Introducing chunking: one key to speaking clearly
By Jeremy, January 15 2022
One essential part of speaking well is to break your speech into short chunks—usually a few words— and pausing briefly after each one.
Common mistakes
“Three-year-old boy” or “three-yearS-old boy”?
By Matthew, December 05 2021
Using a plural in English can be tough. There are many rules, and sometimes they are hard to understand and remember. One such case is a compound adjective.
All English is business English
By Jeremy, September 26 2021
I have to come clean about something: English language schools have been selling business English for a long time. But "Business English" is not real.
Solving false friends: Describing where you live
By Jeremy, August 30 2021
Some English words seem simple, so students overlook them. Many students—even high-level students—have trouble talking about where they live.
Don't say NATURE - describe it instead
By Kahu, August 22 2021
Native speakers never say, “You'll enjoy nature,” or, “It has beautiful nature.”
Understand and use GENERATION
By Di, August 16 2021
Many English learners have trouble using the word “generation.” Does it mean what you think it means?
Count naturally by saying THERE ARE
By Jeremy, June 21 2021
Try to spot what is unnatural about the following statement, “The number of people on my team is 5."
Use TRY correctly
By Di, June 07 2021
Try as a noun or a verb both means to attempt something, but the nuance can change in unexpected ways. Find out how.
Use CHALLENGE correctly
By Di, May 03 2021
A mistake that English language learners often make is to misuse the word “challenge.” As a noun it means a difficult task, but as a verb the meaning is quite different.
Don't overcomplicate your English
By Jeremy, April 18 2021
As your English improves, you are able to make longer and longer sentences. But, should you?