Rhetoric (rĕt’ər-ĭk) is the skill of using language effectively or persuasively. It comes from the Greek rhêtôr (orator). Notice that rhetoric was one of the three original liberal arts in Greece, together with dialectic and grammar.
Daniel Scocco
Word of the Day: Bipartisan
Bipartisan (bī-pär’tĭ-zən) is used to indicate that something is created or supported by both sides. Usually, it refers to the major political parties in a country.
Word of the Day: Furtive
Furtive (fûr’tìv) is an adjective used to express caution or secrecy. Synonyms include stealthy and surreptitious. It comes from the Latim furtum (theft). Actually, as Winston well knew, it was only four years since Oceania had been at war with Eastasia and in alliance with Eurasia. But that was merely a piece of furtive knowledge … Read more
All About Quotation Marks
Tie Sing Chie asks, “What’s the difference in terms of usage between the single quotation mark (‘) and the double quotation mark (“)?”
Word of the Day: Parsimony
Parsimony comes from Latim parsus, which is the past participle of parcere (to spare). Parsimony indicates an excessive care with the spending of money. A synonym for parsimony is frugality.
The Possessive Apostrophe
It’s time to talk about being possessive. Sometimes possessiveness is good, sometimes it’s bad. However you look at it, if you’re speaking English, then you will need an apostrophe to show who owns what.
6 Foreign Expressions You Should Know
Whether you like it or not, foreign expressions represent an integral part of the English language (and of many other languages, too). Knowing the meaning and usage of the most used ones is very important. First of all because it will enable you to understand pieces of text that include them. Secondly, because you might also need to use those expressions on particular situations (avoid using them just to sound smart though). Below you will find 6 foreign expressions commonly used in English, enjoy!
Dictionary vs. Thesaurus
Afshan Khan asks, “What is the difference between a dictionary and a thesaurus?” A dictionary is a book containing the individual words of a language (usually organized alphabetically). The purpose of the dictionary is to set forth the orthography, pronunciation and signification of those words. The thesaurus, on the other hand, is a specific dictionary … Read more
Word of the Day: Oblivion
Oblivion comes from Latim oblivio (to forget). It means the state of being completely forgotten. If something is in oblivion, people forgot about it, or are totally unaware of it.
Using “a” and “an” Before Words
Raphael asks: When should I use “a” and when should I use “an” before the different words? For example, should I say “a hour” or “an hour?” I stumble over this everytime and dont’t know if I’m getting it right, as I’m not speaking and writing English natively.
Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs and Heteronyms
There is some confusion and controversy around the definition of homonyms, homophones, homographs and heteronyms. In this article we will explore the difference between those terms. Homonym comes from the Greek homo which means “same” and onym which means “name.” When we talk about words, however, what should we use to define their names? The … Read more
Compound Modifiers
The compound modifier is my very favorite piece of the English language. It’s a hobby of mine to go around hyphenating word groupings that are modifying unbeknownst to them. Once you learn what it’s all about, you’ll do the same. But, what is a compound modifier, you ask. Well, let me tell you…