Motivating monikers: why job titles matter
Motivating monikers: why job titles matter You will spend a huge proportion of your life at work. The nature of that work is inevitably fundamental …
English Language
Commonly misunderstood and misused English words
Commonly misunderstood and misused English words English boasts a huge vocabulary in comparison with many languages. When there are hundreds of thousands of words to …
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Euphemisms in marketing and advertising
Euphemisms in marketing and advertising The term euphemism is derived from the Greek word euphēmismos which means to use auspicious words. Euphemisms are neutral, innocuous …
Is it wrong to pull out all the glottal stops?
Is it wrong to pull out all the glottal stops? People will always be judged by the way they speak. In Britain, the language police …
Iconic Mountains: What’s in a Name?
Iconic Mountains: What’s in a Name? We have previously discussed how English has progressively become the world’s lingua franca. The use of English doesn’t please …
Jamaican English and Patois
Jamaican English and Patois The official language of Jamaica is Jamaican Standard English, a variety of Standard English. However, the island is also notable for …
The English West Country Accent
The English West Country Accent There’s no mistaking the pleasing sound of the West Country accent. Many people find West Country speak rather appealing. But, …
Registering the difference – language and context
Registering the difference – language and context Consciously or not, we all adapt the way we speak and write to suit our audience or the …
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Mondegreens in all their glory
With Sellotape and knives – mondegreens in all their glory We’ve all experienced those awkward moments when we have completely misheard what somebody has said. …
British place names you probably can’t pronounce
British place names you probably can’t pronounce English is a very difficult language to master. So difficult that most native speakers struggle to remain grammatically …
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Do English people speak too quickly?
Do English people speak too quickly? Any language can sound as if it is being spoken with indecent haste when you don’t understand it. English …
Tomorrow will be a good day – touch wood!
Tomorrow will be a good day – touch wood! The English language is loaded with strange phrases and sayings but there is none stranger than …
Is English a gender-biased language?
Is English a gender-biased language? Gender bias in all aspects of life has been a hot topic for some time. In recent years, the spotlight …
English accents: Geordie
English accents: Geordie The term Geordie is used to describe both the natives of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and their distinctive accent. Geordie …
English grammar: common areas of confusion
English grammar: common areas of confusion English is a complex language with inconsistent grammar. It is inevitable that mistakes happen – often. We have discussed …
Interesting facts about the English language
Interesting facts about the English language It should come as no surprise that there are many interesting facts about the English language. After all, most …
English Accents – Brummie
English Accents – Brummie There are many regional accents in England. Whenever research is conducted to establish which regional accents people find most and least …
The correct use of capitalisation
The correct use of capitalisation If there is one aspect of English grammar that almost everyone gets wrong, at least occasionally, it is capitalisation. You …
