Self-tutoring about spelling: the tutor had his doubts in one case…. I read the word “sceptical” with surprise. One of the word processing programs I use doesn’t like it either. Yet, Webster’s Dictionary and Oxford Canadian Dictionary agree: sceptic is …
Tutoring English, suffixes are interesting. The tutor mentions a word ending with -ible. In a post from December 30, 2012, I mention some -ibles – for example, credible. By an -ible I mean a word that ends in -ible but …
Self-tutoring about English: the tutor notices a word and finally checks it. An excise is a tax levied on the sale or production of an item. An event has to happen for an excise to be due. Source: Mish, Frederick …
Self-tutoring about English: the tutor mentions a discovery. Typing an article, I keyed relatable, but the checker doesn’t like it. Am I wrong? I found relatable in the dictionary. Curious, eh? Source: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield, Merriam-Webster, 2004.
Tutoring English, homonyms are always interesting. The tutor mentions the pair wurst and worst. wurst: product prepared from ground meat, such as sausage or meat spread. worst: least successful Source: Mish, Frederick C (editor). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004. …
Tutoring English, homonyms continue to delight. The tutor mentions a great pair. clew: a metal loop sewn into a sail for fastening. clue: helpful evidence towards solving a mystery. Source: Mish, Frederick C. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004.
Tutoring English, homonyms are a favourite curiosity. The tutor mentions the pair knead and need. knead: to mash a mix of flour, water, sugar, and yeast into dough ready to rise. need: to require Source: Mish, Frederick C. (editor).The Merriam-Webster …
Tutoring English, questions can linger for years before the answer is sought. I’ve long heard of phial, but didn’t know for sure. Yet, its meaning matches vial: a small bottle, perhaps for medicine. Source: Gilmour, Lorna, Editor. Collins Essential Canadian …
Tutoring English, you might often see words you can’t recall. The tutor mentions approbation. approbation: good feelings, positive response Source: Barber, Katherine et al. Oxford Canadian Dictionary. Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Tutoring English, you might encounter a new word anytime. The tutor mentions concision. concision: conciseness Source: dictionary.com Gilmour, Lorna. Collins Essential Canadian English Dictionary and Thesaurus. Glasgow: HarperCollins, 2006.