Latest Articles from ELB
How to use the word “even”
“Even” is an interesting word. It can be used for a variety of specific meanings that may be hard to generalise, and can raise particular confusion when it comes to its place in a sentence. It can add emphasis to examples (“I don’t like ducks – not even small ones.”)...
Pictures worth a thousand words – textbook illustration examples
In place of a lesson, today, I have some exciting new images for my upcoming grammar guide, The English Tenses. I enlisted the help of a local artist to produce these, following suggestions from a number of beta readers - and I am sure you will agree these pictures...
How to write formal sentences using the passive voice
Formal, or polite, sentences often use the passive voice because it sounds more impersonal and neutral. Active sentences, on the other hand, can seem personal, or direct, which can sound too casual or too aggressive. Consider the following active sentences, and how...
May Day – traditions and celebrations in England
May Day is the festival of the Spring, popular across the Northern Hemisphere as a time for various traditions. It is celebrated on the 1st of May, and in many countries coincides with International Workers’ Day. In the UK, the focus is on Spring fertility, with...
Should you say “on foot” or “by foot”?
When we talk about walking, we can say you go on foot or by foot, as a mode of transport. Which preposition is correct? Technically, on is more accurate, and common, and in exams you may be marked incorrect for using by foot. But why is by foot a mistake? Or is it a...
Writing email subject lines – exercise
This exercise will test your use of the tips offered in the previous lesson, Writing Informative Email Subject Lines. Below, I have given you 9 possible email summaries, explaining the contents of a complete email. These become increasingly complicated. For each email...
How to write informative email subject lines
Informative email subject lines must be short and descriptive. It is a challenge to be noticed in someone’s inbox, so make sure your business and information emails get straight to the point and highlight important information, without being dramatic or appearing like...
How to write dates in British and American English
Calendar dates can be written in a wide variety of ways in English, and the choice often depends on formal or informal writing, personal style and whether you are writing British or American English. Whatever the format, in British English, dates are usually written...
Embedded Questions explained, with exercises
Embedded or included questions are used in two main situations: when we ask for information indirectly or when we report questions. This is common in more passive, or softer English (“Do you know...”), for reported speech (“She told me where...”) or to discuss a...