What Is an Adjective? | Definition, Types & Examples

Published on 22 August 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on 3 October 2023.

An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun. Adjectives can be used to describe the qualities of someone or something independently or in comparison to something else.

Examples: Adjectives in a sentence
I like old houses.

The boy is tall and skinny.

Jane is smarter than her brother.

Continue reading: What Is an Adjective? | Definition, Types & Examples

Realise or Realize | Difference & Example Sentences

Published on 19 August 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on 6 February 2023.

Realise and realize are two different spellings of the verb meaning ‘become aware’ or ‘make real’. The spelling varies based on whether you’re writing UK or US English.

  • In UK English, ‘realise’ (with an ‘s’) is more common.
  • In US English, ‘realize’ (with a ‘z’) is the only correct spelling.
Examples: “Realise” and “realize” in a sentence
Jake didn’t realise/realize that he had left his wallet at home.

Clara wanted Paul to realise/realize he was mistaken.

Sierra hopes to realise/realize her dream of writing a novel.

The more goals you realise/realize, the more confident you’ll be.

Note
While ‘realise’ is more commonly used in UK English, note that Oxford style recommends ‘realize’. ‘Realize’ is always used in US English.

Continue reading: Realise or Realize | Difference & Example Sentences

Grey or Gray | Difference & Example Sentences

Published on 11 August 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on 28 November 2022.

Gray and grey are two different spellings of the same word, used to refer to the color between white and black. It can be used as a noun to refer to the color, an adjective to describe something as being that color, and as a verb to refer to the act of becoming that color.

The spelling tends to vary based on the version of English:

  • In US English, ‘gray’ is standard.
  • In UK English, ‘grey’ is more common.
Examples: ‘Gray’ and ‘grey’ in a sentence
The couch comes in two colors: beige and gray/grey.

It was supposed to be sunny today, but the sky is gray/grey.

Cooper’s beard is black with patches of gray/grey.

In the last few months, Peter’s hair has grayed/greyed.

Note
While the normal meanings of gray/grey vary in spelling depending on the version of English, some special meanings are only spelled one way. For example, the tea ‘Earl Grey’, the measure of energy called the ‘gray’, and the ‘greyhound’ dog breed (or the bus service named after it) never vary in spelling.

Continue reading: Grey or Gray | Difference & Example Sentences

Travelling or Traveling | Difference & Example Sentences

Published on 11 August 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on 6 February 2023.

Travelling and traveling are two different spellings of the present participle of the verb ‘travel’ (and the identical gerund) meaning ‘move from one place to another’ (typically over a long distance). The spelling tends to vary based on whether you’re writing UK or US English:

  • In UK English, ‘travelling’ (double ‘l’) is standard.
  • In US English, ‘traveling’ (one ‘l’) is correct.
Examples: ‘Travelling’ and ‘traveling’ in a sentence
Ava doesn’t like travelling/traveling by boat because she gets seasick.

If you’re travelling/traveling through Central Europe, you should visit Berlin.

Karen likes travelling/traveling by train because she enjoys watching the landscape go by.

I’m saving up for a trip because travelling/traveling can be expensive.

Continue reading: Travelling or Traveling | Difference & Example Sentences

Learnt or Learned | Difference & Example Sentences

Published on 11 August 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on 25 September 2023.

Learnt and learned are two different spellings of the past tense of the verb ‘learn’, which means ‘gain knowledge or skill’ or ‘come to be able to do something’. The spelling tends to vary based on the version of English:

  • In UK English, ‘learnt’ is standard.
  • In US English, ‘learned’  is more common.
Examples: ‘Learnt’ and ‘learned’ in a sentence
Kayla recently learnt/learned how to drive a car.

In school, I learnt/learned how to speak French.

Jamie hasn’t learnt/learned how to dance yet.

The students learnt/learned about the Great Depression.

Note
In UK English, ‘learn’ is an irregular verb, meaning that the past tense is not formed by adding the standard ‘-ed’ suffix. In US English, ‘learn’ is a regular verb (i.e., the past tense is formed by adding ‘-ed’).

Continue reading: Learnt or Learned | Difference & Example Sentences

Use To or Used To | Difference & Example Sentences

Published on 10 August 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on 15 February 2023.

Used to and use to are related phrases that can have the same meaning but are used differently.

