Why we say Bachelors and Masters for degrees
When we refer to the degrees BA or MA in English, we use an s at the end – calling them a Bachelors or Masters. This may sound strange as it is one degree, not a plural, so why do we say it? Actually it’s not a plural at all, it is a possessive – and...
Why we say 21st Century for years starting 20…
The way we describe ages, including years or people’s ages, can sometimes seem strange if you consider that years beginning “20” are referred to as “21st Century” (and similarly, years starting “19” were the “20th Century”). There is a very logical reason for this,...
The Impact of Dickens’ Christmas Carol – in Language and Culture
In 1843, Charles Dickens wrote a novella called A Christmas Carol, a story still told today. The story followed a miser (a nasty man who does not want to share his wealth) on Christmas Eve, as he is visited by three spirits that teach him about kindness and caring....
Exercising English at Halloween
We’re fans of Halloween and the spooky period here on ELB, so I’ve compiled a variety of articles and exercises to explore the language and literature of this holiday. The English speaking world celebrates Halloween at the end of October, a time when...
Unusual adjective positions that don’t stick to the rules
The general rules for adjective word order (the basics of which are covered in the ELB guide to Word Order in English) are usually understood as most adjectives coming before the noun they describe, with a few exceptions that follow linking verbs, such as to be (when...Want to Master English?
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