by Phil Williams | Jul 7, 2020 | Definitions, Words, Writing skills
A common theme in my teaching is exploring the difference between clearly defined grammar rules and where English becomes flexible. Sometimes variations in English fall into regional or linguistic uses, but often it is a case of style, which can be defined by rules...
by Phil Williams | Feb 5, 2019 | Definitions, General English, Words
The phrase “to be of help” is a construction roughly synonymous with “helpful”. “Of help” is particularly common in formal settings, and has a subtly different meaning and application to the adjective “helpful”. I briefly touched on such “noun of noun” constructions...
by Phil Williams | Oct 3, 2017 | Definitions, Grammar, Vocabulary, Words
I was recently asked which comparative form is more correct, using so or as: “England is not as hot as France” or “England is not so hot as France”. It’s an interesting point as they are both possible, so neither is really more correct – and one of my reference...
by Phil Williams | Jan 5, 2017 | Definitions, Grammar, Words
The rules given in reference books, and indeed dictionaries, can sometimes be rather misleading, or represent incomplete ideas. As I teach (and study!) advanced language use, I often have to question reference guides, and have recently encountered two examples of...
by Phil Williams | Dec 22, 2016 | Definitions, Exercises, General English, Vocabulary, Words
Here on ELB, I’m always fond of highlighting seasonal language, with articles and exercises that help practice English at particular times of year. In much of the English-speaking world, Christmas is one of the biggest and most universally celebrated festivals,...
by Phil Williams | Dec 14, 2016 | Definitions, General English, Vocabulary, Words
Here’s another confusing pair of words. Deceit and deception are both nouns, both loosely used to describe the act of deceiving. The act of deceiving being the act of concealing the truth or otherwise being misleading or false. In many situations the words can be used...