FAQs about sentence and word structure

What part of speech is for?

For is typically a preposition when determining its part of speech (e.g., “Is this coffee for me?”).

However, “for” can also function as a coordinating conjunction meaning “because” (e.g., “I accepted, for it was a fair offer”).

Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? It will help you to pick up errors with the preposition “for” in your writing.

Read this FAQ: What part of speech is for?

Is for a preposition?

Yes, for is a preposition (e.g., “I bought this card for Ellen”).

The word “for” can also function as a coordinating conjunction meaning “because” (e.g., “I did not doubt him, for I knew him to be an honest man”).

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to use the preposition “for” correctly in your writing.

Read this FAQ: Is for a preposition?

What is a compound modifier?

A compound modifier is two or more words that act as a single adjective to modify a noun. Another term for this is “compound adjective.”

For example, in the sentence “The committee hired a well-known author to speak at the conference,” the compound modifier “well-known” describes the noun “author.”

Compound modifiers are often connected with a hyphen (e.g., “my eight-year-old daughter” or “self-cleaning oven”).

When you’re writing with compound modifiers and other compound words, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors.

Read this FAQ: What is a compound modifier?

What is the definition of a modifier?

The definition of a modifier is “a word, phrase, or clause that modifies another word, phrase, or clause in a sentence.” The word “modify” means “to change.”

Modifiers—such as adjectives, adjective phrases, adjective clauses, adverbs, adverbial phrases, adverbial clauses, participle phrases, and prepositional phrases—enhance or limit the meaning of the words they modify.

For example, in the sentence “Erin bought a blue convertible car,” the adjectives “blue” and “convertible” modify the noun “car.”

Modifiers should usually go as close as possible to the words they modify. When you’re writing with modifiers, try QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to avoid errors.

Read this FAQ: What is the definition of a modifier?

When do you spell out numbers in APA?

The guidelines to spell out numbers in APA style writing are as follows:

• Spell out the ordinal numbers “first” through “ninth” and the cardinal numbers “one” through “nine” unless they express time, measurements, or percentages/percentiles (e.g., “We interviewed 30 fifth-grade students from three schools”).
• Use numerals for numbers 10 and greater or 10th and higher (e.g., “The 11th-grade students took a survey”).
• Numbers that begin sentences should also be spelled out even if they are greater than 10 (e.g., “Twelve of the participants said they prefer reading nonfiction”).
• When possible, avoid beginning sentences with double-digit numbers. Instead, reword the sentence so that you can use numerals (e.g., “The results showed that 15 students prefer graphic novels”).

When you’re working on APA style essays, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you write numbers correctly.

Read this FAQ: When do you spell out numbers in APA?

How do you define ordinal number?

An ordinal number is defined as a number that identifies a position in a sequence or system of levels or rankings.

You can write ordinal numbers as words (e.g., “third”) or cardinal numbers combined with “-st,” “-nd,” “-rd,” or “-th” (e.g., “20th”).

For example, someone might live on the 31st floor of a building or win fourth place in a competition.

When you’re writing with ordinal numbers, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors.

Read this FAQ: How do you define ordinal number?

Do you hyphenate numbers?

Most (but not all) style books say to hyphenate numbers that have two words (e.g., “forty-six days”).

Unless your style requirements say otherwise, use a hyphen (-) when you need to write the words for a double-digit cardinal number (e.g., “thirty-one flavors”) or ordinal number (e.g., “twenty-first birthday”).

Some of the most common guidelines for hyphens and numbers are as follows:

• APA uses hyphens for two-word numbers but only uses words for 10 and greater at the beginning of a sentence (e.g., “Last year, 25 teachers retired” or “Twenty-five teachers retired last year”).
• Chicago uses words for numbers up to 100 and hyphens in numbers with two words (e.g., “The conference included workshops by twenty-seven professional musicians”).
• MLA requires words for all numbers that have one or two words and doesn’t use hyphens for numbers (e.g., “The researchers interviewed thirty two students”).

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you with hyphens, cardinal numbers, and more.

Read this FAQ: Do you hyphenate numbers?

Do you spell out numbers under 10?

In most cases, spell out numbers under 10, which include cardinal numbers (e.g., “four books” and “nine teachers”) and ordinal numbers (e.g., fifth grade). However, there are exceptions and variations, depending on the style guidelines you’re using.

For example, APA, MLA, and Chicago guidelines require numerals for numbers under 10 when they’re part of dates, times, and measurements (e.g., “The veterinarian fed the kittens a high calorie diet until they weighed 2 pounds”).

You can also use numerals for one through nine when they go after nouns and are part of a series (e.g., “Chapter 7 takes place in a cave”).

Always check with your style book, instructor, or workplace guidelines when you’re unsure about how to spell out cardinal numbers or ordinal numbers.

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can also help you use numbers correctly in your writing.

Read this FAQ: Do you spell out numbers under 10?

Is very an adverb?

Very is an adverb that means “to a great extent.” It’s an adverb of degree, which is a type of qualifier.

In a sentence, “very” usually goes before the adjective that it modifies (e.g., “The very loud thunder shook the whole house”).

When you’re writing with “very” and other qualifiers, QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you choose the right words.

Read this FAQ: Is very an adverb?

What’s the meaning of possibly?

The meaning of possibly is “somewhat likely.” “Possibly” is a qualifier and an adverb of probability.

Use “possibly” to modify a verb when you want to show that something might happen (e.g., “Depending on financial aid, Martin can possibly start law school this fall”).

You can also use “possibly” to modify an adjective (e.g., “Dave is possibly the nicest person I’ve ever met”).

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you use “possibly” and other qualifiers correctly in your writing.

Read this FAQ: What’s the meaning of possibly?