Nauman Anwar

As a writer and language coach, I’ve often heard people describe things as “absolutely true” to make their statement sound more powerful. But the phrase, though common, carries a lot of linguistic weight. It gives off a final, factual tone – like a stamp of certainty or an assertion that’s undebatable, leaving no room for … Read more

As a native English speaker and language tutor, I know how tricky it is for learners, even fluent ones, to decide when to use “to fast” or “too fast.” Confusion often appears in casual conversations or professional emails, and a common mistake may go unnoticed. The phrase “Too fast means excessively fast,” while “to fast” … Read more

In today’s digital world, a single misplaced letter can dramatically change how others perceive your intelligence, accuracy, or professionalism. I once emailed a client and accidentally typed “imput” instead of “input.” That small typo led them to ask if English was my second language. That moment made me pause and rethink the common pitfalls of … Read more

I’ve spent years as a writer, and even today, I sometimes stop mid-sentence, wondering whether to use company-wide or companywide. That tiny hyphen causes more confusion than you’d think – even among seasoned professionals. Both versions appear in industry usage, but in formal American English, only one is right. When used as a compound adjective, … Read more

In fiction, blog posts, and speeches, I’ve learned that the shortest words can hit the hardest. One staccato line can cut through noise like a blade, stir emotion like thunder, and vanish into smoke. These staccato sentences used with precision add urgency, clarity, and drama, doing what longer structures simply can’t. I once wrote a … Read more

In the world of technology, selecting the right term can shape user experience and reduce confusion. Unselect or Deselect is a question I hear often in meetings and project reviews. Working with software teams, I’ve seen how a small difference between unselect and deselect can lead to major debate. Both words are commonly used in … Read more

Growing up, I was often confused by words that sound the same but mean something different – especially homophones like heard, herd, and hurd. These English terms are pronounced almost identically, making them a common trip hazard for people learning or even those already fluent. They’re called tricky for a reason – they’re completely different … Read more

In English, certain tiny phrases may appear harmless, but they hold real power – capable of either strengthening or weakening your writing. When aiming for a formal tone, especially in academic, legal, or professional settings, even confident speakers may stumble. The mix-up between “as evidenced by” or “as evident by” is more common than many … Read more

The English language is tricky – a single wrong letter can flip the meaning entirely. I once caught a student’s essay filled with the word “envolved,” and they had probably seen it online or heard someone say it. In reality, “envolved” isn’t a real word at all – it’s completely made up. Replacing the “e” … Read more

The English language is beautifully quirky and constantly evolving, so it’s no surprise that odd phrases like “hence why” make us stop and think. One I’ve personally used in casual writing, and seen others use in conversations or articles, is exactly that. It sounds natural, sure, but “Is ‘Hence Why’ Grammatically Correct?” exists for a … Read more