Grammar and Punctuation
Rules, exceptions, and the nuances that catch even careful writers out.
Start with these guides

Figurative Language for Kids: A Super Simple Guide to Tricky Literary Devices
Welcome to the world of figurative language for kids (with a smiley twist!)
New Vappingo Platform Launching Soon
Let’s start afresh! When Vappingo first launched back in 2009, things were a little different.
7 Grammar Mistakes you Should Give the Boot in 2015
As you wave goodbye to 2014 and look forward to the excitement that 2015 promises, you’ve no doubt already signed up for a Zumba class and sworn to…
Explore Grammar and Punctuation
When to Hyphenate Numbers
Knowing is important because the correct use of the hyphen helps your reader to understand which numbers are part of a given adjective and avoids…
101 Words That are Both Plural and Singular
The majority of nouns have distinct plural and singular forms.
The Difference Between Eg and Ie
Do you know when to use e.g. or i.e.? E.g. and i.e. mistakes are spotted on a regular basis by our proofreading team.
86 Great Examples of Portmanteau
A portmanteau is a word that is formed by combining two different terms to create a new entity.
54 Great Examples of Modern-Day Neologisms
64 Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences
Oxymorons are figures of speech in which two contradictory terms are combined in order to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means.
Five Types of Phrases: A Free Printable Cheat Sheet
It is generally accepted that there are five major types of phrases in the English language, one for each of the main parts of speech.
When is it Okay to Use Contractions in Formal Writing?
Many people avoid using contractions in formal writing because they are under the impression that contractions are only appropriate for casual…
When to Indent Paragraphs
Questions about may constitute typographic minutia, but getting it right is important nonetheless, especially if you intend to produce writing tha…
When to Use a Colon: 9 Simple Rules
The dog loved four things: sleeping, playing, eating and chasing cats.
Should You Use a Colon or a Comma Before Quotation Marks?
Many people do not understand whether they should use a colon or a comma before quotation marks, to introduce direct speech.
When to Use Commas: 15 Comma Rules Everyone Should Know
Many people find it difficult to understand when to use commas.
An Unbelievable Twist of Fate That Superbly Demonstrates the Real Meaning of the Word Irony
The word ironic is one of the most abused words in the English language. Isn’t it ironic?
5 Complicated Punctuation Marks Explained in One Simple Picture
Punctuation marks are pretty complicated and getting your head around them won't happen overnight.
When to Capitalize: A Free Printable Cheat Sheet
Knowing when to capitalize and the basic rules of capitalization does not come easily to anyone, and if you find that you are never quite sure which…
Dependent and Independent Clauses
This article takes a look at , give you tips on how you can identify them, and explains why understanding what they are is important for correc…
Is the Word “It” a Noun?
How to Identify Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
Prepositions and prepositional phrases are important elements of written English because they present a method by which a writer can show…
What Are Phrases in a Sentence?
There is a Difference Between the Words Use and Utilize and you Really Should Know It
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Did you know that there is a distinct difference between the words “use” and “utilize”?
Someone or Some One: What’s the Difference?
Someone or some one? Are they actually different from one another and does the term “some one” actually exist?
[Infographic] Hyphen Use: Hyphenation Rules
When it comes to hyphen use, many writers purposely choose to entirely omit this dreaded punctuation mark in fear of using it incorrectly.
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