₦airaland Forum

Judging from these idioms, you would think that English speakers are jumping all the time! While some can be taken literally, it’s best to know when to jump and when to hit the brakes! Here is a list of five common jumping idioms and examples of how to use them:

1. Jump off the deep end- to take an immediate and drastic action

Example: “After her dog died, Rebecca really jumped off the deep end- she adopted six puppies!”

2. Jump on the bandwagon- to join in a popular activity

Example: “So many people are trying to quit smoking that I might as well jump on the bandwagon and quit as well.”

3. Jump to conclusions- to make a quick judgment without thinking about it

Example: “Eric jumped to conclusions and blamed Lisa for breaking his computer simply because she was in the room.”

4. Jump the gun- to start something before you should

Example: “Victor really jumped the gun with his project proposal- he should have waited until the other proposal was either accepted or rejected.”

5. Jump down (someone’s) throat- to criticize or become angry with someone

Example: “Aaron jumped down Sandra’s throat when she showed up late to work yesterday.”

Are there other jumping idioms that you find confusing? Share them with us and we’ll write a blog post to explain them!

Jessica Weeg

Good day.

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Many people believe business writing is a frustrating task that should be avoided. But good business writing is important for building and maintaining your company’s image. The following tips will help you achieve clearer and more effective business writing.

Aim for a short average sentence length for better business writing

Sentence length is an important factor to consider in business writing. Research shows that comprehension goes down when sentences are too long, so keep your average sentence length below 20 words. A sentence of over 35 words should be broken into two sentences, if possible. To see the average sentence length of your business writing when using Microsoft Word, tick Show Readability Statistics in the Spelling and Grammar options. The average sentence length will appear at the end of the spelling and grammar check.

Avoid clichés in your business writing

Clichés are overused phrases that have lost any meaning. Avoid phrases such as ‘at the end of the day’, ‘for all intents and purposes’ and ‘as safe as houses’ in your business writing. They add no meaning to your business writing and waste your readers’ time.

Use a conversational tone in your business writing

One tip for maintaining a conversational tone in your business writing is to use contractions. Instead of writing ‘it is’, write it’s. Write ‘we’re’ instead of ‘we are’. Many of us don’t feel comfortable using contractions in our writing because some English teacher told us it was bad. It might not be appropriate in a formal school essay, but it’s best for most types of business writing. If you don’t use contractions, your business writing will sound robotic.

Another way to create a conversational tone in your business writing is to read the first draft aloud to judge how it sounds. Would you speak this way to a client or associate? If not, it’s a good idea to go back to your writing and make changes.

Rewrite your business writing until you get it right

Even experienced business writers rarely get it right the first time. They might create two, three or more drafts before being satisfied with their writing. You’ll find ways to improve what you have written by carefully reading it. Sometimes it helps to wait a day or two to let your business writing ‘cool off’ before you go back to it.

It’s also a good idea to have a friend or colleague review your business writing. You might think you have expressed your ideas clearly, while others don’t. Feedback from others can help you improve your business writing.

There is no need to be frustrated the next time you have to complete a business writing project. Applying these simple tips will help you express your ideas clearly and will make a big difference in the impression you create through your business writing.
Credits: Wordnerds

Today, the world is a global village thanks to information and technology. With the advent of the internet, the world has become closely knitted and things have moved up faster.

The social media is the place to be for trending and latest events. Looking for the young, tech-savvy and even some elderly people? They are all on social media. If you have any business or service you want to promote to people social media is the place to advertise it.

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[b]TRW Consult [/b]is an award-winning idea management firm that provides professional services in content development and digital solutions. We can help advertise your business to a wider audience through the social media.

Some of our other services include; content development; digital solutions; corporate training in corporate communications; and consultancy services.

Feel free to contact us for any of our services.

Many people believe business writing is a frustrating task that should be avoided. But good business writing is important for building and maintaining your company’s image. The following tips will help you achieve clearer and more effective business writing.

What is your business writing objective?

Before you begin, you need to think about the objective of your business writing. Is it to inform, educate, persuade or entertain? It could be one or a combination of these. Whether you’re writing a report, letter or email, you need to identify the message you want to present to your readers. A simple way to do this is to write a one-sentence summary of your objective and keep it in front of you as you write.

Keep your business writing simple

The large amount of business information available today is overwhelming. Why complicate and lengthen your business writing when you don’t have to? Simple words and phrases are easier to read and take up less space on the page. When writing, choose simple words that convey the same meaning as complicated ones. For example, write:

• ‘help’ instead of ‘facilitate’
• ‘use’ instead of ‘operate’
• ‘prove’ instead of ‘substantiate’
• ‘now’ instead of ‘currently.’

This also applies to phrases. For example, replace ‘on a regular basis’ with ‘regularly’ and ‘at this point in time’ with ‘now’.

Using simple words and phrases will shorten the length of your business writing and make it easier to read.

Use active voice in your business writing

Business writing that uses active voice is stronger and more direct than passive voice. Compare the following two sentences.

1. Innovative products and services are offered by our company.

2. Our company offers innovative products and services.

The first is in passive voice and the second is in active voice. The active voice example says the same thing but uses fewer words and is more direct. Which would you choose for your business writing?

Use personal pronouns in your business writing

Personal pronouns such as ‘you’ and ‘we’ are good for business writing. They create a conversational tone that is friendlier and speaks directly to the reader. Compare the following two examples.

1. Free advice can be obtained from our sales department.

2. You can get free advice from our sales department.

The first example sounds formal and distant, while the second speaks directly to the customer.

Another way to make your business writing more friendly and natural is to write ‘we’ instead of constantly repeating your company’s name.


Credits: Wordnerds

People tell us that they don’t know how to begin or what to include when they need to write a speech. Speech writing can be much easier when you know what’s needed for an effective speech. There isn’t one formula that will fit each speech writing project, but the following tips will give you ideas on what to do the next time you need to write a speech to be given in a business or professional environment.

Speech Writing Tip Number 1 — Create a Clear and Simple Message

Before you begin your speech writing project, define your message and stick to it. Don’t try to make too many points during your speech. Attempting to cover too much ground in a short time will confuse your audience. If you are speaking for ten minutes, for example, you will have enough time to convey one message. Summarise this message in one sentence and keep it in front of you while writing your speech.

