How To Spell W And Other Letters Of The Alphabet No doubt you know your ABCs, but do you know how to spell the names of the letters themselves? For example, how would you spell the name of the letter W? In this article, we are going to take a look at how to spell out the different consonants of the alphabet. Why just the consonants? Well, spelling the names of the vowels is unusual, and the spellings vary widely. We don’t often have a reason to spell out the names of letters. They show up in some words or phrases, like tee-shirt or em-dash. Knowing how to spell out the letters is a good trick to have in your back pocket when playing word games like Scrabble and Words With Friends. Mostly though, the spelled-out names of the consonants are fun trivia any word lover will enjoy. B – bee The letter B is spelled just like the insect: b-e-e. The plural is bees, like something you might find in a hive. Before it was bee, the letter B was part of the Phoenician alphabet and was known as beth. C – cee The spelling of the letter C might surprise you. It isn’t spelled with an S but a C: c-e-e. The spelling cee might come in handy especially when writing about something “shaped or formed like the letter C,” as in she was curled in a cee, holding her pillow. D – dee You might be picking up on a pattern here. Like B and C, the letter D is spelled out with -ee: d-e-e. Like the letter B, dee originally had another name in the Phoenician alphabet: daleth. F – ef The letter F is spelled e-f. The spelled out name ef is occasionally used as an abbreviation for much saltier language. G – gee With the exception of ef, the letter G is spelled like the other letters we have seen so far: gee. Particularly in American slang, the spelled out name gee is used as an abbreviation for grand, in the sense of “thousand dollars.” H – aitch The letter H has a tricky spelling and pronunciation. It is spelled aitch, but the pronunciation of its name is [ eych ]. The letter comes from Northern Semitic languages and its modern corollary is the Hebrew letter heth. J – jay The letter J has a long and complicated history—it began as a swash, a typographical embellishment for the already existing I—but its spelling is relatively straightforward: jay. Like C, the spelling jay can be useful when describing something in the shape of the letter. K – kay You may already be familiar with the spelling of the letter K from the expression okay, or OK. Just like in okay, K is typically spelled k-a-y. Okay is a unique Americanism that you can read more about here. L – el El is most easily recognizable as the common abbreviation for elevated railroad. However, it is also the spelling for the letter L. M – em The spelling of the letter M, em, can be found in the name of the punctuation mark em dash (—). The name of the punctuation mark comes from the fact that it is the width of the letter M when printed. N – en Much like the letters em and en themselves, the em-dash and en-dash are often mixed up. The en dash is, you guessed it, the width of the letter N when printed. The en dash (–) is shorter than an em dash (—). P – pee The most scatological letter name is pee (P). The use of pee as a verb and noun to refer to urination actually comes from a euphemism for the vulgar piss, using the spelling of the initial letter in piss: P. Q – cue The letter Q has the honor of being one of two letters that is not included in the spelling of its own name: cue. The use of cue as a verb or noun to refer to “anything that excites to action” comes from another abbreviation related to the letter itself. In acting scripts, the Latin quandō, meaning “when” was abbreviated q, which later came to be spelled cue. R – ar The name of the letter R sounds like something a pirate might say: ar. The letter R was called by the Roman poet Persius littera canina or “the canine letter.” It was so named because pronouncing ar sounds like a dog’s growl. S – ess The snake-like S is spelled ess, with two terminal -s‘s. Along with cee and jay, ess can also be used to describe “something shaped like an S,” as in The roads were laid out nested double esses along the riverbank. T – tee A letter whose spelling you are more likely to be familiar with is T or tee, because it often appears in spellings of T-shirt (e.g., tee-shirt). The tee shirt is so named because it is a shirt in the shape of a T. V – vee Another letter that pops up in fashion is V or vee. You see this most often when describing certain clothing elements, such as a vee neckline or a vee-shaped dart. W – double-u The letter W is one of the stranger letters in the alphabet, and so is its spelling. As we noted already, we don’t usually spell vowels out, so we end up with the awkward double-u. The plural spelling is double-ues. Before it was merged into one letter (W), the sound was represented with the the digraph -uu- or double-u. X – ex The spelling of the letter X, ex, might seem foreboding. That’s because we often equate it with the prefix ex-, meaning “out of” or “without.” We also use ex as a verb to mean putting an X over something, literally or metaphorically, as in I exed out the name on the list. The letter X has found use as we explore new ways of describing gender identity and expression, which you can read about here. Y – wye The letter Y is spelled wye, like the river in Great Britain. Wye has been adopted into electrical and railroad terminology to describe circuits and track arrangements, respectively, that are in the shape of a Y. Interestingly, the letter Y replaced an Old English letter called thorn. Z – zee In American English, the letter Z is spelled and pronounced zee, patterned off of other consonants like dee and gee. However, in British English, the letter Z is named zed. Zed comes from the Middle French zede, itself from the ancient Greek zêta. Copyright 2025, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

