Some Tips for Common English Mistakes

Well, we are back to work with our first blog of 2015.

We have noticed in a lot of the work that is sent to us for correction, and in everyday conversations, that there are a few common mistakes that are made both in verbal and written English. These mistakes are often understandable but are easily corrected once you know the correct grammar rules. We would like to share a few tips with you, so you never have to make these mistakes again.

1.    I, Me and Myself.

Although all these words refer to the same person, me, they are not interchangeable and should be used in the right context. We use “I” for the subject, the person performing the action, and “me” for the object , the person  something is being done to, in the sentence. Sounds a bit confusing but really it is not. Let’s look at some examples:

a.    I walked the dog.  (Correct).

b.    She gave the shopping bags to me.  (Correct).

So far so good and most people are quite happy with this. The problem seems to arise when another person is included in the sentence. We are told, correctly, that when writing or speaking, it is polite to put the others person’s name first. However this seems to have lead to an assumption that the rule is always  “X” and I. This is not correct. We still follow the same rule as above, “I” for the subject and “me” for the object.

c.    Scott and I walked the dog.  (Correct).

d.    Joanna and I went shopping. (Correct).

e.    She gave the shopping bags to Aisha and me. (Correct).

f.     He wants to talk to Kevin or me. (correct).

As most people are happy with the use of “I” and “me” in simple sentences, here’s a tip to check that you are always using the right pronoun; simply remove the others person name from the sentence.  So, for example in (d) take out the Joanna and ask yourself would you say I went shopping or me went shopping? As it would be correct to say I went shopping, then when you put Joanna back in the sentence you know to use “I”.

  

 Then we come to “myself” a reflective pronoun which should be used with the subject pronoun I, as in I often talk to myself, I bought an ice-cream for Missy and myself etc. It is incorrect to use myself instead of “me” although this is seen and heard again and again. It is only to be used when you are performing an action on yourself.

2.    Borrow and Lend.

There is often confusion over the use of these words but it is actually very simple to make sure you use the correct word. Just remember that you do not borrow something to someone ever, you can only borrow something from someone. Alternatively, lending is something only the giver does.

Just to confirm let’s look at some correct examples:

a.    Kath lends Clare £100.

b.    Clare borrows £100 from Kath.

c.    I will lend you my comb.

d.    Can I borrow your bike?

3.    Uninterested and Disinterested

These two words are often thought to be interchangeable, but they are not. They have very different meanings as I will try and explain.

Someone who is uninterested has no interest at all in the subject. It is the opposite of interested.  So, for example, I may say I have no interest in geography, so I am completely uninterested in his lessons.

However, a person who is disinterested is impartial, unbiased, has no stake in the outcome. So for example we would hope a judge would be disinterested to ensure a fair trial. We may also hope for some disinterested, or impartial advice from our financial advisor.

I hope this has ironed out a few problems with the use of certain words. Next week we will continue on this theme, with more tips and advice to avoid common mistakes.      

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Time For Serendipity - More Words To Impress

So we are nearing the end of our alphabetical look at words to impress. I hope you have already found some new words that you have been able to use to amaze your friends and colleagues.

Here’s our last batch:-

Serendipity

I don’t know about you but I love the sound of this word, it seems to just trip off the tongue. Serendipity is when something beneficial happens by chance, a lucky accident or happy coincidence.  An example of serendipity would be if you put on an old coat that you haven’t worn for a long time and found a £20 note in the pocket!

Tumult

Tumult describes a very loud, confused noise, particularly that made by a large group of people. It is the kind of noise that you will often hear when a disaster occurs and there is chaos all around.

However, it may refer to a person’s emotional state. You may be in a tumult of anger or disbelief when hearing bad news.

Ubiquity

This is an interesting concept; it is the idea of something or someone being everywhere, or appearing to be everywhere. So, for example we may talk of the ubiquity of fast food outlets.

Many religions teach the ubiquity of god, a deity that is everywhere at all times.

