Australian Homes Are Cold in Winter, but They Shouldnât Be
It is a common phenomenon in Australia for homes to be cold during the winter season, unlike most developed countries. However, this should not be the norm. Many social media…
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Please Donât Say That!
Image by philm1310 from Pixabay Addressing common grammar mistakes is important for clear communication. While some errors persist, such as confusion between "less" and "fewer," others, like the misuse of…
Read Anything Good Lately?
Image by Pexels from Pixabay I have recently started to read multiple books at a time, something I never used to do. I typically read one novel and one nonfiction…
Biden Admin Officials Meet With Israeli Officials Virtually Ahead of Likely Rafah Invasion
U.S. and Israeli officials held a virtual meeting on April 1 to discuss Israel's potential invasion of the Gazan city of Rafah. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed the…
Mustnât Have Done and Couldnât Have Done
A reader has requested a post on the distinction between âmustnât have + past participleâ and âcouldnât have + past participle.â The reader provides the following examples: a) Ahmed failed…
âMeaningless Buzzwordsâ?
A political commentator, who shall remain unnamed, claims that five specific terms are "meaningless buzzwords." This assertion led me to consult my language references to determine if my understanding of…
The Many Meanings of âGroomâ and âGroomingâ
Once considered harmless and practical wordsâgroom, groomed, and groomingâare now often used to evoke anxiety and fear in parents. Professionals who work with words should consider calming some of the…
How to make learning vocabulary easier
If you often find learning vocabulary to be a challenge and end up giving up, this article is for you. It provides thirteen practical tips for improving your knowledge of…
How to make listening to English easier
When it comes to listening in another language, the key to learning is understanding. The more you understand, the more you can learn. So, don't be afraid to take steps…
How to use English songs with your child
Children have a natural love for songs, and introducing them to English songs at a young age can help them enjoy listening, singing, and learning English. Here are six key…
The Grammarphobia Blog: How unnatural is âpreternaturalâ?
Q: Why is the word âpreternaturalâ so commonly used, especially in The New York Times? It seems to be more prevalent there than in other publications. What's the story behind…
A Brief, Etymological History of Christmas Elves â Useless Etymology
In Old English, your average elf (or ĂŠlf or ylfe) belonged on the naughty list: They were malicious, imp-like creatures, blamed for mischief, mayhem and evil. At the time, another…
Florida to Vote on Recreational Marijuana in November, State Supreme Court Rules
If 60 percent or more of Floridians vote for the measure, it will enshrine possession and retail sales of âadult useâ marijuana in the state constitution.A constitutional amendment to legalize…
Wanna look like a chumbolone?
Q: Have you encountered the term âchumboloneâ? Itâs new to me. I came across it on John Kassâs website. He used to write for the Chicago Tribune and now writes…
How 12-year-old Gloria Lockerman taught us the word âdisestablishmentarianismâ â Useless Etymology
A 12-year-old girl named Gloria Lockerman is the reason you learned the word âantidisestablishmentarianismâ when you were a kid. Remember how you and your friends would toss it around, touting…
âDad wouldnât have a bar of itâ
The phrase "wouldn't have a bar of it" originated in Australian English in the early 20th century. It means to detest, reject, or be intolerant of something. The exact origin…
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