Published on
November 20, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
The modal verbsmay and might can be used interchangeably to describe something that will possibly happen (e.g., “I may/might go to the movies tonight, but I haven’t decided yet”) or that is possibly true (e.g., “I think you may/might have a fever”). However, these words are not interchangeable in some other contexts.
We use may to “grant permission” and may not to “deny permission” (e.g., “You may/may not walk on the grass”).
We use might have, like “could have,” to make critical statements about the past (e.g., “They might have given us a bit more time to prepare”).
We typically use may when asking for permission or making a request (e.g., “May I have a glass of water, please?”—using “might” can have an overly formal, old-fashioned effect in these contexts).
We use may for expressions of desires, hopes, and wishes (e.g., “May all your dreams come true”).
May vs might examples
Function
May in a sentence
Might in a sentence
Granting/denying permission (synonymous with “can”/“can’t”)
The examination has now finished, and you may leave the room.
The examination has now finished, and you might leave the room.
Critical statements about the past (synonymous with “could”)
But I’m not free on that day; you may have asked me first to check.
But I’m not free on that day; you might have asked me first to check.
Asking for permission/making a request
May I take your phone number, please?
Might I take your phone number, please? [But very formal/polite]
Expressions of desires, hopes and wishes
May the new year bring you happiness and good fortune.
Might the new year bring you happiness and good fortune.
NoteSome grammar books suggest that using might instead of may expresses that a possibility is less likely to happen (e.g., “The Yankees might win” expresses less certainty than “The Yankees may win”). However, the choice of word here is more a matter of personal preference.
We do, however, use “might” instead of “may” to express “unreal possibility” when describing scenarios that we view as “imaginary/hypothetical,” “contrary to reality” or “not really possible,” for example:
“I might consider staying here if the rents weren’t so high.” [Imagining if the rents were lower]
“He might sleep better if he didn’t drink so much coffee!” [Complaining about his coffee drinking by imagining the alternative, rather than discussing realistic solutions to his sleep problems]
“You never know, I might win the lottery one day!” [Joking about a scenario that we think of as impossible]
Published on
November 15, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
March 17, 2026
Your conscience is your “sense of what is right or wrong” (e.g., “a guilty conscience”), while conscious means “aware” (e.g., “conscious of the danger”) or “deliberate” (e.g., “a conscious decision”).
“Conscience” is a noun (e.g., “I have a clear conscience”), but “conscious” is an adjective (e.g., “I am conscious that we don’t have much time”).
The pronunciation of conscience
and conscious
is very similar; they both have two syllables, and the only difference in the way they sound comes at the end of their second syllables.
Conscience vs conscious examples
Conscience in a sentence
Conscious in a sentence
I acted according to my conscience and did what I thought was right.
We are conscious of parents’ concerns about the closure of the swimming pool and will discuss the issue at the next meeting.
He made the decision out of conscience, guided by his religious beliefs.
It was a conscious, strategic decision; we were fully aware of the consequences.
Published on
November 11, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Criterion is the singular form of criteria.
A criterion is a measure, standard or guideline used to make decisions or evaluations (e.g., “Price was the key criterion”).
The plural of this noun is criteria (e.g., “Price was only one of the criteria”).
Criteria or criterion examples
Criteria in a sentence
Criterion
We have simplified the assessment criteria.
Each criterion now only contains five descriptors.
We need to introduce a set of objective selection criteria.
Formal academic achievements should not be the sole criterion.
What are your criteria for judging the success of a project?
Cost is an important criterion but not the only one.
NoteMost usage guides recommend using criterion as the singular form of the noun and criteria as the plural (e.g., “a/each/every/this criterion is” vs. “some/all/these criteria are”). This is the best advice to follow for formal writing such as academic writing.
However, in practice, and particularly in speech, “criteria” is also increasingly being used as a singular noun (e.g., “Age should not be a criteria”) and in an uncountable sense when referring to a “set” of individual requirements or standards (e.g., “The criteria is not objective enough”).
Published on
November 8, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Hoping is the present participle of the verb “hope” (e.g., “I was hoping you would come!”), while hopping is the present participle of the verb “hop” (e.g., “Why are you hopping around on one leg?”).
Hoping vs hopping examples
Hoping in a sentence
Hopping in a sentence
We were hoping for better weather, but at least it’s not raining.
We had a great time hopping between the islands just off the costs.
I’m not sure what he was hoping to achieve by doing that.
Published on
November 8, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
You are a patient person or have patience if you are able to stay calm in a frustrating situation—if you “have patients,” you are probably a doctor.