Vice Versa

Vice versa simply means the other way around.

Here are some example sentences:

 “I don’t like him and vice versa.” (Meaning he doesn’t like me either).

The boys teased the girls and vice versa. (The girls also teased the boys).

The actors can teach the dancers and vice versa. (The dancers can also teach the actors).

I’m sure you will agree it’s quite a useful saying.

Whereby

This is the means by which, or method that something happens. So you may say that your bill for the year is £1000, but there is a scheme whereby you can make monthly payments.

Xenophobia

Xenophobia is the dislike or fear or anything or anyone that is perceived to be foreign or strange. Unfortunately, we see too many examples of xenophobic behaviour across the world today.

Yammer

To yammer is to make a loud repetitive noise that that is often annoying to other people.

We may talk of people yammering on, meaning to talk and complain for a long time. Alternatively, it may be used to describe any sustained loud noise such as the yammer of gunfire.     

    

Zealous      

I thought it might be good to end our little look at impressive words on an uplifting note, so included zealous. This means to be filled with or inspired by intense enthusiasm. To be characterised by zeal.

I hope we have inspired you to increase your vocabulary and to try out some of the words we have suggested. If you have liked our blogs, please tell your friends about us.

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A Myriad Of Words To Impress

So, as promised, today we are going to look at some more words to impress. Now, remember these words are all perfectly fine to use in everyday conversations, or in your written English, and will help your work stand out from the rest. Furthermore, they will display your extensive vocabulary and show you have an excellent grasp of the English language.

For ease of reference we will continue working our way through the words in an alphabetical sequence starting with :-

Kindred

When used as a noun this refers to family and relations. However as an adjective it can be used to describe things that are similar, for example you may talk of books on kindred subjects. It is not unusual for people to describe their best friends as kindred spirits, meaning they share a special bond and hold similar opinions and beliefs.

Lithe

Is a lovely word used to describe a thin, supple, graceful body. This is often used to describe the bodies of dancers, gymnasts or athletes. It would be quite correct to talk of lithe, graceful ballet dancers.

Myriad

This refers to a great number, possibly even countless, of people or things, and can be used both as an adjective and as a verb. So it would be appropriate in sentences such as “John was so happy as he received a myriad presents on his birthday” or “We had to jump a myriad of small streams when crossing the woods.” As you can see it is not an exact number but means a huge amount!

Novice

A novice is somebody who is new and quite inexperienced in a job or situation. So, for example, if you have just taken up tennis you may describe yourself as a novice player, if you are learning to drive you may be described as a novice driver etc.

This word is also used to describe a person who has entered religious training as a nun or a monk but has not yet taken their vows. 

Oblivious

To be oblivious is to be unaware of something or someone, especially something going on around you. So you may say that Ahmed was so engrossed in his book, he was oblivious to the fire alarm. Alternatively, you could suggest that Jake was completely oblivious to the fact he had hurt Joanna’s feelings. 

Paradox

Now a paradox is a little tricky, but once you get the idea I’m sure you’ll enjoy using the word! A paradox is something, often a statement that appears to be contradictory but may be true.  I know sounds a bit confusing but here are a few examples that should make it all a bit clearer.

“Nobody goes to that club anymore because it’s too busy!”

“You have to be cruel to be kind!”

“Standing is more tiring than walking.”

I think maybe one of my favourites is a quote from Oscar Wilde “I can resist anything but temptation”.

Here’s a good one for you to think about, if someone told you they were a pathological liar would you believe them, or would they be telling a lie?

Quaint

If something or someone is quaint, they are charmingly old fashioned and appealing.

Country cottages are often described this way, they remind us of a more simple life in a past era. Similarly it is often used to describe young children with extremely good manners, again showing a yearning back for a past time.     

Rescind

To rescind is to revoke, repeal or cancel a law contract or agreement. It is to bring an end to something in an official way. For this reason it is often used to describe something carried out by governments or official bodies. It is not unusual to hear of laws being rescinded due to public pressure.   