Speech Writing Tip Number 2 – Know Your Audience and Write for Them

The type of audience you’re addressing will determine what you say and how you say it. For example, if writing your speech on a technical subject, you will have to define your terms and explain more if the audience members are not experts in the field. If they know the subject, you won’t have to explain the concepts. If you have both groups in the audience, you might say something like, “For those of you who don’t know…”, then explain it to them. Sometimes you won’t know the level of understanding of your listeners, so you will need to ask questions and adjust your speech accordingly.

Speech Writing Tip Number 3 — Write the Way You Usually Speak

A speech should not be written like an article, essay or report. For example, most people use contractions (I’ll, we’ll, can’t, he’s, we’re, it’s) when they speak — so write your speech this way. This applies to the types of terms you use. Instead of however, write but. In place of therefore, write so. Copywriters call this conversational tone, and it’s important to maintain this tone in your speech writing.

Speech Writing Tip Number 4 — Create A Connection with Your Audience

If you’re speaking to an unfamiliar group, develop ways to connect with them. If you were speaking to a community group, for example, you would want to find out who they are, what they do and what they believe. Then use this knowledge to create a connection between the group and you or your message. For example, you could mention how the group’s values are similar to those of your organisation. It will help if the group you are addressing has a website or other background information.

Once when we were writing a speech for a business that was sponsoring an arts organisation, we were finding it challenging to connect to the two organisations. After doing some research, we found that both organisations had been established in the same year. This commonality helped to connect the speaker to the audience at the beginning of the speech.

Speech Writing Tip Number 5 – Use Stories to Make Your Point

From early childhood we develop an appreciation for stories and the ideas they communicate. When you use stories in your speech writing, you are conveying your message in an entertaining and memorable way. For example, a CEO speaking about the need for change at his organisation can tell a story about a company that wasn’t able to change and failed as a result. On the positive side, the business leader could tell a story about a business that succeeded because it was able to change. Plenty of resource material is available if you are willing to spend some time researching. Personal stories are often the best if they are relevant to what you are speaking about, so it’s a good idea to write down the interesting stories you hear or experience.

Courtesy: Nerd Words

In English words, cum has produced the prefixes com-, con-, and col-. These prefixes convey the idea of “together, together with, in combination or union.” For example, the noun companion combines com- with panis (bread). A companion is “a person to eat bread with.” Sharing a meal with someone is often a sign of intimacy.

Collision comes from the verb collide (col + laedere). The Latin verb laedere means “to injure” or “to damage.” When things collide, they strike or clash together.

Collusion comes from the verb collude (col + ludere), The Latin verb ludere means, “to play.” When people collude, they “play” together. The kind of play meant here is not the friendly kind. It’s the deceptive activity implied in the expressions “to play at,” “to play one false,” and “to play into someone’s hands.”

Collision is “the violent encounter of a moving body with another.” On the street, a collision usually involves vehicles. In physics, particles collide. Both collision and collide are used figuratively to indicate a clash of wills. The noun collision may also be used attributively (i.e., to modify another noun). Here are examples of usage:

Both of the Washington State Patrol troopers injured in collisions Sunday night near Northgate have been released from the hospital.

Two Metro-North Railroad trains collided after a derailment near Fairfield, Conn., at the height of the evening rush on Friday.

Somalia: What happens when political and humanitarian goals collide?

Global Markets and National Politics: Collision Course or Virtuous Circle?

Collusion is a secret agreement for purposes of trickery or fraud. In law, collusion is an agreement between two or more parties for the purpose of defrauding others or to gain an unfair market advantage, for example, price-fixing and inside trading. Here are some recent headlines:

Big Tech Companies Agree To Pay Up Over Hiring Collusion

Shell and BP accused of collusion in South Africa

How Hospitals and Health Insurers Collude at Your Expense

Business and Government Collude over Education Policy and Funding

Courtesy: Daily Writing Tips

Martin Luther King Jr. remains one of the greatest orators of all time. His skills though, were not relegated to the art of speech giving alone, but his gift for language reflected in his everyday use of the language and in his writings. Below are some of his most remarkable quotes.


Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," 16 April 1963

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
-- Speech in St. Louis, Missouri, March 22, 1964

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others.
-- Strength to Love (1963)
We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
-- "I Have a Dream" speech, August 28, 1963

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
-- Strength to Love (1963)

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land . . . So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man.
-- "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech, April 3, 1968 (the day before his assassination)
If a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live.
-- Speech in Detroit, Michigan on June 23, 1963

The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
-- Strength to Love (1963), Ch. 7

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
-- "I Have a Dream" speech, August 28, 1963

I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the very highest respect for the law.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.
-- Quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 13, 1962

A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on an installment plan.
-- Strength to Love (1963)

We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.
-- Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, December 10, 1964

Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

We were here before the mighty words of the Declaration of Independence were etched across the pages of history. Our forebears labored without wages. They made cotton 'king'. And yet out of a bottomless vitality, they continued to thrive and develop. If the cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. . . . Because the goal of America is freedom, abused and scorned tho' we may be, our destiny is tied up with America's destiny.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them.
-- "Where do we go from here?" speech, August 16, 1967

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every tenement and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old spiritual, "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last."
-- "I Have a Dream" speech, August 28, 1963

Which is correct –
He USED to go to the game on Friday.
He USE to go to the game on Friday.

When the statement is positive, as in the reader’s example, the expression is used to.

In negative statements, the expression is use to. For example, “He didn’t use to go to the game on Friday.”

The expressions are used to speak about things that were habitually done in the past. Both used and use are followed by an infinitive. For example:

We used to play baseball every Saturday.

I used to live in Cleveland.

There used to be a house on that corner.

The d is dropped when the sentence is negative:

I didn’t use to worry about money.

I didn’t use to celebrate Christmas.

There didn’t use to be a gas station on that corner.

Here are some current examples from the Web:

Chris Pratt Used To Live In A Scooby Doo Van

Pope Francis reveals he used to work as a bar bouncer

He [Jon Stewart] didn’t use to care and his show was funnier.

