Exclamation Point or Exclamation Mark: Which Is Correct?
Mignon Fogarty
If you have ever wondered whether exclamation point or exclamation mark is the right term, the answer is simple: both are correct. They refer to the same punctuation symbol, !.…
Question Mark Inside or Outside Quotes? Simple Rules
William Strunk
Quotation marks can make question-mark placement seem confusing, especially when a question contains someone else’s exact words. The good news is that there is one simple idea behind the rule:…
Superscript Before or After Period? The Correct Rule
Bryan Garne
Wondering whether a superscript should come before or after a period? If you are using a superscript number as a footnote or citation marker, the answer is straightforward: the superscript…
Vs. or Vs: Which Is Correct? Meaning and Usage
You will often see vs. and vs used interchangeably, but that does not mean every style guide treats them the same way. Both are used abbreviations of versus, but the…
Period Inside or Outside Quotation Marks? Simple Rules
Does the period go inside or outside quotation marks? It is a small punctuation rule, but it can easily cause confusion. In American English, the period normally goes inside the…
A Honor or An Honor: Which Is Correct? Meaning & Usage
A honor or an honor? The correct form is “an honor.” The choice between a and an depends on the sound at the beginning of the next word, not simply…
Data Is or Data Are: Which Is Correct? Grammar & Usage
Data is or data are, which one is right? The answer depends on what you mean by “data.” Use data is when you treat data as information as a whole,…
Foot or Feet: Which Is Correct? Singular, Plural & Usage
Foot or feet, which one should you use? The answer is simple: foot is singular, while feet is plural. The confusion usually starts with measurements. We say six feet tall,…
Business’s or Business’: Which Possessive Form Is Correct?
Business’s and business’ are both used as possessive forms, but business’s is the safer choice in most writing. The confusion comes from the fact that business already ends in s.…
Monkeys or Monkies: Correct Spelling, Plural Rule & Examples
Is it “monkeys” or “monkies”? The correct spelling is monkeys. It’s an easy mistake to make because many words ending in -y change to -ies when they become plural. But…