The word rather is common in everyday situations, having several meanings and applications that native English speakers take for granted. In writing, however, using rather causes some concern because of uncertainty regarding the placement of associated commas. The main thing to remember is that “rather” almost never takes a comma, but when it does, the comma is most often one of a pair that serves to set something apart and make it nonessential (hence, parenthetical) to the core meaning of the sentence. Finding rather attached to a single comma is rather rare.  

When rather's not essential,
Two commas separate it;
And comma unilateral
Is never there permitted.

It's parenthetically
Diverting us with data
That's not required really,
A smoothish operator.

“One doesn't wish to linger
But, rather, keep on going.
The time to rest is yonder
When past the area daring.”

A single comma seldom
With safety is abounding,
And “rather” feels more winsome 
With commas—two—attending.

So, “rather,” almost certain,
Eschews a single comma,
Unless conjunctive curtain
It hangs before the comma.

In being conjunctive adverb, 
Connective function serving,
It joins two parts that contrast
Across a stop or such thing;

A semicolon often,
The bridge for many takers,
To “rather” then will shunt them,
Suggesting comma spacer.

“Let's not hold on to doubting
Forever; rather, let us 
Advance with faith, asserting
That grace removes all onus.”

But when a simple adverb,
With meaning only “fairly,”
Or when it tells of preference,
Degree, or if exactly,

Or “rather than“ in complex
(With words between or after),
No comma leads and ushers
That “rather” in its barter.

“I'd rather peel an apple
Than juice a yellow lemon;
Get flavor rather subtle,
Not rather tempt a demon.”

​

Frequently misused is the adverb awhile, being confused with the noun while. There's also the conjunction while, which can mean either “at the same time” (somewhat akin to simultaneously) or “whereas.”

A while ago, I stopped awhile 
To while away the day.
And then at rest, 'twas but a while,
A smile had come to stay.

Another “while,” conjunction style,
Not adverb, noun, or verb,
Doth neither calm nor tend to rile,
Though joining two in blurb.

When simultaneous those it pairs,
No need for comma “while.”
But if “whereas” instead it bears,
Then pause for single file.

“All cats and dogs have usual beats
While both will also prowl.
A cat may arch and hiss through teeth,
While dogs will bark and growl.”

When considering whether “sometime” would be the proper choice relative to “some time” in a sentence, the most helpful hint comes from asking yourself if, in the sense of what’s being said, it could be replaced correctly by “someday.” Meanwhile, not only is there a second meaning of “sometime” to keep in mind, but there's also the other word “sometimes,” with an entirely different definition.

The “sometime” word has faces two 
That tell of meaning dual;
Most often looking like “someday”
But “former,” too, to fool.

Yet “sometimes” comes along with “s,”
Expressing “now and then”;
“Occasionally” doth it mean,
That further stroke of pen.

And, next, “some time” we have to meet,
To question where it stands.
A “span of time,” to thwart defeat,
Its meaning for all fans.

So, two words make this one distinct,
An aid for weary minds
That wish for something more succinct,
A verse combining kinds:

If only we'd take some time to play,
Like sometime kids we were,
Then sometimes work we'd happy pay
To sometime life defer.

​

Two interesting words that we take for granted in the English language are “onto” and “into.” Like “to,” they are both prepositions, created akin by combination with that other preposition. But they each have an adverbial portion as well, and that's where the fun begins:

“Onto” and “into” of prepositions are, 
Pointing us forward while standing before.
Signs at the crossroads of grammar and tar,
Granted the basics of “on,” “in,” at core.

“On” as an adverb is separate from “to,”
Keeping its distance like “in” does at times.
Both near the “to” may shift backward the view,
Favoring the verb as the focus sometimes.

Joined up instead with their oneness declared,
“Onto” and “into” must look forward true.
Split, though, that view may no longer be shared,
Weightier allegiance to verb could be due.

“On” in the context of pointing ahead
Offers up “onto” and “on to” as well.
Free of direction, like lying on bed,
“On” itself offers, however you tell.

Think of that place that sells pastries and more;
People did see you as there you got nigh.
Driven by purpose, you strode “in to” store, 
Eyes bright and shining and fixed “onto” pie.

How you went “in” there of interest was more,
Emphasis subtle but backward from “in.”
Testing the “on” when already through door,
Featured a future of gustatory sin.

“On to” was option since offering up both
Rear-facing adverb and front-looking prep.
Lacking resourcefulness, others may loathe,
Wish for this “on to” a desperate misstep.

Whether with “on to” or “onto” one goes,
Often is doubtful, the factors not strong.
Govern decisions with study that shows
Which is the word that would most there belong.

​
When the word staff refers to a group, the word for more than one such  group—plural—is staffs. However, each staff may have multiple members, and those members are called staff—the plural—rather than staffs. Just as curious, perhaps, is the British tendency to not have the verb agree with the singular subject staff when it signifies a group. In the following illustration, the American perspective comes first:

While staffing here, across the pond,
The staff was clearly seen as one.
Returning home, despite such bond,
The tone was that of separation.

The staff were welcomed home with cheer,
Reception steeped in beer and rum.
Where’er such staffs may find their fare,
Their worth is greater than their sum.

Homophones are words that are pronounced the same while differing in derivation, meaning, or spelling. They belong to the larger group of  homonyms, some pairs of which have both pronunciation and spelling in common. 

Two homophones will speak alike,
To qualify as homonyms.
Some words may simply dress as twins--
Let people hail them “homonyms.”

These quiet ones are “heteronyms,”
Not speaking up or sharing laughs.
They may indulge in similar trims,
And even pose with matching scarves.

Some homonyms share sound and look
And mirror clear for eye and ear.
'Tis meaning where these words unhook,
Still homophones to those who hear.

Thus pike are fish not fished with pike;
No seed you sow will grow to sow;
Beware the bear that's bare of hair;
Mistake it not for milking cow.