Published on
July 25, 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
June 1, 2023.
Empathy and sympathy are related words that differ in meaning. Though they’re often used interchangeably, they differ in the kind of emotional involvement they describe.
Empathy is a noun describing the ability to relate to another person’s feelings by imagining yourself in their situation.
Sympathy is a noun describing compassion for another person who is facing difficult circumstances or negative feelings. It suggests that you feel pity for someone but don’t necessarily fully understand their feelings.
Empathy in a sentence
Sympathy in a sentence
Empathy is an essential trait for a therapist.
I have sympathy for Jane’s struggle.
Carl’s response showed no empathy.
Kevin has no sympathy for the less fortunate.
Bill is a sensitive and empathetic person.
Neil seems to be very sympathetic.
NoteDifferent sources often contradict each other about the connotations of the two words. Sometimes, sympathy is taken to mean a distant or patronizing form of pity, or empathy is described as an intellectual rather than emotional understanding of someone’s feelings.
This article describes the difference between the two words as they are normally used.
Published on
July 25, 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
March 20, 2023.
You must put a comma before “but” when it connects two independent clauses. An independent clause can function as a standalone sentence (i.e., it has a subject and a verb).
Example: Comma before “but” connecting two independent clausesMariahoped to go for a walk, but itrained all day.
You must use a comma after “but” only when you include an interrupter. An interrupter is a word or phrase used to emphasize or qualify the statement and to express mood or tone.
Published on
July 25, 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
March 11, 2023.
Apart and a part are pronounced similarly but have different meanings and grammatical roles.
Apart (one word) can be used as an adverb and adjective to describe separation or distance. It can also be used as a preposition in the phrase “apart from” to mean “except for.”
A part (two words) is a noun phrase meaning “a piece” or “a segment” of a greater whole. It can also refer to an acting role.
Examples: Apart in a sentence
Examples: A part in a sentence
The tent was blown apart by the wind.
Julie asked to be a part of our group.
The US and Europe are miles apart.
He’s a respected actor who has played a part in Hamlet.
Published on
July 25, 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
October 31, 2023.
A comma splice is a grammatical error that occurs when a comma is used to join two independent clauses without a conjunction. An independent clause can function as a standalone sentence, because it has its own subject and verb.
To fix a comma splice, you can:
Replace the comma with a semicolon (;) to show that the two parts of the sentence are closely related
Replace the comma with a period (.) to create two separate sentences
Add a coordinating or subordinating conjunction (e.g., “and,” “although”) to indicate the relationship between the clauses or to emphasize one of them
Comma splice sentences
Comma splice corrections
Rose likes fruit, she doesn’t like vegetables.
Rose likes fruit; she doesn’t like vegetables.
Eli is a volunteer firefighter, Ben is an event planner.
Eli is a volunteer firefighter. Ben is an event planner.
Published on
July 14, 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
February 5, 2023.
Further and farther are related words that can have similar meanings, depending on the context. Both can refer to distances, but further has some additional senses for which you can’t use farther.
Farther can be used as an adjective and an adverb. It’s used to mean “at a greater distance,” whether literally or figuratively.
Further may be used in a similar way to mean “at a greater distance” (though “farther” is more common). But it can also be used as an adjective meaning “more,” as an adverb meaning “additionally,” and as a verb meaning “advance” or “promote.”
Examples: Farther in a sentence
Examples: Further in a sentence
Colorado is farther from New York than Iowa.
Further research is needed into the subject.
We were sitting farther away from the stage than I had hoped.
Geoff intended to further his career through hard work and diligence.
I’ll go this far, and no farther.
Further, I intend to investigate the effects of caffeine intake on the participants’ concentration.
NoteSome style guides make a stricter distinction, saying that “further” should not be used to mean “at a greater distance,” or that it should only refer to figurative distance. But there’s no clear consensus about this point, and some regional variation:
In US English, it’s usually preferred to use “farther” for distance-related meanings.
In UK English, the words are used more interchangeably to refer to distance.
Published on
July 12, 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
August 23, 2023.
Advice is a noun that refers to an opinion or suggestion that is given. It’s pronounced with an “s” sound at the end.
Advise is a verb that refers to the act of giving an opinion or suggestion. It’s pronounced with a “z” sound at the end (though it is never spelled “advize”).
If you advise someone, you are giving them advice. Someone who advises you is an adviser or advisor.
Examples: Advice in a sentence
Examples: Advise in a sentence
It took a lot of courage to finally ask for her advice.
I would advise you to buy a raincoat before you travel to Ireland.
You always give advice, even when no one asks for it.
If you’re unsure of which citation style to follow, your supervisor can advise you.
Published on
July 12, 2022
by
Eoghan Ryan.
Revised on
November 20, 2023.
Research objectives describe what your research is trying to achieve and explain why you are pursuing it. They summarize the approach and purpose of your project and help to focus your research.
Your objectives should appear in the introduction of your research paper, at the end of your problem statement. They should:
