You now have a great opportunity to memorize new exquisite words with Linguix. Make sure you add them to your active vocabulary by using them as frequently as possible. Let’s begin!

Felicity /fɪˈlɪsɪti/ 

Meaning: a state of feeling intense happiness

Synonyms: bliss, delight, happiness

Example: My mom and her sister always say that giving birth gave them a felicity they had never known.

Ineffable /ɪnˈɛfəb(ə)l/

Meaning: too great or extreme to be described in words

Synonyms: indescribable, unutterable

Example: The beauty of nature in Switzerland is ineffable.

Mellifluous /mɛˈlɪflʊəs/

Meaning: smooth, gentle and pleasant to listen to (voice or piece of music)

Synonyms: dulcet, melodious

Example: Her mellifluous voice is giving me goosebumps.

Plethora /ˈplɛθ(ə)rə/

Meaning: a great or excessive amount of something

Synonyms: plenty, overabundance

Example: The English language has a plethora of beautiful words that allow us to express meanings and ideas in multiple ways.

Succinct /səkˈsɪŋ(k)t/

Meaning: said or written in a clear and brief manner

Synonyms: laconic, concise

Example: Make sure your essay is succinct and coherent.

Elation /ɪˈleɪʃ(ə)n/

Meaning: a state of being filled with joy, happiness and exhilaration

Synonyms: euphoria, excitement

Example: She experienced great elation and relief after finally achieving her most desired goal.

Catharsis /kəˈθɑːsɪs/

Meaning: the process of releasing strong or repressed emotions

Synonyms: purification, emotional release

Example: We feel relieved and relaxed after experiencing catharsis.

Ebullient /ɪˈbʌljənt,ɪˈbʊljənt/

Meaning: cheerful and full of energy

Synonyms: enthusiastic, bouncy

Example: My father is known for his ebullient personality.

That’s it! Make sure to add these powerful words to your regular English vocabulary and think of situations where you can properly use them. 

The post 8 Exquisite English Words to Enrich Your Vocabulary appeared first on Linguix Blog.

The problem is that too many words used when describing food just don’t really describe anything at all. Or else they are just too cliché, or in the worst-case scenario, put people right off the food that you should in fact be encouraging them to eat.

Here is a list of some of the words that just don’t cut it when talking about food, along with some alternatives that will hit the spot just that much better.

Tasty

The problem with the word ‘tasty’ is that it really tells us nothing. All food, almost without exception, has a taste of something (anyone with an imagination can, therefore, describe it), so using this word, which has really come to mean that something tastes ‘good’, really gives us no detail at all. It’s a bit like saying something tastes ‘good’!

Alternatives: Absolutely any description of the food that reveals in detail why the taste is positive.

Spicy

The problem with this word is it is now used to mean something which is laden with chili, when in fact its connotation is that it is full of spices, which of course can include anything (and perhaps no chili whatsoever).

Alternatives: Why not actually mention the spices that are prevalent in the taste, or if it is full of chili, then say that. ‘Hot’ definitely doesn’t hit the mark either, because you could just as easily be talking about the temperature.

Delicious

This word is useless because not only is it subjective (something that is delicious for one person may absolutely not be for another) but it is now so ubiquitous that it has become practically meaningless.

Alternatives: Talk about the blend of flavors, and if it really is something that you would recommend, then be specific as to why.

Moist

Did you know that the word ‘moist’ is regularly voted as one of the most hated words in the English language? The problem is the sound of the word (for some people), and also the word’s connotation (for others). You see, it has become somewhat connected to bodily fluids.

It’s not really a bad word to use if truth be told. A cake that is soft and ‘liquidy’ really should be described as ‘moist’, but for this irrational dislike that people have for the word. It’s probably best avoided, which is a shame really because for accurate descriptions it really should be a winner.

Oh, and it’s synonym ‘soggy’ should never be used! Never.

Alternatives: juicy, rich with liquid.

Moorish

This invented word has come to mean something that entices you to eat (or drink) more. That can really be applied to so many things that it again becomes a redundant term. A synonym is addictive, but this word has too many negative connotations to be considered a worthy alternative too.

