Archive for 'English Vocabulary'
Get to Know Your Orchestra Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 17, 2016
As the holidays approach, symphonies around the U.S. get a little less serious. One of the great treasures of any community is its musicians. In the United States you will find bands, orchestras, philharmonics, symphonies, and ensembles of all sizes playing every weekend. Most towns have some form of a brass or jazz band in…
U.S. Election Vocabulary Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 4, 2016
We’ve talked about the U.S. presidential election, but you may still find yourself hearing certain terms which you don’t fully understand. Here’s a handy vocabulary guide to words and phrases which take on greater significance in the United States every four years. Absentee ballot: A ballot which is filled out and usually mailed in by…
When Should You Use a Hyphen? Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 21, 2016
Let’s now discuss one of the most problematic issues in English grammar: When is the right time to hyphenate a word? This is problematic because most of the rules surrounding the use of hyphens aren’t absolute. Many grammarians use the words, usually and typically when describing situations which call for the use of hyphens. A…
Jive Talking – The Language of Jazz Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 23, 2016
“Jazz is known all over the world as an American musical art form and that’s it. No America, no jazz.” Arthur (Art) Blakey, aka Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, American jazz drummer and bandleader. Many would argue that jazz is the most quintessential American musical form. Born out of the African American communities in the late 19th…
Homonyms: The Scourge of the English Language Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 9, 2016
In spite of technological advances, which have made the life of the modern writer so much easier, sometimes even the most sophisticated software program is of no help whatsoever. Writers can format, layout, and review their work almost instantaneously. Spell check is like having an extra pair of eyes on the page at all times…
At the Bookstore – Children’s Literature Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 2, 2016
If you are looking for a specific book, or even just something you’d like to read, it helps to know the various categories that bookstores use for shelving their products. Almost every store has three main categories of books in different locations on the sales floor – Nonfiction, Fiction, and Children’s. You will then find…
At the Bookstore – Fiction Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 26, 2016
If you are looking for a specific book, or even just something you’d like to read, it helps to know the various categories that bookstores use for shelving their products. Almost every store has three main categories of books in different locations on the sales floor – Nonfiction, Fiction, and Children’s. You will then…