The Rules of Capitalization Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 23, 2021
We’re living in a time when it sometimes seems that the standard rules in English no longer apply. Whether it’s in texts, social media posts, or emails, English basics are being ignored. This is especially true for how and when to use capital letters, also known as the upper case of a letter. I know…
The Many Ways to Say, “Let’s Eat!” in English Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 16, 2021
When it’s time to eat, what do you say? Letting family, friends, roommates, and anyone else know that a meal is ready may be one of the most common things we do every day. Granted, many of us eat alone. But, assuming that you want to share a meal with someone, that announcement is pretty…
Coulda/Shoulda/Woulda Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 9, 2021
There are three common English verbs that everyone knows but many misuse: could, should, and would. All three verbs are in the past tense. All three are modal verbs. And all three, being past tense, are commonly paired with the auxiliary verb have – usually as a contraction. But they will mess you up. Could…
Fewer, Less, and Knowing the Difference Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 3, 2021
In English, we use quantifiers with our nouns all the time. A quantifier describes the number or amount of something within a phrase. Unfortunately, many English speakers confuse their quantifiers, using one when they should use another. Do you mean fewer of something or less of something? This is because many quantifiers are not specific…
When English Words Become Obsolete Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 25, 2021
An old friend used to say that social media was, “Just a lot of old twaddle.” From the context of his sentence, I knew that twaddle meant “useless gossip’. But it was years before I knew that twaddle was a real, though nearly obsolete, word. It still appears in some dictionaries, but you will almost…
Feeling Lucky in English Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 19, 2021
I often describe myself as a lucky person. In my personal and professional life, good things have happened to me because of chance and unplanned circumstances. I certainly work hard and take pride in my education and the abilities and skills that I have acquired and used over the years. But, the fact is, some…
All About the Penny Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 12, 2021
The penny is the lowest valued unit of U.S. currency, one cent, equaling one one-hundredth of the U.S. dollar. It is also the subject of many idioms and phrases, some memorable songs, and a long-standing debate about its future. Some hate it, many ignore it, but the penny is as much a part of American…