Alternatives: Enchanting, bewitching, beguiling.

Organic

Where do we even start with this word? Organic has become a buzzword for anything and everything that goes against the mass-produced norm, but the irony is that organic has become so prevalent that it itself has become mass-produced.

Of course, the principle is a good one. It is the right one. The problem really is that the word has become so ubiquitous on a vast range of products that we have lost sight of what it actually means.

Alternative: Talk specifically about the food journey involved with the product so readers get a real sense of where it came from

Foodie

A foodie has come to represent some sort of special class of people who really cares about food and understands it. But really, when you think about it, with a few exceptions, we are all foodies (not least because without it, we wouldn’t last very long). The problem with a foodie is that it is exclusive like it’s a club that not everyone can be a member of, and when it comes to food, that’s just not the case.

We all have foods that we are enthusiastic about, and we have our own way of preparing and enjoying the food that we eat. We are all foodies, so the word itself is really a redundant expression.

Alternatives: Chefs, professional cooks, or just avoid the term completely.

Yummy

This word is cute when you are five years old. Anything older and it is simply a bit immature and, a bit like ‘tasty’ and ‘delicious’, not really descriptive at all. Yummy (which has also found itself attached to the word ‘mummy’ in recent times to describe something else equally as poorly, not to mention in a way that is very un PC too) is juvenile and gives no real description to the food you are applying it too. So, find something else.

Alternatives: Again, absolutely any description of the food that reveals in detail why the taste is positive.

Nosh

This is an old slang word simply meaning ‘food’. The problem is that it makes food sound really unappetizing, so it really shouldn’t be used at all. It’s a lazy term that harks back to a time when people really didn’t put the time and effort into cooking that the activity deserves. Nosh is from a bygone age, therefore, and really needs to be replaced.

Alternatives: Cuisine, food, dish.

Gastro

Gastro is a shortened version of the very scientific-sounding word ‘gastronomy’, which means the preparation and enjoyment of food. But there are two problems with the word gastro. The first is that it sounds like some sort of medical problem. The second is that it is way too scientific and clinical for something that really should be much more passionate, heartfelt, natural and accessible. Plus, for many British people, in particular, it represents a craze that has somewhat seen the demise of the classic English pub: the dreaded gastro-pub. It’s either a restaurant or a pub. Make up your mind!

Alternatives: Again, what’s wrong with ‘food’? 

The post Words to Avoid When Writing About Food appeared first on Linguix Blog.

Why would you do this?

Quite simply, because you would then have a seamless means of checking your grammar, spelling, and style in relation to anything you write, absolutely anywhere on the web. So, whether you are writing a social media post or blog article, a work email, an insight for a forum, an important Google Docs piece, or perhaps even all at the same time, Linguix is with you every step of the way to ensure you write better.

As long as you are writing on the web, then the Linguix extension is there alongside you to highlight possible errors, make recommendations to edit, and even there as a look-up option if you wish to get definitions and synonyms of what you are reading and/or writing.

And remember, that’s a free extension!

Here are some of the places you might need Linguix most.

Social and Business Media

Linguix is fully compatible with your social and business media posts via the biggest and best sites, so whether you are reaching out directly to customers with your Facebook posts or Tweets, or are penning something a little more business-to-business focused on LinkedIn, the Linguix tool will give you a little alert if a spelling or grammar mistake is detected.

Simply hover your cursor over the word or phrase that has been underlined by the Linguix tool, and be presented with alternatives, which can be accepted or rejected as you like. It’s that easy. And rest assured that these suggestions are powered by an AI tool developed by language experts, with an incredibly comprehensive database of suggestions to select from as appropriate.

Google Docs

In February of 2020, Linguix announced an exciting update to its service: support for Google Documents.

Google Documents is an excellent tool for businesses to share longer-form texts and allow collaborative edits. Enabling the Linguix extension to work here has allowed businesses to step up the quality of writing with the complete set of Linguix suggestions and full editing suite now applicable within these important documents.