“Venom” vs. “Poison”: Which One Is More Harmful To You? Here’s the obvious thing about poison and venom: you don’t want either one in your body. But after that, things can get confusing. Although the two words are sometimes used interchangeably in casual use, a distinction is made between them in scientific contexts. In this article, we’ll look at the key differences between poison and venom as well as the adjective forms poisonous and venomous, especially in the context of snakes, plants, and other living things. Quick summary The word poison can refer to any substance that is inherently harmful to a living thing—especially a substance that’s intended to be harmful. The word venom is more specific—it refers to a poisonous substance produced in the body of an animal and actively used to cause harm through injection, such as through a snake bite, a spider bite, or an insect sting. Venom is sometimes called poison in casual use, and animals that are venomous are sometimes casually described as poisonous, as in poisonous snakes. But in reference to organisms, there is a difference: poison is secreted through the skin or delivered through ingestion. What is the difference between poison vs. venom? The word poison can refer to any substance with an inherent property that makes it harmful or even deadly. The word is perhaps most often used to refer to substances that are intended to cause harm in this way, as in rat poison or The poison they used was a nerve agent. The word poison is also sometimes used to refer to naturally occurring toxic chemicals and substances, such as arsenic or cyanide (which can also be used intentionally to cause harm). It’s also sometimes used to refer to manufactured chemicals that aren’t intended to cause harm but can if ingested, such as bleach or other cleaners. The term venom is much more specific—it refers to a dangerous substance produced in the body of an animal, such as in some snakes, spiders, and wasps, and delivered via injection. Such animals may use venom as a way to defend themselves or as part of how they prey on other animals. Snakes are known for delivering venom via a bite, but some can spray or “spit” venom. Wasps and other insects can inject venom via stingers. Some jellyfish inject venom through barbed tentacles. The toxicity of venom varies widely. The effects of different venoms range from minor irritation to death. The toxic substances produced by some animals may be referred to as poison instead of venom. This is the case when the substance is simply secreted by the animal or stored inside its body (as in the poison-arrow frog), as opposed to being actively injected or sprayed. Animals aren’t the only living things that produce poisonous substances. Many plants contain substances that are toxic if they’re ingested or come into contact with skin, but such a substance is typically called a poison as opposed to a venom. Despite the technical distinction between the words, animal venom is sometimes generally referred to as poison. Another difference in how we use the words: unlike the word venom, poison is also commonly used as a verb. It can mean “to administer poison to (a person or animal)” or “to add poison to something,” as in She poisoned the soup. poisonous vs. venomous The adjective poisonous is used broadly to describe substances that are considered poisons. It may also be applied to things that contain a substance considered a poison, as in The leaves of that plant are poisonous. The adjective venomous is more narrowly applied to animals that produce venom, especially if they’re able to inject that venom as a way of actively defending themselves or preying on other animals. However, in the context of animals, the word poisonous is often used casually to mean the same thing as venomous, such as in terms like poisonous snakes, which is often used to distinguish such snakes from ones that don’t have venom. Although rare, it’s possible for an animal to be accurately described as both poisonous and venomous. The Asian tiger snake is one commonly cited example of this: it has a venomous bite, but it’s also poisonous because its body contains the poison from the poisonous toads that it eats. Copyright 2025, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Wow Yourself With Words With “Word” In Them We love all kinds of words: big words, small words, words with silent vowels, and even the word moist. With that in mind, we wanted to find words that feature the word word in them. Without getting too wordy, we managed to find words like foreword, afterword, and doubleword that fit our criterion of being a word with the word word in the word. Being the word-wise wordsmiths that we are, we wanted to spread the good word and share our fun list of words that include the word word. Cool off your hot word skills with these cool words about words. headword A headword is a word or phrase that appears as the heading of a dictionary, encyclopedia, or other reference work. For example, if you research the first president of the United States, the headword will most likely be George Washington. catchword A catchword is a word or phrase that someone uses so frequently that it becomes their slogan or a signature phrase associated with them. For example, comedian Stephen Colbert popularized his catchword “truthiness” when he hosted The Colbert Report. byword The term byword is used to mean a word or phrase that has become associated with a person or thing to the point that they are cited as a proverbial example of it. For example, the sentence The company has become a byword for success may be used to describe a profitable business. Byword is also used to mean “a proverb” or a synonym of the