The Editor’s Manual
Free learning resource on English grammar, punctuation, usage, and style.
Use “both” to refer to two people or things. “Both” and “both of” can sometimes be used interchangeably, but not always. Use parallel structure with “both–and.” No commas are needed around “both.”
“That” introduces information that is essential to meaning and not enclosed in commas. “Which” introduces additional, optional details enclosed in commas. In British usage, it also introduces essential information.
Don’t capitalize a word after a colon within a sentence, or a single sentence after a colon. Capitalize a question or a series of two or more sentences introduced by a colon. Also capitalize subtitles.
Use a colon to introduce a list or a quotation, or to explain and amplify a statement. It directs the reader’s attention to the information that follows. It can also serve as a sign or separator.
Both “than I” and “than me” are grammatically correct, since “than” can be used as either a preposition or a conjunction. “Than I” is seen more often in formal usage.
“It’s me” and “This is him/her” are generally acceptable in everyday usage. The strictly correct alternatives, “It is I” and “This is he/she,” are confined to highly formal usage.
“I” is a subject pronoun, while “me” is an object pronoun. In formal styles, use “I” in a compound subject and “me” in a compound object. “Me” is generally preferred in comparisons and after the “be” verb.
Pronouns starting with “some” and “any” indicate unspecified things and persons but convey different meanings and points of view in questions, statements, and conditionals.
Use an apostrophe with possessive nouns (New Year’s Day, Mother’s Day, Presidents’ Day) but not with descriptive terms (Christmas Eve, Human Rights Day).
“No” is more emphatic than “not any” and is used more often in formal contexts. “A/an” instead of “any” is used with singular countable nouns in negative statements. “Not a” and “no” are not interchangeable.