Published on
November 28, 2024
by
Kate Santoro, BS
Revised on
March 21, 2025
Per se is the correct spelling of the phrase that means “by itself.” It’s used to express that something is considered on its own, without reference to anything else.
Per say is a common misspelling of this phrase and is incorrect.
Per say or per se in a sentence examples
The movie wasn’t bad per se, but it wasn’t very funny.
The movie wasn’t bad per say, but it wasn’t very funny.
Kira doesn’t dislike the city per se, but she finds the traffic overwhelming.
Kira doesn’t dislike the city per say, but she finds the traffic overwhelming.
NoteBe mindful to write per se as separate words. “Perse” is a color similar to indigo and a water nymph in Greek mythology.
A QuillBot Grammar Check can correct any errors where you mix up these words.
Published on
July 19, 2024
by
Gina Rancaño, BA
Revised on
March 21, 2025
Follow up is the correct spelling when used as a verb (e.g., “Let’s follow up on this tomorrow”), while follow-up is the correct spelling when used as a noun (e.g., “I attended a follow-up”) or an adjective (e.g., “I sent a follow-up email”).
Followup is considered incorrect and should not be used. A Quillbot grammar check can help ensure your writing is free of this and other errors.
Examples: Using follow up or follow-up in a sentence
Use
Example
Follow up (verb)
I sent several emails to follow up on our most recent conversation.
Follow-up (noun)
My doctor asked that I schedule a follow-up within two weeks.
Follow-up (adjective)
We had a follow-up meeting to discuss all the progress that has been made.
Despite and in spite of are also synonymous, but it’s important to remember that despite of is incorrect; the “of” is only needed in the other phrasing. A QuillBot grammar check can help you easily catch errors like “despite of.”
Examples: Despite of in a sentence
The dog keeps whining, despite of the fact that he’s been fed.
The dog keeps whining, despite the fact that he’s been fed.
The dog keeps whining, in spite of the fact that he’s been fed.
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Published on
July 1, 2024
by
Julia Merkus, MA
Revised on
March 12, 2025
Irregardless is often used instead of the adverbregardless to mean “despite everything.” It’s typically used as a transition word at the beginning of a sentence to change the topic.
Many dictionaries and other language authorities consider irregardless a nonstandard word, so you should avoid it in academic writing or professional communication.
Examples: Irregardless or regardless in a sentenceInformal writing Nonstandard (but sometimes accepted): I’m not sure about your advice, but I’m going to follow it irregardless. Best option: I’m not sure about your advice, but I’m going to follow it regardless.
Formal writing Not accepted: Irregardless, the organization remains committed to its environmental goals. Accepted: Regardless, the organization remains committed to its environmental goals.
Published on
July 1, 2024
by
Julia Merkus, MA
Revised on
March 21, 2025
Ours is a first-person plural possessive pronoun. It’s sometimes written as “our’s”—with an apostrophe—but this spelling is incorrect.
Possession is typically indicated by adding ’s to a word, but possessive pronouns are an exception to this rule. This means that “our’s” is always incorrect. This is also true for other possessive pronouns, such as hers and theirs. A QuillBot grammar check will fix this and other common mistakes automatically.
Examples: Ours and our’s in a sentence
You paid for the food too! It’s not mine; it’s our’s!
You paid for the food too! It’s not mine; it’s ours!
Published on
July 1, 2024
by
Julia Merkus, MA
Revised on
March 21, 2025
Nowadays is an adverb that means “at this time.” It’s often used to make a comparison with a past time.
Now a days (with spaces) is a common misspelling of the word nowadays. It’s never correct and should always be avoided, similar to other misspellings like “now days,” “now-a-days,” “nowaday,” and “nowdays.”
The adverbial phraseevery time is used to mean “without exception” or “whenever.” It can also be used alone as an interjection, usually expressing frustration with some repeated problem.
It should always be written as two words with a space in between. Writing everytime is a common mistake that should be avoided. The QuillBot Grammar Checker can fix errors like this automatically.
Examples: Every time or everytime in a sentence
You don’t have to ask me for permission everytime you want to change something.
You don’t have to ask me for permission every time you want to change something.
Everytime! Bill exclaimed as the car engine struggled to start.
Every time! Bill exclaimed as the car engine struggled to start.
Truly is the correct spelling of the adverb used to mean “absolutely,” “properly,” or “in a truthful manner.” The related adjective is “true.”
People sometimes write “truely” instead, but this is the wrong spelling and doesn’t appear in the dictionary. The QuillBot Grammar Checker will always catch pesky mistakes like this.
Example: Truely vs truly
Do you truely believe that?
Do you truly believe that?
I’m truely exhausted after my long journey.
I’m truly exhausted after my long journey.
Adding “-ly” to the end of an adjective is the standard way of forming an adverb. When the adjective ends with “-ue,” though, the “e” is usually dropped for the adverb form, as is the case with “true/truly” and “due/duly.”
Published on
June 28, 2024
by
Julia Merkus, MA
Revised on
March 21, 2025
Theirs is a third-person plural possessive pronoun. It’s also used as a gender-neutral singular possessive pronoun. It’s sometimes written as “their’s”—with an apostrophe—but this spelling is incorrect.
Possession is typically indicated by adding ’s to a word, but possessive pronouns are an exception to this rule. This means that “their’s” is always incorrect. This is also true for other possessive pronouns, such as ours and theirs. The QuillBot Grammar Checker will fix this and other common mistakes automatically.
Examples: Theirs and their’s in a sentence
I don’t know if you can borrow this iPad. It’s their’s, not mine.
I don’t know if you can borrow this iPad. It’s theirs, not mine.