Actors didn’t use to be celebrities.

Women didn’t use to talk politics in this country.

I used to tell people we’d sell everything but the kitchen sink.

I used to love this view

Positive sentence: used to.
Negative sentence with didn’t: use to.

Courtesy: Daily Writing Tips

Knowing when to use “who” and when to use “whom” can be difficult. A lot of speakers are not careful with this distinction and many people are confused about the usage of these two words.

The rules for when to use “who” and when to use “whom” are based on the distinction between subject and object. “Who” is used to refer to the subject of the sentence (the person who is doing the action) and “whom” is used to refer to the object of the sentence (the one who is affected by the action).

The distinction between subject and object is difficult for many English speakers so it’s helpful to substitute another set of pronouns, such as “I/me” or “he/him” to figure out which word to use.

For example:

Who is calling?

You know that you would say “I am calling” or “he is calling”, not “me is calling” or “him is calling”. This shows that it is correct to say “who is calling”.

On the other hand,

Who/whom is she calling?

The answer to this question would be “she is calling him” or “she is calling me” so the correct form is “whom is she calling”.

Also, when the word follows a preposition, you should use “whom”. Prepositions include words like “to”, “on”, “with”, and “in”:

With whom did you see the movie last night?

Bracha Rubin

Many singular words in English have an unusual plural form. Speakers often make the mistake of adding an “s” to make one of these words plural instead of using the correct form plural. Here are 10 unusual plural forms with examples:

1. Syllabi – plural of syllabus

Example: All professors must submit their syllabi for approval before the start of the term.

2. Curricula – plural of curriculum

Example: The curricula for grades 1 through 5 are available on the school website.

3. Crises – plural of crisis

Example: The president has had to deal with several crises during his term.

4. Appendices – plural of appendix

Example: The book has appendices containing charts and graphs that support the author’s thesis.

5. Antennae – plural of antenna

Example: She thought the cockroach was dead until she saw its antennae moving.

6. Phenomena – plural of phenomenon

Example: Many unexplained phenomena are attributed to UFOs or aliens.

7. Millennia – plural of millennium

Example: Evolution is a slow process that takes place over centuries and millennia.

8. Synopses – plural of synopsis

Example: TV guide contains synopses for all of the new series debuting this fall.

9. Memoranda – plural of memorandum

Example: The CEO sent several memoranda to his employees.

10. Aircraft – plural of aircraft

Example: The army sent in over a hundred military aircraft at the start of the war.

Bracha Rubin

English can be a very tricky language to learn; sometimes native speakers even have trouble distinguishing words and phrases from each other. Here are ten of what I personally think are some of the trickiest words in English, and descriptions to help you tell the differences.

Adverse/ Averse – Adverse means something that is particularly difficult or antagonistic, for example “adverse circumstances”. Averse on the other hand means to have a strong feeling of opposition against something. Example, “I am averse to drinking alcohol”.

Already/ All ready – These two phrases practically look the same, which is a huge cause of confusion. Already means that something has already happened prior. Example, “I’ve already seen the movie before.” All ready means that you are completely prepared. “I’m all ready to go skiing now.”

Breach/ Breech – Breach means something that has been broken off or opened. “What you did was essentially breach the contract.” Breech, however, means your butt. “I’m sitting on my breeches and reading this blog post.”

Complement / Compliment – Compliment is when you say something nice about something. “I complimented his shoes at the party.” Complement is associated with matching or completing something. “That tie really complements his shoes.”

Dairy / Diary – Dairy are products made from cow’s milk. “Yogurt and cheese are dairy products.” However, diary is a journal in which you write your private thoughts. “I wrote about all my favorite dairy products in my private diary.”

We’ll bring you guys some more tricky words in the future, but for now, keep these five in your head so you don’t make these common mistakes and ask your neighborhood farmer how much it costs to buy his diary!

Uncommon singulars

There are many words in English that are often used only in the plural form. Speakers often make the mistake of using the plural grammatical form when they should actually use the singular. Here are 9 words that are quite common in the plural but unusual in the singular with examples of how to use them:

1. Data – The singular is datum.

Example: The data show that the drug effectively lowers cholesterol.

2. Criteria – The singular is criterion.

Example: The most important criteria for college admissions committees are GPA, SAT score and involvement in extracurricular activities.

3. Media -The singular is medium.

Example: The media are often accused of being biased.

4. Alumni – The singular is alumnus for a male and alumna for a female (female plural is alumnae).

Example: The alumni gathered at their university for their 10th reunion.

5. Dice - The singular is die.

Example: Yahtzee is played by rolling five dice to make different combinations.

6. Bacteria – The singular is bacterium.

Example: Bacteria are often found on light switches and remote controls in hotel.

7. Algae – The singular is alga.

Example: Some types of algae are edible.

8. Paparazzi – The singular is paparazzo.

Example: The paparazzi compete with one another to get the best picture of a celebrity.

9. Parentheses – The singular is parenthesis.

Example: The teacher did not like that she used so many parentheses in her writing.

WEEKEND DELIGHT: Interesting Definitions

CIGARETTE: A pinch of tobacco rolled in paper with fire at one end and a fool at the other!

MARRIAGE: It's an agreement wherein a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her master

LECTURE: An art of transmitting Information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of students without passing through the minds of either

CONFERENCE: The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present

COMPROMISE: The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece

TEARS: The hydraulic force by which masculine will power is defeated by feminine water-power!

CONFERENCE ROOM: A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees later on

ECSTASY: A feeling when you feel you are going to feel a feeling you have never felt before

CLASSIC: A book which people praise, but never read

SMILE: A curve that can set a lot of things straight!

OFFICE: A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life

YAWN: The only time when some married men ever get to open their mouth

EXPERIENCE: The name men give to their Mistakes

DIPLOMAT: A person who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look forward to the trip

OPTIMIST: A person who while falling from EIFFEL TOWER says in midway "SEE I AM NOT INJURED YET!"

MISER: A person who lives poor so that he can die RICH!

FATHER: A banker provided by nature

BOSS: Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early

POLITICIAN: One who shakes your hand before elections and your Confidence Later

DOCTOR: A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you by his bills!

