by Phil Williams | Nov 24, 2016 | Definitions, Vocabulary, Words
I received a series of questions from a reader with no return email. So if you’re reading this, Carl, I’ll answer your questions in the blog. Starting with this – what is the difference between complex and complicated? A plan, for example, can be both complex and...
by Phil Williams | Oct 13, 2016 | Definitions, Exercises, Vocabulary, Words
It’s that fun time of year where the English speaking world prepares for Halloween – with scary stories, films and costumes. Which means it’s also the time of year to practice our Halloween vocabulary – words which cover a range of frightening topics, emotions and...
by Phil Williams | Aug 18, 2016 | Definitions, Vocabulary, Words
Insure, ensure and assure are easily confused words as they both look and sound similar – and have rather closely connected meanings. They do have distinct differences, however. Consider the following example sentences: We would like to insure our boat for £10,000. I...
by Phil Williams | May 12, 2016 | Definitions, Grammar, Prepositions, Vocabulary, Words
A few weeks ago I wrote an article about the differences between the words plain and plane; it’s one of many articles I have on this site exploring confusing, or easily misunderstood, words and phrases. With so much content on this site, I thought it was time I...
by Phil Williams | Apr 14, 2016 | Definitions, Vocabulary, Words
Plain and plane are easily confused in English – they are homophones, so you may write one when meaning the other. They have a number of distinct definitions where their meanings are completely different – but one meaning where their meanings are very...
by Phil Williams | Feb 4, 2016 | Grammar, Prepositions, Words
How can we define the rules for placing a preposition in a sentence? Before a noun? After a verb? One of the additions to the second edition of Word Order in English Sentences is a guide to prepositions. Though they are often connected to other parts of a sentence,...