Quick Answer Most of the time, use a small letter after a colon. Use a capital letter only when a full sentence follows, or when the next word is a proper noun (a name). ✓ She wanted three things: rest, food, and time. ✓ He had one rule: Never give up. Capital After a Colon…
Quick Answer The three forms are give (present), gave (past), and given (with have/has/had). Now: I give her a present. Yesterday: I gave her a present. With have: I have given her a present. Give, Gave, Given — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Can you see the pattern? Did you notice? Give is for…
Quick Answer Advice is a noun — it means a suggestion or help someone gives you. Advise is a verb — it means to give that help. Noun: She gave me good advice. Verb: She advised me to study harder. Advice and Advise — See the Difference These two words look almost the same, but…
Quick Answer Accept (with an A) is a verb. It means to receive something or to say yes. Except (with an E) is a preposition. It means not including or apart from. Example: She will accept the job offer. — Everyone came to the party except Tom. Accept vs Except — See the Difference These…
Quick Answer It depends on the style. In American English, the period always goes inside the quotation marks. In British English, it usually goes outside — unless the period is part of the quoted sentence. ✓ American: She said, “I am tired.” ✓ British: She said, “I am tired”. Period Inside or Outside — See…
Quick Answer A desert (one s) is a dry, sandy place like the Sahara. A dessert (double s) is the sweet food after a meal. Memory trick: you always want a Second Serving of dessert — so it gets a second s. Desert and Dessert — See the Difference One letter separates the sand from…
Quick Answer Adjectives have three forms: the base form (tall), the comparative form (taller), and the superlative form (tallest). Use the comparative to compare two things. Use the superlative to compare three or more things. Tall, Taller, Tallest — See the Pattern Look at these sentences. The key words are in blue: Did you see…
Quick Answer The past tense of deal is dealt. It is the same with “have,” “has,” or “had” — always dealt. Every day: I deal with problems at work. Yesterday: I dealt with a difficult customer. Many times: I have dealt with this before. Deal and Dealt — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look…
Quick Answer Criterion means one standard. Criteria means two or more standards. So you would say “one criterion” but “three criteria”. ✓ The main criterion is age. (one rule)✓ The criteria are age, height, and weight. (more than one rule) Criterion and Criteria — See the Pattern Look at these four sentences. Watch the word…
Quick Answer The past tense of come is came. With “have,” “has,” or “had,” use come again (not “came”). Every day: I come home at six. Yesterday: I came home late. Many times: I have come home late before. Come, Came, Come — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes:…
