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?

Understanding the Verb "To Skip"

Learning new verbs in English can be fun and useful! Today, let's look at the verb "to skip." This verb has a few meanings, but we will focus on one: "to pass over."

What Does "To Skip" Mean?

When we use "to skip" to mean "to pass over," we are talking about choosing not to do something. 

Examples of Skipping

Skipping a Meal: Sometimes, people skip breakfast if they are in a hurry. This means they do not eat breakfast.

Skipping a Class: If a student skips a class, they do not go to that class. Maybe they have something else to do or they just want a break.

Skipping a Chapter: When reading a book, you might skip a chapter if you are not interested in it. You move to the next chapter without reading the one you skipped.

Here are some simple sentences using "to skip":

• I am not hungry, so I will skip lunch today.
• She skipped the meeting because she was feeling sick.
• They decided to skip the boring part of the movie.

Practicing new verbs helps you remember them better. Keep using "to skip" in your daily conversations, and soon it will become easy!

Exploring the Buzz: Two Meanings of the Word "Buzz"

Let's talk about a fun word with two different meanings: buzz. This word might sound simple, but it actually has two distinct uses. Let's explore them together!

The Sound Buzz:

When we talk about the sound "buzz," we mean a low, humming noise, like the sound a bee makes when it flies past your ear. It's a short, sharp sound that repeats quickly. You might hear a buzz from an insect, an electrical appliance, or even from a crowd of people chatting excitedly. For example:

• I heard a buzz coming from the beehive.
• The mosquito gave a loud buzz as it flew by my ear.
• The fluorescent lights in the office made a constant buzz.

Excitement and Activity Buzz:

The second meaning of "buzz" describes a feeling of excitement or energy. When something is buzzing, it means there's a lot of activity and people are excited about it. It's like a lively atmosphere filled with anticipation. For instance:

• There's a buzz in the air as people wait for the concert to start.
• The city was buzzing with excitement during the festival.
• There's been a lot of buzz about the new movie coming out.

So, as you can see, "buzz" can refer to both a sound and a feeling of excitement and activity. It's a versatile word that you can use in many different situations. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be buzzing with confidence using this word in your conversations!

Text Helper -- Make Your Own English Glossary

 

You can make a quick vocabulary list or glossary created from any text with a helpful tool called Text Helper. Test Helper is a feature on the Extensive Reading Central website (https://www.er-central.com/text-helper/) and it works like this: 

When you open Text Helper, you first see a blank box into which you cut & paste your desired text. You then select the language, a level, then click "Get Meanings." 

Text Helper highlights the difficult words in your text on the left side of the page. On the right side of the page is your personally created vocabulary list with definitions for each highlighted word.

You decide the level of word difficulty (beginner, elementary, intermediate, advanced) and the program chooses the words in your text based on that level. Lower level difficulty results in more words (words used at a higher frequency); advanced difficulty words are less frequent because they are probably outside the knowledge of a typical student at that level. 

Text Helper saves a lot of time looking up words in the dictionary and it’s incredibly useful because it automatically creates word lists related to the text you choose.  Below is an example of an advanced level using a sample text from the book, A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson.

Ashamed or Embarrassed

 

Quiz: You can only feel one of these when you are alone:   a) embarrassed  b) ashamed

The main difference between these words is that “ashamed” is more about what you think of yourself, and  “embarrassed” is about what other people think of you.

Example #1 — Ashamed: Some people who haven’t had a good education may not be able to read (they are illiterate). They don’t want others to know this because they would be “ashamed” to admit that they are adults who don’t know how to read. Being ashamed is personal, and it’s often associated with feeling inferior, inadequate, or guilty.

Example #2 — Embarrassed: When I was at the university, students would move from class to class on foot (sometimes by bike) and in the wintertime, the sidewalks were often very slippery. It was common to slip and fall on the icy sidewalks, myself included. This was “embarrassing” because other people could see you lose control and it wasn't cool (impressive) in any way.  

When you’re uncertain about whether to use ashamed or embarrassed, think about the source of this feeling: external/other people (embarrassed) or internal (ashamed). 

