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Mistakes are an accident. You know it's wrong, but the wrong word slips out. An error, on the other hand, is something you don't know. But what's the difference when you study?

A modal is a helping verb like can, should, may, might, must, have to, would and will. Modals enable you to use a single main verb in different ways or "modes".

Remembering is not just accessing information; it can also involve vivid use of the imagination. In fact, the more you imagine, the more you'll remember. 

When 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.

Use Occam's razor to keep things simple when designing a business plan.

Specific 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. 

Many non-native English speakers make the mistake of thinking that formal language is always a safe language choice. This is not the case. These days, the American workplace style is becoming more casual and language is going the same way.

Students at the English Farm write some amazing G.B.C. test answers, and we like to share the best of the best.

This piece has had minor corrections by a teacher, but the logic, structure, and word choice are the student's.

Simple, 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? 

The Vietnamese government is betting heavily that the next generation will be bilingual and has been discussing making English the second official language—even though few people speak it fluently. I have been teaching here for 7 months, experiencing the transformation first-hand. 

The G.B.C. test now has nearly an infinite number of questions that can be asked, just like in te real world. Assessors will also interrupt, as often happens in conversation and business meetings.

You have probably said the word “work” many times: to do a job (I work a lot of overtime), to make an effort (That’s hard work!) or to function (does this thing work?).

Sometimes the best way to answer a question isn't to list a bunch of numbers and facts—it’s to tell a story.

Students at the English Farm write some amazing G.B.C. answers, and we like to share the best of the best.

This piece has had minor corrections by a teacher, but the logic, structure, and word choice are the student's.

Today, let’s look at a couple of ways to show sophistication in a G.B.C. answer. The question is about your work life, a common topic in the G.B.C. test.

Here's the question: What do you most like about your job and why?

Many students are familiar with the word increase, but fail to use it correctly. Try to spot the error in the following sentence:

Elderly people are increasing in Japan.

Verbing—changing nouns into verbs—is happening so fast these days that non-native speakers can struggle to keep up. The rapid rate of change in technology, and the globablization of English, add to the speed of verbing.

When asked difficult questions, many non-native English speakers tend to stall immediately. The problem with this is that the person asking has to wait a long time for your opinion. Instead, answer the question as quickly as you can, and then buy time when you are supporting your initial opinion.

Students at the English Farm write some amazing G.B.C. answers, and we like to share the best of the best.

This piece has had minor corrections by a teacher, but the logic, structure, and word choice are the student's.

Strong answers require strong endings. This post will teach you a very simple way to end with maximum impact. 

First, let's take a look at an answer with good evidence and reasoning: 

Do you think work-life balance is important?