Sons of Issachar Launches Resources for Men and Women

The process of self-actualisation and personal development received a boost recently with the launch of two online publications – Valour Digest and Virtue Digest.

Valour Digest is an online resource published biweekly. It aims to celebrate men as well as inspire, empower and equip them to become all they were created to be. It also sets out to partner with men by providing tested information and resources that will help them to live a maximised life as well as take their place at home, at work, in the community and the world at large.

The publication, which is accessible at www.valourdigest.com, seeks to be the go-to resource for optimised manhood while raising a new generation of men who are committed to maximised living.

Running with a similar vision, Virtue Digest (accessible at www.virtuedigest.com) is an online resource that seeks to furnish women with materials relating to their purpose, relationships and passions. A forum specifically created to encourage and motivate all women to gain confidence in their abilities and aspire to greatness, Virtue Digest is a springboard to uplift women and cheer them on as they are released into their places of purpose and fulfilment.

The two publications, which made their debut in the first and second week of December 2014, cover a wide spectrum of issues including career development, relationships and family life, business and finance, self-mastery, potential development, job opportunities as well as expert tips with a potpourri of inspirational materials.

Valour Digest and Virtue Digest are published by Sons of Issachar Concepts, with technical support from The Ready Writers Consult, a leading contents and digital service providers in Nigeria.

Sons of Issachar Concepts is a transformational firm that offers strategy, publishing, process improvement and life-enhancement services to an elite crop of individuals and corporate establishments. Inspired by the biblical sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times and knew what to do, Sons of Issachar Concepts provides timely and/or critical intervention through publications, strategy consulting, process improvement services, as well as coaching and mentoring sessions.

Everyone makes typos, but some are worse than others. Nothing can replace proof reading (over and over again)- no, not even spell check. Here are some of the worst culprits in the typo universe. These words are so commonly mixed up that examples can be found in prominent national newspapers, published books, and even printed on billboards.

Culprit #1: Loose/Lose

Just because it is a commonly used word does not mean that it doesn’t deserve any consideration or editing. To lose something is to misplace something, whereas loose describes a state of tightness (rather, a lack thereof) or means to set something free.

Example: Mrs. Jones will lose her mind if she hears that there is a wolf on the loose!

Culprit #2: Principal/Principle

Don’t you dare send someone to the principle’s office! In a school setting, this is particularly egregious (particularly bad). The principal is the most important person, usually the head of a school, but principles are beliefs or rules.

Example: The principal’s favorite principle is to treat others the way you wish to be treated.

Culprit #3: Complement/Compliment

I’m sure everyone has heard the joke: A man walks into a bar, orders a drink, and he hears someone whispering to him, “nice tie!!” Looking around he sees no one but the bartender who is busy with another customer. Then he hears it again “Man, I really like your shoes!” and then “beautiful shirt.” The man asks the bartender what is going on, and he says, “it’s the peanuts… they’re complimentary!”

Compliments are praises or approval, an admiring remark. To say that something is complimentary can also mean that it is free, or comes in addition to something you already have (like complimentary peanuts on a flight). A complement is something that is added to something else to improve the qualities of each.

Example: The man at the door complimented my blue dress that complements my blue eyes.

Culprit #4: Desert/Dessert

Unfortunately for victims of this typo, abandoned places and sweet treats are far from being similar. A desert is a dry, desolate place (and to say a place is deserted means that it is abandoned) whereas dessert is a course that comes at the end of a meal, usually consisting of sweet food.

Example: Victor brought dessert to the picnic, but it was deserted by the time he got there; everyone had already left for the parade!

These are just a few examples of commonly confused words, but there are many, many more. Be sure to double check your work, even the common words that you use every day!

Do you find yourself mixing up certain words often? Share with us!

An idiom is a combination of words that have a symbolic meaning. Understanding and using idioms is tricky because an idiom’s meaning is different from that of the words that comprise it. We know it’s hard, but we’re here to help!

Alright, let’s begin with “dog-eat-dog”. This expression refers to a place or situation that is highly competitive. In a dog-eat-dog world, people will do whatever it takes to be successful, even if that means harming others. Here’s an example: “The music industry is dog-eat-dog; one day you’re on top and the next, everyone forgot you!”

What about “cat got your tongue?” This question is used when someone is at a loss of words or being unusually quiet. If someone asks you if the cat has got your tongue, it means you seem to be speechless and can’t think of something to say. “What’s the matter Lucy, cat got your tongue?”

To “weasel out” of something can mean two things:
1. that you are trying to avoid an obligation, duty or a job like in “I weaseled out of helping my mom with the laundry!”.
2. That you are literally squeezing your way out of something as in “my little sister got stuck under the bed but she weaseled her way out.”

And the last one for today, “let the cat out of the bag”. You do this when you accidentally reveal information you weren’t supposed to, like sharing a secret. “Tim let the cat out of the bag about my surprise birthday party”.

Can you think of other idioms with animals and their uses? Share more examples with us!! Don’t be shy, or cat got your tongue?


Mariana Aguilar Ramírez

Writing is a battle. On one side: the force of your important message. On the opposing side: the forces of ignorance and misunderstanding. Your weapons: your words. Your support: the entire tradition of the English language.
Calls for more precise writing are often met with complaints of “Aw, do I have to?” That was the response of some readers to our article on Gross Writing Errors Found on the Web. Yes, often your readers will understand you even if you make mistakes in spelling and grammar. But not always.

If your audience doesn’t read English well, one unfortunately-placed mistake could send them into bewilderment. Native English speakers are familiar with native English mistakes and frequently can figure out what the writer really meant. But others may not have the same experience with the language. Looking up “hole” in a dictionary won’t help you understand that the writer meant “whole” – it’s likely to confuse you badly.

As a writer, you have a limited arsenal. A sentence can only hold so many words before your reader loses track of what you’re saying. The English language only has so many synonyms that your reader understands, which limits the vocabulary you can use. So a writer has to squeeze all his or her meaning into a small space. There is little room for error.

