EMIGRANT vs IMMIGRANT We hear a lot about “immigrants” but not that much about “emigrants.” That’s because the difference is so subtle, we mostly only use “immigrants” these days. But if you’re curious about the difference, read on: When people flee their native...
Compliment vs Complement “Wow, you ran a great meeting today!” Was that a Compliment or a Complement? (It was a compliment.) Spoken, both words sound the same: “KAHM-pluh-munt” In writing, however, “compliment” has an “i” in the middle, and complement has an “e.”...
Are vs Our Have you ever wondered why native English speakers say the word “our” as if it were “are”? Many non-native English speakers are taught to pronounce the word OUR as a 2-syllable word, pronounced like “OW-er” (or “hour”). Native speakers know that saying...
English is filled with words that are pronounced differently from how they’re spelled – and today’s spotlight is on the plural form, “women.” “Women” rhymes with “swimmin’,” the informal way to say “swimming,” and seemingly the only word that rhymes with “women.” (If...
Many non-native English speakers wonder, is it “people is” or “people are”? The Answer: It’s “people ARE.” Part of the confusion might be because the pronouns “everybody” and “everyone” take “is”. So, since “everybody” is considered singular, you would think “people”...
As a foreign speaker of English, do you say, “I sink” instead of “I think?” This consonantal switch is common among non-native English speakers. Many English learners know that “I sink” literally means, “I am going under water”(like the...
