A thesaurus—a collection of synonyms and antonyms—can be an excellent way of improving word choice in your document. The thesaurus provides a variety of word choices as suggested replacements that may help you better describe a feeling, a landscape or an event. This can be particularly useful if you have a tendency to overuse the […]
How to Use Chicago Style in English Writing
As most non-fiction authors know, there are many citation styles available. Many of them are discipline specific (e.g., Modern Language Association for the humanities, American Psychological Association for the social sciences, etc.), and they vary in many different ways. Sometimes, however, you don’t know what citation style you should follow in your writing. For example, […]
How to conduct research using primary resource methods?
Primary research involves obtaining first-hand information about a phenomenon in the real world. This can produce either quantitative or qualitative data, and the means whereby it can be conducted are interviews, experiments, surveys, and ethnographic research. Almost all papers and theses in the sciences and social sciences center on primary research, and it is also […]
Assure, Ensure, or Insure?
The English language has so many fun aspects, whether it’s sorting out homonyms (acts or ax) or figuring out which synonym is most appropriate (good or righteous). Even native English speakers can have difficulties with some nuances, so don’t feel too bad if you mix up Assure, Ensure, and Insure. Given that they all sound […]
Lay or Lie
When to use “Lay” versus “Lie”: difference between lay and lie Lay means “to place something down.” It is something you do to something else. It is a transitive verb. Incorrect: Lie the book on the seat. Correct: Lay the book on the seat. (It is being done to something else.) Lie means “to recline” […]