term household word to mean a name or phrase that many people know. Janus word A Janus word, also called a contranym, is a word that has opposite or nearly opposite meanings. For example, the Janus word scan can mean to briefly glance at something or to thoroughly analyze something. Fun fact: Janus words are named after the Roman god Janus, who had two heads that looked in opposite directions—much like a Janus word with its two opposite meanings. buzzword A buzzword is a word or phrase, often from a particular jargon, that becomes fashionable or trendy among a particular group or in popular culture. For example, the word synergy is a popular buzzword often used in business and marketing. code word A code word is a word or phrase that has a secret meaning that only a select few people know. For example, spies might agree to use the code word “red eagle” when they need to identify each other. The term code word is also often used to refer to a euphemism that is used in place of harsher language as in My mom said my room “needed some love,” which is code word for saying “my room is a huge mess.” nonword A nonword is a collection of letters that isn’t accepted as an actual word. For example, “definate” is not an English word; it is a nonword that is a common misspelling of the word definite. keyword A keyword is a major word in a sentence, passage, or document that typically reveals the central meaning or most important information. In technology, a keyword is a word or phrase typed into a search engine or reference software to search through content. password A password is a secret word or phrase that a person must recite in order to gain access to restricted areas, information, etc. For example, a door guard may only let people enter a fortress if they say the password “swordfish.” In computing, a password is a string of characters that a user must enter correctly in order to log into an account, use wireless internet, or otherwise bypass electronic security. guide word The term guide word is used as a synonym of headword to refer to a word or phrase used at the top of articles or entries in reference works. curse word A curse word, also known as a cussword or a dirty word, is a word that is considered to be profane or offensive. For example, the words ass, crap, and piss are some examples of English words that are usually considered to be curse words. kangaroo word The term kangaroo word refers to a word that contains its own synonym within it, spelled in the correct order. For example, the kangaroo word barren contains the word bare and the word catacomb contains the word tomb. ghost word A ghost word is a word that entered a language by mistake, such as a typo or translation error, rather than from actual linguistic use. For example, the word syllabus seems to have resulted from a misreading of Greek. Which ghost words haunt the dictionary? counterword A counterword is a word that has picked up a much looser meaning than it originally had. Counterwords have so many meanings and/or are used so generally that they are almost meaningless. Words like good, fine, gross, awful, cute, and nice are some examples of counterwords. (You know we have better synonyms for these, starting with nice.) loanword A loanword is a word from one language that is used in another with little or no changes in meaning or spelling. Some English words that are loanwords from other languages include incognito (Italian), schadenfreude (German), sushi (Japanese), and piñata (Spanish). weasel word A weasel word is a word that weakens a statement by making it sound more confusing, ambiguous, or noncommittal. For example, the word probably is an example of a weasel word in the sentence I’ll probably do better on my next math test. nonce word A nonce word is a word created for only one specific occasion. For example, the cartoon The Simpsons invented the word cromulent just for the sake of making a single joke about language. (That’s not the only word they created!) Copyright 2025, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

“Annual” vs.” Perennial”: What’s The Difference? Confused about annual vs. perennial plants? You’re not alone—it’s especially difficult to remember which is which because they sound like they might mean the same thing. To make matters worse, there’s also a third confusing term: biennial. Join us as we root out the differences and give examples of perennials, annuals, and biennials so you’ll always remember which is which. Quick summary Plants that live for only one growing season are called annuals. In contrast, plants that regrow on their own every season are called perennials. Plants that live for two growing seasons are called biennials. What are perennials? The word perennial is applied to a plant that lives for multiple growing seasons—at least more than two years. Perennials typically flower and bloom in the spring. Around autumn, the top part of the plant withers, but the root remains. The next spring, the root sends out a brand new shoot, and the cycle continues. In other words, planting perennials in a garden means that they don’t need to be replanted each year—they come back on their own (at least for three years). Perennials usually only bloom for a few weeks, and may take longer to fully mature. Popular perennials include daylilies, lilacs, and lavender, as well as most fruit trees, berry bushes, and herbs. What are annual plants? The word annual is applied to a plant that lives for only one growing season. Annuals typically flower and bloom in the spring and then wither and die around autumn. Unlike perennials, annuals do not regrow the next season—at least not from the same root. Instead, annuals must be replanted each year—or, in some cases, the seeds left behind may successfully sprout new plants. Annuals