WordPress

Populating your website with well-written text, as well as informative blog posts and the full combination of written materials is essential for business. Once again, the Linguix extension works seamlessly with the text you enter here at the backend, providing the recommended edits that ensure the text reflects the professionalism of your business once it is live on the site. It works with Medium too if blog posts are your focus.

Use it to learn new words

The Linguix Chrome extension is not just about writing. Whatever you are reading on the web, simply right-click on the word that interests you, and immediately be provided with an accurate definition as provided by Linguix.

If that wasn’t enough, you can hover over a word and then hold down the Alt button and double click (ensuring ease of use) to bring up a list of synonyms. In this way, not only can you learn an abundant new amount of vocabulary, but you could also select a word that might be more appropriate for any text that you are writing.

Here we have introduced just a small selection of examples of where the Linguix extension for Chrome (or Firefox or Edge) could be used, as well as some of the functions that are available to you. We focus on the breadth of our offering, in terms of the literally thousands of compatible sites, the accuracy of our suggestions (based on algorithms developed by professional linguists), and then the user-friendliness of the application and presentation.

And it’s free! Try it now, and then have a look at what our additional Premium features could bring you.

The post Where Does the Linguix Google Chrome Extension Work, and How Can It Help? appeared first on Linguix Blog.

‘Been’ is the past participle of the verb ‘to be’, and so, as such, is used in perfect tenses. Here are some examples:

‘I have been very tired recently.’

‘My car has been stolen.’

‘Gone’ is the past participle of the verb ‘to go’, and so is used in perfect tenses to represent this common verb. Again, here are some examples:

‘My brother has gone to Europe.’

‘Where have they gone?’

However, there is one situation when these two participles, which appear to be totally different, are linked. That situation is in movement.

Gone

‘Gone’, as the past participle of ‘to go’, represents when a person of thing has moved to another place, such as in the examples above. Here are some more examples:

‘My colleague Simon has gone home early today.’

‘Where have you gone? We need you back here in the office.’ (A cell phone conversation)

The emphasis in these examples is that the subject of the sentence is no longer in the place where the statement is made, or where the subject began.

‘Been’

‘Been’, as the past participle of ‘to be’, is often used to speak about states, such as emotions and feelings, or to describe a passive action (where ‘to be’ is used as an auxiliary).

However, ‘been’ is also used to speak about movement. In this case, the person or thing moved to another place, but has since returned to the original place. Here are some examples:

‘Have you ever been to Mexico?’

‘Yes, I’ve been to Mexico three times.’

In this instance, the conversation is definitely not taking place in Mexico, so represents a journey that was made and then returned from. In this case, three times.

In this way, ‘been’ is typically used in the present perfect tense to talk about experiences of travel or movement, again such as in the example above.

‘Gone’ Vs ‘Been’

There is, therefore, a fundamental difference between using ‘gone’ and ‘been’ to talk about movement. Note the contrast in these examples:

‘Where have you gone?’ (A cell phone conversation between two people who were in the same place at some stage before the conversation)

‘Where have you been?’ (A face-to-face conversation between two people who are now in the same place, but one of whom was absent for a period).

In the second example above, it would also be acceptable to say ‘Where did you go?’, particularly in the United States. In British English, the present perfect tense with ‘been’ (as in the example above) would be more common.

So, in summary, ‘gone’ is movement in one directions, whereas ‘been’ represents a movement or journey that was returned from.

If you have ‘gone to France’, you haven’t come back (you are still in France).

If you have ‘been to France’, you are definitely not in France now.

Example mistakes

These are examples of typical mistakes when using ‘gone’ and ‘been’:

‘Have you ever gone to Mexico? – ‘been’

‘Yes, I’ve gone to Mexico three times.’ – ‘been’

‘I’ve gone there before.’ – ‘been’

‘Where did you go?’ ‘I’ve just gone to the shop to buy this soda.’ – ‘been’

Generally speaking, it is much more common to make a mistake by using ‘gone’ instead of ‘been’ than vice versa.

The post How to Use the Past Participles ‘Been’ and ‘Gone’ Correctly appeared first on Linguix Blog.

