The verb is pronounce, but the noun is proNUNciation (like enunciation), not proNOUNciation.

Remember: There is no noun in pronunciation.

Perspective is a point of view.

Empathy involves taking another person’s perspective.

Prospective is likely to become or expected.

The unemployed teacher sent out multiple cover letters to prospective employers.

I should of been better prepared for the exam.

I would of brought a jacket if I had known it would be cold.

I could of tried working harder.

How should these sentences be written instead? They should use could have, would have, and should have (or the contractions could’ve, would’ve, should’ve).

Because have (or the contraction form) sounds like of when spoken quickly, it’s common for writers to use the word of instead of have or its contraction. But it’s grammatically incorrect to use the could of/would of/should of construction.

Never, ever write could of, would of, or should of. I suggest staying away from the contraction form, too, and writing out both words instead—could have/would have/should have.

What do you think? Do you use whom? Would you like it to see it gone for good from the language?

For an explanation of who and whom and how to use them correctly, see my who/whom entry.

The phone rang continually throughout the day, interrupting my concentration.

When something is continuous, it is nonstop, without interruption.

Playing continuous white noise at night can help with falling and staying asleep.

Note: Be aware that although some writers make a distinction between continual and continuous, the two words are often considered synonyms and used as such. The one instance in which continuous, never continual, should be used is in the physical properties of something—for example, a continuous line.

Raise the blinds and let some light into the room. (The object of raise is blinds.)

Rise is the opposite of raise in that it is an intransitive verb. It stands alone without an object following it.

The sun rises today at 7:02 am.

The verbs are easy to distinguish in their present forms, but it can get confusing with the various tenses. Is it raised or rose? Have raised or have risen?

Here are the principle parts of raise and rise:

An anecdote is a short narrative, often personal and used to illustrate a point.

Stand-up comedians often use humorous anecdotes as part of their shtick.

An antidote is something that remedies or relieves.

“Concentration is a fine antidote to anxiety.” – Jack Nicklaus

The ability to communicate effectively is the principal requirement for the administrative position.

Principal is also used, in its noun form, to refer to the chief administrator of a school. (An easy way to remember the spelling is to think of the school principal as your pal.)

Principle is a doctrine or rule of conduct.

The United States was founded on Biblical principles.

Another common use of principle is with the phrase “on principle.”

The victim sued for damages, not for the money, but on the basis of principle.