Errors in language have cost people their lives and freedom. The Bible, in Judges 12:5-6, tells how fleeing enemy soldiers were trapped and killed because they couldn’t pronounce the “sh” sound used by the tribe they pretended to belong to. Some US draft evaders during the Vietnam War tried to pass themselves off as Canadian, but when asked to repeat the alphabet, they were detected when they pronounced the last letter as “zee” (US) rather than “zed” (Canada).

Courtesy: Daily Writing Tips

6. Spelling and Grammar
Once you have written your article or Blog, use a good spell checker. Microsoft Word works well for these purposes, so use its suggestions to make any necessary corrections to your plain text copy. Remember that Word was created by Americans. If you are writing in the UK, some of the spellings will be different.
If the work has been commissioned, then you need to honour the publisher’s language requirements. If you are writing for your own blog, the most important thing is to be consistent. Decide whether to use US or UK spelling and stick with the one you choose.
7. Publish and Let the World Know
Once your Blog is ready you may want to use some automatic tools to publish and announce it. First do a search for Blog hosts and select those which best suit your needs. Join one or more and publish your Blog there. Then search for Blog announcers and RSS announcers and use them to get your Blog noticed. Tweet about the article, letting the on-line world, or at least those people who follow you, know where to find it.
Now that you have that out of the way find an article wizard that will post your Articles to free publishers. You can post them one at a time by hand if you are really bored and have absolutely nothing else in life to do. Using an automatic poster you can publish to hundreds of hosts in an hour or so.
8. Patience
If you are submitting for publication by someone else, be patient. It’s beyond your control. Many of the men and women who host articles act quickly and your articles will be reviewed within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. But, many others will take days or even weeks; so never date an article – it’s a sure way to get rejected.
9. Dealing With Rejection
Be prepared for hosts to reject your articles. It often has little to do with you or your article.
Some databases routinely reject articles for spelling errors when there are none or where there is more than way to spell a word. Other hosts are simply too lazy and get so far behind, the easiest and fastest thing to do (and perhaps the only alternative) is to reject everything. If you discover one of these, stop submitting articles to them.
Then there are those who run your articles through software and if they find certain words, irrespective of how they are used, your article gets no farther. These are the people who can’t publish the Holy Bible because it contains words that offend them or their readers. Don’t worry about these folks who are so heavenly minded they are of no earthly use!
10. Persistence
Since most authors prepare only one copy of an article, be persistent. Once your articles begin to be accepted and published, this will drive visitors to your website while creating those all important back links. You will also find writing becomes easier as you taste the fuits of your success. Practice, practice, practice!
Bonus Tip
Rejection slips are usually accompanied by a suggestion on how to “fix” your article and a request that you resubmit it. Don’t waste your time. While trying comply with one database manager’s request you could have written a new article from which you get much more punch. Enough publishers will pick your article up so move on and save yourself some time and heartburn.
Everybody has a thought or idea at least once a day, sometimes at an “inconvenient time”. How many good ideas have you lost because of waiting? Don’t procrastinate! Go! Capture that thought before it is gone forever.

Are you worried about writing articles? Not Sure where to begin? Have a tight deadline to meet? Then this blog on 10 great writing tips for producing articles is just for you – and it contains a bonus!

1. It Shouldn’t Be a Chore
Writing articles and blogs can sometimes feel like a chore but don’t despair; we all feel that way at times. However, if you find you always seem to dread the journey to the keyboard, then ask yourself whether writing is right for you. If you lack enthusiasm for writing, readers will pick up on this.

2. Get Started
Sometimes it’s difficult to pick a subject or theme, or to get started once you have a topic . Relax! The main thing is that you get started. Pick a subject you know something about and just start. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how easily ideas flow. Don’t assume everyone knows what you know. They don’t. One tip I was given years ago: if you are finding it difficult to get started, then stop thinking about “what must I write” and focus instead on “what does the reader want to read?”

3. Quality
Your old English teacher is not looking over your shoulder. Perfection is not the goal and is, in fact, seldom possible. Keep your writing short and simple and your readers will thank you for it. Perfect but long and boring will not be read.

4. Length
If you are writing commissioned work, stick to the publisher’s requirements. Most publishers want between four and six hundred words. Blogs can be much smaller and should include appropriate pictures and embedded links.
Just don’t over do it. Remember, it’s the “World” wide web. Many readers in developing countries are still using dialup modems.

5. Format
Microsoft Office often adds weird, hidden code to what has been written. If at all possible, use Notepad to produce your final copy.


Courtesy: Great Writing Tips

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” - Victor Hugo

There are two ways to become a better writer, in general: write a lot, and read a lot.
There are no other steps.
Of course, within those two general directives, there are lots of more specific advice I can give you, and that other professional writers would offer. Let’s take a look at the second general directive: read a lot.

Why Reading Makes You a Better Writer
I’ve been an avid reader since childhood, and I would submit that most good (and especially great) writers could say the same. What we probably didn’t realize was that our trips into the fantasy worlds of these books were actually training us for our future careers. I’m glad I didn’t know — it might have taken a bit of the joy out of it.

Read can be pure joy, if you’re reading a good book. By that, I don’t mean good literature — I mean anything that captures your imagination, that compels you to read more, that tells you a good story, that creates wonderful characters, that builds new worlds.

But beyond reading for pleasure, a good writer also reads with an eye for the writing. Maybe not all the time, but at least some of the time. And many times that writer doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.

What we learn as readers, we use as writers. Maybe we don’t always do the best job at putting that knowledge to use, but that just takes practice. Over time, our writing becomes in some ways a compilation of all the things we’ve learned as readers, blended together in our own unique recipe.

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

How to Use Reading to Improve Your Writing
There’s no one way, of course. Every writer reads his own stuff, and puts that stuff to use in his own way. Below are just some tips of what’s worked for me — take what you like from it, and use what you find useful.

