Interrogative pronouns ask questions and can also function as noun substitutes. English has five: who, whom, of whom, what, and which. They refer to unknown antecedents and are never found in a linguistic stream other than a question. Whose is also possessive. Interrogative words are often confused with interrogative pronouns, but only who and what […]
The -gry riddle asks for three common English words ending in -gry, but only “hungry” and “angry” are still commonly used. Other variants use deceptive language to trick the listener. Most variations are distractions from actual word puzzles. There are actually more than three words that end in -gry, but almost all of them have […]
Children from higher-income families hear more words, which can affect their language skills. By age 3, children of professionals hear 50% more words than working-class children and at least three times more than assisted children. Low-income parents may have less time and resources to devote to their children. Children who hear more words perform better […]
The saying “actions speak louder than words” has been expressed in many cultures and was first referenced in English in the 1700s. It suggests that behavior and character are determined by actions rather than words. It is important to live life in a way that satisfies verbal obligations and feelings. Words can harm or uplift, […]
Dr. Seuss’ editor bet him $50 he couldn’t write a book using 50 words or less. Dr. Seuss succeeded, and Green Eggs and Ham became one of his best-selling books. Only 50 words are used in Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham. The use of only 50 words was due to a bet Bennett Cerf, […]
Transition words are important in academic essays to signal changes in ideas. Choosing the right words depends on whether the next point supports or opposes the previous idea. Overuse can confuse, but using a variety of words can keep the paper interesting. Different words signal different relationships between ideas, such as support, contradiction, or illustration. […]
Hyphens are difficult to use correctly in English due to evolving rules. Compound words can be written as one word, two words, or with a hyphen. Use context and a dictionary to determine correct usage. Common words are rarely hyphenated. Don’t panic about spelling compound words correctly, as the rules are tentative and mistakes are […]
Slurring your words can be caused by speech impediments, drunkenness, or speaking too quickly. It can also be used for comedic or dramatic effect. Consult a speech therapist if it’s a speech impediment. Southern accents and omitting letters can also be considered slurring. Whenever your words rush together and become garbled, it is said that […]
English borrows words from many languages, but Finnish has only contributed one: sauna. Saunas are common in Finland and offer therapeutic benefits. The Koi Sauna in Germany is the world’s largest, and other cultures have similar facilities like Turkish hammams and Japanese onsens. Everyone knows that English has borrowed countless words from other languages. Words […]
Facetious and teetotaler are two English words with all vowels in alphabetical order. Other examples include anemic, cesium, annelid, and arsenic. “Set” has the most definitions, “underground” begins and ends with “und,” and some words like orange have no direct rhymes. The word facetious is one of the few words in the English language that […]
Sight words are important words that readers should recognize instantly, making up 50 to 75 percent of all words children may encounter. Dolch and Fry lists help identify these words, with the top ten words being the, to, he, you, en, of, in, is, and that. “Sightwords” is the term for words that readers should […]
Shakespeare created about 16 words in the 16th and 17th centuries, including murder, discouraged, inaudible, and inconvenient. He modified existing words and may have recorded previously oral words. Shakespeare was also a successful real estate investor and had a seven-year period with no record. He has no living descendants. English playwright William Shakespeare invented new […]
Guide words help navigate a dictionary, listing the first and last words on a page. Some dictionaries list two words per page, with the first word being the first definition and the second being the last. Other tools, such as thumb cards, aid in finding words quickly. Knowing how to use guide words is a […]
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