Grammar (O)
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Etymology corner: Retirement - Why all retirees should be jubilant!

Why do we say 'to retire'? How is 'retirement' treated in other languages? What are the connotations of 'retirement'? Retirement is an interesting word. Unsurprisingly, retirement it is one of the words which the English language appropriated…
Grammar (O)

Grammar: All about (Z)

Grammar: Which word to use (Z) https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-z     1. CORRECT USAGE 1.1. Similar words mean different things… 1.2 Use the right word in context… 2. SPELLINGS 2.1 To hyphenate…
adverbs

Adverbs: the universal modifiers

I don't why, but I've always had some difficulty getting my head around adverbs. I mean, verbs are always 'doing words' (I'm going back to primary school-speak here!) so adverbs should merely be regarded as 'ad (-ditional) verb' information,…
Grammar (O)

Grammar: All about (Y)

Grammar: Which word to use (Y) https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-y     1. CORRECT USAGE 1.1. Similar words mean different things… 1.2 Use the right word in context… 2. SPELLINGS 2.1 To hyphenate…
Grammar (O)

Grammar: All about (X)

Grammar: Which word to use (X) https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-x 1.CORRECT USAGE 1.1. Similar words mean different things… 1.2 Use the right word in context… 2. SPELLINGS 2.1 To hyphenate (or not)? YES x-ray EXCEPTIONS 2.2…
Grammar (O)

Grammar: All about (W)

Grammar: Which word to use (W) https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-w 1. CORRECT USAGE 1.1. Similar words mean different things… waiver or waver? To waive is to relinquish a claim or right. The associated noun…
Grammar (O)

Grammar: All about (V)

Grammar: Which word to use (V) https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-v     1. CORRECT USAGE 1.1. Similar words mean different things… venal or venial venal open to bribery; venial easily forgiven 1.2…
Grammar (O)

Grammar: All about (U)

Grammar: Which word to use (U) https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-u 1. CORRECT USAGE 1.1. Similar words mean different things… uninterested or disinterested? uninterested means not taking an interest; not…
Grammar (O)

Grammar: All about (T)

Grammar: Which word to use (T) https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-t 1. CORRECT USAGE 1.1. Similar words mean different things… tic or tick? tic an idiosyncratic habitual behaviour or spasm; tick a bloodsucking…
Grammar (O)

Grammar: All about (S)

Grammar: Which word to use (S) https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-s   1. CORRECT USAGE 1.1. Similar words mean different things… sea change or step-change? sea change the idea is that a major transformation…