Time expressions used with various tense forms 

Usually, never, seldom, always, generally

These expressions are almost always used with the simple present tense.

• He seldom donates money to charities.
• He always wears neat clothes.
• You never thank me for anything.
• I usually drink coffee in the morning.

At present, now, at the moment, right now etc

These expressions are usually used with the present continuous tense.

• I am learning German now.
• He is working on a new novel at present.
• He is doing research in molecular biology at the moment.

Already, just, yet

These expressions are usually used with the present perfect tense.

• I have already watched that movie.
• We have not yet heard from them.
• John has just left.

Since and for

These time expressions are usually used with the present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses.

• We have lived here since 1999.
• I have been working since morning.
• It has been raining for hours.
• We have been living here for six years.

Yesterday, last year, some years ago

Use these expressions with the simple past tense.

• I met him yesterday.
• His father died three years ago.
• I visited Japan last year.

Tomorrow, next year, next month

These expressions are usually used with the simple future tense.

• I will talk to him tomorrow.
• We will move to our new home next month.
• He will retire next year.

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Nouns mistakes

Here are some common mistakes in the use of nouns.

Incorrect: We haven’t got any breads.
Correct: We haven’t got any loaves of bread.

Explanation

The noun ‘bread’ does not have a plural form. To express that idea we use the expression ‘loaves of bread’.

Incorrect: Please excuse the troubles.
Correct: Please excuse me for the trouble.

Incorrect: He took troubles to do his work.
Correct: He took trouble over his work.

Incorrect: I am learning a new poetry.
Correct: I am learning a new poem.

Explanation

The word poetry denotes a form of literature.

Incorrect: We had a good play of tennis.
Correct: We had a good game of tennis.

Incorrect: He is true to his words.
Correct: He is true to his word.

Incorrect: I saw three females in the room.
Correct: I saw three women in the room.

Incorrect: He enquired about your state of health.
Correct: He enquired about the state of your health.

Incorrect: I am leaving my service.
Correct: I am leaving my job.

Incorrect: I celebrated Christmas with my family members.
Correct: I celebrated Christmas with my family. / I celebrated Christmas with the members of my family.

Incorrect: The clock has struck six hours.
Correct: The clock has struck six.

Incorrect: The weather of Colombo does not suit me.
Correct: The climate of Colombo does not suit me.

Incorrect: These news are too good to be true.
Correct: This news is too good to be true.

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Among vs. Between

There is a widespread belief that the preposition between should be used in sentences with a choice involving two items while among is applicable to choices involving more than two items. While this may be true for some cases, this rule is not absolute and can cause errors in the usage of these terms.

“Here’s the important difference between Snapchat and Instagram’s lookalike apps”
Business Insider

“At the Trade Deadline, Some Players Fight a Battle Between Reality and Rumors”
New York Times

“Intriguing link between vitamin D and birth control uncovered”
Medical News Today

The first examples demonstrated the popular use of between when considering two choices and highlighting their one-to-one relationships.

However, between can be used even for choices involving more than two items as long as they are distinct, individual items.

“Info sharing between Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore helped foil planned Marina Bay attack”
News Straits Times Online

The next sentence, however, uses between to indicate rivalries between an unspecified number of countries at the 2016 summer olympics.

“Ranking the Best Rivalries Between Countries at the 2016 Summer Olympics”
Bleacher Report

There are common words followed by between. These include the nouns, connection, link and difference, and the verbs, choose,differentiate, and distinguish.

On the other hand, the preposition among is generally used for choices involving individuals or items that are not distinct.

“Brett Favre, Tony Dungy, Marvin Harrison among 8 inductees to Pro Football Hall of Fame”
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia

“Newlyweds, a preschool teacher, a young mother among the 16 dead in fiery hot-air-balloon crash”
Washington Post

It is also used for items that are part of a group or a plural noun.

“Smaller households among Seattle renters mean they aren’t yet in the majority”
Seattle Times

“High Smoking Rates Continue Among Racial, Ethnic Groups, Despite Overall Decline In US: CDC”
International Business Times

Some people also use amongst, a variant of among, which is mostly found in British, Australian, and Canadian English, but has the same use and meaning.

“Three new species identified amongst the Tegu lizard family”
Science Daily

“Religious destinations most favorite amongst travellers this season”
Times of India

To master the uses of among and between, try giving your own example for each of the uses we presented above. Do you already have sentences in mind? Share them below.

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Apart vs. A part

Some people find it difficult to distinguish the terms apart and a part as they are similar both in sound and in spelling. However, these two have very distinct meanings and should never be used interchangeably.

The word apart is generally used as an adverb used to denote that “two or more people or things are separated by a distance at a specified distance from each other in time or space.”

“More than 500 miles apart, Donald Trump and Joe Biden debate compassion”
Washington Post

“Is this the best birthday surprise ever? Mother is left screaming hysterically after her daughter flies 5,000 miles from England to be with her after two years apart”
Daily Mail

“Mentor program helps two people a generation apart build friendship”
ABC News 4

It may also be used to mean “in or into parts or pieces.”