Create the reading habit. It can’t be a matter of just reading a book and then forgetting about reading after the initial burst of enthusiasm for reading. It has to be a habit, that you create and keep for life. As someone who has learned a lot about creating habits, I know that the best way to form the habit of reading is to focus on it exclusively — don’t try to form any other habits during this time. Write down your goal (i.e. “Read for 30 minutes every day” or something like that) and post it up somewhere you can see it. Tell a lot of people about it and report to them regularly to create accountability. Log your progress daily and give yourself rewards. Do this for a month and you’ll have a decent habit in place.
Have regular reading triggers. A habit has a trigger — a regularly occurring event that immediately precedes the habit. The stronger the association with the trigger, the stronger the habit. What triggers will you have for reading? For me, it’s eating, going to bed, using the bathroom, and waiting somewhere (like in a doctor’s waiting room). Every time those triggers come up, I read, without fail. Choose your triggers, and do it without fail. If you take my triggers as an example, if I read just 10-15 minutes for each trigger, that’s 6 times a day (three times eating and once for each of the others) for a total of 60-90 minutes a day. Sometimes it’s more, but that’s the minimum (I often read for much longer before bed).
Carry your book with you. When you go on the road, always carry your book in the car or wherever you go. You might not need it for 9 trips, but the 10th time, you’ll be glad you brought the book. When you have a lull, whip out the book.
Read great writers. By “great writers” I mean not only the greats (Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Cervantes, Joyce, and Fitzgerald are some of my favorites here) but also the great storytellers. People who can write with wit, create great characters, reach into your soul, create new worlds for you to inhabit. Writers who can teach you something.
Get inspired. When I read great writing, I am filled with inspiration to write. Sometimes I throw down my book and go to my computer to start hacking away at the keyboard. Other times I’ll jot down stuff in my notebook for later. Use these writers to inspire you to greatness.
Analyze character, plot, theme. Break down the books you read. You can either do this as you read, or afterward, when you reflect on them while doing something else (for me it’s running and doing housework and when I’m in the shower). Why did the writer make the choices she made? How did she create the characters and convey their qualities? How did she start the book and lay out the plot? How is the theme of the book conveyed throughout the book.
Pay attention to what they do with words. Beyond the big things mentioned above, the writer does little things with words, in every paragraph and sentence and phrase. A good writer pays close attention to words, the effects they create, how they mix together with other words, twists and turns of meaning. See how he does this, as it is the best instruction you can get.
Rip them off. A writing teacher once told me not to mimmic other writers — but instead to rip them off. Steal blatantly. Take things that you discover in other writers, things that work, things that you love … and use them in your own writing. Don’t worry — you can always revise later or throw it out completely. For now, rip them off. It’ll help you make these techniques your own.
Riff off them, experiment. Once you’ve ripped off a few dozen writers, start to riff. Do variations and experiments on stuff you’ve found. Give their techniques and styles your own twists and flair.
Expand beyond your normal genres. If you normally read one or two genres, break out beyond it. If you only read sci-fi and fantasy, read more mainstream literature, read romance or thrillers, read “chick lit” (a term I hate, but oh well). There’s a lot you can learn from writers beyond your normal scope.
Above all, enjoy your reading. Reading, of course, is about much more than just learning and analyzing and experimenting. It’s about joy. So don’t let your “reading to become a better writer” interfere with that. If a book bores you to tears, go ahead and put it down for something you enjoy more. If you start to lose track of the story because you’re overanalyzing, just forget about analysis and lose yourself in the book. You’ll still be learning, so fear not. If you read for pleasure, you won’t be able to help it.

Along with Latin, Greek is probably the language that most influenced other languages around the world. Many English words derive directly from Greek ones, and knowing their origin and meaning is important.
Below you will find 12 Greek words that are commonly used in our society. The next time you hear someone saying “Kudos to you,” you will know where it comes from.

1. Acme
The highest point of a structure. The peak or zenith of something. One could say that Rome reached the acme of its power on 117 AD, under the rule of Trajan.

2. Acropolis
Acro means edge or extremity, while polis means city. Acropolis, therefore, refers to cities that were built with security purposes in mind. The word Acropolis is commonly associated with Greece’s capital Athens, although it can refer to any citadel, including Rome and Jerusalem.

3. Agora
The Agora was an open market place, present in most cities of the ancient Greece. Today the term can be used to express any type of open assembly or congregation.

4. Anathema
Anathema is a noun and it means a formal ban, curse or excommunication. It can also refer to someone or something extremely negative, disliked or damned. Curiously enough, the original Greek meaning for this word was “something offered to the gods.”

5. Anemia
Anemia refers to a condition characterized by a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of the red blood cells (or of the hemoglobin). Over the years, however, the term started to appear in other contexts, referring to any deficiency that lies at the core of a system or organization.

6. Ethos
Translated literally from the Greek, ethos means “accustomed place.” It refers to a disposition or characteristics peculiar to a specific person, culture or movement. Synonyms include mentality, mindset and values.

7. Dogma
Dogma refers to the established belief or set of principles held by a religion, ideology or by any organization. Dogmas are also authoritative and undisputed. Outside of the religious context, therefore, the term tends to carry a negative connotation. Notice that the plural is either dogmata or dogmas.

8. Eureka
The exclamation Eureka is used to celebrate a discovery, and it can be translated to “I have found!”. It is attributed to the famous Greek mathematician Archimedes. While taking a bath, he suddenly realized that the water displaced must be equal to the volume of the part of his body he had submerged. He got so excited with the discovery that he left his home and started to run and shout “Eureka!” through the streets of Syracuse.

9. Genesis
Genesis means birth or origin. There are many synonyms for this word, including beginning, onset, start, spring, dawn and commencement. Genesis is also the name of the first book of the Bible.

10. Phobia
Many people wrongly think that a phobia is a fear. In reality it is more than that. Phobia is an irrational and exaggerated fear of something. The fear can be associated with certain activities, situations, things or people.

11. Plethora
You have a plethora when you go beyond what is needed or appropriate. It represents an excess or undesired abundance.

12. Kudos
Kudos means fame or glory, usually resulting from an important act or achievement. It is interesting to notice that in Greek and in the Standard British English, Kudos is a singular noun. Inside the United States, however, it is often used in a plural form (e.g., You deserve many kudos for this accomplishment!)

As a follow up to yesterday’s post about prepositions in time, place, and location, we wanted to dive into the confusing world of prepositions as they relate to transportation. Have you noticed that in English you say “get in the car” but you would say “get on the train”? Both are describing being inside, so why don’t they both use in?

Things you get on: train, plane, bus, boat
When talking about commercial or public transportation, such as a train or plane, use the preposition on.

