English Grammar: Silent Letters

Ask anyone. You will not find a single soul who does not despise silent letters. The English language has a huge amount of silent letters in its words. Actually, it is about 60 percent! Mostly, they are just leftovers which serve to remind us of the English language’s ancestors – Latin, French, Germanic, and other […]

Avoid Making the Two Most Common Grammar Mistakes

Then vs Than and Good vs Well – two sets of words that seem to confuse many people. Making the mistake of using one of these words in the wrong situation can be embarrassing, especially since the rules pertaining to these words are relatively simple. Here are some simple tricks that you can learn so […]

New Tricks, Old Tech

Using Old Technology in the Classroom Traditional classes have the potential to be very boring, especially in primary and high school. Listening to a teacher droning on about names, dates, and events, solving math problems, having to look at that board all day… Even with the advent of “power point classrooms” – in the hands […]

When Adverbs Go Bad

When Adverbs Go Bad Some people like to over-complicate things. They don’t subscribe to the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” idiom. They have the unique ability to take even the simplest, most straightforward task or idea – and then surround it with unnecessary concerns. Some writers operate in the same way. They feel the […]

English Grammar: Nouns, an Insight

We assume that anything that exists can be named. These names are called nouns. Nouns can be either common nouns, which are general and non-specific, or proper nouns, which are specific. Both types of nouns can be people, places, things, or ideas. For example, the following are examples of common nouns: People: Man, Woman, Detective, Chef […]

Whitesmoke Grammar Checker Review

A grammar checker’s main function is to check for errors in syntax, spelling, and grammar. WhiteSmoke’s grammar checker is simple to use, with a friendly interface. Simplicity is key in such a software, since it is there to aid those who are in need of help to begin with. WhiteSmoke’s algorithm isn’t perfect, but then […]

Keeping History Class Alive

Keeping History Class Alive History is one of the tougher subjects to teach. You’d think that it wouldn’t be so difficult. After all, history – be it global or American – has seen its share of exciting and amazing events. Wars, religions, revolutions, coups, crusades, and of course, the Brady Bunch reunion of 1981. Unfortunately, […]

Co-ed vs Separate Education

Is segregating sexes in education a positive or negative approach? Which option creates a more intellectually stimulating and safe classroom environment? Well, it depends. This is a debate that has been going on for some time, with arguments for and against coming up constantly. To make a very broad generalization: those who are segregated do […]

The Belief in Stress Relief

Being a student is stressful. Whether you’re in middle school or high school, and certainly for those of us pursuing our quest for knowledge in the halls of higher education – it get can very tense and worrisome. Great Ways to Relieve Stress for Students Ironically, most students say they can’t find the time to […]

Reading Between the Lines: Hyphens and Dashes

Punctuation is important. It may not come into play in spoken English, but the ability to use it correctly is one of the telltale signs of a skilled writer. Punctuation improves readability, helps emphasize specific points, and improves organization. It makes the page come alive, in a way. Hyphens and dashes are among the most […]