Tag Archives: vocabulary
Commonly Used English Alliterations Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 30, 2021
Let me tell you a secret about English speakers that many of us don’t even realize. We love to speak in alliterations. We can’t help it. Our language is filled with alliterative phrases that we use every day. Even for those who don’t know what alliteration is. Understanding Alliteration I found myself the other day…
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…
Watching Television in English Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 15, 2021
This morning I tried to watch television, but it wouldn’t turn on. I was using one of several remotes (or, as some people call them, clickers), the one that I use exclusively to start my television. Nothing. I was facing a blank screen. This was not a good start to my day. Fortunately, I eventually…
Talking About Weight in English Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 8, 2021
It’s summer in the northern hemisphere and, for many, that means going to the beach. It also means fitting into a swimsuit. Which usually means that it’s time to lose some weight. Personally, I am grateful that there has been a trend in recent years to be more accepting of the way you look. People…
The Many Problems with Tomatoes Posted by Gary Locke on Jun 24, 2021
There are several problems with tomatoes. I don’t mean that growing them is a problem (although they are susceptible to blights, worms, and pests of all kinds.) Rather, pronouncing, spelling, and even defining tomatoes in English are among the most irksome and debatable issues in our language. Songs have been written about this. The Supreme…
The Vocabulary of Mysteries Posted by Gary Locke on Apr 29, 2021
There is nothing quite so satisfying as a good mystery. Peel back all the layers of the story, from the crime to the suspects, to the motive, to the various clues, and you have the answers that you’ve been seeking since page one. Add to this the fascinating characters who solve the crimes, whether they…