“Ted Cruz, and the speech that threatened to tear the convention apart”
Washington Post

Or “as a distinct item or entity.”

“Simone Biles may be small, but hugely difficult routines set her apart”
SB Nation

Apart is also used as an adjective that means “isolated.” It is either preceded by a noun or found in the predicate.

“On debt and taxation, rich and poor countries are worlds apart”
The Guardian

Meanwhile, the two-word phrase a part is comprised of the article aand the noun part, which denotes “a piece or segment of something such as an object, activity, or period of time, which combined with other pieces makes up the whole.”

“Young Mothers – A Part Of CVS Health’s Success”
Forbes

“How guns became a part of American culture”
CBS News

“Hydroplanes and pirates were always a part of Seafair — even the first in 1950 (photos)”
Seattle Times

There are two simple ways to determine which term to use in your sentence. The first one is by trying to take away the a and see if it would still make sense. If it does, then a part would be more applicable and if it doesn’t, then apart would be more appropriate.

Correct: Voluntarism is part of the solution.

Incorrect: They spent five years part while he was in the army.

Another useful technique is by remembering the prepositions that they are often paired with. Apart is usually paired with the preposition from while a part is often paired with of.

They couldn’t keep those two dogs apart from each other.

She always felt like she was a part of the family.

Is there anything else that confuses you about apart and a part?

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For all intents and purposes vs. for all intensive purposes

While people generally use both for all intents and purposes andfor all intensive purposes to mean “in every practical sense,” ”seeming as if,” or “virtually/almost completely,” the standard form of the idiom is for all intents and purposes.

“For all intents and purposes, Ethereum Classic is a worthless scam.”
Huffington Post

“My mother’s heart would be broken to know her siblings have, for all intents and purposes, cut me out of their lives.”
Chicago Tribune

“Your money, for all intents and purposes, is infinite; there are millions of ways to make money.”
Huffington Post

It may not pass the editorial process but it is not uncommon for you to encounter the use of for all intensive purposes both in speech and in print.

“For all intensive purposes, the Martellus Bennett era in Chicago is officially over.”
FanSided

The confusion may be attributed to the phonetic similarity between these phrases. If spoken aloud, for all intents and purposes and for all intensive purposes would virtually sound the same. This is whyfor all intensive purposes is considered a fairly common eggcorn, a word or phrase that result from a mishearing or misinterpretation of another.

For all intents and purposes, on the other hand, originated from the idiom “to all intents and purposes” which was used in English law in the 1500s. It is a shorter form of the original phrase “to all intents, constructions, and purposes” found in an act adopted by Henry VII in 1547.

The use of “for” in place of “to” eventually gained popularity, hence, the emergence of the idiom’s current form. However, “to all intents and purposes” is still being used by some writers.

“To all intents and purposes, bitcoin is ‘discovered’ by computers that compete globally with one another to gain credit for sealing off the latest block in the chain.”
Forbes

In conclusion, you are advised, for all intents and purposes, to use the correct idiom and avoid using  the eggcorn especially in your written work.

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Allusion vs. Illusion vs. Elusion

Despite the obvious differences in spelling, people still misuse the words allusion, illusion, and elusion. This may be attributed to their phonetic similarity. Below are simple tips to avoid mix-ups in the use of these words.

Allusion is word used to refer to “an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly” or “an indirect or passing reference”.

“At the 2016 Olympics Opening Ceremony, the IOC’s Bach made no allusion to Russia”
The Independent

“A birdcage lamp used to rest on a piano that sat in the corner, an allusion to Angelou’s 1969 autobiographical work, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.’”
Forbes

“The allusion did not sit well in a city where lawmakers are often distinguished by being progressive or moderate Democrats, leading at least one supporter of the measure to hold back tears of anger.”
Fortune

On the other hand, an illusion is “something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality” or “the state or condition of being deceived”. Since illusion is a relatively common word, most people are familiar with it and rarely misuse it.

“Tony Oursler’s Grand Illusions, Science Left at the Door”
New York Times

“This Optical Illusion Hugging Photo Will Make Your Brain Melt”
Huffington Post

“Fish Spawning Aggregations: an illusion of plenty”
National Geographic

Lastly, elusion is a noun which refers to “the act or an instance of eluding or escaping”.

“’Elusion’ Charges Dropped Against Portsmouth Mayor”
The New Journal and Guide

“They might also be considered victims, for having been given the elusion of competency and then asked to keep up with the complex problems around them.”
Huffington Post

“Perhaps Atlanta found inspiration in the Houston Rockets’ elusion of a sweep in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals”
Bleacher Report

This is an allusion to those who give in to the illusion that these three words are interchangeable. Elusion of this mistake is easy as long as you remember their meanings and uses.

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Idioms with D

Here are some idiomatic expressions built around words beginning with letter D.

Damn someone with faint praise

To damn someone with faint praise is to praise them in such a way that it appears you are actually criticizing them.

Put a damper on

To put a damper on something is to make it less enjoyable.

In the dark

When you are in the dark, you are in a state of ignorance.

A shot in the dark

A shot in the dark is a wild guess.

