Monthly Archives: January 2015

The slash… Try not to use it to separate synonyms: “I went into the woods and saw a giant/huge toad.” A sentence like that leaves the reader wondering: 1) What is there a difference between “giant” and “huge”? 2) If … Continue reading →

Using expressions from other languages is risky and fine and replete with an “I don’t know what.” A well-placed French or Latin or Slovenian expression can contribute to the impression of a well-educated writer. However, there are other dangers. First, … Continue reading →

Patterns with consider… The verb “consider” is normally transitive, but the usage depends on the meaning: 1) “He considers me stupid” means “He thinks that I am stupid.” 2) “Please consider me as a partner” means “Please think about making … Continue reading →

The best of … construction: It’s perfectly ok to say “under the best circumstances” or “under the best conditions,” but this is not the best possible way of expressing this idea. In these particular cases, you can up the level … Continue reading →