usually bloom the whole season, and their blooms are often more extravagant than perennials. Popular annuals include petunias, marigolds, zinnias, watermelons, corn, beans, and potatoes. What is a biennial plant? The term biennial is applied to a plant that lives for two growing seasons. The first season, the plant starts out small. The second season, it grows bigger and produces flowers. After this, the plant’s life cycle is complete, and it dies in the autumn just like an annual. Some well-known plants categorized as biennials include foxglove, pansies, poppies, forget-me-nots, and many vegetables, such as cabbage, beets, onions, and carrots. annual vs. perennial vs. biennial Here’s how you can remember the difference: - In general, the word perennial means “continuing” or “perpetual,” and perennials continue to regrow without being replanted. - The word annual means yearly, and annuals must be replanted every year. - The bi- in biennial means “two,” and biennials have a life cycle of two growing seasons. Although these terms could technically be applied to any plants, they’re especially used of flowering and culinary plants—the kind of plants commonly found in gardens and on farms. There is some overlap in what can be considered an annual versus a perennial. Some annuals can be perennials when planted in warmer climates, since there’s no frost to kill them, and some perennials are not capable of surviving the winter in colder climates. Certain flowers can also be annual in one variety and perennial in another. Examples of annual and perennial plants In this section, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about whether certain plants are annuals or perennials. Are mums perennials or annuals? Garden mums are typically treated as annuals, even though they can be perennials in the right climate. There are also hardier varieties of mums that are typically grown as perennials in many climates. Are dahlias perennials or annuals? Dahlias can be either, depending on the growing region. They are native to warm regions in Guatemala and Mexico. In colder climes, they are treated as annuals, but it’s possible to bring them back each year if the tubers are dug up and dried out in the winter. Are tulips perennials or annuals? Tulips are perennials. In certain climates, however, they may behave like annuals. Are hydrangeas perennials or annuals? Hydrangeas are perennials. Again, however, this is only true when grown in climates where they can survive the winter. Copyright 2025, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

“Bull Market” vs. “Bear Market”: What Do These Financial Terms Mean For Your Wallet? Financial jargon can be intimidating, and that’s especially true of the stock market terminology. But even if you’re not an investor, many of these terms can be relevant to your life due to their bearing on the larger economy. You’ve probably heard the terms bull market and bear market, but what exactly do they mean, and what’s the difference? In this article, we’ll explain bull markets and bear markets, the differences between them, and what they mean for everyone—not just stock traders. Quick summary The term bull market is applied to a market (especially a stock market) in which prices are, on average, rising. A bear market is the opposite—one in which prices are falling. At any given time, the market is usually described as one or the other—with bull and bear markets alternating as part of an ongoing cycle. What is a bull market? In discussions of the stock market and the greater economy, the term bull market is typically applied when prices on average are on the rise, or when they’re expected to rise. The terms bull market and bear market are most closely associated with the stock market, but they can also be used in the context of other markets, including those for real estate, currencies, and other commodities. Using the term bull market is informal—there’s no formal metric to measure or determine when a bull market is happening. Still, a 20% increase in prices is often used as the ballpark figure that indicates a bull market. Usually, a bull market happens when the economy is strong or getting stronger. High employment rates, high gross domestic product, and other measures of economic well being and stability are generally thought to correlate with bull markets. Bull markets are often categorized as secular (indicating a period of growth lasting more than five years) or cyclical (indicating a shorter-term period of growth). In the context of stocks and finance, the related adjective bullish can mean “rising in prices,” “characterized by favorable economic prospects,” or, more informally, “regarding a particular investment as potentially profitable,” as in We’re still bullish on treasury bonds. As a noun, bull can refer to a person who believes that market prices, especially of stocks, will increase. Why is it called a bull market? The first records of bull market and bullish in the context of finance and the stock market come from the late 1800s, but the noun use of bull in the context of stock investment—to refer to both a type of an investment and an investor—predates both. The origin of the use of the word bull in this way is uncertain. In general, the bull is associated with aggression and is known to charge forward, like a rising market. One explanation for the use of the word bull in bull market likens the upward swing of a bull market to the motion in which a bull may attack—by throwing its horns upward. What is a bear market? A bear market occurs when prices are falling, or when they’re expected to decrease. Like bull market, the term usually refers to the stock market, but it can also be used in the context of real estate, currencies, and other commodities. There’s no formal