  • Used to is a verb that indicates a past habit, action, or state. It can also be used as an adjective meaning ‘accustomed to’.
  • Use to also indicates a past habit, action, or state, but it’s only used in combination with ‘did’, ‘did not’, or ‘didn’t’.
Examples: ‘Used to’ in a sentence Examples: ‘Use to’ in a sentence
Sophie lives near the train tracks, so she’s used to a lot of noise. Did you use to be a musician?
There used to be a library in the city, but it closed down. Zack didn’t use to care about politics.
Note
The confusion regarding used to and use to is partly due to the blended ‘d’ sound at the end of ‘used’ and the ‘t’ sound at the beginning of ‘to’, which means the two spellings are pronounced similarly. However, in formal and academic writing, it’s important to note the difference.

Continue reading: Use To or Used To | Difference & Example Sentences

Flier vs Flyer | Difference & Example Sentences

Published on 10 August 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on 23 August 2023.

Flier and flyer are nouns that can be used to refer to a person or thing that flies, or more specifically to a leaflet. While the words are often used interchangeably, there is a general trend:

  • Flier is commonly used to refer to someone or something that flies. It is also used in the expression ‘take a flier’.
  • Flyer is the more common spelling for an advertising leaflet.
Examples: ‘Flier’ in a sentence Examples: ‘Flyer’ in a sentence
Jane has frequent flier miles because she travels a lot for work. Luis found out about the fundraiser from a flyer someone gave him.
Some birds, like the grey-headed albatross, are very strong fliers. Instead of handing out flyers, we created a post online and asked people to share it.
Note
This article describes the general trend in how the two spellings are used, but different style guides give contradictory advice on this issue.

If you’re not bound by a specific style guide, use ‘flyer’ to refer to a leaflet and whichever spelling you prefer for other meanings, and no one is likely to object.

Continue reading: Flier vs Flyer | Difference & Example Sentences

Then or Than | Difference & Example Sentences

Published on 10 August 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on 20 October 2022.

Then and than are two commonly confused words with different meanings and grammatical roles.

  • Then (pronounced with a short ‘e’ sound) refers to time. It’s typically an adverb, but it’s also used as a noun meaning ‘that time’ and as an adjective referring to a previous status.
  • Than (pronounced with a short ‘a’ sound) is used to express comparison. Grammatically, it usually functions as a conjunction, but sometimes it’s a preposition.
Examples: ‘Then’ in a sentence Examples: ‘Than’ in a sentence
Follow the road for another mile, and then take the exit. Brie is a better golfer than you.
I was working in a bookstore then. I often like planning a holiday more than I like the holiday itself.

Continue reading: Then or Than | Difference & Example Sentences

Payed or Paid | Difference & Example Sentences

Published on 10 August 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on 25 September 2023.

Payed and paid are pronounced similarly but have different meanings.

  • Payed is a rare word that’s only used in nautical/maritime contexts. It can be used to refer to the act of coating parts of a boat with waterproof material or to the act of letting out a rope or chain by slackening it.
  • Paid is the much more common word, used as the past tense of the verb ‘pay’ in all other senses.
Examples: ‘Payed’ in a sentence Examples: ‘Paid’ in a sentence
The sailors payed the front of the boat with tar to seal the gaps. We paid more for the meal than we had expected.
Liam untied the knot and payed out the rope to Bill. Sophia gets paid at the beginning of each month.
Note
People sometimes mistakenly write payed because it seems like the more logical past tense spelling of ‘pay’, but paid is the correct choice in the vast majority of cases.

Continue reading: Payed or Paid | Difference & Example Sentences

Defence or Defense | Difference & Example Sentences

Published on 10 August 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on 21 November 2022.

Defence and defense are two different spellings of the same word, a noun used to refer to the act of protecting or defending something, the legal plea of a person on trial for a crime, or a sports position intended to prevent an opponent from scoring.

The spelling tends to vary based on whether you’re writing in UK or US English:

  • In UK English, ‘defence’ (with a ‘c’) is standard.
  • In US English, ‘defense’ (with an ‘s’) is more common.
Examples: ‘Defence/defense’ in a sentence
Lucas used to play offence, but now he plays defence/defense.

A healthy diet is a good defence/defense against illness.

There are members of the defence/defense force outside the embassy.

The attorney was confident they had a strong defence/defense.

Note
Another word used in a legal context, ‘judgment/judgement‘, also has two spellings.

Continue reading: Defence or Defense | Difference & Example Sentences