Tutoring English, homonyms continue to be a favourite topic of mine. The tutor mentions yolk vs yoke. Occasionally I forget, between yolk and yoke, which means which, so have to re-check. Yolk means the yellow centre of an egg. On …
Tutoring English, you notice devices that catch attention. The tutor mentions the use of opposites. I think people are interested when they hear opposites in the same sentence. I know I am, and still recall a couple of examples from …
Tutoring English, you try to discourage redundancy. The tutor observes an apparent redundancy that perhaps isn’t. Sometimes the phrase “for some reason” is used. For example, someone might say, “I didn’t think you’d want coffee, for some reason.” For a …
Tutoring English, word curiosities are always interesting. The tutor mentions a pair of opposites. Aptitude means ability even without training, whereas ineptitude suggests scarcity of ability even past lack of training. The words are close to opposite, if not actually. …
Tutoring English, subtleties can be important. The tutor mentions an interesting one. The pronoun everyone means everybody, so it can only stand for people. However, every one is general purpose. Consider the two following cases: She drove the large van …
Tutoring English, short, uncommon words are always interesting. The tutor mentions purlieu. purlieu (noun): the region beyond a place; the surroundings of a city or town. Source: Barber, Katherine, et al. Oxford Canadian Dictionary of Current English. Don Mills: Oxford …
Tutoring English, you deal with theme and mood. The tutor reflects on The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Back on October 27 I attended the Rocky Horror Picture Show, presented at the Tidemark Theatre by Isolde and Peach. Of course it …
Tutoring English, words can surprise. The tutor mentions the verb moot. moot (verb): to propose for discussion, or to actively discuss from different points of view. Source: Mish, Frederick C. (editor). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004. Gilmour, Lorna (editor). …
Tutoring English, you occasionally see words from older times. The tutor mentions forsooth. forsooth (adv): truly. Source: Mish, Frederick C. (editor). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004. Gilmour, Lorna (editor). Collins Essential Canadian English Dictionary and Thesaurus. Glasgow: HarperCollins, 2006.
Tutoring English, vocabulary is always interesting. The tutor mentions rankle. rankle (verb): to irritate or cause resentment, perhaps continually. Her older sister’s privileges rankled her. Source: Mish, Frederick C. (editor). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004. Barber, Katherine et al. …