Dash something off

To dash a letter off is to write it hurriedly.

Call it a day

To call it a day is to decide to stop doing an activity.

Day in and day out

When something happens day in and day out, it happens continuously or repeatedly over a long period of time.

Scare the daylights out of someone

To scare the daylights out of someone is to do something that scares them severely.

The dead of night

The dead of night is the darkest and quietest part of the night.

The dead of winter

The dead of winter is the coldest part of winter.

Fall on deaf ears

When something falls on deaf ears, it is ignored.

Turn a deaf ear

To turn a deaf ear is to refuse to listen or respond.

Deal someone a blow

To deal someone a blow is to hit them.

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Expressions with bring

Here is a list of idiomatic expressions with bring.

Bring yourself to do something

To bring yourself to do something is to force yourself to do something unpleasant.

Bring something about

To bring something about is to cause something to happen.

• He brought about many reforms.

Bring something forward

To bring something forward is to move an event to an earlier time.

Bring the house down

When you bring the house down, you make your audience applaud or laugh enthusiastically.

Bring something off

To bring something off is to achieve something.

Bring something on

To bring something on is to cause something unpleasant to occur.

Bring something out

To bring something out is to launch a new publication or product.

• They are bringing out a revised version of this book.

Bring someone round

To bring someone round is to make them conscious again.

• They sprinkled some water on her face to bring her round.

Bring something to bear

Bring something to bear is to apply influence or pressure.

Bring someone up

To bring someone up is to look after a child until s/he is an adult.

• She has to work hard to bring up her children.

Bring something up

To bring something up is to raise a matter for discussion.

• You shouldn’t have brought up the topic of his alcohol addiction.

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Conjunctions exercise

Complete the following sentences using appropriate conjunctions.

1. I will not come …………………….. you need me. (unless / except)

2. ………………… you apologize, I shall punish you. (unless / except)

3. I will not go ……………… you do. (unless / without)

4. I will not go ………………… you. (unless / except / without)

5. He speaks ………………… his father does. (as / like)

6. Scarcely had he gone ……………….. a policeman knocked at the door. (when / than)

7. If I do not speak of them it is …………………. they do not come within my subject. (because / that)

8. Such goods are made for export and are …………………….. used in the country. (seldom or never / seldom or ever)

9. He lost ……………….. his ticket, but also his bag. (not / not only)

Answers

1. I will not come unless you need me.

2. Unless you apologize, I shall punish you.

3. I will not go unless you do.

4. I will not go without you. (Here without is a preposition, not a conjunction.)

5. He speaks as his father does.

6. Scarcely had he gone when a policeman knocked at the door.

7. If I do not speak of them it is because they do not come within my subject.

8. Such goods are made for export and are seldom or never used in the country.

9. He lost not only his ticket, but also his bag.

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How to write a thank-you letter?

Somebody has just offered you a good job or sent you a nice gift. Writing a ‘Thank you letter’ is the best way to show your appreciation. Here are a few tips to write a courteous thank-you letter.

Address your letter to a specific person

Whether you are writing a thank-you letter or some other letter, it is always a good idea to address your letter to a specific person.

Be sincere

Do not send a thank-you letter just for the sake of sending it. The tone of your letter must be sincere. Most people can easily sense it when are being dishonest.

The purpose of a thank-you letter is to express your gratitude. And hence stick to that point. Avoid the temptation to discuss other things in a thank-you letter.

Close the letter appropriately. For example, you may reaffirm the gratitude. Or you can indicate your intention to continue contact.

Send it as soon as possible

Write the letter as soon as possible. For example, somebody has sent you a gift. Ideally, you should write a thank-you letter within 24 hours of receiving the gift. A thank-you letter sent two or three weeks later doesn’t have much value.

Be concise

Keep it short and simple. A thank-you letter has to be short. You must still be able to convey the message clearly. Choose the right words that would remind the person of your appreciation.

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Changing rules of formal and informal writing

Writing has generally been more formal and speech more informal. However, these distinctions are beginning to change.

In fact, English used in business situations has started becoming less formal. Many forms (for example, the use of personal pronouns) that were once considered inappropriate in formal writing are now considered perfectly acceptable. Similar changes are being witnessed in the academic field too.

Here is a look at some features that are slowly but steadily making their presence felt in formal writing.

The use of personal letters

The personal pronouns I and we are now quite acceptable in business letters. In fact, businesses are actively promoting this trend because they believe that the use of personal letters will help them personalize the message. The use of I in personal letters is an indication that the writer is willing to take responsibility. We, on the other hand, is used to refer to the company.

Split infinitives

A split infinitive is an expression where an adverb is placed between ‘to’ and the ‘verb’. Some writers still avoid them, but they are also gaining acceptance.

Beginning a sentence with and or but

In the olden days beginning a sentence with the conjunction and orbut was considered a serious crime; now they have become acceptable too. However, you must not begin a sentence with a conjunction just for the sake of it. Avoid it if it is possible, but if the situation demands it, don’t hesitate to use it.

Contractions

Contractions should be avoided in academic writing. However they are perfectly acceptable in emails and personal business correspondence.

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