*(Answer: ashamed)

elllo.org - a fun, valuable learning resource

 

You’re busy, and often it’s difficult to find time to study English. Don't worry. If you can dedicate a very small amount of time every day to English, it will lead to great improvements overall.

I suggest 15 minutes minimum per day as ideal. You will definitely notice a significant impact by doing this versus studying in one 2-hour session per week, for example.

Suggested 15-minute study guide:  

1. Spend at least five minutes reviewing your notes. The more repetition and studying of notes, the better. Things will become more familiar, natural, and easier. 
2. Ok, ten minutes remaining? This website has something for everyone: elllo.org (English language Listening Lab Online). I use it almost every day with my English students and here’s why: 

• The site contains over 3000 short, free listening activities. 
• There are different language levels, from beginner to advanced. 
• The featured speakers come from all over the world, so you are exposed to different cultures, viewpoints, and accents. You can filter a specific country if you want. 
• The topics are extremely diverse and entertaining.
• Vocabulary, idioms, and phrasal verbs are incorporated naturally within the text. You can review new words on a separate page (audio notes) if you want; these are short explanations of key terms or interesting language.
• You can test yourself with a quiz that accompanies each activity. 
• People speak in everyday English (not formal text book English). 
• Each listening activity includes the written text if you want to read and follow along with the audio. Some people are better listeners, some are better readers. 
• Don't listen while driving. You can't effectively study this way.

I’m enthusiastic about Elllo.org. Try it for 15 minutes a day, every day, and see how naturally your English skills grow. 

Using new vocabulary

Learning new vocabulary is a never-ending goal. It may sound too easy, but one of the best ways to increase your vocabulary is by learning 1 to 5 new words each day. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced speaker, you’re never too old or too fluent to learn new words. 

Overloading yourself with long lists of words to memorize is an overwhelming task. With languages, it’s more efficient to absorb and use new vocabulary slowly, so limiting yourself to an average of 5 words per day is ideal. After one week, that’s 35 new words, and 1,825 new words after one year!

You won’t struggle to form sentences and express your ideas, thoughts, emotions, and processes as your vocabulary increases daily. 

Reviewing old vocabulary and adding 1 to 5 new words each day will have you expressing yourself more accurately and confidently. You'll be amazed at how much you can accomplish!

Staycation

Do you know what brunch is? First of all, it’s a late morning meal eaten instead of breakfast and lunch. Second, it’s a blend of the words "breakfast" and "lunch", and a combination of their meanings. Third, this type of word is known as a portmanteau, which is a new word formed by joining two others and combining their meanings.

There are many examples of  portmanteaus in English. Chocoholics ("chocolate" + "alcoholic"), workaholics ("work" + "alcoholic"), and shopaholics ("shopping" + "alcoholic")  are people who, respectively, have mild dependencies on chocolate, work, and shopping instead of alcohol. These are not real dependencies but rather strong tendencies. 

Now that it’s summer, some people take staycations (a portmanteau of "stay" and “vacation”), which is a vacation when one does not travel away from home. I like taking staycations sometimes because I can enjoy places in my city and state that I normally don’t have time to visit during my workdays, such as museums, amusement parks, nature parks, other nearby cities, concerts, or festivals. They’re a great way to save money (no lodging costs and minimal travel expenses), plus there’s no packing, stress, or long airport lines. 

There is no doubt that leisure travel is exciting and educational, but there are some strong arguments for taking a staycation every now and then. 

Have you ever taken a staycation?

In a pickle

Although pickles are small, did you know that you can be in one? It's true  . . . but only for the idiom in a pickle. 

Pickles are small cucumbers that are preserved in vinegar or a brine (very salty water). They’re usually served with sandwiches or hamburgers, or they can be chopped up into a relish (a condiment). My sister loves pickles although I can take them or leave them.

There are many food idioms in the English language. A piece of cake is an example, and now we can add in a pickle to that list. 

To be in a pickle is when you’re in a difficult, troublesome situation where the solution is unclear or difficult. 

