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Category Archives: Tips
Language Tip 2 (2014-15)
E-mails are both difficult and easy to write. You know why they are easy to write, but why are they difficult? That’s a topic for an MA thesis (“Bad E-Mails: When Technology Meets Old Epistolary Conventions”). When writing emails in … Continue reading
Language Tip 1 (2014-15)
Here’s the first of a series of language tips (prepared by Jason Blake and Monika Kavalir): Especially in formal writing, avoid using “way” as a synonym for “very.” Consider this example: “This is because the alloy has a distinct appearance … Continue reading
102 English Tips: Another Quick Guide to Avoiding ‘Slovenglish’
Spoštovani člani in članice društva SDAŠ, na portalu issuu.com si lahko ogledate novo knjigo “102 English Tips: Another Quick Guide to Avoiding ‘Slovenglish‘” (Jason Blake in Andrej Stopar, 2014). Knjiga je nastala na podlagi jezikovnih nasvetov, ki ste jih lahko … Continue reading
Language/Writing Tip 37
Avoid using the same conjunctions again and again. “But” and “as” are two main culprits here. Showing contrast: “The academic year is almost over, BUT that doesn’t mean I have stopped already. Some students are tempted to stop, BUT I … Continue reading
Language/Writing Tip 36
The semi-colon is a wonderful half-break in a sentence; a fine way of not-quite stopping the flow of words. And that sentence is simply wrong. There is no call for a break before the fragment “a fine way…” It is … Continue reading
Language/Writing Tip 35
As is often the case, this is one you all know: “Only after I arrived at the store I remembered that my wallet was still at home.” No. You need an inversion. When you start a sentence with “Only after…,” … Continue reading
Language/Writing Tip 34
This week a few presentation tips. Adapt them according to the class and subject matter: – Your first sentence does not have to be “This presentation is about…” Think of movies that start with action scenes before the opening credits … Continue reading
Language/Writing Tip 33
A few notes on abstracts. – avoid footnotes (they get very ugly very fast, especially if the abstract appears in two or more language – three harmless-looking footnotes become six) – try to pack everything init to a single paragraph; … Continue reading
Language/Writing Tip 32
Here’s a structure to ponder: ‘Ludwig Wittgenstein is one of the most influential philosophers of language who explained the essential role of “family relationships” in his influential works.’ The phrasing is complicated and and, in fact, wrong (since there are … Continue reading
Language/Writing Tip 31
Try to avoid “in… in…” patterns. Use adjectives or adverbs to soothe the reader’s eye and ear. 1) “In an interview in 2001, Obama states…” vs. “In a 2001 interview, Obama states…” 2) “In general in Atwood’s work…” vs. “Atwood’s … Continue reading