Tristen Bonacci

The Best Ways to Speed Read & Become a Faster Reader

Easy tricks to increase your reading time and retain informationWhether you’re studying for your philosophy class or flipping through the morning newspaper, reading can seem like such a chore, especially because it can...

Abbreviating Continued: When to Use Cont. & Cont’d

A grammar guide to shortening “continued” in professional and casual writing To be continued. To be cont. To be cont’d? Which one of these is the right way to shorten “continued” again? They’re actually both ...

How to Use “Respectively” in Your Writing: A Complete Guide

Everything you need to know about using “respectively” in a sentenceSo, you’re doing some writing when the word “respectively” pops into your mind. Bravo! That’s one awesome word! But how do you use it and wh...

How to Write in Passive Voice (With Examples)

Learn how to convert active voice into passive voice and vice versa English, by default, uses a subject-verb-object word order in sentences. This word order is also called active voice because the subject literally acts ...

Learn What It Means When Someone Says: "What Are You Into?"

Everything you need to know about the question: "What are you into?" “What are you into?” is a great question to start a conversation or get to know someone better. It's a good expression to learn, because English s...

Is It "Clearer" or "More Clear"?

You’ve probably heard people say both “clearer” and “more clear”, but which is grammatically correct? When you hear both expressions so often, it can be hard to tell which to use if you don’t know the specifi...

What “Goated” Means and How to Use It (With Examples)

Spice up your vocabulary with this fun slang termSo someone said “goated,” and you’re not quite sure what they meant? You might be surprised that the slang term “goated” has nothing to do with the animal. This ...

How to

Introduce Evidence in an Essay

When well integrated into your argument, evidence helps prove that you've done your research and thought critically about your topic. But what's the best way to introduce evidence so it feels seamless and has the highest...

How to

Use English Punctuation Correctly

With the dawn of the Internet, the birth of Internet slang, and the growing use of SMS, many of us are starting to forget the fundamental aspects of English punctuation. Would you like to write a great paper for one of y...

How to

Identify a Clause

Plus, learn how to spot dependent, relative, & tricky clausesClauses and phrases are building blocks for longer sentences. As a first step, focus on learning the difference between them. Once you are ready, move on to id...

What Does "In Queue" Mean?

You just heard someone say the phrase “in queue/in the queue,” but you aren’t completely sure what they meant. That’s totally valid! Depending on the context of the conversation and the nationality of the speaker...

How to

Write a Good Answer to Exam Essay Questions

Answering essay questions on an exam can be difficult and stressful, which can make it hard to provide a good answer. However, you can improve your ability to answer essay questions by learning how to understand the ques...

How to

Avoid Using Personal Language in Writing

Learning how to write without using personal language can be tough. It’s especially tricky to find alternatives to clauses such as “I think” or “I will argue,” but don't worry if you're stuck. There are lots of...

Is There a Comma in "I Too"?

A complete grammar guide to using "I too" in a sentenceWe, too, have trouble with grammar from time to time—especially when it comes to comma placement and that tricky “too” (or is it “to”?). When you want to s...

What Does "Batting an Eye" Mean?

Someone's just said "without batting an eye," but you're not sure what they meant. It is an odd expression and it can mean a few different things, but don't worry. We'll go over everything you need to know about this un...

What Does "Cut Off Your Nose to Spite Your Face" Mean?

The English language is full of unique expressions like "cut off your nose to spite your face" but what does that phrase mean? Chances are you were a little confused when you heard it used the first time, but don't worry...

How to

Analyze Tone in Literature

In literature, tone refers to the author's attitude toward the subject, characters or events of a story. Understanding the tone of a literary work can help you become a better reader. You may also need to analyze the to...

How to

Be a Good Reader

Many people enjoy reading as a way to relax and enrich their minds. Reading is also an increasingly critical skill to learn and develop to be successful in school and in the professional world. By gathering the right rea...

Has Completed, Had Completed, & Have Completed: Grammar Rules Explained

The English language is full of grammar rules that can take a little practice to learn. Take “has completed” or “had completed”—they’re very similar, but used in specific cases. We’ll guide you through when...

How to

Use a Colon in a Sentence

Colons are like flashing arrows: they are there to direct your attention to the information that follows them. Colons are used to connect sentences, to present information, and to set off lists and quotations. They call ...