Examples: 

John is in a pickle: he has two dates for the party. 
Now we are in a pickle because we’re out of gas.
I’m in a real pickle because my computer crashed and I need several documents. 
Can you help me? I’m in a bit of a pickle.

Have you ever been in a pickle? 

Word origin: bigwig

Can you guess the meaning of bigwig in these sentences?

- Many bigwigs in sports attended the charity event.

- The job candidate was interviewed by several bigwigs on the hospital's staff.

A bigwig (one word) is not a large wig or hairpiece. A bigwig is an informal reference to an important person, a VIP, but its name literally originates from the big wigs (two words) that people wore in the past. 

Dating back to the 18th century, bigwig is a reference to the powdered wigs that men wore back then. Rich and important men had larger, more expensive wigs, thus the term for these VIPs was coined (created) .

Some other names for bigwig are heavyweight, notable, big name, dignitary, big shot (informal), big cheese (slang, old-fashioned), and heavy hitter. Try adding bigwig or some of its synonyms to your vocabulary to increase your fluency. 

"Grow" and "Grow Up": What Is the Difference?

Grow and grow up are not synonyms and that can be confusing. Their meanings vary slightly but both are easy to remember. This knowledge will give you another perfect opportunity to demonstrate your English fluency by using both terms correctly. You can do it!

Grow means to increase in size, to become bigger or longer. 

Examples: 

• Anthony grew a mustache during his summer vacation. 
• Millie hopes her investments will grow thanks to the strong economy. 
• The maple tree in my garden has grown two meters since I moved here. 
• His love for her grew more and more with each passing day.

To grow up refers to people and when they get older and more mature. 

• Danny grew up in Chicago during the 1920s.
• When you were growing up, what sports did you play?
• Tom grew up in the country and Scarlett grew up in the city. 
• Frank’s family moved a lot when he was growing up.

I hope your English vocabulary grows and grows with each passing day :)

John Hancock’s Signature

If you were given a pen and asked to put your John Hancock on a piece of paper, would you know what to do? If English isn’t your mother tongue, this could be a very perplexing request, but in the USA it’s quite normal. 

Who is John Hancock and what is a John Hancock?

First, a John Hancock is an informal reference to your signature. If I wanted your autograph, for example, or if I wanted you to sign a contract, I could ask for your John Hancock as an informal way to request your signature. 

John Hancock, the man, was a leader in the American Revolution and a politician. He was the first person to sign our Declaration of Independence in 1776, which stated that the 13 American colonies (our first states) were free from British authority.  

His signature is historically famous. Due to its boldness, large size and stylish script, John Hancock’s name is the most prominent because, according to legend, he wanted the king to be able to read it without his glasses. 

Phases of the moon

The moon is earth’s constant companion, affecting the oceans’ tides, our moods, animals, and maybe even our superstitions. Thanks to the sun, we’re able to see this celestial body as it orbits the earth . . .  but not all the time. 

We have periods when the moon in fully illuminated, partially illuminated, and not visible at all, depending on the stage of its cycle around the earth. These stages are called phases and we have four main phases. Do you know them?

• New Moon - We have a new moon when its dark, unlit side is facing the earth. It is not visible.

• Waxing Moon - The moon is waxing when more of its surface area is progressively becoming illuminated and visible. 

• Full Moon - The moon's lit side is facing the earth and appears to be completely illuminated.

• Waning Moon - The opposite action of a waxing moon. The illumination of its surface is progressively decreasing. 

A full moon gets the most publicity because its appearance at night is certainly dramatic, romantic, and inspiring. Ancient civilizations attribute behaviors of the weather, plants, or animals to the influence of a full moon so some months have a specific name for their full moon, such has September’s harvest moon (pictured above). 

Feeling under the weather

There certainly are a lot of words that describe weather. That’s why the weather is a tried-and-true (reliable) topic for starting a conversation. Though not very original, it’s easy for small talk and there’s always something to say about it. 

The idiom under the weather is a different matter altogether. When we feel under the weather, we feel slightly ill and not at our best. 