I hope you have enjoyed reading about the words we have looked at today, and maybe learnt a couple of new concepts. Next week we will finish our tour of the alphabet looking at words to impress.

If you have any words that you are not sure of the meaning of please get in touch and we will do our best to provide you with a clear definition.

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Gratuitously Using Words To Impress

It is suggested that the most common 100 English words account for approximately 75% of all written English. Personally I think that is a bit of a shame, why do we insist on using the same words over and over when the English language is rich with options to choose from?

With this in mind today I thought we could look at a few words to impress. The words we are going to look at are all correct and are perfectly fine for you to start using in your everyday conversations and writing, and I bet they will impress your friends, even those who have English as their first language!

So, here we go :-

Aberration

An aberration is something that is a departure from the usual or expected. So if you said that for Jan to fail the exam was an aberration, it would mean that Jan usually passed all her exams and this was a very unusual occurrence.

It can also be used to describe a deviation from the norms of society, or a temporary lapse in a person’s mental health.  

Baffled

To be baffled is to be amazed, confused or bewildered. You are left totally unable to understand. You may be baffled by someone’s strange behaviour or the complicated way in which they are speaking. Alternatively, you may be baffled when watching a magician demonstrating a clever trick.

Cajole

To cajole someone is to persuade them to do something that they may not necessarily want to do, through sweet talking and flattery. The word is thought to have originated from the combination of two French words meaning ‘to chatter like a jaybird’ and ‘to lure into a cage’.

Dogmatic

A dogmatic person is someone who holds and expresses very strong opinions, which they believe cannot be challenged. They are inflexible and advance their own personal opinions as if they are facts. Mmm I am sure we all know someone who we could describe as dogmatic don’t we?

Erroneous

This is a lovely word describing something or someone as wrong or incorrect.  We may talk of erroneous assumptions or information, or erroneously accuse someone of something they did not do.

Flabbergasted

This is another of my favourite words. This means to be more than just surprised, it is to be amazed, astounded, overwhelmed. In fact when you see

or hear something that leaves you speechless, you are flabbergasted!

Gratuitous     

Be careful as this tricky little adjective has two distinct meanings.

It can be used to describe something that is uncalled for, unnecessary and unwarranted, such as gratuitous violence in a film.

However, it can also be used to describe something that is given freely and without any obligation. It is not unusual for solicitors to offer some gratuitous legal advice.

Hypocrisy

Is the pretence of holding strong moral or religious beliefs and principles.  A hypocrite will pretend to uphold publicly approved attitudes, whilst in reality they do not live by this standard. They talk the talk, but they can’t walk the walk! It may not surprise you that you often hear this term used to describe politicians.

Inept

If someone is inept they are not suitable or capable of doing the job required. This may be due to lack of skill, ability or competence.  A person may also be socially inept, meaning to be uneasy in social circumstances, and not to respond in a socially acceptable way. Alternatively you can make an inept comment, which means that you say something that is thoughtless, and not really appropriate for the circumstances.

Finally, to end on a happier note, how about:

Jubilant

To be jubilant is a verb meaning to be feeling or expressing great joy. It may be a feeling of triumph and success. It is not just to be happy but to be ecstatic. It may also be used as an adverb as in ‘The players celebrated their win jubilantly!’

Next week we will have a look at a few more words to impress.

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Management Speak Part 2 - Nouns to Verbs

Last week we started to look at some of the strange words and phrases that are found in everyday business and management scenarios. We continue this theme this week as we investigate some more, well known and often despised, terms you find in nearly every modern field of employment.

To begin, let us have a look at a very common series of words and phrases that have been borrowed from other parts of life. These terms usually have a very strictly defined meaning in their original use, but have been adopted by, and adapted into modern business speak, to the extent that their original meaning has been lost.

