Archive for 'English Vocabulary'
English Expressions of Sympathy Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 15, 2017
We’ve all been there. Someone you know is having a tough time. They are sad, or distressed, or even depressed. You want to say something to make them know that you care, but it can be awkward. What are the right words? Here are some expressions of sympathy and empathy for those moments when words…
Writing About Time in English Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 7, 2017
I’m sure that you know how to tell time, but do you know all the ways that time can be written out on a page? What’s the preferred method? And what does GMT, and a.m. and p.m. mean, anyway? Many years ago, I was a radio announcer. At least twice every hour that I was…
The English Village (and Other Places) Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 23, 2017
Do you live in a town, a township, a village, or a city? In English, we have different names for our communities, but what distinguishes one from another? And what is so special about those English villages, anyway? The Community Let’s start by defining a community. To live in a community is to live within…
Somewhere in the English Language Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 27, 2017
Where do you find something in a group? Between, among, amid, betwixt, amongst, and amidst are all similar prepositions. What’s the difference, and when should you use one over another? I have a lot of books. No. Really. I have hundreds and hundreds of books in my library and bedroom, packed neatly onto shelves, stacked…
English Ologies, Ographies, and Onomies Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 20, 2017
In English, you will find many words with the same suffix, or word ending. Three of the most common suffixes sound somewhat alike, and are often confused with each other. Here’s how to tell them apart, and some of the most common examples of each. Ology Ology is a real word, a noun taken from…
The Incomplete (English) Sentence Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 6, 2017
How can it be wrong, if it sounds so right? One of the first things you learn about constructing sentences in English is the very narrow definition of a complete sentence. A sentence must consist of A capital letter at the beginning A punctuation mark as a stopping point The main clause, consisting of an…
That’s a Real Word? Posted by Gary Locke on Jun 29, 2017
It is easy to mangle the English language. I hear native speakers do it all the time. But when I learn that a word, which I assume is either mispronounced or made up, is a real word then I’m gobsmacked. Gobsmacked Let’s start there. Gobsmacked is common British slang for being surprised and, to my…