الرئيسية
من طرف 6x. Desert /
Dessert
This is a
confusing one because in English an ‘s’ on its own is frequently pronounced like
a ‘z’ and two ‘s’s are usually pronounced as a n ‘s’ (for example: prise,
prissy).x
In this case,
desert follow the rule – it means a large stretch of sand. However, dessert is
pronounced “dez-urt” with the emphasis on the second syllable – ie, something we
eat as part of our meal.x
To make
matters worse, when a person leaves the army without permission, it is spelt
desert. So, let’s sum up:x
desert (pronounced
dez’-it): dry land
desert (pronounced dez-urt’): abandon
dessert
(pronounced dez-urt’): yum yum! – remember, two ‘s’s because you want second
helpings!x
Oh – one more
thing – another very common mistake is using the word dessert (two ‘s’s) to mean
pudding – pudding is a sweet course, often consisting of some kind of cake or
icecream.x
Dessert is fruit
or cheese – normally taken after the pudding course.x
7x. Dryer /
Drier
If your clothes
are wet, put them in a clothes dryer. That will make them drier. A hair dryer
also makes hair drier.x
8x. Chose /
Choose
This is actually
quite an easy one to remember – in English we generally pronounce ‘oo’ as it is
written – such as “moo”.x
The same rule
applies here: choose is pronounced as it is written (with a ‘z’ sound for the
‘s’) – and chose is said like “nose”.x
Therefore, if
you had to choose to visit Timbuktu, chances are you chose to fly
there.x
Chose is the past
tense, choose is the present tense.x
9x. Lose /
Loose
This one is
confusing. In this case, contrary to normal rules of English, the single ‘s’ in
loose is pronounced like an ‘s’ – as in wearing trousers that are too loose.x
Lose on the other
hand, relates to loss – for example: “I hope we don’t lose this game”.x
A good way to
remember this is that in the word “lose” you have lost the second ‘o’ from
loose. If you can’t remember a rule that simple, you are a
loser!x
10x.
Literally
This one is not
only often used in error, it is incredibly annoying when it is used in the wrong
way.x
Literally
means “it really happened” – therefore, unless
you live on a parallel universe with different rules of physics, you can not say
“he literally flew out the door”. Saying someone
“flew out the door” is speaking figuratively – you
could say “he figuratively flew out the door” but
figuratively is generally implied when you describe something impossible.x
Literally
can only be used in the case of facts – for example: he
literally exploded after swallowing the grenade.x
If he did, indeed,
swallow the grenade and explode – that last sentence is perfectly correct.x
It would not be
correct to say “she annoyed him and he literally exploded”
unless she is Wonder Woman and her anger can cause people to blow
up.x
Dessert
This is a
confusing one because in English an ‘s’ on its own is frequently pronounced like
a ‘z’ and two ‘s’s are usually pronounced as a n ‘s’ (for example: prise,
prissy).x
In this case,
desert follow the rule – it means a large stretch of sand. However, dessert is
pronounced “dez-urt” with the emphasis on the second syllable – ie, something we
eat as part of our meal.x
To make
matters worse, when a person leaves the army without permission, it is spelt
desert. So, let’s sum up:x
desert (pronounced
dez’-it): dry land
desert (pronounced dez-urt’): abandon
dessert
(pronounced dez-urt’): yum yum! – remember, two ‘s’s because you want second
helpings!x
Oh – one more
thing – another very common mistake is using the word dessert (two ‘s’s) to mean
pudding – pudding is a sweet course, often consisting of some kind of cake or
icecream.x
Dessert is fruit
or cheese – normally taken after the pudding course.x
7x. Dryer /
Drier
If your clothes
are wet, put them in a clothes dryer. That will make them drier. A hair dryer
also makes hair drier.x
8x. Chose /
Choose
This is actually
quite an easy one to remember – in English we generally pronounce ‘oo’ as it is
written – such as “moo”.x
The same rule
applies here: choose is pronounced as it is written (with a ‘z’ sound for the
‘s’) – and chose is said like “nose”.x
Therefore, if
you had to choose to visit Timbuktu, chances are you chose to fly
there.x
Chose is the past
tense, choose is the present tense.x
9x. Lose /
Loose
This one is
confusing. In this case, contrary to normal rules of English, the single ‘s’ in
loose is pronounced like an ‘s’ – as in wearing trousers that are too loose.x
Lose on the other
hand, relates to loss – for example: “I hope we don’t lose this game”.x
A good way to
remember this is that in the word “lose” you have lost the second ‘o’ from
loose. If you can’t remember a rule that simple, you are a
loser!x
10x.
Literally
This one is not
only often used in error, it is incredibly annoying when it is used in the wrong
way.x
Literally
means “it really happened” – therefore, unless
you live on a parallel universe with different rules of physics, you can not say
“he literally flew out the door”. Saying someone
“flew out the door” is speaking figuratively – you
could say “he figuratively flew out the door” but
figuratively is generally implied when you describe something impossible.x
Literally
can only be used in the case of facts – for example: he
literally exploded after swallowing the grenade.x
If he did, indeed,
swallow the grenade and explode – that last sentence is perfectly correct.x
It would not be
correct to say “she annoyed him and he literally exploded”
unless she is Wonder Woman and her anger can cause people to blow
up.x
