An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or expression. CT and Conn. are abbreviations for Connecticut. See the Abbreviations topic in the main Contents for rules on making and using abbreviation [..]

and Other Absolute Modifiers Unique means "one of a kind." Therefore, comparatives, superlatives, and words like very, so, or extremely should not be used to modify it. If it is one [..]

The voice of a verb refers to the form of the verb used in relation to what the subject is doing. In English there are only two voices-- passive and active. The active voice of a verb simply means the [..]

An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun. Examples: The big dog barked loudly. (The and big modify the noun dog. They are adjectives.) The dog was big and loud. (The adjectives The, big, [..]

An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun. The italicized clause in the first sentence is an adjective clause because it modifies the noun clause. Most of the time ad [..]

An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs generally answer one of four questions: how, when, where, or to what extent. Adding the suffix -ly to an adjective co [..]

When something is ambiguous it has more than one possible meaning. Writing should strive to be clear. Avoid ambiguity if you want your reader to be sure of what you are saying.

The antecedent of a pronoun is the word which the pronoun stands for. In the first sentence on this page the pronoun which is taking the place of word. Therefore, word is the antecedent.

An appositive is a noun, noun phrase, or noun clause which follows a noun or pronoun and renames or describes the noun or pronoun. A simple appositive is an epithet like Alexander the Great. Appositiv [..]

In grammar, an article is a type of adjective which makes a noun specific or indefinite. In English there are three articles: the definite article the and the two indefinite articles a and an. In writ [..]