When To Use “Buy,” “By,” and “Bye”

You’ve bought the perfect Christmas gifts. Now you have to write the perfect card, and we’re here to help! Below, you’ll find eleven Christmas card messages, plus tips to help you write your own.

  • Buy means “to obtain something in exchange for payment.”

I wanted to buy new shoes to wear at the ceremony

  • By is used as a preposition that has several meanings, but it’s commonly used to indicate that you’re “in proximity” to something.

I’m standing by the statues

  • Bye is the shortened version of goodbye.

Bye! I’ll see you next time.

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Silent E—What’s It Got to Giv(e)?

A silent “e” at the end of a word can change the pronunciation and meaning of a word (e.g., hop vs. hope). But it also changes the pronunciations in words in which omitting the “e” isn’t possible (e.g., strike or bike).

Not only can silent “e’s” change the pronunciation of preceding vowels, but of consonants as well. Silent “e’s” also help prevent words from ending in a “u” or “v,” and help avoid confusion with plural nouns and third-personal singular verbs (e.g., base, promise).

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If or Whether? We’ll Tell You When to Use Which Word and Why

Deciding when to use one English word over the other sometimes seems more like a matter of intuition over knowledge. Take for example whether and if. In casual speech, they are often used interchangeably. But in formal writing, there’s a distinction between the two. Whether you’re an English language learner or a native speaker, you might want to continue reading if you want to learn the difference.

Correct Use
  • Whether and if are both subordinating conjunctions (words that combine clauses or sentences).
  • Use if when writing a conditional sentence.
    • You can use the back door if the front door is locked.
  • Whether is used to show that there is more than one option available.
    • She was deciding on whether she should attend Stanford or Harvard.

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Improve Your Writing With These Five Writer’s Hacks

Hooking your reader’s attention is no easy feat. Even successful, well-known writers use writing hacks to make sure their audience starts and continues reading all of their text. We’ll share five writers hacks that will make your writing irresistible to readers.

  1. Organize your writing using headings and lists.
  2. Implement the rule of three.
  3. Avoid wordiness.
  4. Use synonyms.
  5. Step away and then rewrite.

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Nine “For Example” Alternatives

For example is a phrase used “to introduce something chosen as a typical case” or “introduce something that proves something is true.”

  • My dog, Oso, is learning many new tricks. For example, he can sit, stay, and lie down.

For example can be used at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Two alternatives of for example are: for instance and e.g.

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“Lay” vs. “Lie”

Lay is commonly used as a verb that means “to place something down flat,” and requires an object.

Go lay that sheet on the bed.

Lie has a few definitions, and one of them is “to be in a flat position on a surface.” In this sense, lie does not require an object.

I’m going to lie down after you put the sheet on the bed.

Conjugating these verbs in other tenses is especially challenging. For example, the past tense of lie is lay.

Last night, he lay down to sleep at 8 PM.

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Getting to (K)now Silent Letters

The English language can be exasperating. For example, sometimes “y” is a vowel, sometimes it’s not. Cough, rough, and though all have very distinct pronunciations. Plus, there are hundreds of new words added to the dictionary every year. But among all the quirks the English language has, perhaps none is as baffling as silent letters.

Yes, there are silent letters. Please don’t shut your laptop in frustration or hurl your mobile phone across the room. This is a first in a series of articles that will bring some order to the chaos and will expand your knowledge on silent letters by providing an honest and thorough explanation about what they are and why they exist.

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Why Wordiness Weakens Writing

Wordiness is when a sentence contains words that make it longer than it needs to be. Editing for conciseness is one of the best ways to strengthen your writing.

A few examples of wordy phrases are absolutely essential, due to the fact that, and with regard to.

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