Tristen Bonacci

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 ...

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...

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...

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 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

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

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...

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

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

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...

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 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 ...

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...

What Does The Devil Is in the Details Mean? (Dissecting This Idiom)

A concise guide to the idiom "the devil is in the details" with explanations and examplesTempted to use the idiom "''the devil is in the details''," but want to make sure you get it just right? To help you play innocent ...

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 Herding Cats Mean?

You’ve probably “herd” of herding sheep and cattle, but what about herding cats? This popular idiom doesn’t make a whole lot of sense at first, especially if you have a cat of your own at home. No worries, though...

How to

Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing

Colloquial, or informal, language is common when we speak to friends and family. However, it isn't always appropriate in writing. When you're writing an essay for school, a cover letter, or a scientific article, your lan...

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...

What Does "Go Get Em" Mean?

If someone tells you "go get em" they probably sounded pretty enthusiastic, but what were they actually saying? The English language is full of common phrases like this—they aren't straightforward, but they're frequent...