metric to measure when a bear market is happening, but a 20% decline in prices is sometimes used as the threshold. As you might expect, bear markets result from the opposite of the conditions thought to constitute or correlate with bull markets. Low economic stability and high unemployment, low gross domestic product, and low corporate profits are traditionally thought to correlate with the downturns associated with a bear market. Like bull markets, bear markets can be categorized as secular or cyclical. The related adjective bearish can mean “declining or tending toward a decline in prices” or “characterized by or reflecting unfavorable prospects for the economy or some aspect of it.” Or it can be used informally to mean “regarding a particular investment as poor or unprofitable,” as in We’re still bearish on treasury bonds. As a noun, bear can refer to a person who believes that market prices, especially of stocks, will decline. Why is it called a bear market? The noun use of bear in the context of the stock market to refer to types of investments or investors came before its use in bear market, but, like bullish, the origin of these senses is uncertain. In general, while bulls are known for charging aggression, bears—while fearsome—are especially associated with hibernation. This is one interpretation of the use of bear in bear market—likening the retreat of the market to a bear’s dormant period. Another interpretation is that a bear attacks by swiping downward—a motion likened to the downswing of a bear market. bear vs. bull market The difference between a bear market and a bull market is the direction of prices and the general success or health of the market. Simply put, it’s a bear market when prices are going up, and it’s a bull market when prices are going down. To remember which is which, remember that bulls are known for being aggressive and charging ahead, (like the prices in a rising market), while bears are known for hibernating (likened to how investors might scale back investments during market downturns). A few extreme examples of bear markets are the Great Recession around the 2008 financial crisis and the Great Depression, which roughly began with the stock market crash of 1929. In contrast, the post-World War II economic boom is considered an example of a bull market. But there are many other examples. That’s because at any given time the market is usually described as one or the other—meaning they alternate as part of an ongoing cycle. Stock investors have many strategies to try to profit from both increases and decreases in stock prices, which means that just because it’s a bear market doesn’t mean there’s not a lot of transactions happening. Copyright 2025, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Words From The 2010s So Lit We Should Bring Them Back The 2010s were the era of Instagram, Beyonce’s Lemonade album, and arguing about whether a viral photo showed a blue dress or a white one. The decade may not seem like that long ago, but a lot has changed since then, including many parts of our language. Vocabulary evolves quickly, especially when you’re talking about the words associated with slang and pop culture. Take yeet, for example. One minute, everyone was saying it. The next? Well, it might be hard to recall the last time you’ve heard it. The good news is that the coolest things from previous decades almost always come back in style again. 2010s nostalgia is having a moment, and we’re taking that opportunity to look back at some of the defining words of the decade. Here are 16 2010s slang words that might be ready for a comeback. bae Remember bae? In the 2010s, this term of endearment was all over the place. The word, which is “an affectionate term used to address or refer to one’s girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse, etc.,” gained popularity in 2012, thanks to a viral tweet. The term originated in Black culture, most likely as a shortened form of babe or baby. It went on to achieve meme status before fading into the background at the start of the next decade. catfish Catfish isn’t just a type of fish. It’s also a verb that means “to deceive, swindle, etc., by assuming a false identity or personality online.” This slang meaning of catfish took over in 2010 with the release of Catfish by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman. The documentary told the story of a man who was romantically duped by a stranger online. Catfish is still used to describe this kind of trickery, but the word is less common than it used to be, perhaps because knowledge of this type of dishonesty is more widespread. first world problem Oh, your favorite slang went out of style? Sounds like a first world problem. (Just kidding.) In the 2010s, first world problem emerged as a facetious way of pointing out a “fairly minor problem, frustration, or complaint associated with a relatively high standard of living, as opposed to serious problems associated with poverty.” The phrase dates back to the late ’70s, but it wasn’t seen online until around 2005. It got its start as a hashtag on Twitter and later became one of the go-to phrases of the 2010s. yeet Yeet began as the name of a popular dance in Black internet culture. By the mid-2010s, its use in viral videos had solidified its place as “an exclamation of excitement, approval, surprise, or all-around energy.” In 2018, yeet was voted the American Dialect Society’s 2018 Slang/Informal Word of the Year. Perhaps it’s because life during a pandemic hasn’t given us many reasons to say it, but yeet hasn’t held the same level of popularity in the years since its peak. stan These days, it’s popular for fans of musicians or actors to assume a group name related to their favorite celebrity, like Taylor Swift’s “swifties.” But in the 