English: what is a homophone?
As an English tutor, terms from my past continue to pop in mind. I haven’t been asked about this one in tutoring, but it’s of interest anyway…. Back in my August 21, 2013 post, I brought up the term homonym. …
Category: english
Literary terms: what is a lipogram?
Being a tutor, I’m an academic by nature. I found the definition of lipogram in my literary terms guide…. Well, New Years Eve is here. Some people’s holiday displays are off, saying even Yule season is over. Of course, one …
English: absolve of, or absolve from?
Tutoring English, especially business or essay writing, you might be asked about the right preposition to use. The tutor shares a gem he found in an old textbook. The phrases “absolved of guilt” or “absolved of any wrongdoing”, though I’m …
English: mad, or angry?
Tutoring high school English, you focus on essay writing. The tutor discusses an issue he remembers from long ago…. One time when I was in grade two (yes, that long ago), we were writing stories for creative writing. Our desks …
English: rhymes
Tutoring English, it’s fun to share little definitions that expand on topics you thought were familiar. The tutor shares a few about rhymes. Most people know what a rhyme is: Don’t spread the lime Until it’s time. This simple example …
English: Parallel structures (parallelism)
Tutoring high school and college English, you mention parallelism. The tutor introduces it. Non-parallel: I like drawing, reading, and to play the piano. Parallel: I like drawing, reading, and playing the piano. Let’s compare the two …
English: compound words
From essay writing, one learns to define one’s own terms. During the weekend before regular tutoring recommences, the tutor discusses a topic his own children have been exploring. My (smart aleck) son recently told me, “Dad, important is a compound …
English: paradox vs oxymoron
Tutoring English 12, both these terms come up. As an academic who loves ideas, the tutor offers his explanation of each. Paradox and oxymoron are literary devices. Identifying them can be worth marks on the English 12 government exam. So, …
English: preposition at the end of a sentence?
Tutoring English, you can’t avoid this issue forever. The English tutor weighs in. In old times, there was a rule against finishing a sentence with a preposition. Thus, “Who(m) did you say that to?” was gauche. Was it wrong, or …
Essay writing: the thesis statement
When you tutor high school English, essay writing is a key topic. Therefore, the thesis statement is often a focus during English tutoring. Let’s imagine you write an essay about why camping is great. (I don’t happen to like camping, …