The passengers are on the plane.
We need to get on this bus.
Manuel is waiting for us on the boat.

Things you get in: taxi, car, truck
When it comes to personal modes of transportation, such as a taxi or a car, use the preposition in.

She got in the taxi.
I am already in the car.
The boxes are loaded in the van.

As a general rule, you can choose a preposition based on the public/private modes of transportation, but (as any English learner knows) there are exceptions to every rule! Are there other prepositions that you struggle with? Share with us!

Jessica Weeg

There are about 150 prepositions in the English language, and non-native English speakers often have a hard time distinguishing which to use in order to complete a prepositional phrase. A preposition is a word that explains the time, spatial, or logical relationship between the other parts of a sentence. Since there are so many, it is impossible to memorize a complete list of prepositions, but here is a trick:

The mouse ran ________ the house.

If you can complete the above sentence and it makes sense, that word is a preposition. For instance, “the mouse ran in the house” makes sense, but saying “the mouse ran downstairs the house” does not. In is a preposition, whereas downstairs is a noun. This trick does not work to identify all prepositions, but it does work most of the time.
For the purpose of this post, we will focus on prepositions at, on, and in as they relate to time, place, and location.

Prepositions of time
We use at to designate specific times.

The train is due at 2:15 p.m.
We use on to designate days and dates.

My mother is coming on Monday.
We’re having a party on New Year’s Eve.
We use in for nonspecific times during a day, month, season, or year.

She likes to walk the dog in the morning.
It’s too cold in winter to run outside.
He was born in 1971.
He’s going on vacation in August.
Prepositions of place
We use at for specific addresses.

Rachel lives at 33 Bleeker Street in New York.
We use on to designate names of streets, avenues, etc.

Her apartment is on Bleeker Street.
And we use in for the names of land-areas (towns, counties, states, countries, and continents).

She lives in Manhattan.
Manhattan is in New York City.
New York City is in New York.
Prepositions of location
We use at for specific locations.

I am waiting at the bus stop.
We use on to describe being on the surface of something
Your shoes are on the floor.
You are standing on my foot.
We use in to describe being inside of a space.
I found this book in the library.
I left my backpack in the bathroom.

Let’s practice!
Complete the sentence with the correct preposition (at, on, or in):

1. My plane is arriving ______ 10:30pm tomorrow.

2. She left her jacket _______ the car.

3. The receipt is ______ the table.

4. I will take my vacation ______ October.

5. She said she would be here _______ time.

Which prepositions do you struggle with the most? Share with us and we will write a post to try to explain it more clearly!

Jessica Weeg

It is common for English speakers to mix up “less” and “fewer”. This is a mistake that even native speakers make fairly often. As a rule, “fewer” is used for nouns that can be counted individually, called count nouns, while “less” is used for things that can’t be counted, or noncount nouns.
Compare these sentence sets:
“You should try to eat fewer sugary snacks.”
“You should try to eat less sugar.”

“Fewer distractions in the office would help me work better.”
“Less talking in the office would help me work better.”

These sentences illustrate the difference between count and noncount nouns. Count nouns can be expressed in the plural (like snacks or distractions), while noncount nouns cannot be expressed in the plural (like sugar or talking).

The distinction between “much” and “many” also depends on whether a noun is a count or noncount noun. Much is used for noncount nouns while many is used for count nouns. Putting the 2 rules together, you use “much” and “less” for noncount nouns and “many” and “fewer” for count nouns:

“Eating too many sugary snacks is unhealthy. You should try to eat fewer sugary snacks.”
“Eating too much sugar is unhealthy . You should try to eat less sugar”.

“There are too many distractions in the office. Fewer distractions would help me work better.”
“There is too much talking in the office. Less talking would help me work better.”

The exceptions to less/fewer rule are time, money, and distance. You would say that something costs “less than $100”, not “fewer than $100”, even though dollars can technically be counted. This is because you are referring to the cost as a whole amount. Similarly, you should also say “I’ve lived here for less than six months” or “There’s a supermarket less than 2 blocks away”.

Hopefully these tips will help you make fewer mistakes with English grammar!

Courtesy: Voxy Blog

Some idioms are confused in the speaking; others just in the spelling. The following idioms are usually pronounced correctly, but they are often misspelled in writing.

1. waiting with bated breath
The word bated in this expression is often misspelled “baited.” For example, “We’re waiting with baited breath to hear if Rosie O’Donnell is officially coming back to daytime screens.”

The word bated is from a shortening of the verb abate. “To bate” means “to reduce, to lessen in intensity.” The expression “bated breath” is the only survival of the word in modern English. Read more here.

2. lo and behold
People use this to mean something like “and then see what happened.” The idiom is frequently misspelled as “low and behold.” Lo is an old form of “look.” Read more here.

3. pore over
Not to be confused with the noun pore (an opening in the skin), the verb pore means, “to study or examine carefully.” In expressions like “pore over a book” and “pore over my taxes,” the word is often misspelled as pour (to transfer liquid). Read more here.

4. toe the line
This expression derives from the practice of lining up with one’s toe touching a line that has been drawn on the ground. Competitors line up to begin a race or some other competition. When everyone “toes the line” in this way, conformity has been achieved. In modern use, the expression occurs almost always in a political context with the meaning of “to conform to a political party’s platform.” It is often miswritten as “tow the line.” Read more here.

5. pique one’s interest/curiosity
The French borrowing pique means “to stimulate.” The word is sometimes misspelled as peek and peak.
Courtesy: Daily Writing Tips

One of the most frequent types of mistakes that students of foreign languages make has to do with preposition use. Though prepositions can often be translated from one language to another, it’s usually hard to predict which one is used in what situation when learning a foreign language. It doesn’t help that prepositions can sometimes completely change the meaning of what you’re trying to say, especially in certain set expressions. Here are some pairs of phrases that seem pretty similar, but actually mean very different things.

If you can think of more pairs like this, please post them in comments. Also, feel free to add new sentences that use these phrases in different ways!

1. Hang up / hang out
To “hang up” means to end a phone call; to “hang out” means to spend time relaxing, usually with a friend.
If he hangs up before I’m done talking, I will be too mad to hang out with him this weekend.