The Linguix AI-powered writing assistant is available to download for free as a browser extension on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Here are just five reasons why you should:

Fix typos and grammar mistakes wherever you are writing on the net

At heart, the Linguix tool is an advanced grammar and style checking tool that goes beyond what you will have come to expect from most simple tools of this kind. The Linguix tool applies 2000+ context-based rules and over 1700+ common patterns developed by Linguists in order to power the algorithm that scans your texts in detail.

The result is stylish and error-free texts that you can be proud of. And the tools apply wherever you write on the web, once you have downloaded the free extension.

Brighten up your writing with suitable synonyms

As well as the correction of grammar, stylistics and spelling mistakes, the Linguix tool provides you with a detailed list of synonyms for whatever word you choose to highlight. As a result, you can peruse the list of options and select the word that is most suitable for the context and your audience. In this way, you are not just creating flawless texts, but you are developing your language skills too.

Enhance your vocabulary with the look up in Linguix feature

Another way in which Linguix educates as well as assists is in the “lookup in Linguix” feature. Once you have downloaded the extension, you now have the ability to click on any word you read on the web and get a definition of that word provided by Linguix, as well as a list of synonyms. In that way, you are benefitting from a powerful education tool that goes beyond just the simple correction of grammar (far beyond!)

Get lightning-fast Google Docs support

In February 2020 Linguix released a support feature for Google Docs, allowing instant grammar and style recommendations for any writing in Google Docs. But development continued and integration was redesigned in order to include document support for pieces of work up to 30 pages long, meaning the full Linguix support package can be applied to college essays, detailed business reports, blog posts or any other larger texts in Google Docs at the expected high level of Linguix performance. In fact, tests have shown that the Linguix tool works faster than most well-known competitors in this regard.

In addition, you can avoid any delays when opening and running documents that you don’t intend to edit by using the “view-only” option. However, if you change your mind as you are browsing, simply hit the “check it” button to start the AI-based algorithm for checking for corrections.

Get advanced statistics related to your writing

Upgrade to become a Premium user with Linguix and avail of the tool’s brand-new feature: advanced statistics. Copy and paste your writing into Linguix, and then move over to where the number of mistakes is accumulated on the side of the screen. Click the diagram icon here and immediately receive a comprehensive list of statistics and a readability score relating to your text.

The statistics included here cover all manner of elements such as document length, the time it will take to read the text, and the average length of words and sentences included in the text. The overall readability score provided is based on the Flesch test, and as a result, you can tailor your language and style to the audience that you intend to reach out to.

These are just some of the main reasons why the Linguix Grammar Checker is one of the best writing tools out there and can help elevate your texts, wherever they feature, to higher levels of quality and suitability.

The post 5 Reasons to Use Linguix Browser Extensions appeared first on Linguix Blog.

You may also have noticed that putting together diverse teams consisting of a multitude of backgrounds and cultures can add incredible value to the creativity and output of an organization.

But that creates a fundamental skill gap: language.

Hiring only those people who speak English (either natively, or as a proficient second language) limits the pool from which you can recruit from, and this is never desirable. Approximately 1.5 billion of the world’s population can speak English, but that leaves an incredible 6 billion, or 80%, that don’t

Among those 1.5 billion, less than 30% are native English speakers, meaning there is potential for errors in the communication of the others (and that’s not even taking into consideration the fact that far from all native speakers produce the language without errors).

So, where does this leave us? In a situation where, in order to get the best people for the job, there may be a language barrier. An English language barrier to be precise.

In summary, upskilling your staff in English becomes a priority. Here’s how you can do it:

Provide in-house training

This may be the classic way of delivering training, but that is because it is so effective. It is, however, rarely convenient. It requires all necessary learners to be available and in the same location at the same time, which within a bust work environment can be nigh on impossible to achieve. Trainers can come onto your company’s premises, and even tailor the training to your staff’s exact needs, but you still have to provide time for your employees to be there, and that can be easier said than done.

