Cultural Differences Between Hugging and Kissing in Writing
Have you ever received a text or email that closed with, “Xoxo” or “Xo” or “xoxoxoxoxox”? The x’s and o’s mean “kisses” (x) and “hugs” (o). Xox is an informal way to end a message to a close friend or family member. The amount of X’s and O’s is up to you. This...
February’s Pronunciation Practice: Silent Letters
PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE: SILENT LETTERS (r, l, and s) In honor of the silent “r” in February, this month’s words all have silent letters (r, l, and s). Watch below ⬇️⬇️ and see the February = FEB-yu-ware-i Lincoln = LINK’n Talk = tawk Walk = wawk Could = cood (the...
How to spell capital or capitol
Today is Inauguration day 2021. The ceremony takes place in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., and the 46th president, Joe Biden, will be sworn in on the Capitol steps. Which brings up the common confusion between the two words: CAPITAL and CAPITOL The two...
When Do I Use Lie vs Lay?
This may sound shocking, but there is no longer a distinction between “lie” and “lay.” Yes, there was a time -- 10, 20 or more years ago -- when using LIE or LAY showed the difference between good, standard English and “other.” But when the majority of native English...
Using “or so” and “about” with an Approximate Quantity
To express an approximate quantity of something -- a quantity of time, how many, how much, or how long – native speakers of English often use “or so” and “about”. For example, with “or so,” the phrase goes after the quantity: When is the webinar going to be? In three...
How to Say, “ASKED”
How to Say, ASKED Let me ASK you something: Is it possible to say the past tense form, ASKED (aSKT) with any degree of confidence or fluency? Of course not! Even native speakers of English do not attempt the hard mash of the three consonant sounds, S+K+T. Instead,...
Pronunciation Practice
PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE -- Everyday words often mispronounced. I will say them as students say them and then repeat the word with the correct sound. Let me know if you have questions on the pronunciation in the comments below! ⬇️ Pretty = PRIh-di (rhymes with “city”)...
How to Use “Pretty Good” and “Pretty Well” in a Sentence
The word “pretty” has different meanings and common uses. “Pretty” is sometimes confused with “very” – but means quite the opposite! Please read on for more examples of how to add “pretty” to your vocabulary. You probably use PRETTY (pronounced “PRIH-di”) as an...
Exploring “Mind”
Your MIND is that place in your head where you think, feel, and want. Your body does the physical things – the mind does the mental things. We use “mind” as a noun and verb in a variety of common expressions that show care or concern about something. Here are three:...
Say It Like a Native Speaker
Here is a word to practice the “D” sound. DELICIOUS is spelled in a way that looks like you might pronounce it “dee-lee-see-yoos” – but it’s actually pronounced ‘d’LISH-us.