Don’t panic
A few quotes of the remarkably funny and absurd Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (plus of the sequel Restaurant at the end of the Universe). Definately must-read(s). Grab it a.s.a.p. and relax in the fields of the unknown, and never get too serious. 🙂
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is an indispensable companion to all those who are keen to make sense of life in an infinitely complex and confusing Universe, for though it cannot hope to be useful or informative on all matters, it does at least make the reassuring claim, that where it is inaccurate it is at least definitively inaccurate. In cases of major discrepancy it’s always reality that’s got it wrong. This was the gist of the notice. It said “The Guide is definitive. Reality is frequently inaccurate.”
“Alright,” said Ford, “just stop panicking.”
“Who said anything about panicking?” snapped Arthur. “This is still just the culture shock. You wait till I’ve settled down into the situation and found my bearings. Then I’ll start panicking.” Read More…
Beg your pardon?
Speaking of accents, a colleague of mine (thank you, R.) reminded me of the “Eleven” case. (slight giggle 🙂 )
I’ll use the stairs 🙂
Still gigglin’,
Tip of My Tongue
It happens to me all the time – I am thinking of a word – not exactly thinking but chasing it through and across my mind while it enjoys hide-and-seek games, jumps on the tip of my tongue and then back outside reach.
You better watch out, words, I found a butterfly net for your dodger comrades 🙂
CLICK and CATCH
Gotcha, mischievous word!
Your dishevelled,
Ability, capability or capacity
Have you ever wondered “Should I put this into my sentence…or that, or…wait a minute, what was the difference?
Today we will have a look at the abilities, capabilities or capacities.
If someone has ability, a particular ability, or the ability to do something, they can do it because they have the skill or the knowledge that is needed to do it. You often use ability to say that someone can do something well:
He had remarkable ability as an administrator.
There are four main factors which determine mathematical ability.
…the ability to bear hardship.
A person’s capability is the amount of work they can do and how well they can do it.
The director has his own ideas both of the role and of the capability of the actor.
It was, in any case, beyond the capability of one man
If someone has a particular capacity, a capacity for something, or a capacity to do something, they have the characteristics required to do it. Capacity is a more formal word than ability.
…their capacity for being inspired by heroes.
…his capacity always to see the other’s point of view.
A bit but now you know it.
Your newbie Grammar guide,
Create music with words
This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen.
I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important.
Gary Provost, quoted in Roy Peter Clark’s Writing Tools
TBC…
Commencing my Monday with (more than) five words,
How British people greet you at the airport
Ok, you guessed it. I yield. I am fond of everything British.
Sharing is caring…so, tell me are you not moved by these ads? I am, every single time. To tears. Maybe because I travel a lot and am homesick more often than not, but nevertheless…
The public reaction to this:
One more dance (my treat):
Would you care for a welcome like that?
Please share it in the comments below because I am eager know your thoughts.
Your maudlin,
Get in a British head
Yawn and stretch. It’s a Sunday. A day to succumb to laziness and relax before the Monday battles 🙂
Open half an eye and get a glimpse of what happens behind the curtains of the Britons’ chivalrous mind(s):
So, “Hospitality is making your guests feel at home, even though you wish they were”.
Have a marvelous day,
You are your voice
We talked (a bit) about others judging us by our language command.
Here we have another point of view. Could you seem taller if you talked with different articulation or tone? 🙂
Open you mouth and your soul flies out…
Probably the best free web service/site/podcasts that I have stumbled upon these past years is the BBC Learning English:
Pronunciation tips
Try them and tell me what you thought about it. Do you have something else in mind?
Working on my voice,
‘Yours faithfully’ vs ‘Yours sincerely’
When do you write ‘Yours faithfully’ and when ‘Yours sincerely’ in a business letter?
| When the recipient’s name is unknown to you: | |
| * | Dear Sir … Yours faithfully |
| * | Dear Sir or Madam … Yours faithfully |
| When you know the recipient’s name: | |
| * | Dear Mrs Hanson … Yours sincerely |
| * | Dear Miss/Ms Hanson … Yours sincerely |
| When addressing a good friend or colleague: | |
| * | Dear Jack … Best wishes/Best regards |
| Addressing whole departments: | |
| * | Dear Sirs … Yours faithfull |
Sir Winston and his quotes
I deeply admire this man, his brains, sense of humour and self-mockery, and of course – his stiff neck 🙂
Help yourselves to 10 of his quotes on life and everything else. Just a tasting:
- “Solitary trees, if they grow at all, grow strong.”
- “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”
- “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
AWARDS
Just English 