Don't make these AWS
02
“Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher”
Don’t make these
Piece of mind and peace of mind
silly mistakes! You might be shocked to know how many common words and phrases you’ve been misusing. It’s time you remove them from your vocabulary for good... Case ‘in’ point — not case ‘and’ point
Emigrate, Immigrate and Migrate
“Case in point” means, “Here’s an example of this point I’m trying to make.” The version with “and” makes them two different things, which isn’t helpful to your argument at all. For the record, the plural is “cases in point.”
Emigrate means to leave one’s country to live in another. Immigrate is to come into another country to live permanently. Migrate is to move, like birds in the winter.
Luxuriant and luxurious Luxuriant means abundant or florid and does not mean luxurious. Correct: The poet has a luxuriant imagination. The car's fine leather seats were luxurious.
! migrant
el Trav
! migrant
im He’s an
em He’s an
You’ve got another ‘think’ coming — not you’ve got another ‘thing’ coming The phrase was originally, “If that’s what you think, you’ve got another think coming.” We just dropped the first clause. Still, this may be a case where the misuse of the phrase now seems to be more popular that the original. Even former President Obama has used “thing” instead of “think.”
Migration is also an umbrella term that covers both “immigrate” and “emigrate.” When it applies to people, it generally means a permanent move but can also mean a temporary relocation. ➤ There is a good trick to remember the differences between “immigrate” and “emigrate.” The prefix e- (or ex-) usually means “out of” or “from.” The prefix im(or in-) often means “in” or “into.” ➤ Therefore, emigrate means “to move out of” and immigrate means “to move into.”
Wreak havoc — not wreck havoc To “wreck” havoc means to destroy havoc, which is the exact opposite of this phrase’s meaning. When you “wreak havoc,” you’re spreading chaos, anarchy, and destruction everywhere.
I ‘couldn’t’ care less — not I ‘could’ care less If you “could” care less, you’re admitting there are other, less important things in world, which takes away the sting of your
➤ The part of your back that you can’t quite reach to scratch is called the acnestis. It’s derived from the Greek word for “cheese-grater.” ➤ A growlery is a place you like to retire to when you’re unwell or in a bad mood. It was coined by Charles Dickens in Bleak House (1853).
KNOWLEDGEPEDIA
Gautama Buddha
comment. By saying you “couldn’t” care less, that means nothing else exists on the planet that matters less you. Major burn.
Supposedly — not supposably “Supposably” isn’t even a word. It’s a slight but important distinction.
Appraise vs apprise To appraise something is to determine its value or to evaluate it. For instance, one might appraise an antique lamp to be worth ` 5,000. To apprise is to make someone aware of something. In this post, for example, we’re apprising our readers of the difference between appraise and apprise.
When you give someone a “piece of your mind,” you’re letting them know why you’re angry. ➤ “Peace of mind” is very different: It’s a calm, relaxed state you enter when you know nothing’s wrong.
Tongue-andcheek, not really No, the joke your friend just told wasn’t “tongue-and-cheek” — it was “tongue-in-cheek.” The difference is subtle, but it’s an important one to get right.
Discrepancy, Dichotomy and disparity
You have probably heard people saying that they have made a complete 360 degree change in their life. Well, if they have made a 360 degree change, then they haven’t changed at all. When you go 360 degrees you return to the exact same place where you used to be. To imply that you have completely changed your life, you have to use the expression ‘a 180 degree change’.
Example: Steve is back to his old ways. He skips class and doesn’t turn in his homework. He’s really gone 360 degrees. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
A discrepancy is a difference between two things that ought to be similar or related, a surprising difference between two things which are supposed to correspond in some manner. The plural form is dis-
ing to try and dance. So what are you going to try while you’re dancing? Vietnamese food? A new hat? Instead, say “I’m going to try to dance,” meaning you will attempt to move your body in a rhythmic way.
Meaning: This phrase is used to say that if you come close to success without succeeding, it is not good enough Example: It doesn’t matter that we only lost the game by two points—we still lost! And close only counts in horseshoes.
appetiser
restaurant the staff has to polish the silverware.
to have an axe to grind
garlic bread or another appetiser?
or equipped for some task, goal, competition, or confrontation. Example: If you haven’t studied law, representing yourself in court is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.
be at daggers drawn Meaning: To be prepared to verbally or physically fight another person or group. Example: They’ve been at daggers drawn ever since he borrowed her car and smashed it up.
armed to the teeth Meaning: formidably armed Example: The bank robber was armed to the teeth when he was caught.
an arrow in the quiver
Meaning: To have personal, selfish reasons to do or say something. Example: Environmentalists have no political axe to grind - they just want to save the planet.
