This is one of my favorite lessons to teach. Although it seems simple, many people, including native speakers of English, are unsure about the correct usage of these words and phrases.

Take a look at these two sentences. Can you say which is correct?

1. I try to read a little everyday.
2. I try to read a little every day.

This is a problem I see all the time, and not just with students of English. I see this error in social media posts, books, and even news articles. The correct sentence is...

Number 2

Here's why:

• 'Everyday' is an adjective meaning common or regular.
  • Bill is an everyday teacher.
  • I'm just an everyday writer, not a best-selling author.
• 'Every day' is a time expression, functioning as an adverb.
  • Do you work out every day?
  • Jenny comes here every day.

Other Examples

Many other examples can be found when looking at phrasal verbs that combine to form nouns.

There is an interesting relationship between the count and non-count versions of the nouns used to name some animals.

Have a look at the following sentences.

1. ​I like chickens.
2. I like chicken.

In the fist sentence, the noun 'chickens' is a plural count noun.
In the second sentence, the noun 'chicken' is a non-count noun.

What's the difference? Check out these two pictures.

For many animals, the count noun refers to the animals, while the non-count noun refers to the meat from the animals.

This is not true for all animals, of course. Beef is the name used for meat from cows, and pork is the name used for meat from pigs. There are many other examples, as well.

However, here are a few other examples of the count/non-count relationship.

One common question students of English have is when to use passive voice in their writing. Students are often taught that active voice is more vivid, or a stronger way of writing, and are frequently discouraged from attempting to use passive voice. However, passive voice can be used effectively. Just don't use it too much ;)

Have a look at these two sentences.

1. The forest frightened Maria.
2. Maria was frightened by the forest.

The first sentence is written in active voice, while the second is written in passive voice. Which is better? It all depends on what follows.

If the text that follows is a description of the forest, the first sentence might be better.

• The forest frightened Maria. It was dark and cold, and the foreign sounds seemed to come from nowhere. The forest was the kind of place where a person feared that having entered, he or she might never make it back out.

If the text that follows is more about Maria and why she is frightened, the second sentence might be better.

• Maria was frightened by the forest. Having grown up in the city, she was unaccustomed to its darkness, coldness, and foreign sounds. She feared that having entered the forest, she might never make it back out.

Both active and passive voice can be used in vivid descriptive writing. Which you choose generally depends on the focus of the writing that follows.

Feel free to comment or ask questions. If you would like to try an example of your own, I would be glad to read it and let you know what I think.

Thanks for reading,
​Michael Highers

Welcome to my new English Q&A Blog. Feel free to ask questions on any English subject. I'll cover vocabulary, grammar, idioms, test-taking strategies, or any other topic you can think of.