Knowing how words are spelled will help you become a better writer, but did you also know that learning to spell correctly will help you become a better reader, too? Spelling involves learning sets of rules and how to apply … Continue reading…
With all of the discussion we’ve had recently about the etymologies of different words and the various meanings and usages that can enrich your vocabulary, we might have aroused your interest in further study of linguistics, the scientific study of … Continue reading…
Unlike many other languages, English is a relatively gender-free language. As we’ve discussed previously, students of the English language – unlike those who are studying German or French, for example – don’t have to remember that chairs are feminine and … Continue reading…
In the northern hemisphere, the days are getting longer, and the cycle of the seasons is starting again. February was originally the last month of the Roman calendar year, right before the beginning of spring. The word February comes from … Continue reading…
Vocabulary improvement is a life-long process. If you’re a parent, it’s important that you help your children with their vocabulary skills, because the earlier they start focusing on improving and expanding their vocabulary, the easier it will be for them … Continue reading…
For nearly 500 years the kings and queens of England ruled over an empire that at its height reached all around the world, from the green meadows of Ireland to the lush jungles along the Nile River, in the hot … Continue reading…
The editors of the New Oxford American Dictionary chose refudiate as their 2010 word of the year, and now the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary have added knowledgeful to the OED, making it an officially-sanctioned proper English word, even … Continue reading…
Having a large, diverse, comprehensive English vocabulary will help you succeed at work and at school. Your daily interactions with other people will flow more smoothly, and you’ll be able to get the most out of the information available to … Continue reading…
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…
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…