Archive for 'English Vocabulary'
Nonetheless, Nevertheless, Notwithstanding Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 23, 2017
Here they are again: Words which sound so much alike, have similar meanings, and everybody uses them. What, then, is the difference? Let’s begin with the fact that nonetheless, nevertheless, and notwithstanding are all compound words. This means that you can break the word up into separate words. By doing so, you can find clues…
Where’d You Get That Drawl, Y’all? Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 17, 2017
Where did the famous Southern drawl of the American South come from, and why is it so often imitated? As I’ve mentioned before, I sometimes work in the theater. Lately, I’ve been in rehearsal for All the Way, a play about President Lyndon Johnson, and the passage of the United States Civil Rights Bill. I’m…
What is a Collocation? Posted by Gary Locke on Feb 17, 2017
Back in the 1950s and ‘60s there was a group of performers who seemed to always be together. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford – They called themselves The Rat Pack. They performed together, made movies together, partied together, and each made the other better. In many ways, they were the physical…
Expressions of Love for Valentine’s Day Posted by sasha on Feb 13, 2017
Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and love is in the air. We’ll get to that and other common expressions of love in just a minute, but first let’s talk about the holiday. Celebrated on February 14th in many countries around the world, this day originated as a Christian holiday celebrating one or more early saints named…
Does Time Have a Point? Posted by Gary Locke on Feb 10, 2017
One of the most common phrases you’ll hear in English is, “At this point in time.” What does it actually mean? Is it grammatically correct, or is there a better way of saying it? I’m not here to discuss the physics of time, or theories (real and fanciful) related to spacetime continuums and all that…
What’s the Difference? Inauguration Posted by Gary Locke on Jan 19, 2017
With a new administration taking office, it seems a good time to remind ourselves that the words of our leaders can have real significance. The misuse of a word, even selecting one simile when another would have been more appropriate, could lead to misunderstandings. And misunderstandings may have consequences. It may not lead to…
The Parts of a Speech Posted by Gary Locke on Jan 13, 2017
Many of us, at some time in our lives, have to speak in front of a large gathering. It may be a quick toast to a friend celebrating a birthday or an anniversary. It may be some form of testimony that you have been asked to make based on your experience and knowledge of a…