2. Look up / look forward
To “look up” means to search and find information about something, usually in a dictionary or some sort of database. To “look forward” to something means to be excited about an event that will happen in the future.
After looking up the plot of Woody Allen’s latest movie, I’m really looking forward to seeing it!

3. Get into / get over
To “get into” means to become involved or interested in something. To “get over” can either mean the opposite of this — to lose interest in something — or it can also mean to recover from something, particularly an illness.
After I get over this flu, which is making me so weak, I’m going to get into biking again.

4. Throw out / throw up
To “throw up” means to vomit, whereas to “throw out” means to dispose of something that is no longer being used. Hint: In this case, “out” and “away” can be used to express the same meaning, so to “throw something out” and to “throw something away” both mean to put it in the garbage.
If my cat throws up on the floor in my living room, I’ll have to throw away the rug that’s in there.

5. Run into / run over
To “run into” someone can have the literal meaning of colliding with their body, but the phrase often means to meet or see someone unexpectedly. To “run over” something means to drive a vehicle over that person or thing.
I was so excited when I ran into my friend that I forgot to look both ways when crossing the street and a car almost ran me over!

6. Put down / put off
To “put down” another person means to insult them or make them feel useless or stupid. To “put off” something, usually some sort of event, means to postpone it.
I put off going out to lunch with my friend because the last time I spoke with her, she kept putting me down.

7. Hand in / hand out
To “hand in” an assignment means to submit it; to “hand out” means to distribute to a group of people. Here, because “in” and “out” are opposites, the two phrases have somewhat opposite meanings. However, be careful, as this is not necessarily always the case.
The teacher handed out the test to all of his students and told them to hand in the answers before the day was over.

8. Break into / break up
To “break into” a place means to forcibly enter it, and is usually used with a place that you should not enter or to which access is usually restricted. To “break up” with someone means to end a relationship.
If your girlfriend breaks into your house in the middle of the night uninvited, that’s probably a pretty good reason to break up with her!

Maya Barzilai

Ought to is used in two ways.
1. Logical Necessity
One way of using ought to is to say that we think something is probable, because it seems logical or normal. Look at these sentences:
1. Your parents ought to be here soon; they left home an hour ago.
2. A: We will spend the holiday on the beach.
B: That ought to allow you some time to tell your wife about your problems.
Apart from this use, ought to can be used to impose and ask about obligation: to advise people (including oneself) to do things or to tell people that they have a duty to do something or to enquire about one’s duty.
Consider the sentences below:
3. I really ought to go and see my sick aunt.
4. What time ought I to do this work?
5. She ought to be more careful.
6. Women ought not to talk to men in that manner.
In both these meanings, ought to have a very similar meaning to should.
Ought to and should are like weaker forms of must. Compare:
7. That must be my father (= I’m certain it’s my father.)
8. That ought to be my mother (=There’s a reason to think it’s my daughter.)
9. You must tell the police (= an order, or very strong advice)
10. You ought to tell the police (= advice)
As the example above shows ought to expresses ‘probability’, and can be regarded as a weaker equivalent of must.
Note that, ought to expresses an obligation, which may not be fulfilled. Look at the sentences below:
11. I really ought to go an condole with the Daniels
(‘but I probably won’t have time)
Ought to can be followed by a perfect infinitive to talk about the past:
12. You ought to have known we were coming.
13. The bomb ought to have exploded now.
Ought to is often felt to be awkward in the questions involving inversion, and should, is preferred; so that, instead of:
14. Ought we to go at this time?
Some speakers prefer
15. Should we go at this time?
Note, however, that questions and negatives are not (normally) made with do:
16. Ought you to smoke at all?
17. You oughtn’t to smoke at all.

Credit: Basic English (A Trouble-shooting Approach): Adeleke A. Fakoya (1999)

Sometime, some time, and sometimes are the words that are frequently used in everyday lives, but because of the similarities in their spellings, even native speakers get confused with them SOMETIMES.
Sometime
An indefinite time in the future or an unspecified point in the past

Example:
We should hang out sometime.
It happened sometime before noon yesterday.

Some time
A period of time. It is like saying ‘some people’, ‘some books’, etc. – ‘some’ is used to describe how much of the ‘time’.

Example:
Can you give me a call when you have some time?
I have some time to help you before I go work.

Sometimes
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
now and then; from time to time; occasionally

Example:
Sometimes he acts like a child.
Jack usually plays baseball after work. But he plays soccer sometimes.

Hannah Yoon

Sometimes one word in a certain language can mean a number of different things in English. Of course, having multiple English words for just one word makes it very difficult for English learners. One of the best examples is ‘hope’, ‘expect’, and ‘ook forward to’. To make things worse, ‘hope’, ‘expect’, and ‘look forward to’ have very different and distinct meanings in English. They are usually not interchangeable. Let’s examine them more closely.

Hope: To wish for something with anticipation of its fulfillment.
‘Hope’ means you want something to happen. We use ‘hope’ when we desire something but are uncertain whether it will happen.

Example:
I hope it doesn’t rain on our wedding day.

Expect: To regard as probable or likely.
‘Expect’ usually means you believe something will happen, whether you want it to or not. It’s an emotionally neutral term.

Example:
I don’t expect to ever win the lottery, but I still enjoy trying.

Look forward to: To think of a future event with eager anticipation.
‘Look forward to’ is only used for events that are actually going to happen. We don’t use ‘look forward to’ for things that might happen.

Example:
I’m looking forward to my 17th birthday.

Most common mistake:
By far the most common mistake that is made with these words is using ‘expect’ to mean ‘look forward to’. People often say “I’m really expecting your birthday party.” To an English speaker that sounds like, “I’m almost certain you will have a birthday party.”

Here are some other examples of how not to use ‘expect’:
1. I’m expecting to see your baby. (You should say, I’m looking forward to seeing your baby.)
2. I’m expecting my vacation next week. (You should say, I’m looking forward to my vacation next week.)

Example:
“Canada is playing England tonight. I hope Canada can manage a victory. England is usually a stronger team, though, so I expect they will win the game. Whoever wins, I’m really looking forward to watching the game!”