Afraid Of or Afraid About? The Simple Trick to Sound More Natural in English

 

Afraid of or Afraid about?  The correct preposition is “afraid of.”

Here’s a quick guide to help you remember:

• Correct: I’m afraid of spiders.

• Incorrect: I’m afraid about spiders.

👉 Use “afraid of” when talking about the thing, person, or situation that causes fear.

She’s afraid of flying.
He’s afraid of the dark.

👉 Use “afraid about” only in rare cases when talking about worry or concern for something that might happen:

She’s afraid about losing her job.
I’m afraid about the exam results.

But even in those “worry” cases, native speakers more often say “worried about” or “concerned about” — so “afraid about” sounds unnatural most of the time.

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Margaret “Molly” Brown was an American woman who became famous after surviving the Titanic disaster in 1912. She was called “unsinkable” because she showed great courage during and after the tragedy.

Molly was born in Missouri in 1867 to a poor family. As a young woman, she moved to Colorado, where she married J.J. Brown, a miner who later became rich when he discovered gold. Even after becoming wealthy, Molly never forgot her roots. She helped build schools, supported women’s rights, and gave money to people in need.

When the Titanic hit an iceberg, Molly helped others into lifeboats and tried to keep spirits up by leading songs. After being rescued, she raised money for the other survivors who had lost everything.

Molly Brown’s story is one of bravery, kindness, and strength. Her nickname, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” reminds us that even in terrible situations, we can stay strong and help others.

What to Say After a Sneeze

 

When people sneeze, it can sometimes surprise everyone. In many cultures, there are special words we say after someone sneezes. These words are polite and show we care. Let’s look at what people say in English.

• In English-speaking countries, the most common phrase is “Bless you!”
• Another phrase you may hear is “Gesundheit!” (This comes from German. It means “health.”)

After sneezing, a person may say:

• “Excuse me.”
• “Sorry.” (especially if it was loud or repeated).

These short words show good manners and make people feel comfortable.

Itch and Scratch

Do you know the two English words in this sentence? 

🦟 A mosquito bit me last night, and now my arm itches! I try not to scratch it… but it’s so hard!

👉 Itch = When your skin feels uncomfortable and you want to touch or rub it.
👉 Scratch = What you do with your fingers or nails to stop the itch.

✅ Itch

• Verb: My arm itches.
• Noun: I have an itch on my back.

👉 Itch = the feeling.

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✅ Scratch

• Verb: I scratch my arm.
• Noun: There’s a scratch on the table.

👉 Scratch = the action (or the mark from it).

USA Culture: College Greek Life

If you visit an American college or university, you might hear about Greek life. This has nothing to do with the country of Greece. In the USA, “Greek life” means fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women). These are social clubs for students.

Fraternities and sororities use Greek letters for their names, like Alpha Beta Gamma or Delta Sigma Theta. That is why people call them “Greek” organizations.

What do fraternities and sororities do?

•   Members live together in a big house on or near campus.
•  They help each other with studying, social life, and networking for jobs.
•  They plan parties, charity events, sports competitions, and group trips.
•  They often have ceremonies or traditions that are secret for their members.

How do you join?

Joining is called “pledging” or “rush.” There are interviews, parties, and activities to see if you fit in. If they accept you, you become a “member” or “brother/sister.”

Is Greek life for everyone?

Not all American students join. Some people think Greek life is fun and helps you make friends. Others think it is too expensive or too focused on parties.

Why learn about Greek life?

You might hear people talk about “my frat” or “my sorority” in conversations, movies, or on social media. Understanding these words will help you follow American college culture.

Useless (Not Unuseful)

Many English learners make the mistake of saying “unuseful” when they really mean “useless.”

But “unuseful” is not a common or natural word in English. 

✅ Correct: This tool is useless.

❌ Wrong: This tool is unuseful.

“Useless” means something does not help you. It has no use.

Use + less = useless (no use)

Here are more examples with “-less” words (not “un-”):

❌ Don’t Say ✅ Say       Meaning

unpowerful --> powerless =  no power or strength

unhopeful -->   hopeless =          no hope

uncareful -->       careless =         not careful

unthankful -->  thankless  =        no thanks or reward

Tip: If you are not sure, try using a “-less” word instead of adding “un-.” Many times, it will sound more natural.

Now you know—don’t say unuseful. Say useless!

Funny-Sounding English Words That Make Us Laugh

 

English has many words that sound funny when we say them. Some are old, some are new, but all of them can make us smile. Here are a few examples:

• Bamboozle – This word means to trick someone. (Ex: The clever salesman tried to bamboozle me into buying something I didn’t need.)

• Lollygag – If you lollygag, you are moving slowly or wasting time. (Ex: Don’t lollygag on the way to school—you’ll be late!)

• Wobble – When something moves side to side, like jelly, it wobbles.  (Ex: The chair began to wobble, so I tightened the screws.)

• Kerfuffle – A small argument or fuss. (Ex: There was a little kerfuffle at the store when two people grabbed the same shirt.)

• Flabbergasted – Very surprised or shocked. (Ex: I was flabbergasted when I saw how much the puppy had grown!)
  
  

Funny words like these make English more interesting. They may sound strange, but that’s part of the fun of learning a new language!

What funny English word have you heard lately?