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Category: Writing/Editing

Grammar Repair Shop: Tips for avoiding 4 common word goofs

Should it be affect or effect? They’re or their? If you haven’t confused these words when writing, you’ve probably seen others mix them up. Here’s how to make the right choice, when it comes to the following commonly confused words: 1. There/their/they’re. Example: There/Their/They’re meeting always runs long. Answer: Their. How to remember: “Their” contains […]

Grammar Repair Shop: With regards to, irregardless

Reader Kelly Merritt sent us the following note recently: “Most people write ‘I am writing with regards to,’ or ‘in regards to,’ and I have even been corrected when using ‘in regard to’ … when everything I have read says that ‘regard’ and not ‘regards’ is the proper term. Which is the proper word?”Please also […]

Streamline your back & forth editing

Any Word feature that can save time and make you look good is worth tapping into, right? One such feature: Word’s built-in reviewing tools, which let you and others track all the changes you make as a document is written and edited. With the Track Changes tool turned on, you can track each insertion, deletion […]

Grammar Repair Shop: effect vs. affect

Rule 1. Use effect as a noun when you mean “result.” Example: “The new budget exerted a chilling effect on our business.” Tip: Use effect when one of these words precedes it: “an,” “any,” “the,” “take,” “into,” “no.” Examples: “Before the new budget takes effect … ” “Out-of-date computers became an unintended effect of the […]