Monthly Archives: October 2010

English Abbreviations and Acronyms

Yesterday we talked a little bit about the evolution of the English language, and how the language has shifted over the years, with new words being added as part of the ongoing changes in society, technology, literature, and the arts. … Continue reading…

The Evolution of the English Language

Over the past millennium, the English language has gone through many changes, grafting Norse influences onto its Germanic roots in the 10th century, cultivating new phrases and words from French in the 11th and 12th centuries, enriching its foundation with … Continue reading…

Eight Words to Study for the SAT

We know some of you are looking for hints on what to study for the SAT (or PSAT) or, if you’re planning on applying to graduate school, the GRE. In the past we’ve talked about strategies for studying vocabulary, and … Continue reading…

What English Words are Most Difficult to Spell Correctly?

For those of you who are learning English as a second language, the answer to this question might be “All of them!” Many words in English include tricky vowel combinations or unusual clusters of consonants that make their pronunciation and … Continue reading…

Why Don’t English Nouns Have Gender Differences?

If you’ve studied other languages, such as French or German, you’re well aware that one of the most difficult parts of learning languages that do use gender differentiation is associating the correct gender with each noun. For example, the French … Continue reading…

Vocabulary Study: Conscious Study and Unconscious Learning

Have you ever seen advertisements for “sleep-learning” tapes or recordings that promise to teach you something (such as a new language) while you doze comfortably in your bed? This idea of sleep-learning (also called “hypnopaedia”) has been around for nearly … Continue reading…

Vocabulary for Success: Infinitesimal

Studying for an important test like the GRE or SAT can seem overwhelming sometimes, with all of the facts and figures you need to learn and memorize. Given the amount of work required to prepare for these exams, it might … Continue reading…

Radio Programs and Podcasts About English Language and Vocabulary

In an ordinary busy life, it’s hard sometimes to find time to sit down and devote even fifteen minutes to a vocabulary study program. Fortunately, with today’s technology, there are many ways to access information on vocabulary, and if you … Continue reading…

Vocabulary Quiz Answers: Do You Know Your Word Roots?

Yesterday we posted a short quiz to give you an example of some of the words you might encounter on a test such as the SAT or GRE, where part of the English language test section requires you to identify and … Continue reading…

Vocabulary Quiz: Practical Uses For Word Root Study

We’ve been going on and on lately about how important it is to devote study time to learning basic word roots, and that’s partly because many primary schools these days skip over this essential vocabulary skill in favor of rote … Continue reading…