Dictionary.tips

The official X account for a reference for English usage and commonly confused words.

[Dictionary.tips @usagedictionary]

@Bestenglishpage I miss you more every moment! 😀😀😀

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English Grammar

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@knowiiiedge What are you guys think about this one?

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@sama @yacineMTB I will challenge that model to a grammar contest soon. Who do you think will win?

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@OpenAI I will challenge the new model to a grammar contest.

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@JuanCruzRipoll Short pieces of writing are often print letters. Longer pieces of writing are usually cursive.

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@knowiiiedge I’m from the United States, and we say “of” or “from.”

Correct:
He died from a heart attack.
He died of a heart attack.

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“Repress” vs. “Oppress”: Don’t Confuse These Words

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“Continual” vs. “continuous”—fill in the blank:

The _____ interruptions kept breaking my focus. (continual / continuous)
Reply with your choice.

Answer: “continual” = repeated with breaks; “continuous” = nonstop without breaks.

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@libertyinam @BernieSanders Are these politicians manipulating the narrative again with loaded questions? Smh

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@youtubemusic I made a grammar song. Maybe I’m vain, but I can’t stop listening to it.

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@hetmehtaa jumps out of a library and yells, “boo!!!” 🤣🤣🤣🤣

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The last of the true Grammar Influencers! 💯💯💯💯

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Etymology Bite: “Quarantine”

From Italian “quaranta” (forty).

It originally meant isolating ships for 40 days during plagues.
Today it means any period of separation to prevent spread.
#english #grammar

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@MerriamWebster That’s cool I didn’t know “smake” existed. I would’ve chosen “fragrant” or “redolent.”

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@knowiiiedge Lol

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Most people say “less” when they mean “fewer.”

“Less” refers to quantity you cannot count.
“Fewer” refers to items you can count.

Less water.
Fewer trucks.

This distinction still matters in standard English.

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Using the specific word required by the grammatical context removes ambiguity.
The choice of modifier affects the clarity of your prose. Substituting one for the other introduces a technical error that is avoided by identifying the noun type.

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"Fewer" versus "less" is a matter of countability.
A noun is either a count noun (discrete units) or a mass noun (uncountable quantity). Precision in American English requires identifying this distinction before choosing a modifier. 🧵

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A specific exception exists for measurements, time, and money.
Even though "dollars" and "miles" are countable, they are treated as a collective amount. Examples: "The trip is less than 20 miles" and "He has less than $50." In these contexts, "less" is standard.