Vocabulary

When I began teaching English, I quickly saw how often students get confused by “Giving vs Given.” These two forms come from the same verb “give” but serve different purposes in grammar. Giving appears in continuous tenses, like “She is giving a presentation,” showing an action in progress. Meanwhile, given works as a past participle, … Read more

The phrase finger in the dike comes from a timeless tale where a young boy plugs a leak in a dike using just his finger, stopping a flood until help arrives. That story stuck with me since childhood, not for the drama, but for the message about how a small action at the right time … Read more

During my years of teaching English, one of the most common questions from speakers has been about who and whom and whether they’re using the right one. It’s a classic debate, especially when we casually say “Who should I call?” in everyday conversation, but then wonder if that should become “Whom should I call?” in … Read more

In professional communication, I frequently see the phrase “Looking forward to working with you” in emails and business correspondence. It’s a commonly used expression, but many never consider its grammatical correctness or appropriateness, even though it appears in both casual and formal contexts. As someone who teaches business writing, I’ve answered countless questions about whether … Read more

When I first started teaching English, I saw how easily phonetic similarities could confuse learners, especially with terms like bespeckled and bespectacled. These two words may sound alike, but their meanings are very different, and that confusion is real even for native speakers. Once, I described a character in a story as “bespeckled,” thinking of … Read more

Last year, I was typing a quick message to a friend recovering from surgery when I wrote, “Thanks for the well wishes!” Then I paused, wondering if that was even grammatically correct. This commonly used phrase felt natural, but I’d seen it debated by grammar enthusiasts before. So I went digging into its origins, only … Read more

When I taught English, many seasoned speakers felt confused by the distinction between “Any Problem or Any Problems” and how it shaped communication. I remember wondering why certain sentences felt odd, even if the usage seemed okay. The subtle shift in phrases changed the tone completely. Especially in academic or professional settings, choosing the correct … Read more

When I first started editing professionally, I found hyphens to be tricky, especially with prefixes like re. I’d often pause and ask: should I write reorder or re-order? That question isn’t always straightforward, and knowing the rules, exceptions, and best practices in American English matters. A reliable guide helped me understand how hyphens influence meaning. … Read more

One common question even advanced learners ask is: A Hilarious or An Hilarious – which is correct and why? The confusion stems from how the “h” in hilarious is treated. I’ve heard people say both versions in casual spoken English, and it’s often followed by a raised eyebrow or someone correcting the speaker. This seemingly … Read more

It’s a catchy phrase that took over TikTok in early 2024, blending emotional vibes with soft rebellion. I first saw it while scrolling late at night. It seemed playful at first, but with every video, I noticed men expressing a more emotionally open side, flashing grins, and delivering smoother lines. This wasn’t just viral content; … Read more