- Alice was feeling under the weather today, so she took the day off.
- Brian said he’s feeling under the weather and may have the flu.
- Marco’s girlfriend was feeling under the weather, so he decided to bring her flowers to cheer her up.

Historically, this expression originates from a shipping or nautical reference; when a sailor felt sick or unwell, he was sent below deck to recover, away from the weather. That’s something to talk about. 

How done is your meat?

I know that summer is here when I smell meat grilling on the barbecues in my neighborhood. Burgers and steaks are especially flavorful when grilled, and the aroma is intoxicating (entrancing and stimulating).

Doneness indicates how thoroughly cooked a cut of meat is with regard to its color, juiciness and internal temperature, and everyone has their preference.

If you’re a guest at a family barbecue, can you tell your host how you like your meat cooked? What about in a restaurant? Can you communicate to your server the desired doneness of your steak?

RARE = cool red center
MEDIUM RARE = warm red center; firmer
MEDIUM = warm pink firm center
MEDIUM WELL = slightly pink center
WELL DONE = little or no pink

These are vocabulary words to know for the ideal steaks, roasts, and burgers!

Lazy Susan

Do you know Lazy Susan? 

This is a trick question because Lazy Susan isn’t a person at all. It’s a serving tray with a funny name. 

A Lazy Susan is a circular, revolving tray located in the center of a dining table, used to help pass food more easily to others. 

We in the US sometimes consider Lazy Susans to be kitsch but they are used in many countries. (Kitsch is defined as art, objects, or design considered to be in bad taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic way.)

Lazy Susans date back to the 1700s, so they have been around for a long time! The history of the term Lazy Susan, and who Susan was, is unknown altough the general theory of its creation is probably connected to a reduction of household servants. 

Do you have one in your home?

Nod your head. Shake your head.

You can understand many things just by observing people’s body language and facial expressions, without any speaking or listening, It’s fairly easy to detect moods (boredom, anger, happiness, for example) through nonverbal communication. 

To understand happiness, you might see someone smiling. If they are sad, they might be frowning (a frown is the opposite of a smile). A bored person might yawn. 

The English expression and nonverbal way of showing agreement is to nod (your head). You lower and raise your head slightly and briefly as a signal that you agree or understand. Conversely, turning your head from side to side indicates refusal, denial, disapproval, or disbelief. That is to shake your head. 

To conclude, even though it’s nonverbal communication, the actions still have names: 

Nod your head  ——> indicates YES

Shake your head —-> indicates NO

Robert nodded his head to indicate that he heard the question. 

Sara shook her head when the waiter asked if she wanted more coffee. 

Choose, chose, choice

Knowing the correct use of choose, chose, and choice is a common confusion English learners have. 

Choose - (verb) to make a choice or selection
Chose -  (verb) the past tense of choose.
Choice - (noun) the act of choosing; a selection

- Davide couldn’t choose whether to attend Harvard or Yale University. - verb

- Edoardo chose to buy a home in the countryside because he loves nature. - verb, past tense of choose

- Lisa made an excellent choice by buying an electric car. - noun

The problem may be that chose and choice sound very similar, though chose is the past verb and choice is a thing, a noun. 

- In chose, the “s” is pronounced like a “z”; Click here for the correct pronunciation of chose. 

- Choice is a little different. Click here for the correction pronunciation of choice. 

The key to getting it right is memorization, so try your best and you’ll always make the correct choice. 

Put in your two cents

Are you the type of person who willingly offers opinions and suggestions? Maybe you know people like that.

An English expression that conveys a humble way of giving your opinion (sometimes without being asked for it) is to offer or put in your two cents.



Examples:

- It's just my two cents but I believe the Green Bay Pakcers football team is the best in the world.
- I have an idea but I’d like to get your two cents.
- I’ll give you my two cents if you really want to know what I think.

This phrase came from the original English idiom to put in my two pennies worth which has been shortened to just my two cents.

This is a way of offering your opinion and saying it is only worth two pennies. It represents a modest way of giving your opinion because you are valuing it at only two cents.