Tim Tucker's Guide to Improving Your Writing and Grammar Welcome! My goal for this guide is to distill a mountain of rules and practices down to a list of the most common problems you'll come across when you write. I intend to limit the guide to a few dozen entries in order to keep it simple. I'll add a few entries at a time until it feels done. I know you don't have the time to wade through hundreds of rules to find what you need. If this improves your writing and saves you time, then I've accomplished my goal. If you write a lot, consider an exhaustive, time-tested standard like the Chicago Manual of Style (available in the massive print edition or online for a subscription). There are many other resources (see my links page for more), but that's the one I prefer. Enough introduction. On with the show! You can either select from the topics below or choose a letter: A - D | E - H | I - M | N - S | T - Z active vs. passive voice affect vs. effect a lot adverbs apostrophes (contractions) apostrophes (for possession) apostrophes (not for plural words) apostrophes (with acronyms) cannot vs. can not couldn't/could care less effect vs. affect e.g. vs. i.e. e-mail vs email fewer vs. less grammar checkers i.e. vs. e.g. it's vs its less vs. fewer passive vs. active voice principal vs. principle that vs. which there vs. their vs. they're who vs. whom who's vs. whose you're vs. your Choose a letter: A - D | E - H | I - M | N - S | T - Z Suggest an entry, ask a question, or submit a correction!