Bryan Collins's Blog, page 56

Hone In Or Home In: Which is Grammatically Correct?

The difference between hone in or home in is often misunderstood, but this guide will clear it up and show you the correct phrase.

Certain words and phrases are commonly confused in the English language, and choosing whether to use hone in or home in is one of those unclear moments. I’ll admit that I’m one of the writers who previously used the wrong phrase. And when a lot of people use the wrong version in speech and the written word, it’s easy to get misled about the right phrase to use.

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PaperRater vs Grammarly: What’s The Best Choice for Your Essay?

PaperRater vs Grammarly: Which tool is worth your time and money for checking an essay? Let’s find out!

I’ve used Grammarly since I started my career as a freelance writer, and it helped me write more engaging and error-free essays.

I recently discovered an alternative called PaperRater. According to the founders, PaperRater is an online proofreader designed for students in high school and college. This writing assistant corrects your mistakes and checks essays and writing samples for plag...

The 11 Best Dystopian Novels to Add to Your Bookshelf

Add one of the best dystopian novels to your reading list to challenge your thinking.

Dystopian novels use fiction to explore political themes by looking at what could be in an imperfect world, often in the near future.

Sometimes they set the stage as a utopian society, only to find that the society hides a dark secrete. Sometimes they take place on earth that has been through major destruction, only to show how the human spirit comes through.

Dystopian novels are widely popular, espec...

12 Character Archetypes to Drive Your Writing

People often have similar motivations, and character archetypes help categorize fictional characters based on their strengths, motivations, and weaknesses. 

Character archetypes help drive character development in written works. If you are going to be a fiction writer, either of short stories or books and novels, understanding these archetypes will help you develop strong, likable characters. 

Though book characters come in all shapes and sizes, most can fit into specific character types. ...

Can You Start a Sentence with Because? Yes, if You Do it Right

Have you asked yourself, can you start a sentence with because? The answer, like many answers to grammar questions in the English language, is that it depends.

Many grammar teachers will teach their students that they cannot begin a sentence with because due to the fact that the subordinating conjunction starts a dependent clause. Yet many sentences do start with this word, so can you start a sentence with because?

Sometimes, a sentence needs to start with because. This is particularly tr...

Peek Vs Peak: What’s The Difference?

Understanding the difference between closely spelled and identical-sounding verbs peek vs peak isn’t so easy, so here’s a quick look at the difference.

Pop quiz: When you summit the top of a mountain and look out over the world, what are you standing on? And when you look over the edge of a blindfold while taking a swing at a piñata, what are you doing? If you’re not sure which verb – peek vs peak – to apply to the above sentences, then you’re not alone.

English grammar is well-known for i...

What Are the Best Comedy Writing Books? Top 6

Do you like making people laugh out loud as a stand-up comedian, or writing short stories or scripts for TV shows? Read our list of best comedy writing books. 

Comedy writing is about more than joke writing and word play. The best comedians and humor writers take real-life situations and show us the kicker; the punchline. For stand-up comedy and sitcoms, it’s often about taking the mundane and making it hilarious, like Jerry Seinfeld.

Sometimes, it’s just realizing that we’re all living i...

Lets vs Let’s – Two Forms of the Same Verb

If you get hung up on the difference between lets vs let's, this guide will help you keep these two commonly confused and misused words straight. 

Because they are homophones, lets vs let's can be confusing parts of the English language. Yet strong writers must know how to use the right word in the right situation.

These commonly confused words have a pretty clear distinction that tells when you need to use that apostrophe, and when you can leave it off.

Best Grammar C...

The 7 Best Distraction-Free Writing Apps for 2021

If you are looking for more ways to focus, these top-tier distraction free writing apps are just what your writing life needed.

You probably already know this, but writing takes focus! And sometimes focus is hard to find. Some writers struggle with external noises around them and benefit from noise-canceling headphones, for example. Others have to contend with family or pets while they’re trying to write. And some struggle with visual clutter on the screen.

For the latter group, enter dist...

Canon Vs Cannon: From Holy Scripture to Big Guns

Homophones like canon vs cannon can be confusing, but this guide will help you understand their meanings.

Homophones often trip up writers, even excellent writers, because they sound the same in spoken English, but have different meanings based on their spelling. Canon vs cannon is a common pair of homophones that can get tricky. 

Thankfully, there are tools you can use to keep these two commonly misused words straight. Knowing the definitions of each word and seeing some examples will hel...