Use Hanlon's razor to assume the best
August 17, 2019When something bad happens, don't assume anyone did it on purpose. Instead, use Hanlon's razor to look for other reasons for people's behavior.
Fresh on the blog
Use Occam's razor to keep it simple
August 10, 2019Use Occam's Razor to keep things simple when designing a business plan.
General language is weak—get specific
August 3, 2019Specific language is far stronger than general language. Specifics transport the reader or listener and give them a clear image, while general language forces the reader or listener to do the work of imagining what is meant. Let's look more deeply into this.
Want your answer to stand out? Use a little crass language
July 27, 2019Many non-native English speakers make the mistake of thinking that formal language is always a safe language choice. This is not the case.
Student writing for G.B.C.—What is your favorite TV show and why?
July 20, 2019Students at the English Farm write some amazing G.B.C. test answers, and we like to share the best of the best.
Think outside the box
July 13, 2019Can't find the answer? Then get creative—think outside the box!
3 great examples of sharp endings in spoken English
July 6, 2019Ending strongly is important. It will make your G.B.C. test answers more effective (so long as you aren't interrupted), and in meetings, it will make your points clearer.
Expand your active vocabulary: have more than a "happy" life
June 29, 2019Simple, safe English is often not the best choice. Take, for example, the word happy. If you can read this blog post, you can use that word, but should you?
Uptalk brings you down
June 22, 2019"Uptalk" is when you say everything with rising tone like it's a question, whether it is one or not.
Cool, eh? Show culture with question tags
June 15, 2019A question tag turns a simple word, phrase or sentence into a question. Simple, right?
While some question tags are universal, other tags are specific to cultures around the world. Here's a quick list of common tags:
The danger of false friends
June 8, 2019False friends are words from different languages that seem similar but are, in fact, not. The French president Emmanuel Macron made a famous mistake in 2017.
Showing sympathy in English—3 dos and 3 don'ts
June 1, 2019Showing sympathy is important. Here are three things not to do, and three good ideas of what to do.
