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Spelling Differences Between British and American English
The might of the United States in spheres of technology, entertainment, trade and economy has ensured that people all over the world want to be well versed in American English. American English refers to several aspects of the language – the accent, grammar and sentence constructions; even certain words, idioms and colloquial usage that have […]
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Beware! Your Word Processor’s Spell and Grammar Check Is Not Always Correct
The word processor is a marvel indeed – it is to the typewriter what a jet plane is to the ox cart. It simplifies, streamlines, reduces and lightens workload tremendously; however it does have its limitations. In particular the spell and grammar check tool can be rather fallible. It may think you are wrong when […]
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5 Tips to Learn Pronouncing Words Correctly
Pronunciation is a marvelously defining thing. According to Henry Higgins in the iconic My Fair Lady, changing one’s accent; essentially the way that they pronounce words, transport one from being a common flower-seller to a princess! How we pronounce words can define not only where we were born and brought up and what our native […]
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Using Slang – When Is It Appropriate?
Slang is by definition, the use of informal words and expressions in speech or writing. Slang may be colloquially used by certain groups of people of the same social background or same age. Slang does not necessarily follow rules of grammar and syntax and may use words not included in standard dictionaries. What Is Slang? […]
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Active Versus Passive Voice – Which One Should You Use?
Avoid using the passive voice, experts frequently caution writers. Passive voice is a device that conveys meaning indirectly rather than directly, facilitates prevarication and even obfuscates the meaning, they claim. So, should we use passive voice or not? And if it is to be avoided, how do we do this? Examples of Active and Passive […]
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The Split Infinitive – To Use or Not to Use It
Writers should learn not to split their infinitives, goes the old witticism. And in fact the sticklers will caution you against ever splitting the infinitive either in written or spoken language. So it is that the split infinitive is still a matter of debate – is it correct grammar? Is it good style or a […]
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5 Android Apps to Help Improve Your Vocabulary
A good vocabulary can help you become more articulate, helping you communicate more precisely. A better vocabulary can be useful for a student for obvious reasons – helping with exams, admission tests and so on. For a professional, it can help to convey an impression of greater competency and proficiency at the work place. And […]
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5 Extracurricular Activities to Improve English Speaking Skills
It is a matter of pride for educators that their pupils have good speaking skills. But it can also be a difficult task to ensure that students keep making progress. Teachers and educators can make the whole process more interesting and seemingly effortless by engaging students in various activities: 1. JAM or Extempore Speaking This […]
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10 Tips to Help You Learn English from Home
One thing that makes it easy to learn English is the availability of resources – there are a huge variety of resources available to augment your efforts. The more number of resources you mix up in the process, the more effective will be the result. We present in this article some useful tips and resources […]
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Why Is It Important to Learn English?
We are so globally interconnected today, that there has never been a greater need for a single mode of communication for everyone to access and utilize. Arguably, English language performs this vital function better than any single language in the world; making its knowledge hugely important for communication, education, business and day to day life. […]