2010s, these groups were usually called stans. A stan is “an overly enthusiastic fan, especially of a celebrity.” The term originated in the early 2000s as a blend of stalker and fan, influenced by the rapper Eminem’s 2000 song “Stan.” Luckily, the term is mostly used in a lighthearted way. humblebrag We don’t mean to humblebrag, but we just have so many classic 2010s words to share with you. A humblebrag is “a statement intended as a boast or brag but disguised by a humble apology, complaint, etc.” The term is credited to writer and TV producer Harris Wittels, who created the Twitter account @Humblebrag in 2010 to showcase real-life examples of the act. It’s likely that many people still humblebrag online, so maybe it’s time to bring back the term. slaps If you say “this slaps” when you hear an awesome new song, you probably picked up your slang during the 2010s. Slaps is a slang verb meaning “to be excellent or amazing.” Believe it or not, slaps has been used to mean “first-rate” since at least the mid-1800s. It may not be as popular at the moment, but we have a feeling it will come back around again. on fleek For a brief moment in time, anything impressive or stylish was said to be on fleek. Now? Well, on fleek isn’t quite as on fleek as it used to be. Fleek means “flawlessly styled, groomed, etc.; looking great.” It’s typically used to describe someone’s clothing or appearance. The word was coined in its current sense by internet user Kayla Newman in 2014, and quickly became one of the most popular slang terms of the 2010s. Like a lot of popular slang, it may have existed in Black culture before it became widespread. lit Looking for a word that means “amazing, awesome, or cool.” How about lit? This 2010s word joined the ranks of cool, rad, and other terms to describe things people find great. Though its slang usage was most popular in the 2010s, lit has existed since at least 1895 as a way of saying “intoxicated.” It may not be new and trending, but this word isn’t likely to go away any time soon. milkshake duck Before canceled became everyone’s go-to word for internet controversies, there was milkshake duck. This phrase describes “a person (or thing) who becomes popular on the internet for a positive reason, but as their popularity takes off and people dig into their past, they become an object of outrage.” Milkshake duck is taken from a 2016 tweet by Australian cartoonist Ben Ward. The phrase may be less common than it once was, but the phenomenon it describes is still a major part of life online. slay Are we finally ready to slay some more? Slay means “to do something spectacularly well, especially when it comes to fashion, artistic performance, or self-confidence.” Slay being used as a way of saying “looking fashionable” can be traced back to the 1800s, but its usage in the 2010s is more closely linked to Black, Latinx, and queer ball culture. Whether it’s great clothes, hair, dancing, or something else, slay is a way of saying someone is killing it. fire In the 2010s, fire was frequently used as an adjective. Saying something was fire meant it was “cool, excellent, exciting, etc.” Fire can also be shortened to fya or fiyah, the origins of which can be traced to Black English. The term may have burned out towards the end of the decade, but we’re still holding a torch for this one. See what we did there? fam There’s nothing we love more than reminiscing about words with the fam. That’s you, of course. Fam means “a close friend or group of friends thought of as family.” Though the word is a shortened form of family, it generally describes chosen friends rather than actual family members. It became popular on Twitter and other social media platforms in the mid-2010s. thirst A glass of water won’t cure this type of thirst. Those who were teens and young adults in the 2010s might remember thirst as a slang term meaning “to have a strong desire.” In other words, thirsting for someone means you find them attractive. This usage also spawned other phrases, such as thirst trap, which is a social media post shared to elicit sexual attention. Mostly, we’re just thirsty for this word to make a comeback. TFW TFW stands for that feeling when. It was the basis of a popular 2010s meme that people used to express their emotions in relatable or unrelatable situations. For example, “TFW you just got cozy in bed but you need to use the bathroom.” The exact origins of the meme and corresponding phrase aren’t known, but it’s been in use on the internet since before 2018. yaass Can we get a yaaas for this final word? This interjection is an alternative form of yes, and it indicates ”a strong expression of excitement, approval, agreement, etc.” Most often, it’s accompanied by queen or kween, as in yaaas kween, but it can also be used on its own. This phrase originates in drag culture, where it’s commonly said in response to someone’s excellent style. Copyright 2025, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