Provide online training

If flexibility and cost-efficiency is what you require from your training intervention, then online training is a great option. Classes can be live, or delivered through webinars that your employees log into at a time that is convenient for them. There are some great online learning solutions for English, such as that delivered by AllTalk Training, where employees get a chance to have one-to-one or group training sessions with native English-speaking trainers.

There are also online courses that track progress and which employees can revert back to whenever they have time, and of course can be accessed remotely as well as in the office.

Provide access to writing tools

Web and mobile-based writing tools have been available for some time, but like pretty much everything else tech-related, they have got smarter, easier to use, and more efficient.

The great thing about using a content writing tool, such as Linguix, is that it will simultaneously help the employee to produce error-free and suitable content in English, and improve their understanding and proficiency in using the language (unlike translation apps, as we will see).

Linguix is far from a spellchecker. Not only does its editor tool assist in correcting grammatical oversights, but it helps you tailor the content to the correct audience, taking style into consideration. It’s dictionary tool offers definitions and synonyms of any word found online, and it also offers a content template library by which writers can select a suitable template to help them get started.

Linguix not only assists those who don’t speak (or write) English well, but makes better writers out of all employees, and works beautifully within the realms of remote work practices, which will continue to become more prevalent.

Provide translation tools

Tools in the area of translation arena getting better all the time, meaning that complete ideas can be converted from one language into another almost instantly, and with a pretty decent accuracy that was unattainable not so long ago. There are an eye-watering number of options available, from the well-known Google Translate and Linguee, to new, up-and-coming offerings that increasingly rely on AI and machine-learning developments in the tech sector.

But let us be clear here: translation tools almost never improve the English ability of the individual. Why would they? They are a means to an end, and this really is a example of a machine doing a job that means that the human doesn’t have to.

Translation apps might work in the short term, but are not a long-term solution to your staff’s English needs.

Train your English-speaking staff to communicate more effectively with the non-natives

Here’s another idea, and one that can be incredibly effective in the short-term. Why not train you English-speaking staff, particularly managers, to be able to communicate more effectively with staff whose English is far from proficient?

Think about it. It could take months, if not years for an employee to get up to a native level of English. However, often just a couple of training sessions with the native can equip him or her with the knowledge and skill to tailor their language in a way that the non-native employee can understand and respond to. The result is more efficient communication practices within a matter of hours.

This solution, called cross-cultural communication training, is provided by AllTalk Training.

The post How to Help Your Employees Learn English appeared first on Linguix Blog.

But learning to (effectively) speak another language still takes time and effort. It is important to acknowledge that nothing can make this task ‘easy’, just ‘easier’ Your dedication and motivation to learn is still the most important thing to bring to your language learning.

So, here are five things that, providing you have the commitment, will facilitate faster and more efficient language learning.

Full immersion works

Surrounding yourself in a language is, without a doubt, the most efficient way of learning a language. Parachuting yourself into a country that speaks with that tongue is, of course, the best way to do that, but it’s not a practical solution for all. After all, if you are learning Japanese because your partner is Japanese, but you don’t live (or won’t be living) in Japan, it’s not that easy to find a workable solution.

Or perhaps it is! Because immersion doesn’t just mean living in that country. Surround yourself with the sounds of the language, which can be facilitated easily with all of what modern technology has to offer.

So, change the language settings on your phone and computer, tune in online to radio and TV stations broadcast exclusively in your target language. Watch movies and series in that language. And if your partner speaks that language, only allow them to speak to you in that language. Soon you can have your own little oasis of Japanese (or whatever language you are trying to learn) wherever you may need that. Just a few weeks living like this will have a profound impact on your ability to learn the language effectively.

Use a writing assistant (with additional useful tools)

Utilizing the help of an AI-powered writing assistant to help shape all of your written communication in your target language serves to not only help you produce better quality written text in that language but also assists greatly in learning. Linguix adds value in the form of templates, a helpful online dictionary of definitions and synonyms, and empathy in assisting you to master grammatical considerations and style, while also gaining control over your typical mistakes. With this type of intelligent tool, you can quickly learn to deliver precise and articulate writing in a short period of time.

Study what is useful and practical for you

Language has so many grammatical elements, nuances, and vocabulary that a program that takes in the study of all of these considerations can become incredibly time-consuming. That is why you need to be practical, and you need to prioritize.

