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Tag Archives: notes
Language Tip 6 (2014-15)
“Albeit” is tricky to use correctly, which is probably why students don’t use it often. Also, dictionaries give “albeit” bad press. Some dicitionaries cautiously label it “formal” or “literary,” while others slander it with “old-fashioned,” “archaic” and “obsolete.” If “albeit” … Continue reading
Language Tip 5 (2014-15)
The frequent confusing of “depressing” and “depressive” is depressing and it will soon turn us into depressives. In plain English: “depressing” is the (oft-used) adjective, “depressive” the (seldom-used) noun. If you want to say you’re feeling a little down or … Continue reading
Language Tip 4 (2014-15)
Once upon a time, one of us had a job teaching sugar-charged Mexican kids English. “Maestro” was the charming term they used (as in, “Maestro, Pedro won’t stop hitting me!”). Slovenians have their own difficulties with “teacher” or “professor,” so … Continue reading
Language Tip 3 (2014-15)
Do not mix up “motive” and “motif.” In English, a “motive” is what compels you to commit a crime. A “motif” is a recurring idea or image in a work of literature (or a thrice-heard theme in music). Because “motif” … Continue reading
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