You Don’t Always Have To Use “But” The word but is a useful word that often ominously precedes a lot of bad news or tough criticism. But is a word that appears in many of our sentences and is one of the most commonly used words in the English language. But–and this is a big but–we might be overusing the word just a bit. It makes sense why we would overlay on but; after all, it is a short little word that can easily connect sentences together. However, there are so many other words and phrases that sadly aren’t getting to shine with but hogging all the spotlight. The word but may not like it, but it is time for but to butt out and let someone else slip into our sentences for a little while. What does but mean, and why do we use it so much? The word but is often used in two major ways: to express a contrast or to express an exception. The sentence Jenny is tall, but her parents are short is an example of but used to show contrast; Jenny’s height is totally different from her parents’. The sentence Everyone but Rahul was right-handed shows how but is used to express exception; Rahul is the only left-handed person, which makes him unique from everybody else. In addition to having these two very common uses, the word but is also one of the seven coordinating conjunctions. In short, coordinating conjunctions allow us to easily connect independent sentences by simply using a comma. For example, we can combine the two shorter sentences Rabbits are fast and Turtles are slow into the larger sentence Rabbits are fast, but turtles are slow. This is a fairly easy way of combining sentences, so we often rely on but to join sentences together. That isn’t all, though. Besides its big job as a conjunction, but can also be used as a preposition as in We tried everything but the kitchen sink or as an adverb as in There is but one road that leads to safety. With how versatile and useful the word but is, it is no wonder that we might overwork it sometimes! Examples of but in sentences The following examples show some of the different ways we often use but in sentences: - I thought the book was really boring, but everyone else liked it. - Nobody but Camila was able to last more than five minutes in the cold water. - We could do nothing but stare in horror as the sandcastle collapsed. - She knew of only but one way to calm the crowd: Karaoke! Alternatives of contrast The first major way we use but is to show contrast, contradiction, or opposition. Luckily for us, there are plenty of other words we can use to show relationships like these. In fact, we can find one among but’s coordinating conjunction friends in the word yet. Because yet is also a coordinating conjunction, we can swap it in for but without even needing to change the sentence. For example: • We need a new car, but we can’t afford one. • We need a new car, yet we can’t afford one. While yet is an easy substitution for but to mean contrast, it isn’t the only option. Some other useful words and phrases that can fill in this role include: • although, despite, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, still, though, even though, on the other hand Typically, we can use one of the above words/phrases in place of but while only making small changes to our sentences and without changing the sentence’s meaning. For example: • The flight is on Saturday, but it might be delayed because of snow. • The flight is on Saturday. However, it might be delayed because of snow. Make the swap The following pairs of sentences show how we can express a contrast by first using but and then by swapping it out for a similar word. Notice that the new sentences still express the same meaning. • The painting looks great, but something is still missing. • The painting looks great, yet something is still missing. • The soldiers were heavily outnumbered, but they stood their ground anyway. • The soldiers were heavily outnumbered. Nevertheless, they stood their ground anyway. • Jessie and James act mean, but they are good people at heart. • Jessie and James act mean. Still, they are good people at heart. Alternatives of exception The second major way that we use but is to express an exception. Again, we have a variety of different words and phrases with the same meaning that we can use to give but a break. Some of these words include: • except, barring, save, without, excluding, minus, disregarding, omitting, aside from, not including, other than, apart from, leaving out Most of the time, we can even substitute one of these words/phrases into a sentence without needing to change anything else. For example: • Every student but Ryan enjoys basketball. • Every student except Ryan enjoys basketball. Make the swap The following pairs of sentences show how we can state exceptions by first using but and then swapping it out for a similar word or phrase. Take note that the meaning of the sentence doesn’t change. • All the animals but the tigers are sleeping. • All the animals apart from the tigers are sleeping. • I like all flavors of ice cream but mint. • I like all flavors of ice cream other than mint. • Every guard was loyal but one. • Every guard was loyal, save one. Change the sentence It might be the case that the word but is just not the word we were looking for. In that case, we may need to take more drastic action and really change up a sentence. We might exchange but for a different word that alters the meaning of the sentence or even rewrite our sentences entirely. Sometimes, we may want to frame our sentence in a way in which we don’t put two things in opposition or contrast, even if they are different. For example, we may just want to present two different options or state two different but equally important opinions. Whatever our reasons, we have several different ways we could get but out of the sentence. The simplest way, which often won’t involve changing a sentence too much, is to swap out but for one of the other coordinating conjunctions. For example: • I like dogs, but I don’t like cats. (Two opposing thoughts.) • I like dogs, and I don’t like cats. (Two equal, different thoughts.) • She might win big, but she might lose it all. (Two contrasting thoughts.) • She might win big, or she might lose it all. (Two alternative outcomes.) If we can’t use a different coordinating conjunction, we will often need to make more significant changes to our sentences in order to follow proper grammar. So, we might use a subordinating conjunction or split our clauses apart into separate sentences. For example: • We wanted to go to the beach, but it rained all day. • We didn’t go to the beach because it rained