Before you can say knife Meaning: If something happens before you can say knife, it happens very quickly. Example: I’ll have the files done before you can say “knife.”
Meaning: A battle of nerves is a
ber of resources or strategies that can be drawn on or followed. Example: If you are having a job interview, improving your communication skills can be another ar-
situation where neither side in a conflict or dispute is willing to back Example: When one is down and is waiting for the other side to weaken. Her lawyer said the university had waged a war of nerves to persuade his client to resign.
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
IMPROMPTU
BONA FIDE
It means spontaneous or without preparation. Something that catches you by surprise: “my boss called an impromptu meeting today and my colleagues and I were totally unprepared.”
Unquestionable, in good faith. Only bona fide members are allowed to use the club pool.
QUID PRO QUO
MOST COMMON
5
LATIN WORDS USED IN ENGLISH
It means “of equal exchange or substitution.” Literally, it means “something for something”. You exchange something of the other’s interest for something of your own interest. “They share a great deal of information on a quid pro quo basis.”
PER SE In itself, intrinsically, of an inherent nature. Global warming per se is not really the problem; the catastrophic climate changes which might be caused by it are.
PRO RATA Proportionally, in equal parts. “Many people like to split the check pro rata so that they can order more than they would if paying the full price.”
“GYP” “Gyp” most likely evolved as a shortened version of “gypsy” — more correctly known as the Romani, an ethnic group now mostly in Europe and America. The Romani typically travelled a lot and made their money by selling goods. Business disputes naturally arose, and the masses started thinking of Romani as swindlers. “Gyp” has now become synonymous with cheating someone.
Depreciate means to decrease in value and does not mean to deprecate or to disparage. Correct: My car has depreciated a lot over the years. She deprecated (express disapproval of) his efforts.
Close only counts in horseshoes (and hand grenades)
Battle of nerves
Meaning: One of a num-
toinie175 @gmail.com
Depreciate
row in your quiver.
Meaning: To come poorly prepared
Do you find grammar confusing? Do you get stuck with words when writing a letter, an essay or a blog? Do you have a fear of public speaking? Or do you simply want to improve your communication skills? Times NIE is here to help you to master the intricacies of the English language. Just shoot us your queries on
Consider this example: I’m go-
Example: Steve really cleaned up his act. Now he never misses class and he does all his homework. He’s really gone 180 degrees.
bring a knife to a gunfight
QUERIES RELATING TO LANGUAGE SKILLS
Try to — not try and
180 degrees or 360 degrees?
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Idioms on
crepancies. There is a “dichotomy” between two different or entirely opposite things. There is a “discrepancy” between two things that should be identical — but are not. A “disparity” means a significant difference for something you can measure, like salary, age, or access to a resource. In a Sentence: ➤ There is a strong dichotomy between modern scientific practices and religion. ➤ I noticed a discrepancy between the numbers you forwarded me versus the ones you told me on the phone. ➤ The govt must narrow the economic disparities among regions.
Meaning: small snack before a
meal Usage: Would you like some
apron Meaning: a cloth covering
worn over the clothes while cooking Usage: Remove your apron before you come out to the dining room
buspan Meaning: rubber tub used for
collecting dirty dishes Usage: The buspan is stacked
so high it’s too heavy for me to carry.
cutlery, silverware, utensils Meaning: tools for
lemon, lime wedge Meaning: a small segment of
lemon or lime put on the rim of a glass Usage: I’d like a lemon wedge for my ice water please.
patio Meaning: outdoor seating Usage: We closed the patio
because it looks like it’s going to rain.
separate cheques Meaning: a different bill for
each member/group sitting at a table Usage: We asked for separate cheques but it all came on one bill.
eating with (fork, knife, spoon) Usage: In a fine dining
HOW TO ORDER FOOD 1.
I’d like a cheese pizza, please. I’d like to have a chai latte, please. 2. I’m going to have the eggs and toast. 3. I’m going to take the hot chocolate with whipped cream, please. I‘ll take the burger, medium rare. 4. I’m going to go with the red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing. ■ If you are not sure what to order, ask the waiter
“What would you recommend?” to get some advice or “What is special here?” to find out what the most famous dishes are at that restaurant. ■ Catch the waiter’s attention and ask “May we have the bill, please?” or “Check, please.” to see how much you need to pay.