The first example of this is the word “leverage”. This word, when used in modern business speak, simply means to use something, often to achieve a result. However, the origin of the word leverage is in the high-powered financial world, where it meant something entirely different. It was used to describe financial transactions, often corporate buy-outs, where the money used to fund the transaction was temporarily borrowed from other sources, and would be paid back when the deal was successful. In other words, it meant taking a gamble with other people’s money!

“Paradigm shift” is another term that has lost its original meaning. Nowadays, in the world of management speak, it means to look at something differently, or to change the way of doing something. But the first uses of this phrase described scientific breakthroughs that completely changed the way that we looked at the world. Mendel’s work on genetics and Einstein’s studies on relativity were the type of revelations that caused everyone to see these areas in a completely new way. I fear that the overuse of this phrase has watered down its original meaning of something entirely new and groundbreaking!

Other scientific terms that have found their way into management jargon are “mission critical” (failure of a specific task jeopardises the entire project) and “synergy” (the output from two components combined exceeds the outputs of the individual components). Both are used every day in business planning, in ways that are totally alien to their original meanings.

Another area in which management speak excels is to take a perfectly ordinary noun, and make a verb out of it! Perhaps the most common word to be abused in this way is the noun “incentive” which is an encouragement for someone to do something. This has created the new, management speak, verb “incentivize”, which is used to suggest taking action to create incentives for people (often customers). Even worse, “incentivize” now has an opposite, “disincentivize”!

There are a number of examples of the trend to create new verbs. Consider “calenderise” (make a date in your diary), and “repurpose” (use something differently). You can also “task” someone to do something, which may involve “solutioning” a problem (no, I don’t know why “solve” is not good enough!). On the other hand, you can also make a verb into a noun, which gives us a term like “deliverable” (an outcome which can be delivered!).

You may have guessed that I am not exactly pleased at this possible corruption of the English language. However, there is a very persuasive argument that in fact this new way of using language represents the natural evolution of the way we speak to accommodate new ideas and concepts. Language needs to develop as times change, and psychologists believe that the human brain cannot understand concepts that there are no words to describe. Once you have a descriptor, the idea becomes acceptable. I will leave you to decide!

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Know Your "Management Speak"

This week we thought we would take a look at some of the eccentricities of English when used in the business world. Over the last few years a number of phrases have become very common in business “management speak”, which can be very confusing when you hear them for the first time! However, fear not; our handy guide to “management speak” will help you navigate these obstacles with ease.

Firstly, let us take a look at how you think. Modern businesses are always striving to find new ways to do things. For this reason you are constantly asked to “think outside the box”. This means you should think about the issues without being restricted by the way things have been done previously, and not be boxed in by old fashioned ideas. On a larger scale, you may be encouraged to use “blue sky thinking”, particularly when discussing more strategic ideas. Blue sky thinking implies that everything can be possible if planned properly.

While we are up in the blue skies, it is worth mentioning another modern phrase, “helicopter view”. This suggests that a problem is being viewed in its entirety from above, again with the implication that the view is unrestricted, and therefore allows for a better understanding of a problem. However, to get to the root cause of a problem you may need to change your perspective, and “drill down” to find exactly what the issues are. This means that you need to examine the small details to find out where things are going wrong.

Once an idea has appeared, you should “run it up the flagpole and see who salutes it”.  Discussing the idea will let you know how popular it is, and who will support it.

After examining the problem, and having reached a decision, it is important that everyone then “sings from the same song sheet”. With its connotations of a large number of people all singing the same words to the same music, this phrase means that everyone will say the same thing about the decisions or strategies, whether they agree or not! Those who disagree will be required to “toe the line”, or not to publicly display their objections.

Let us now move on to putting the decisions into practice. The first thing to ensure is that you are operating on “a level playing field”. If you imagine a sports field that slopes steeply towards one end you can see that the team playing down the slope has a distinct advantage over the team playing uphill! This is the same in business, and the “level playing field” euphemism indicates that you are not starting at a disadvantage.