Patient is an adjective meaning “able to remain calm rather than become annoyed” (e.g., “You need to be a patient person to work with children”).
Patience is an uncountable noun meaning “the ability to remain calm rather than become annoyed” (e.g., “I don’t have enough patience to work with children”).
“Patient” is also a noun meaning “a person receiving medical treatment” (e.g., “Dr. Sanchez is treating a patient at the moment”). Patients (the plural form of this noun) and patience are often pronounced in the same way in natural, connected speech
.
Patient or patience examples
Patient (adjective) in a sentence
Patience (uncountable noun) in a sentence
Patient (noun: medical meaning) in a sentence
Patients (plural: medical meaning) in a sentence
The doctor was very patient with me and answered all my questions.
You need a lot of patience to work as an assistant in a busy doctor’s office.
I’d like to register as a new patient with Dr. Sanchez.
I’m afraid Dr. Sanchez isn’t accepting any new patients right now.
Use “hung” for all meanings except “death by hanging,” when “hanged” is correct (e.g., “He hung the clothes on the line” vs. “He was hanged for his crimes”).
Hanged vs hung examples
Hanged in a sentence
Hung in a sentence
After arresting him in November 1605, they hanged him the following January.
This painting hung in my grandparents’ living room.
Many people believed they had hanged the wrong man.
Where have you hung the family portrait?
He was hanged for high treason.
These paintings are going to be hung in the hallway.
NoteIn practice, people often use the past tense/past participle form hung to refer to “death by hanging.” However, hanged is the best option for formal writing (e.g., academic writing) because lots of English usage manuals advise against “hung” for this meaning, and some readers will therefore consider it incorrect.
Published on
November 5, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
The nounfiancé refers to a man who is engaged to be married, while the noun fiancée refers to a woman who is engaged to be married. Both of these words are pronounced in the same way (with emphasis on either the second syllable
or the third syllable
).
Published on
October 31, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
The following two pieces of advice will help you to use me or I correctly in lots of everyday contexts.
If you’re talking about you and someone else, use the word that sounds correct if you take the other person out of the sentence.
TipTo test if “X and me” or “X and I” is correct, recast the sentence without “and X.”
Test sentence: Max and me went to the store. Sentence without the “other person”: I went to … [“me” sounds wrong] Grammatically correct sentence: Max and I went to the store.
Test sentence: He told Max and I to go to the store. Sentence without the “other person”: He told me to … [“I” sounds wrong] Grammatically correct sentence: He told Max and me to go to the store.
In everyday spoken English, we normally use me and not I after the verbbe.
Published on
October 31, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Historic means “important in history” (e.g, “a historic day for the country”), while historical means “to do with the past” (e.g., “historical evidence”) or “to do with history (e.g. “from a historical point of view”).
Historical vs historic examples
Historical in a sentence
Historic in a sentence
She is most famous for her historical fiction.
She lives very near the historic site where the famous battle depicted in her book took place.
The book’s main character’s are all little-known historical figures.
Her latest book is about one of China’s most historic figures.
Researching the book involved searching through thousands of historical records.
You will find her books in the gift shops of all the historic buildings featured in her writing.
NoteThe difference between historic and historical is sometimes subtle. For instance, if someone chooses the word “historic” to describe a landmark, building, or site, etc., they are probably focusing on the important role it has played in history (e.g., “We saw all the historic buildings, including the White House”). But if they choose the word “historical,” they probably just mean that historians think it is important (e.g., “It’s important to preserve the historical buildings located in the downtown area”).
Published on
October 29, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
November 5, 2025
Never mind should be written as two words in almost all contexts.
Never mind (two words) is a phrase meaning “don’t worry” or “let alone” (e.g., “Never mind about that,” “I can hardly remember what I did yesterday, never mind last year!”).
Nevermind (one word) is a noun used in combination with no to mean “no attention,” or “no difference,” (e.g., “Don’t pay it no nevermind,” “It makes no nevermind to me”). It is a colloquial (dialect) word used in some regions of the United States.
Never mind or nevermind examples
Never mind in a sentence
Nevermind in a sentence
Person A: I don’t have any other shoes with me. Person B: Never mind, you can borrow a pair of rain boots.
He’s just being mean; don’t pay him no nevermind!
Person A: The tickets were all sold out. Person B: Never mind, we can go next time they’re in town.
Don’t you worry, ‘cause that don’t make no nevermind.
We won’t get to the end of the street in that car, never mind all the way to Vegas.
