Language tips
At Virtus Publishing, our goal is to provide guidance and assistance to authors to ensure that the highest levels of quality throughout all stages are achieved.
To this end, we provide this author resource section, which will include a wide variety of mostly short posts, focusing on various aspects of the publishing process.
These posts are based on decades of experience managing and producing publishing content.
David George
Director of Publishing
Virtus Publishing
Our tips
This includes material related to common questions about language.
Introductory Commas
Writing errors concerning comma usage are common, particularly involving incorrect introductory commas.
The Misunderstood Semicolon
A very common area of confusion among authors (and even editors) concerns the correct use of semicolons (;) versus other types of punctuation.
"Who" versus "Whom"
An error I see crop up very often in many places (including books, newspapers and magazines) is the misuse of “whom” when “who” is actually correct.
US, UK, & Australian English
There are many differences between the English used in the United Kingdom versus the United States
"Everyday" versus "every day"
A very common error that’s often seen concerns the incorrect use of “everyday” versus “every day.”
Dangling Modifiers
Years ago a copy editor submitted a question to me because he was baffled by the following sentence: John struck a man with an umbrella.
"May" versus "Might"
During group sessions with copy editors I regularly emphasize the idea of leaving text that is grammatically correct alone:...
"May be" versus "Maybe"
Often there is confusion regarding usage of “may be” versus “maybe,” resulting in incorrect sentences like these:...
"It's" versus "Its"
An issue I see regularly in plenty of published work (especially online) is the incorrect use of “it’s” versus “its.”
Repeating "That" Can Be Ok
When we are writing, editing, or proofreading content it can be difficult to catch the nuances, which is a big reason errors creep in.
"Farther" versus "Further"
A very common area of confusion concerns the correct use of “farther” versus “further.”
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns are a very common area of confusion among authors and editors.
"Have" versus "Has"
Questions concerning the use of “have” versus “has” come up often, for example whether we would say, “a group has” or “a group have.”
"Few" versus "A few"
Plus Less than What?
This is the type of error that comes up fairly often in text to be published, but even more often in both casual and business...
Comparatives versus Superlatives
An issue I see often concerns confusion over the use of words such “larger” versus “largest.” The issue involves comparatives (“larger”) versus superlatives (“largest”).
"Either/Or" versus "Neither/Nor"
An area of confusion for many authors and editors concerns the use of “either/or” versus “neither/nor.” Let’s look at this common issue.
Unnecessary (and Incorrect) Hyphens
Let’s look at hyphens and an example of a hyphen that was inserted that changed the meaning in a published book.
Adverbs versus Adjectives: Part 1
An issue that crops up often in both written and conversational English concerns an area that many seem to have difficulty with: When to use an adjective versus an adverb.
Adverbs versus Adjectives: Part 2
A language source that I really like is the Purdue Online Writing Lab, affiliated with Purdue University. Below I’ve listed the most important rules for adjectives and adverbs.
"Compare with" versus "Compare to"
The choice between using “compare with” versus ”compare to” has been subject to debate for years.
Flawed Comparisons
As a follow-up to Tip #20, "Compare with" versus "Compare to," let’s look at what might be called flawed comparisons, specifically when (and how) the words “than,” “similar to,”...
"Dependant" versus "Dependent"
There’s often a lot of confusion regarding the word “dependant” versus “dependent.”
"Dependence" versus "Dependency"
As a follow-up to Tip #22, let’s look at the usage of “dependence” versus “dependency.”
Words with Different Meanings
In 2026 we’ll be periodically focusing on confusion over different words, not only in terms of spelling, but in terms of meaning.
"In the Market" versus
"On the Market"
Continuing our look at confusion over certain words and phrases, let’s look at one that comes up fairly often: “in the market” versus
“on the market.”
"I" versus "Me"
Let’s continue our look at confusion over certain words and phrases. This one comes up too often in my view although it’s really pretty simple: when to use “I” versus “me.”
"Toward" versus "Towards"
In our post The Author's Voice Plus Other Types of Editing we discuss the “author’s voice,” which refers to the words or phrases an author chooses to use.
"Similar" versus "Identical"
A problem I have seen come up with surprising frequency is confusion over the words “similar” and “identical.”
"In" versus "On" the Road
An online debate that comes up a lot (and fairly often with no conclusive ruling) concerns the use of “in the road” versus “on the road.”
Em dash versus En Dash
Let’s continue looking at specific publishing terms that can be confused (and that may be to some, a bit obscure.) This one falls under the language category.
The Use of "Acceptable"
I’ve seen a lot of confusion regarding the use of “can be acceptable” versus “is acceptable” or “can be accepted.” I find this surprising since the differences are simple.