Once you are operating it is important to “pick the low hanging fruit”. This very visual image suggesting a farmer collecting apples in an orchard actually means that you should go for the easy results first, and leave the more difficult targets until later. This concept is also reflected in the “Eighty Twenty Rule”, which suggests that you achieve 80% of your results with 20% of your efforts, but the remaining 20% of your results will take 80% of your work.

There are far too many examples of “management speak” for one blog, and we will return to this subject in future blogs. However, be aware that this type of usage of the English language (some might term it abusage!) is widely seen as humorous by those who have to endure it. These phrases are commonly called “buzzwords” and it is not unknown for employees to play a game called “Buzzword Bingo” in management meetings or presentations. This game involves a number of colleagues preparing lists of the buzzwords they expect to hear. As the meeting progresses the lists are ticked off as each word appears, and the first person to tick off their entire list calls out “Bingo”, and is declared the winner. Well that is one way of dealing with the boredom of most management meetings! Such is the popularity of this mild form of employee anarchy that Buzzword Bingo cards are now available online!

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Getting Capitals Right - A Capital Idea

A couple of friends have mentioned lately that they sometimes get a little confused about when they should use capital letters in their written English. With this in mind, we thought we should look at some guidelines that we hope will be helpful when you are practising your English.

So let’s start with some easy rules first - :

1.    The first word of every sentence always starts with a capital letter. Always!

2.    The pronoun “I” is always capitalised, wherever it appears in a sentence.

Example:

The sea was so cold I did not go in for a swim.

3.    Proper nouns should always be capitalised. As I’m sure you know a proper noun is a name that identifies a person, place or thing. So this will include the names of rivers and mountains, of countries and languages, of religions, sports teams and organisations.

Examples:

a.    My name is Jenny Jones. My address is 3 Sunshine Street, Blackhill, Scotland, United Kingdom.

b.    Have you visited Snowdonia National Park?

c.    My favourite football team is Manchester United.

Please note that whilst the names of the days of the week and months of the year are capitalised, generally the seasons are not.

Examples:

d.    Everybody knows that Friday night is curry night!

e.    I love the spring best of all. (No capital).

So to recap, use a capital letter to start the first word of every sentence, always when using the pronoun “I” and when using proper nouns.

However, there are other times when we should use a capital letter to start a word.

4.    The first word of direct speech, even if not the beginning of the sentence should be capitalised.

    Example

Jane asked “Can I have a chocolate ice-cream?”

5.    Compass directions are capitalised if they refer to particular places or regions, but not if they are given as directions. Let’s look at a couple of examples to clarify.

a.    I would love to visit Eastern Europe.

b.    The North has the highest unemployment figures.

These refer to particular places so need to be capitalised.

c.     Drive east along the motorway until you see the right turn off.

d.     Birds fly south in the winter.

In the last two examples you do not need to capitalise as they are referring to a direction rather than a specific place.

6.    When it comes to words used to describe family relationships (mother, father, brother, sister etc), they should be capitalised if they are used as proper nouns (in place of the person’s name).

Examples:

a.    Tomorrow, I am going to lunch with Mum.

b.    I wrote a thank you note to Uncle Peter. 

However if the word is proceeded by a possessive (my, your, his, her, their), then it is not being used as a proper noun so should not be capitalised.

c.    Tomorrow I am going to lunch with my mum.

d.    I wrote a thank you note to your uncle.

7.    If a person’s title comes before their name it should be capitalised.

Example

a.    I saw the Duke of Edinburgh.

b.    President Obama is the first black president of the USA.

However, there is no need to capitalise the title if it does not immediately precede the name. 

c.    Barrack Obama is the first black president of the USA.

8.    When it comes to brand names, these are proper nouns so should be capitalised, but the noun they refer to should not be given a capital. So I would write about a Mercedes car, an Apple laptop or my Calvin Klein perfume!

I hope this has helped to clarify when words need to be capitalised.

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