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
“Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher”
Don’t make these
Piece of mind and peace of mind
silly mistakes! You might be shocked to know how many common words and phrases you’ve been misusing. It’s time you remove them from your vocabulary for good... Case ‘in’ point — not case ‘and’ point
Emigrate, Immigrate and Migrate
“Case in point” means, “Here’s an example of this point I’m trying to make.” The version with “and” makes them two different things, which isn’t helpful to your argument at all. For the record, the plural is “cases in point.”
Emigrate means to leave one’s country to live in another. Immigrate is to come into another country to live permanently. Migrate is to move, like birds in the winter.
Luxuriant and luxurious Luxuriant means abundant or florid and does not mean luxurious. Correct: The poet has a luxuriant imagination. The car's fine leather seats were luxurious.
! migrant
el Trav
! migrant
im He’s an
em He’s an
You’ve got another ‘think’ coming — not you’ve got another ‘thing’ coming The phrase was originally, “If that’s what you think, you’ve got another think coming.” We just dropped the first clause. Still, this may be a case where the misuse of the phrase now seems to be more popular that the original. Even former President Obama has used “thing” instead of “think.”
Migration is also an umbrella term that covers both “immigrate” and “emigrate.” When it applies to people, it generally means a permanent move but can also mean a temporary relocation. ➤ There is a good trick to remember the differences between “immigrate” and “emigrate.” The prefix e- (or ex-) usually means “out of” or “from.” The prefix im(or in-) often means “in” or “into.” ➤ Therefore, emigrate means “to move out of” and immigrate means “to move into.”
Wreak havoc — not wreck havoc To “wreck” havoc means to destroy havoc, which is the exact opposite of this phrase’s meaning. When you “wreak havoc,” you’re spreading chaos, anarchy, and destruction everywhere.
I ‘couldn’t’ care less — not I ‘could’ care less If you “could” care less, you’re admitting there are other, less important things in world, which takes away the sting of your
➤ The part of your back that you can’t quite reach to scratch is called the acnestis. It’s derived from the Greek word for “cheese-grater.” ➤ A growlery is a place you like to retire to when you’re unwell or in a bad mood. It was coined by Charles Dickens in Bleak House (1853).
KNOWLEDGEPEDIA
Gautama Buddha
comment. By saying you “couldn’t” care less, that means nothing else exists on the planet that matters less you. Major burn.
Supposedly — not supposably “Supposably” isn’t even a word. It’s a slight but important distinction.
Appraise vs apprise To appraise something is to determine its value or to evaluate it. For instance, one might appraise an antique lamp to be worth ` 5,000. To apprise is to make someone aware of something. In this post, for example, we’re apprising our readers of the difference between appraise and apprise.
When you give someone a “piece of your mind,” you’re letting them know why you’re angry. ➤ “Peace of mind” is very different: It’s a calm, relaxed state you enter when you know nothing’s wrong.
Tongue-andcheek, not really No, the joke your friend just told wasn’t “tongue-and-cheek” — it was “tongue-in-cheek.” The difference is subtle, but it’s an important one to get right.
Discrepancy, Dichotomy and disparity
You have probably heard people saying that they have made a complete 360 degree change in their life. Well, if they have made a 360 degree change, then they haven’t changed at all. When you go 360 degrees you return to the exact same place where you used to be. To imply that you have completely changed your life, you have to use the expression ‘a 180 degree change’.
Example: Steve is back to his old ways. He skips class and doesn’t turn in his homework. He’s really gone 360 degrees. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
A discrepancy is a difference between two things that ought to be similar or related, a surprising difference between two things which are supposed to correspond in some manner. The plural form is dis-
ing to try and dance. So what are you going to try while you’re dancing? Vietnamese food? A new hat? Instead, say “I’m going to try to dance,” meaning you will attempt to move your body in a rhythmic way.
Meaning: This phrase is used to say that if you come close to success without succeeding, it is not good enough Example: It doesn’t matter that we only lost the game by two points—we still lost! And close only counts in horseshoes.
appetiser
restaurant the staff has to polish the silverware.
to have an axe to grind
garlic bread or another appetiser?
or equipped for some task, goal, competition, or confrontation. Example: If you haven’t studied law, representing yourself in court is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.
be at daggers drawn Meaning: To be prepared to verbally or physically fight another person or group. Example: They’ve been at daggers drawn ever since he borrowed her car and smashed it up.
armed to the teeth Meaning: formidably armed Example: The bank robber was armed to the teeth when he was caught.
an arrow in the quiver
Meaning: To have personal, selfish reasons to do or say something. Example: Environmentalists have no political axe to grind - they just want to save the planet.