What is it that you want to be able to do in a language? This is the most important question to ask yourself, and the answer should frame the direction in which your studies move. Learn the vocabulary that is most relevant to the interactions that you most want to have (learn the 1000 most important words, for example) and then concentrate on communication, rather than always being grammatically correct (to start). If you need the language for business, then concentrate on those interactions that are most common in your role, and practice accordingly.

Too much time and energy can be wasted on those aspects of a language that are peripheral to what your ultimate aim is. Identify what it is that you need, and go for it.

Employ everyone around you to help

If you are immersed, then you can quickly engage all those people around you to help you in your mission to learn that language. And you must directly ask people to correct you, otherwise, they simply won’t.

If you are not living in a place where the target language is spoken, then seek refuge online in forums where it is, and against actively seek out those who are willing to point out your mistakes and share what is correct. Don’t be too proud, and don’t be afraid to ask. You may need to give a little something in return too (a language exchange, for example, is a place where you can teach your mother tongue in exchange for learning another language).

Produce

This is an obvious point, but quickly shake off the fear of making mistakes, and just produce whatever it is that you are capable of, seeking to learn from the mistakes you make along the way. So, speak, write, complete tests, test yourself and do whatever it takes to get you to where you want to be.

The post 5 Tricks to Help You Learn a Second Language More Painlessly appeared first on Linguix Blog.

I can play the guitar

I am able to play the guitar.

Ability

In these examples, they can be used in exactly the same way. And that is because, to all intents and purposes, ‘can’ and ‘be able to’ are both used, primarily, to express ability. Of course, both of these examples above are in the present tense, so matters get a little more complicated when we change that tense.

In the past

The past form of ‘can’ is ‘could’. ‘Be able to’, because it is using the verb ‘be’, can be easily adapted into any tense. So, therefore,

I could play the guitar when I was younger.

I was able to play the guitar when I was younger.

So, again, when talking about ability in the past, ‘could’ and ‘be able to’ operate in the same way. But only if we are talking about general abilities. In the case of a single action, ‘could’ is not possible.

Yesterday, I was able to meet lots of interesting people at the meeting.

Yesterday, I could meet lots of interesting people at the meeting.

However, if that single event involves a stative verb, then it would be possible.

Yesterday, I was able to see the screen really clearly from where I was sitting.

Yesterday, I could see the screen really clearly from where I was sitting

In the future

There is no future form of ‘can’ (‘will can’ is an absolute impossibility). Therefore, if you want to express a future ability, ‘be able to’ is your best friend here

In the future, I will be able to play the guitar.

You could also make a more complicated sentence, such as:

In the future, I will have the ability to play the guitar.

However, when talking about future plans and arrangements, you can use ‘can’ (as well as ‘be able to’):

I can attend the appointment next Monday.

I am able to attend the appointment next Monday.

These two sentences have exactly the same meaning.

So, in summary, when talking about ability, ‘be able to’ is a much more flexible option.

Semantics

We may also choose to use these two forms a little differently to emphasize the difference between a permanent ability, and the ability to do something at the moment. Here is another example:

I am able to play the guitar, but I can’t play the guitar at your wedding because I am unavailable that day.

In theory, you could invert those two terms to produce the same meaning in context, but the preference would be to use ‘be able to’ in order to talk about a permanent skill, rather than the ability to do something on any given day.

Talking about permission

‘Can’ and ‘be able to’ are not only about ability but are connected to permission too. Look at these examples:

My teacher says I can use a dictionary in the classroom.

My teacher says I am able to use a dictionary in the classroom.

In these instances, ‘can’ and ‘be able to’ are the same.

However, when it comes to talking about permission, even in the present tense, you cannot always use both options. Here’s another example:

My teacher says I can bring a dictionary to the exam tomorrow.

My teacher says I am able to bring a dictionary to the exam tomorrow.

In this case, ‘be able to’ would not be used to express permission in a specific, once-off event.

My teacher says I am allowed to bring a dictionary to the exam tomorrow.

