Various Posts

Here you’ll find various interesting facts, mind maps, word comparisons, and other helpful posts that can help you improve your English.

17/10/26Caesar salad is not named after Julius Caesar
17/10/26“Twingle-twangle” is a real example of reduplication
16/10/26The origin of “no spring chicken”
16/10/26“Liaise” is a real word
16/10/26Help, assist, aid, support, and facilitate: how to choose
16/10/26Crash blossoms: when headlines suggest the wrong meaning
15/10/26“&c.”: an older abbreviation for “et cetera”
15/10/26Ease vs. alleviate vs. mitigate vs. abate vs. palliate
15/10/26Look, see, watch, observe, gaze and stare: choosing the right verb
15/10/26Capitonyms: when capitalization changes meaning
15/10/26Aberrant vs. abhorrent: unusual or deeply offensive?
14/10/26Improve, enhance, ameliorate, and augment: choosing the right word
14/10/26The origin and meaning of “no great shakes”
14/10/26How “egregious” changed from praise to criticism
14/10/26The real story behind “muckraker”
14/10/26Denounce vs. renounce: Criticizing or giving something up
13/10/26Where “no dice” comes from and how to use it
13/10/26Title vs. tittle: two spellings, different meanings
13/10/26Brutalism vs. modernism vs. postmodernism in architecture
12/10/26Should have vs. should of: which is correct?
12/10/26The surprisingly old roots of “newfangled”
11/10/26Why September has “seven” in its name
11/10/26The origin of “nest egg”
10/10/26Motivation vs. discipline vs. consistency: What is the difference?
10/10/26A “bookery” is a bookstore
10/10/26Constant vs. consistent vs. persistent: How to choose
10/10/26The origin of “neither fish nor fowl”
10/10/26Respectfully vs. respectively: how to choose the right word
09/10/26Approach vs. method vs. procedure vs. process vs. technique
09/10/26The origin of “neck and neck”
09/10/26Why “draconian” is named after Draco
09/10/26The origin of “namby-pamby”
08/10/26Will vs. going to: choosing the right future form
08/10/26The history behind “murder will out”
08/10/26Captivating vs. enthralling vs. exciting vs. thrilling
08/10/26Crisis vs. crises: How to choose the right form
08/10/26The origin of “mum’s the word”
08/10/26However vs. nevertheless vs. nonetheless: How to choose
08/10/26“Ponzi scheme” is named after a real swindler
07/10/26How to choose improve on, with, at, in, and upon
07/10/26Spooky vs. creepy vs. eerie: choosing the right word
07/10/26Petrichor: the earthy smell after rain
07/10/26Unexceptionable vs. unexceptional: acceptable or ordinary?
06/10/26The origin of “monkey’s uncle”
06/10/26Parts of a house: roof, window, doorway and staircase details
06/10/26Chunter: a British word for muttered complaints
06/10/26Farther vs. further: what is the difference?
05/10/26Beside vs. besides: how to choose the right word
04/10/26Hypothesis vs. theory: what is the difference?
04/10/26How to write decades: 1990s, 90s, and 90ies

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