Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is the longest word in the English language, but how often does a forty-five letter lung disease caused by the inhalation of silica or quartz dust come up in conversation? For all those who’d like to dabble in sesquipedalianism (yes, we’ll tell you what that means,) here are a few long words to get […] ...

  Writing papers may seem like the bane of your existence right now, but every assignment is actually a good thing — it’s another opportunity to improve! Most of the time, you focus on what should be in your paper: a strong thesis, relevant examples, in-depth analysis, etc. But sometimes we need a reminder of […] ...

What’s the difference between i.e. and e.g.? These little abbreviations can be hard to keep straight while writing a paper.  We feel really smart when we use these guys, which we think have something to do with Latin. But when we throw in the wrong one, we don’t feel so suave. So we probed the […] ...

Languages can be as curious and strange as the humans that create them. The English language is no exception. For all of you word-loving nerds, we’ve assembled 10 English facts to test your knowledge and tease your mind. Looking for help with an English paper? Check your paper at CitationMachine.net. It’ll help flag misspelled adjectives, subject-verb […] ...

At some point, you might’ve heard someone say, “That’s an SAT word!” You probably asked yourself, “What does that word have to do with the SAT?” Back in the day, the verbal section of the SAT required you to complete analogies or sentences to test your vocabulary. Luckily, you no longer have to memorize words, […] ...

You’re writing a paper and suddenly you’re not sure what’s right: affect or effect. Though you may be spelling the word right, your spelling or grammar checker won’t catch the fact that you’re using it incorrectly. It’s not just homophones that have a tendency to trip writers up—there are plenty of words whose meanings are […] ...

Apostrophe is a big word for a such a little symbol. Apostrophes have a couple typical uses: to form possessive nouns (the cat’s collar) or form contractions/replace omitted letters (can’t, don’t, won’t, the ‘70s). Simple in theory, complicated in execution. From primary school through college graduation, apostrophes are one of the main grammar issues found […] ...

Words come and go in the English language, but there are definitely a few archaic ones that are worth sprinkling into today’s conversations. Whether you want to use a word with a ridiculously specific definition or a word that’s just fun to say, here are some old-timey words we need to bring back from the […] ...

Sending important emails can be stressful. Do I have the right grammar? Do I sound professional enough? Is my question clear? Use these step-by-step tips to build your confidence and get the best responses when sending emails and other messages to professors, potential employers, and advisors. Step 1: Don’t treat your emails like text messages […] ...

There’s one universal truth about writing: there are always ways to improve. Sure, you may not be a wordsmith by birth—after all, writing doesn’t come naturally to everyone. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to strengthen your skills. Trust us; you’ll be amazed at how much your writing can be elevated with a few […] ...