Columns
Learnt or Learned? Got or Gotten? Irregular Past Forms
Dreamt or dreamed, got or gotten — the irregular past forms that split British and American English
SpellingSpelling Strategies That Work in Both UK & US
A word stalls mid-sentence and spellcheck just underlines it — strategies that work on both sides
SpellingHow Words Are Built: Prefixes, Suffixes & Roots
Long words like uncomfortable stop feeling scary once you spot the prefix, root and suffix inside
SpellingFewer or Less?
Ten items or less nags at every grammar pedant — when fewer wins and when less actually does
SpellingTheir, There or They're?
Their, there and they're sound identical out loud and identical is exactly the problem on paper
SpellingComplement/Compliment, Principal/Principle, Stationary/Stationery
Compliment your principal on the stationary he ordered — three classic swaps, sorted before they embarrass you
SpellingAdvice/Advise & Practice/Practise (Regional Split)
That email to your tutor stalls on advice or advise, practice or practise — here's the fix
SpellingHome & Household Vocabulary (Flat or Apartment?)
An American film says "leave your coat in the closet" — flat or apartment, wardrobe or closet, sorted
SpellingTransport Vocabulary (Lift or Elevator?)
The sign says elevator, you wanted a lift — the transport words that swap sides of the Atlantic
SpellingFood & Shopping Vocabulary (Crisps or Chips?)
Ask for crisps in an American shop and watch the blank stare — the chips/fries tangle, untangled
SpellingClothing Vocabulary (Trousers or Pants?)
You know the words, you've worn the clothes — until trousers meets pants and the meaning flips
StyleFormal or Informal? Choosing the Right Register
"Write it formally" says one teacher; "sound like yourself" says another — how to pick the right register