Many of us can’t remember what we did before spellcheck came along. It makes life so much easier. Though some English Lit majors will undoubtedly grumble and stamp their feet at this, saying that this kind of software is the downfall of English itself – it is a fact that such grammar software is helpful, […]
Archive | July, 2015
Creating a Safe Classroom Environment
Establishing a safe and comfortable environment in the classroom – indeed, in the entire school – is crucial. Part of the teacher’s job to create that environment, and make sure that the classroom is a space where education and learning can take place. Safety in the Classroom Students are a shifty bunch, be they in […]
Were vs. We’re
Basic English Grammar Rules: Were vs. We’re Homonyms are very common in the English language. What is a homonym, you ask? Homonyms, or homophones, are words which sound alike but have separate meanings. Use of the words were and we’re can be very confusing. It is difficult to know when to use the right word. […]
How to Fight and Check Plagiarism
While it is easier than ever to find and copy information straight off the internet, it is also easier than ever for teachers to figure out that you’ve copied information off the internet. It is a double-edged sword. In many ways, plagiarism is a disease which is constantly spreading. Even with the advent of plagiarism […]
Than vs Then, Wait, When?
“Then” and “than” are used very regularly by anyone who speaks English, and they are among the most frequently used words in the English language. But do you know when to use then vs than?There are many people who incorrectly use these words, causing confusion and misunderstanding. Sentence structure is important, as is correct word […]
WhiteSmoke Software
One of my friends was struggling with his English writing and as a consequence he was failing some classes at school. I then introduced him to WhiteSmoke grammar checker and now he is sailing along happily, and passing with flying colors. Why did I tell him to use WhiteSmoke Software? The answer is simple. He was […]
How to Come Away with the Most Information from a Lecture – Part B
Many courses in college still consist of good old-fashioned lecture-type lessons. In some cases, students beginning college make a very disturbing realization: they never learned how to properly listen to a lecture. This causes the effectiveness of such lessons to drop. As a student, it is important to develop lecture skills, in order to take […]
Nouns Building Blocks of English
Nouns are the building blocks of language. They are the names of any person, place, thing, or idea that can be thought of. There are different types of nouns in existence, and I will attempt to make them clear. First on the list are the common nouns. These nouns are not capitalized, and they do […]
Grammarly vs. WhiteSmoke – Which Is The Best?
Grammarly VS. WhiteSmoke Update 10/21/2015: Our research has found this extended trial/info on Grammarly (you can also skip to the bottom for the final verdict). Spell checking software is available for many platforms and devices. Autocorrect has become very common, whether it is used on a computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Grammar checking software, however, is a […]
How Social Media is Affecting the English Language
In his masterpiece-of-a-book 1984, George Orwell deliciously (and very creepily) paints the picture of a world in which language has turned into newspeak: a concise, abbreviated, shorthand of the language formerly known as English. In today’s rapidly changing world, more and more of the English language is being affected by social media. This is happening […]