Guides
How counting, readability, title case and other writing rules actually work, with sources.
CountingHow Word Counters Count, and Why They DisagreeHyphens, dashes, numbers, URLs, emoji and Chinese text: the decisions behind every word and character count, and how Word, Google Docs and Textkiln handle them.ReadabilityReadability Formulas Explained: Flesch, Fog, SMOG and MoreWhat each readability formula measures, where it came from, what scores to aim for, and the limits every writer should know before trusting a grade level.StyleTitle Case Rules: APA, Chicago, AP and MLA ComparedWhich words to capitalize in a title under each major style guide, with the edge cases (prepositions, hyphens, “to”, phrasal verbs) that trip writers up.SocialSocial Media Character Limits and How Each Platform CountsCurrent character limits for X, Bluesky, Threads, Mastodon, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and SMS, and the counting rules behind “why is my post too long?”.UnicodeInvisible Unicode Characters: What They Are and Why They MatterZero-width spaces, bidi overrides and hidden tag characters: how they break text, how attackers use them, and how to find and remove them safely.PunctuationEm Dash vs En Dash vs Hyphen: When to Use EachThe three dashes look alike but do different jobs. Rules from Chicago, AP and UK style, how to type each one, and the mistakes editors fix most often.StyleActive vs Passive Voice: Examples and When to Use EachHow to spot passive voice (it’s not about tense), when it’s the right choice, and how to rewrite it (with examples from everyday, academic and business writing).CitationsAPA vs MLA vs Chicago: Citation Styles ComparedWhich citation style to use, and how APA 7, MLA 9 and Chicago 18 differ for authors, dates, titles and in-text citations, with side-by-side examples.UsageCommonly Confused Words: 40 Pairs and How to Remember ThemAffect or effect? Complement or compliment? A practical list of the words spell checkers miss, with short definitions and memory tricks that actually stick.ClarityPlain Language Checklist: 12 Ways to Make Writing ClearerA practical, evidence-based checklist for clear writing (audience, structure, sentence length, active voice, everyday words) with tools to check each point.SEOHow to Write a Meta Description: Length, Pixels and ExamplesHow long a meta description should be (it’s pixels, not characters), what Google does with it, and a repeatable formula with examples for different page types.SpellingAmerican vs British Spelling: The Complete Pattern GuideColor or colour, organize or organise, center or centre? The patterns behind US and UK spelling, Oxford spelling, the exceptions, and how to stay consistent.