Tricky Rules

Use the word amount with quantities that cannot be counted and number with quantities that could be counted one-by-one. Examples: He had a small amount of ammunition left. He had a small number of bullets left. This follows a pattern similar to fewer and less.

Quote is a verb. It means “to repeat the words of a writer or speaker.” Quotation is a noun. It means “words quoted” or “the act of quoting.” Quotation marks are punctuation marks used to highlight a written quotation. Correct: He quoted Shakespeare frequently. Incorrect: We listened to a long quote from the government report.

These words are sometimes confused because the expression a cult often sounds like the word occult. Cult most commonly means a religious sect organized around a strong leader and requiring beliefs or commitments not typical of other related groups. It can also refer to a following of a particular religious figure or icon within an

Raise means “to make higher,” “build,” or “nurture and cause to grow.” It is normally transitive, that is, the action is done to something or someone else. Rise means “to get up” or “become elevated.” It is never transitive. The past tense is rose; the past participle, risen. Examples: They raised the barn in two

Do not use of to replace the verb have. See Could Of or Could Have? for examples. The word of following the prepositions outside, inside, off, or atop is nonstandard. Simply drop the word of. Incorrect: He looked inside of the box. Correct: He looked inside the box.