This would be correct and has the same meaning as ‘can’ in the sentence above.

However, in one last twist, you could (or you are able) to use ‘be able to’ in this situation, if you are talking about your ability to do something:

My teacher says I can bring a dictionary to the exam tomorrow. = permission

My teacher says I am able to bring a dictionary to the exam tomorrow. = ability

Although the second sentence doesn’t really make any sense, it focuses more on the ability to do something, rather than the giving of permission.

In conclusion

‘Be able to’ definitely offers more flexibility than ‘can’ in terms of conjugating to verb tenses. However, the meanings are not always the same, and there are certain circumstances where either ‘can’ or ‘be able to’ are not logical.

Always consider this question: am I talking about ability or permission? Once you have ascertained this, and then you have decided upon the correct verb tense, making the right decision in terms of ‘can’ and ‘be able to’ should be achievable.

The post Can VS Be Able To appeared first on Linguix Blog.

English has more than its fair share of all three of these things. Let’s have a look at some of the most troublesome examples of tricky words and punctuation in English, and look at ways to avoid making those mistakes in the future.

Apostrophe plus ‘s’, or no apostrophe plus ‘s’?

This is an age-old concern, when do I use the apostrophe plus an ‘s’, and when do I not use the apostrophe?

Think carefully about what apostrophes do. Most of the time they replace a missing letter, or they express possession.

About the only exception to that rule that you need to know is when you are using ‘its’ for possessions. As you will see here, there is no apostrophe.

Why?

Because if you did, it would be confused with the abbreviation of ‘it is’, when the apostrophe represents the missing ‘i’. Hence. ‘it’s’.

What is its name?

It’s really nice.

It’s true, then, that you would use an apostrophe plus ‘s’ in all other cases where there is a missing letter or a case of possessive. For example:

Mum’s coming over later.

That is mum’s car.

Now, of course, in context there is no way that you could confuse the meaning of the first ‘mum’s’ = ‘mum is’, and the second = the car belongs to mum.

Who or whom?

This one can cause a few issues, but it all boils down to whether you what to use a subject pronoun or object pronoun.

In short, if the word is replacing a subject pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, we, they), then the correct word is ‘who’. If the word is replacing the object pronoun (me, you, him, her, it, us, them) then the word you are looking for is ‘whom’. Here are some examples:

He is the man who lives next door. (Who is he?)

He is chatting to a girl whom he knows from work. (He is chatting to her)

But in reality, whom is nearly always replaced with ‘who’, and this is accepted practice, so the second sentence above could be:

He is chatting to a girl who he knows from work.

Affect or effect?

This is a really easy one to solve. ‘Affect’ is the verb, and ‘effect’ is the noun. That’s it! Here are some examples:

How does working there affect your health? (verb)

Working there has had many negative effects on my health. (noun)

Can I start a sentence with ‘and’ or ‘but’?

Yes, of course, you can. Even in formal writing. It’s interesting that this seems to have become a rule, because it has never, in fact, been a rule. Don’t start every other sentence with these words, but every now and again it’s fine. It’s also quite literary too, so outlawing it would basically deny nearly every great writer there has ever been in the English language.

‘And what are you reading, Miss –?’ ‘Oh! It is only a novel!’ replies the young lady: while she lays down her book with affected indifference or momentary shame.

Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

‘But the Emperor has nothing on at all!’ cried a little child.

Hans Christian Anderson, The Emperor’s New Clothes

Should I use an ‘Oxford comma’?

An ‘Oxford comma’, so-called because it is a rule of the Oxford University Press, is when you use a comma before the final ‘and’ in a list. Here is a simple example:

I like to eat pizza, pasta, fish, and chips.

Here the Oxford comma is seen after the word ‘fish’. The other commas in the list are known as serial commas and are always correct.

The problem with omitting the Oxford comma is that it can change the meaning of what you are trying to say.

I like to eat pizza, pasta, fish and chips.

So, is that three different types of food (pizza, pasta, fish and chips), or four different types of food (pizza, pasta, fish [on its own] and chips [on their own])?

