Vocabulary Tips
An archive of posts covering vocabulary tips and word choice. Find out more about the common linguistic errors. Check out our editing advice to make sure you can proofread and edit documents effectively.
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Word Choice: Historical vs. Historic
Word Choice: Historical vs. Historic
Nov 14, 2017
The invention of the computer was a historic event. Without it we would still be scribbling in the margins of galley proofs, unaided by word-processing software. The invention of the computer was also a historical event, hence our use of the past tense. Yet not every historical event is historic, and not every historic event […]
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Word Confusion: Biennial vs. Biannual
Word Confusion: Biennial vs. Biannual
Oct 03, 2017
Some similar words are so familiar and so different in meaning that, should a client muddle them up, you will notice them right away. For instance, if an essay refers to Darwin’s theory of revolution, you can safely assume that this is an essay on the Origin of Species, not an examination of Darwin’s opinions […]
The Etymology of ‘Proofreading’
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Word Choice: Historical vs. Historic
Nov 14, 2017
The invention of the computer was a historic event. Without it we would still be scribbling in the margins of galley proofs, unaided by word-processing software. The invention of the computer was also a historical event, hence our use of the past tense. Yet not every historical event is historic, and not every historic event […]
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Word Confusion: Biennial vs. Biannual
Oct 03, 2017
Some similar words are so familiar and so different in meaning that, should a client muddle them up, you will notice them right away. For instance, if an essay refers to Darwin’s theory of revolution, you can safely assume that this is an essay on the Origin of Species, not an examination of Darwin’s opinions […]
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The Etymology of ‘Proofreading’
Sep 28, 2017
Here at Knowadays we have a poster on the wall (next to the signed pictures of our favourite pedants of stage and screen) that says, ‘You don’t have to know the etymology of “proofreading” to work here, but it helps!’ Our questionable taste in wall décor aside, the term ‘proofreading’ does make more sense when […]