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What’s wrong with the following sentence? ‘She thinks these steps will be adequate enough to ensure security of the students.’ The error lies in using adequate and enough together. This makes it redundant. Redundant means repeating something and therefore making it unnecessary. Here are some examples of redundancy: free gift (aren’t gifts always supposed to … Continue reading
Try Googling your name. All the people who come up in the search who share your name are your Googlegängers. This word has been coined by fusing the word google, now pretty much synonymous with the concept of Internet searching and the word dopplegänger, which means ‘double-goer’ and usually used to describe someone who looks … Continue reading
Apply to Use this when you are putting yourself forward as a candidate for something, like a course of study, or a job. You apply to graduate school. You apply to a company for employment. You apply to a bank’s loan department for a loan. Apply for Use this if your intention is to obtain … Continue reading
How would you describe a sudden fall in temperature? Here are some words that might help: Plummet Temperature in the region plummets as polar storm sets in. Drop Temperature drops to minus 36 in Toronto. Nosedive Residents woke up to brutal cold after temperature in this region nosedived overnight. Dip Arctic blasts causes temperatures to … Continue reading
Percent is one word in American English, while outside the US, most publications prefer the two-word version (per cent). Choosing between them is a matter of preference, but make sure you are consistent in your choice.
Have you ever watched an entire season of ‘Breaking Bad’ or ‘House of Cards’ on Netflix at one go? That’s binge-watching. Binge-watch: to watch multiple episodes of a television programme in rapid succession, typically by means of DVDs or digital streaming; in other words, marathon viewing of several or entire seasons of shows. You may … Continue reading
Expressions for low pay: A measly pay A meager salary A paltry wage Working for peanuts Working for chicken feed Idioms for not having enough money: Be short of I was short of money, so I had to borrow some from George. Strapped for cash He sold the painting at an auction when he was strapped for … Continue reading
Blow over means to go away without having a serious effect. Blow up means to start suddenly and with force (as if to explode). EXAMPLE: I listened to their arguments and wondered if their fight will blow up or blow over.
When you are under a cloud, you are suspected of something. Example: Someone stole money from the cash box and now everyone is under a cloud of suspicion. Even the manager is under the cloud. If you are on cloud nine, you are very happy. Example: Susan is on cloud nine these days; she just … Continue reading
An armchair quarterback is someone who offers advice or an opinion on something in which they have no expertize or involvement. An armchair general is a person who sits in a chair behind a computer and leads people or at least attempts to, instead of doing something themselves. Such a person usually complains about government, organization, … Continue reading
English Notes 