Confusing words: British and American terms

British and American English often spell the same word differently, for example: labour/labor, enthrall/enthral, or centre/center. You can find out more about these differences here. There are also many cases in which the two varieties of English use different terms to describe the same thing. Here’s a list of various British words and expressions together… Read More

French words and expressions commonly used in English

Over the years, the English language has borrowed a great number of French words and expressions. Some of this vocabulary has been so completely absorbed by English that speakers might not realize its origins. Other words and expressions have retained their “Frenchness” – a certain je ne sais quoi which speakers tend to be much… Read More

Confusing words: Travel, Trip, Voyage and Journey

Travel (v) is used in general terms as a verb – it usually means to change location. The word travel is very rarely used as a noun. For example: I have to travel a lot for work. Trip (n) is often substituted for the word ‘holiday’ when the travelling distance was short. For example: How… Read More

Confusing words: Say and tell

 Word  Explanation  Example  say  to say something (say is followed immediately by a noun clause). If you want to put a personal object after say, use the word to.  Andrew said that he was right.He said to his father that he was right.  tell  to tell someone something (tell is followed by an object noun… Read More

Confusing words: I and Me

Usually we choose the correct form by instinct. For example;- I am a teacher. (not me) Give that to me. (not I) There are other times when people make mistakes with these two pronouns. I/me is difficult when it is coupled with another pronoun or with a noun. This is when you have to think… Read More

Confusing words: Words With No Plural Forms

Many students who are learning English are very surprised to learn that the words information, knowledge, and jewelry have no plural forms. These are called uncountable noums: Here is my list so far: accommodation advice baggage bread bravery chaos clarity courage cowardice equipment education evidence furniture garbage greed homework honesty information jewelry knowledge livestock luggage marketing… Read More

Confusing words: Thank or Thanks God it’s Friday?

“Thank God” is actually a shortened version of “Thanks be to God” which means that you are telling the others (your friends or whoever) that you are thankful to God. “Thank God” is in the same way as “Praise God”. “Thank God” is also correct because you are using “Thank” as a verb I (we)… Read More

Confusing words: mugwump

Origin: The Mugwumps were Republican political activists who bolted from the United States Republican Party by supporting Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland in the United States presidential election of 1884. Theyswitched parties because they rejected the financial corruption associated with Republican candidate James G. Blaine. In a close election, the Mugwumps supposedly made the difference in… Read More

Sneaked or Snuck?

Sneak (snik) v. sneak n., adj. v.i. 1. to go in a stealthy or furtive manner; slink; skulk. 2. to act in a furtive or underhand way. v.t. 3. to move, put, pass, etc., in a stealthy or furtive manner: He sneaked the gun into his pocket. 4. to do, take, or have hurriedly or surreptitiously:… Read More