The words fewer and less are confused just as commonly as words that sound the same, which I think happens because we’re never taught the right one to use. At least, I wasn’t when I was in grade school. Fewer and less generally mean the same thing, but one is used in conjunction with countable items and the other is used with more abstract on uncountable items. Which is which?

John has fewer apples than Joe.
My glass has less water than yours.

In general, fewer should always be used if a number cab be associated with the statement. For example, I could …read more

Many people never even realize that there are two spellings of the word compliment/complement. One means a nice word you give to someone to flatter or praise them. It can be used as both a noun and a verb. The other refers to two things that go well together. It can also be used as both a noun and a verb. Which is which?

Jane complimented Joe on his new shirt.
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Jane and Joe are best friends. They complement one another well.

Here are two ways to remember the difference:

Complement, with an E, refers to two things that go together, like a couple. …read more

I’m not known for my excellent grammar and spelling. Actually, more often than not, I just type too fast for my own good – and while I’m excellent at proofreading others’ work, I find it extremely difficult to spot my own mistakes. My problem isn’t, in general, not knowing the rules, but that doesn’t really matter. As a writer, mistakes can be fatal to a relationship with your clients, whether you knew the rule or not.
What drives me nuts, though, is the fact that many freelancers out there don’t seem to know the rules at all.
We all make mistakes, but …read more