Tag Archives: grammartip

Writers Unite!, Writers Unite! Tips Tools Tidbits, Writing

Writing Tips, Tools, and Tidbits!: LIGHTNING versus LIGHTENING

Leave a comment

Writers Unite!’s mission is to offer a haven for writers to share their work and hone their craft. As the writing process is our focus, author, and WU! admin, Lynn Miclea has created a series of “tips, tools, and tidbits” about writing for our members or anyone interested in writing to help improve their writing. Check the menu bar for any tips you may have missed or click on this link.

Writing Tips, Tools, and Tidbits!

Images are free use and require no attribution. Image from Pixabay.

LIGHTNING versus LIGHTENING

People often mix up the words lightning and lightening. They may sound similar, but these words mean different things and are also different parts of speech. Hopefully, this will help to use them correctly.

***

Lightning is most often a noun and is the electrical discharge that happens during storms. It is the flash of light in a storm that is followed by thunder. Lightning can also be an adjective meaning fast, such as lightning speed. Lightning has two syllables. If you want a noun meaning a flash of light, use lightning.

Examples:

  • When there’s lightning, I know thunder will soon follow.
  • She often got scared when there was lightning and thunder.
  • The lightning flashed and lit up the room.
  • He didn’t mind the lightning, but he hated the thunder.
  • Lightning always precedes thunder.
  • She finished the task with lightning speed.
  • He was as quick as lightning.

***

Lightening is the present participle of the verb lighten. It means to make something lighter in color or weight or in being less serious. It can also mean brightening, and it is the opposite of darkening. Lightening has three syllables. If you want a verb meaning to make lighter, use lightening.

Examples:

  • He was always lightening the mood with his jokes.
  • The white paint will be lightening up the room.
  • He is lightening the load by giving some work to others.
  • She wants to be a blonde and is lightening her hair again.
  • He will be lightening his jeans by adding bleach to the water.
  • She added white to the paint, lightening the color.
  • He watched the lightening of the sky as the sun came up.

***

Basically, if you want a noun meaning an electrical discharge or flash of light during a storm, use lightning.

If you want a verb meaning to make lighter, use lightening.

Hint: Lightning, without the “e,” has fewer letters and only two syllables, and is shorter and faster, like a flash of light.

Lightening contains the word “lighten” in it and means to make lighter.

He tried lightening the atmosphere by joking about the lightning and thunder.

***

Please look at the chart for an easy summary and helpful reminder.

***

I hope you find this helpful. These tips and much more are also on my website and blog, and also in my Grammar Tips book.
Thank you!

Website – https://www.lynnmiclea.com/
Blog – https://lynnpuff.wordpress.com/
Grammar Tips Book – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09N2BQMCG/

Writers Unite!, Writers Unite! Tips Tools Tidbits, Writing

Writing Tips, Tools, and Tidbits!: Compliment versus Complement

Leave a comment

Writers Unite!’s mission is to offer a haven for writers to share their work and hone their craft. As the writing process is our focus, author, and WU! admin, Lynn Miclea has created a series of “tips, tools, and tidbits” about writing for our members or anyone interested in writing to help improve their writing. Check the menu bar for any tips you may have missed or click on this link.

Writing Tips, Tools, and Tidbits!

Images are free use and require no attribution. Image from Pixabay.

COMPLIMENT versus COMPLEMENT

People often mix up the words compliment and complement. Although these words sound the same and there is only one letter different, they have different meanings and uses. This should help to use them properly.

Compliment can be a verb or a noun. As a verb, it means to express praise, approval, or admiration. As a noun, it is an expression of praise, approval, or admiration. The form complimentary means free. If you mean praise or approval, use compliment.

Examples:

  • He gave a sincere compliment to his date.
  • She blushed at his sweet compliment.
  • He felt embarrassed by the compliment about his muscles.
  • She wore her new dress and was hoping for compliments.
  • He sent his best compliments to her mother.
  • Trying to win her over, he complimented her on her appearance.
  • The motel stay came with a complimentary breakfast.
  • He loved the meal and sent his compliments to the chef.
  • The lecture included a small complimentary gift.
  • She complimented her student on a job well done.

Complement can be a verb or a noun. As a verb, it means to complete, supplement, balance, or enhance something. As a noun, it is something that completes or supplements something. It shows things go well together. If you mean to complete or supplement something, use complement.

Examples:

  • That scarf is a wonderful complement to her outfit.
  • The company has a full complement of employees.
  • The color of her dress was a nice complement to her eyes.
  • The two of them complement each other perfectly.
  • Her skills complement his very well.
  • He chose a good wine to complement the meal.
  • She wore complementary colors.
  • A great dessert is the perfect complement to the meal.
  • Her skills were a great complement to the project.
  • The new carpeting complements the room very well.

Hint: I like getting compliments; a complement completes something.

If you mean to express praise or admiration, use compliment.

If you mean to complete or supplement something, use complement.

She complimented him on being a great complement to the team.

Please look at the chart for an easy summary and helpful reminder.

—————

I hope you find this helpful. These tips and more grammar tips and tools are also on my website and blog, and also in my Grammar Tips book. Thank you!
Website – https://www.lynnmiclea.com/
Blog – https://lynnpuff.wordpress.com/
Grammar Tips Book – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09N2BQMCG/

Writers Unite!, Writing

Writing Tips, Tools, and Tidbits! ACCEPT versus EXCEPT

Leave a comment


Writers Unite!’s mission is to offer a haven for writers to share their work and hone their craft. As the writing process is our focus, author, and WU! admin, Lynn Miclea has created a series of “tips, tools, and tidbits” about writing for our members or anyone interested in writing to help improve their writing. Check the menu bar for any tips you may have missed or click on this link.

Writing Tips, Tools, and Tidbits!

Images are free use and require no attribution. Image from Pixabay.

ACCEPT versus EXCEPT

People often mix up the words accept and except. These are different words with different meanings and uses, and it’s good to know how to properly use them.

Accept is a verb meaning to receive something willingly or to agree to something. If you receive something or consent to something, then use accept.

Examples:

  • She gratefully accepted the reward.
  • He found it difficult to accept the new rules.
  • Please accept this gift for your hard work.
  • She had a hard time accepting that he was gone.
  • They were happy to accept her into the family.
  • I hope you will accept my sincere apology.
  • That store does not accept checks.
  • He quickly accepted the offer to buy his painting.
  • We will accept submissions through the end of the month.
  • Those workers are not allowed to accept gifts.

Except is usually a preposition or a conjunction, and it means excluding, leaving out, but, other than, or with the exception of something. It can also be a verb meaning to exclude or leave out. If you are excluding something, then use except.

Examples:

  • Everyone was eager to go except for Michael.
  • No one showed up except me.
  • The food was outstanding except for the soup.
  • I’ve been to every state except Montana.
  • Except for Susan, no one brought dessert.
  • He always blames everyone except himself.
  • She talks about everything except what’s really bothering her.
  • Invitations will go out to everyone, present company excepted.
  • He ate all the cookies except that one.
  • I am busy next week except for Wednesday.

A hint to help you remember:

Except starts with “ex” which also starts the word exclude. If you mean to exclude someone or something, then use except.***

Accept means to receive something. If you mean to receive something, then use accept.

Please look at the chart for an easy summary and helpful reminder.

—————

I hope you find this helpful. These tips and more grammar tips and tools are also on my website and blog. Thank you!
Website – https://www.lynnmiclea.com/
Blog – https://lynnpuff.wordpress.com/