rules for citing sources for people who work or study in the sciences, ed...

The Ultimate List of Better Ways to Say "That Sucks"

Find out what "sucks" really means and where it comes from People of all ages say, "That sucks!" or "This sucks" in normal conversation all the time. Yet, for many others, the word is harsh in tone, doesn't fully express...

Is “Freaking” a Bad Word? When (And If) You Should Say It

Plus, learn other PG ways to say the F-word"Freaking" is a word you'll hear a lot of kids and adults using in place of "f**king" these days. Sometimes it sounds like a curse, and other times it sounds like the person say...

What Does “Yapping” Mean? (And Why Is It Popular Now?)

Discover how TikTok reclaimed this old-school slang wordIt seems like everyone is calling out people for “yapping” these days, but since when has this old-school word been so popular? Like all quirky trends, TikTok h...

What Is a Slow Burn Romance? How to Know If a Story Has It

Learn the elements of a slow burn romance & how to write oneWhat do romantic classics like ''When Harry Met Sally'', ''Pride and Prejudice'', and ''13 Going on 30'' all have in common? The main characters always take for...

Everything You Need to Know About the Phrase "Baruch Hashem"

Learn how to say this Hebrew phrase with the proper intention If you're Jewish or have Jewish friends, you may have heard them drop the Hebrew phrase, "Baruch Hashem" (ברוך השם) in the middle of a conversation. "B...

How to Find the Area & Perimeter of Irregular Shapes

Learn 2 methods for finding the area of any irregular shapeThere are several math formulas for finding the area of basic shapes like squares, triangles, and rectangles. But what happens when they're combined to form an i...

What Does Órale Mean in English? (Plus How to Say It in Spanish)

Guide to saying órale in different contexts & emotions Like many Mexican slang words, ''órale'' (pronounced "or-ah-lay") has so many meanings it can make your head spin! The word it originates from is ahora, meaning "n...

What "In a Timely Manner" Really Means (+ Alternative Phrases)

How much time you have when you hear "in a timely manner"If you've ever received an email from someone who asks you to do something "in a timely manner," you may be wondering what that means and just how quickly they wan...

What Does "Run It Back" Mean? How to Use This Trending Slang

Find out its meaning in dating, casual convos, & moreThe phrase "run it back" used to only appear in sports—but like so many old phrases, Gen Z has given it new life. Today, you might see Gen Z posting TikToks about ho...

Blue Porch Light Meaning (+ 6 Other Porch Light Colors)

Discover movements you can support with the change of a light bulbIf you ever notice a blue porch light shining in front of someone's home, it may be for decorative purposes, but it may also signify their support of an i...

How to Break Free from People Pleasing (A Christian Perspective)

A practical guide for living to please God, not the worldWhile having a servant's heart is part of being a good Christian, a people pleaser goes above and beyond to do things for others to make them like or love them. Th...