Should I use is or are? Between or among? No matter how complicated, or even basic, these questions may be, chances are other people have wondered and Googled the same thing. Thankfully, there are tons of information out there, but beware. You shouldn’t believe everything you read on the Internet. Some are good—even excellent—but others will just leave you with more questions than answers.
Here is a list of sites we compiled for your easy reference when a grammar question suddenly pops into your head.
1. Chicago Manual of Style
Even if you don’t have the manual, the site itself is a good reference for American English rules. Their Chicago Style Q&A, in particular, provides conversational insight to the nitty-gritty.
2. Grammar Girl
This site is chock-full of tips and tricks about English you would use in daily life. Mignon Fogarty, the creator of the site, has in fact made it her goal “to be a friendly guide in the writing world.”
3. Grammarly
Aside from their famous editing tool, they have their Grammarly Handbook that provides not just information on proper grammar, punctuation, format, and sentence construction, but also on how to improve writing and editing.
4. Grammar Monster
With easy-to-understand explanations and quick answers to grammar questions, this site provides information on anything related to grammar.
5. Using English
This is a large collection of resources for English as a Second Language (ESL). As the site is designed for everyone’s use, from students to people in the academe, the site covers the ESL, EFL, ESOL, and EAP subject areas.
6. Difference Between
The English language is filled with words that you think mean this but really mean that. With its straightforward name, this site is set to give you direct answers to your specific questions. Aside from terms, they also provide differences between objects. (See article: Difference Between AR-15 and AK-47 Rifles)
7. Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary
The site does not only link you to the online version of their dictionary, it also provides the opportunity for you to ask veteran editors about anything related to grammar. Their responses are direct, informative, and easy to understand. (See 10 Other Ways to Say “How Are You?”)
8. Merriam-Webster Words At Play
Described as “a clever, fun look at language use, new words, word histories, and more,” it presents interesting articles about expressions and terms written from almost any angle.
9. The Purdue Online Writing Lab
Most famous for their resources on style guides like APA and MLA and how to avoid plagiarism, the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) provides highly detailed information with over 200 resources.
10. Lexcode
Aside from information on translation and interpretation, Lexcode also provides helpful articles related to editing and the English language in general. This article is a prime example.
When all else fails, picking up a good book is always a good idea as this provides more detailed info. Asking a friend or just someone else can also give you great insight. But if you’re still unsure about your grammar in your essay even after consulting the above sites, you can always give Lexcode a call, and we’ll handle it for you.