"Majority is" vs. "Majority are"
As a follow-up to our Collective Nouns post available here, let’s look at a related question: whether “majority” is singular or plural.
Restrictive vs.
Nonrestrictive Clauses
An issue I see come up in manuscripts as submitted as well as occasionally after editing concerns restrictive versus nonrestrictive clauses, commonly referred to as the “that versus which” issue.
Dealing with Arabic Numbers
An inconsistency that comes up often concerns the use of Arabic numbers in text. I see issues not only in periodical publications, but in books as well.
Word Knots #1: Forwards
Today we’re introducing a new feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #2: Eatable
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #3: Irregardless
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #4: Impassable
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #5: Disparate
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #6: Esoteric
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #7: Except
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #8: Inflammable
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #9: Amount
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #10: Lead
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #11: Stationary
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #12: Principle
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #13: Mute
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #14: Good
Today we’re continuing with our newest feature, Word Knots, where we’ll look at common situations involving words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #15: Purposefully
Here’s another installment of Word Knots, where we look at common instances of words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #16: Could Care Less
Let’s continue with Word Knots, where we look at common instances of words that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #17: et al.
Let’s look at another installment of Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #18: i. e.
Let’s continue with Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #19: Farther
Here’s another installment of Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #20: Proven
Let’s continue with Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #21: Sanction
Here’s another installment of Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #22: Amiable
Let’s continue with Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #23: Flounder
Here’s another installment of Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #24: Mute
Let’s continue with Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #25: A Lot
Here’s another installment of Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #26: All Right
Let’s continue with Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #27: Hone
Here’s another installment of Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #28: Penultimate
Let’s continue with Word Knots, where we discuss common instances of words and phrases that are often confused or misused.
Word Knots #29: Sans
In this installment of Word Knots and the next, we’ll focus on misused (or in this case, abused) phrases rather than on specific words.
Word Knots #30: Suppose to
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll focus on two very common and related blunders that comes up too often in both verbal and written English.
In this installment of Word Knots, we’ll follow up on #30, with two words that are somewhat related.
Word Knots #32: Biannual
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll focus on two words that are often confused.
Word Knots #33: Bad
In this installment of Word Knots and the next we’ll focus on a word and then a phrase that are often used incorrectly, both in written and spoken English.
Word Knots #34: Feel Badly
As a follow-up to #33, in this installment of Word Knots we’ll focus on a phrase that’s related to #32.
Word Knots #35: Ensure
In this installment of Word Knots and the next we’ll focus on two words that are often confused and a third word that’s often used incorrectly, both in written and spoken English.
Word Knots #36: Insure
As a follow-up to #35, in this installment of Word Knots we’ll focus on a word that’s related to #35.
Word Knots #37: Childish
In this installment of Word Knots and the next we’ll focus on two words that are often confused (and in one case are somewhat related).
Word Knots #38: Ingenious
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll focus on another two words that are often confused. One of these is related to a word in #37.
Word Knots #39: Renumeration
In this installment of Word Knots and the next we’ll focus on one word that is very commonly misspelled: I’ve seen this in published work and have also heard it on broadcast news (which is inexcusable).
Word Knots #40: Impassible
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll focus on another two words that are often confused.
Word Knots #41: Altogether
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll look at a word and a phrase that are often confused, despites having very different meanings.
Word Knots #42: Proofreading
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll focus on another two publishing terms that are often confused.
Word Knots #43: Who's
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll look at two words that are often misused, despites having very different meanings.
Word Knots #44: Ampersand
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll discuss not a word that’s misused or confused, but an element of style that should be followed.
Word Knots #45: Backwards
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll look at a word related to the one covered in Word Knots #1.
Word Knots #46: Try and
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll discuss a phrase that is misused so often that many people think it’s correct (although grammatically it doesn’t make any sense).
Word Knots #47: Envious
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll look at two words that are often confused with one another and misused.
Word Knots #48: Hardy
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll discuss another two words that are often confused.
Word Knots #49: Beckon Call
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll look at a phrase is that is often used, but is incorrect: it’s confused with another one that is correct.
Word Knots #50: Could of
As a follow-up to #49, in this installment of Word Knots we’ll discuss another phrase that’s incorrect, but unfortunately used very often.
Word Knots #51: Here today,
gone tomorrow
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll start a new series, where we’ll look at tired phrases that are so worn out that they should never be used.
Word Knots #52: Implement
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll continue with our new series, where we look at overused and hackneyed words and phrases.
Word Knots #53: Dis
In this installment of Word Knots we’ll continue with our new series, where we’ll look at overused words and phrases that should be avoided.
Word Knots #54: Nickel-and-dime
In this installment of Word Knots we’re continuing with our current series, looking at hackneyed expressions that should be avoided.