The point is that, by omitting the Oxford comma, you can make a sentence ambiguous. So it is always much better to use it because it leaves no doubt that those items are separate. And it is far from only the Oxford University Press that prescribes this comma. The vast majority of style guides do that.

So, should you use an Oxford comma? Yes!

When do I use a hyphen?

A hyphen should be used to connect two words that are acting together as one word.

That is nearly always true in adjectives that are comprised of two words. For example:

Easy-going person, self-respecting professional, old-fashioned shirt etc.

However, do not use the hyphen when the first word is an adverb:

Highly prized award, rarely seen animal.

However, when it comes to nouns, there are just no rules. The tradition is that these words tend to start out as two words, slowly evolve to include a hyphen over time, and eventually become one word. Who makes this decision? That’s a complicated question: too complicated to answer here.

The best advice with nouns? Check a dictionary. But even then you may find some differences of opinion

But here are some more examples of when you should use a hyphen:

He is a 23-year-old. (to express ages)

Twenty-one, fifty-seven (numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine)

Anti-inflammatory, self-absorbed, ex-girlfriend (with some prefixes, including always with self and ex)

My uncle had a concealed-weapons permit. (to avoid ambiguity. Removing the hyphen here could change the meaning)

The post Confusing English Words and Punctuation Rules appeared first on Linguix Blog.

Here we provide all the information you need to make the right choice.

The first thing to say is that these are both formal ways to finish an email or a letter (also known as salutations, which are the ways that we greet and then bid farewell to people, particularly in writing).

Getting salutations right is a necessary skill to learn quickly, particularly when you are working in English, and of course, deciding when to use ‘yours sincerely’ and ‘yours faithfully’ is a big part of this.

So, here are the important things to consider:

British English usage

As can happen with the English language, there are slight differences in opinion and habitual use when it comes to British English and American English. In general, American English would include Canada, whereas British English means every other country that speaks English. Once again, that’s a general rule.

In British English, there are particular style guides that are considered authoritative when it comes to the language, and one such guide is Henry Watson Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage. Despite being nearly a hundred years old, it is still referred to as a principle guide for writing in English. So what does Watson say exactly?

·   Use ‘Yours sincerely’ when responding to invitations and friendly, but not intimate, letters

·   Use ‘Yours faithfully’ when writing to unknown persons on business matters

Although ‘yours truly’ and ‘yours very truly’ have become somewhat archaic in modern British English terms, ‘yours sincerely’ and ‘yours faithfully’ are still the main go-to endings for business correspondence. Here Fowler is clear that ‘Yours sincerely’ is slightly more personal that ‘Yours faithfully’.

This approach is supported by advice given in the Oxford Handbook of Commercial Correspondence, which classifies the two terms as follows:

·   Use ‘Yours sincerely’ when you know the person’s name to whom you’re writing

·   Use ‘Yours faithfully’ when you begin a letter with “Dear Sir/Madam”

The Oxford Handbook of Commercial Correspondence also offers up the most informal of salutations:

·   Use “Best wishes” when writing to someone you know well

And there you have it! In British English ‘Yours faithfully’ is the most formal of all, and is used when you do not have the name of the person you are writing to.

American English usage

Across the Atlantic, there is a slight difference of opinion on these matters. Firstly, things are rather less formal in the United States, but there are still conventions of sorts.

‘Yours faithfully’ doesn’t exist as a salutation in the United States. Instead, when the recipient of the email or letter is unknown, the term ‘Yours truly’ is used.

‘Sincerely’ is therefore slightly less formal, and for when you know the name of the person you are addressing the correspondence too. But instead of ‘Yours sincerely’ the inverted ‘Sincerely yours’ is preferred.

Got it?

So, there we go. Transatlantic differences and the importance of knowing how to end your letter when you know the recipient’s name as opposed to when you don’t. That’s all you need to know.

Hint: when writing online it is always a good idea to get some AI help. Use our free grammar checker or innovative AI-based paraphrasing app to elevate your writing.

The post How To Use ‘Yours Sincerely’ and ‘Yours Faithfully’ appeared first on Linguix Blog.