What is a metaphor? A metaphor is figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. They can be useful when explaining abstract or unfamiliar ideas or concepts , as they enable the writer to utilise imagery that may be more familiar to the reader. For example, …
What are clichés? Linguistic clichés are phrases in which at least one of the words is constrained in its use by convention. They differ from idioms in that their meaning can be understood without already being familiar with the phrase, and they tend not to add any additional meaning to your writing or speech. They …
Politeness and courtesy are qualities that are valued in most societies, but it can be difficult to know how to modify what you say to make it more polite when English isn’t your native language Use please and thank you The most basic terms for making what you say sound more polite is to use …
Intonation Intonation- the rise and fall of the voice as we speak -is common to all languages and affects the way our speech is understood and interpreted. It is distinct from accent, although regional accents may well have a common intonation. For example, the regional accent of south Wales is often described as “sing-song” due …
How do intonation and word stress affect the way we speak English? Read More »
Denominalisation, or verbing as it is also known, describes converting a noun into a verb. It is a phenomenon that has become increasingly common in English as we shorten our speech to make it quicker and easier to say what we want. Some denominalisations have been used so frequently and for such a period of …
What is denominalisation and when should I use it? Read More »
English is a language rich in idiomatic phrases, which add character and variety to our speech. It is often difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of many of the idioms we use, simply because they may well have been in use in spoken English long before they made their way into text. Nevertheless, the ideas …