Before you can say knife Meaning: If something happens before you can say knife, it happens very quickly. Example: I’ll have the files done before you can say “knife.”
Meaning: A battle of nerves is a
ber of resources or strategies that can be drawn on or followed. Example: If you are having a job interview, improving your communication skills can be another ar-
situation where neither side in a conflict or dispute is willing to back Example: When one is down and is waiting for the other side to weaken. Her lawyer said the university had waged a war of nerves to persuade his client to resign.
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
IMPROMPTU
BONA FIDE
It means spontaneous or without preparation. Something that catches you by surprise: “my boss called an impromptu meeting today and my colleagues and I were totally unprepared.”
Unquestionable, in good faith. Only bona fide members are allowed to use the club pool.
QUID PRO QUO
MOST COMMON
5
LATIN WORDS USED IN ENGLISH
It means “of equal exchange or substitution.” Literally, it means “something for something”. You exchange something of the other’s interest for something of your own interest. “They share a great deal of information on a quid pro quo basis.”
PER SE In itself, intrinsically, of an inherent nature. Global warming per se is not really the problem; the catastrophic climate changes which might be caused by it are.
PRO RATA Proportionally, in equal parts. “Many people like to split the check pro rata so that they can order more than they would if paying the full price.”
“GYP” “Gyp” most likely evolved as a shortened version of “gypsy” — more correctly known as the Romani, an ethnic group now mostly in Europe and America. The Romani typically travelled a lot and made their money by selling goods. Business disputes naturally arose, and the masses started thinking of Romani as swindlers. “Gyp” has now become synonymous with cheating someone.
Depreciate means to decrease in value and does not mean to deprecate or to disparage. Correct: My car has depreciated a lot over the years. She deprecated (express disapproval of) his efforts.
Close only counts in horseshoes (and hand grenades)
Battle of nerves
Meaning: One of a num-
toinie175 @gmail.com
Depreciate
row in your quiver.
Meaning: To come poorly prepared
Do you find grammar confusing? Do you get stuck with words when writing a letter, an essay or a blog? Do you have a fear of public speaking? Or do you simply want to improve your communication skills? Times NIE is here to help you to master the intricacies of the English language. Just shoot us your queries on
Consider this example: I’m go-
Example: Steve really cleaned up his act. Now he never misses class and he does all his homework. He’s really gone 180 degrees.
bring a knife to a gunfight
QUERIES RELATING TO LANGUAGE SKILLS
Try to — not try and
180 degrees or 360 degrees?
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Idioms on
crepancies. There is a “dichotomy” between two different or entirely opposite things. There is a “discrepancy” between two things that should be identical — but are not. A “disparity” means a significant difference for something you can measure, like salary, age, or access to a resource. In a Sentence: ➤ There is a strong dichotomy between modern scientific practices and religion. ➤ I noticed a discrepancy between the numbers you forwarded me versus the ones you told me on the phone. ➤ The govt must narrow the economic disparities among regions.
Meaning: small snack before a
meal Usage: Would you like some
apron Meaning: a cloth covering
worn over the clothes while cooking Usage: Remove your apron before you come out to the dining room
buspan Meaning: rubber tub used for
collecting dirty dishes Usage: The buspan is stacked
so high it’s too heavy for me to carry.
cutlery, silverware, utensils Meaning: tools for
lemon, lime wedge Meaning: a small segment of
lemon or lime put on the rim of a glass Usage: I’d like a lemon wedge for my ice water please.
patio Meaning: outdoor seating Usage: We closed the patio
because it looks like it’s going to rain.
separate cheques Meaning: a different bill for
each member/group sitting at a table Usage: We asked for separate cheques but it all came on one bill.
eating with (fork, knife, spoon) Usage: In a fine dining
HOW TO ORDER FOOD 1.
I’d like a cheese pizza, please. I’d like to have a chai latte, please. 2. I’m going to have the eggs and toast. 3. I’m going to take the hot chocolate with whipped cream, please. I‘ll take the burger, medium rare. 4. I’m going to go with the red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing. ■ If you are not sure what to order, ask the waiter
“What would you recommend?” to get some advice or “What is special here?” to find out what the most famous dishes are at that restaurant. ■ Catch the waiter’s attention and ask “May we have the bill, please?” or “Check, please.” to see how much you need to pay.
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