all day. • Keith needed new shoes, but he couldn’t afford them. • Keith needed new shoes. However, he couldn’t afford them. Examples Let’s look at different ways we can take but out of a sentence. You’ll notice that some of the sentences will change their grammar or even their meaning after but is replaced. • Jason lives at Camp Crystal Lake, but he doesn’t work there. • Jason lives at Camp Crystal Lake, and he doesn’t work there. • She wants a new pony, but only if she can name it Pinkie Pie. • She wants a new pony under the condition that she can name it Pinkie Pie. • I didn’t practice much, but I won the game anyway. • Despite the fact that I didn’t practice much, I won the game anyway. Copyright 2025, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Pack Your Bags! 6 Current Travel Slang Terms To Take On Your Next Trip Have you been feeling wanderlust lately? If so, you are not alone. Lots of people are looking to hit the road and travel as pandemic restrictions slowly lessen across the world. All of this vacationing and globetrotting is likely to lead to a whole bunch of trendy new travel jargon—either organically or as marketing pushes by a travel industry hungry for all those new travelers. While you start prepping for your own big trip, here are some examples of modern travel slang that you can stuff into your suitcase. baecation The word baecation simply refers to any vacation spent with your bae, your romantic partner. Baecation is often used in travel marketing and advertising of romantic getaways or destinations known as lands of love. Baecation is a hybrid construction that combines the word bae with the end of the word vacation. The fact that baecation rhymes with vacation is an added marketing bonus. Baecation is formed similarly to the word staycation–meaning a vacation where someone stays home– which has become a mainstay of travel lingo. friendcation As you might have guessed, the term friendcation refers to a vacation spent with friends. A friendcation could refer to any type of vacation as long as you bring a buddy or two along. In marketing and social media, friendcation is often used to refer to vacation spots that feature group activities, such as hang gliding or nightclub-hopping. As with baecation, friendcation is simply a hybrid construction that combines the word friend with the ending of the word vacation. eduvacation You know something that goes great with a vacation? Learning! The term eduvacation refers to a vacation or trip that involves learning about things. The term is broadly used and could refer to a wide variety of vacation destinations and activities, such as a trip to a famous museum, a tour of a cultural historic site, or a safari that teaches about animals. The word eduvacation is a combination of the words education and vacation. Unlike baecation and friendcation, the entire word vacation makes an appearance because without the whole thing you would just have … education. familymoon A familymoon is a vacation for a newly married couple—and their children. The term is used to refer both to couples that have had children with each other prior to getting married and to couples who had children from previous relationships. As you’d expect, familymoon is used in advertising and social media when referring to travel spots that are kid-friendly and have plenty of things for children to do. The word familymoon is based on the word honeymoon, a trip taken by newly married couples. The family in familymoon refers to the couples’ children—their family. A similar word that uses the -moon suffix based on honeymoon is the fairly well-known term babymoon. A babymoon is a vacation that a couple takes to celebrate (and rest before) the upcoming birth of a baby. gramping It is time to bridge the generational divide and go gramping. The word gramping refers to grandparents and their grandchildren going on vacation together. While this term can refer to camping trips, it is also used more broadly to refer to any kind of trip or travel that grandchildren spend with their grandparents. Similar to familymoon, gramping is often used to refer to places that are accessible to both children and older people and have plenty of things they can do together. The word gramping is a hybrid combination of the word camping with the prefix grand- found in both grandparent and grandchild(ren). It is formed similarly to the popularly used travel word glamping, which refers to glamorous camping in which a person brings luxuries on a camping trip. bleisure Let’s get down to business and … go on vacation? The word bleisure is often used in the phrase “bleisure travel” to refer to a combination of business and leisure travel. The term is often used to refer to business trips that involve some form of enjoying oneself. This could involve things such as making time for a hiking trip, fitting in some sightseeing, or bringing the kids along to have fun in between video conferences. Bleisure travel has become increasingly popular in recent times due to large numbers of people having to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The word bleisure is an oxymoronic mashup of the words business and leisure. Bleisure is used to refer to trips that in some way combine getting work done while finding time to relax or do something fun. These travel terms, as well as many others, are often driven by travel marketing. For example, you may see the newer travel term open-jaw flight, meaning a flight that leaves from a different city from the one that a person arrived in, alongside the well-known term red-eye flight, which refers to a flight taken during the sleep hours. Given that it is in travel agencies’ best interest to come up with snappy, marketable ways to sell vacation packages, don’t be surprised if we continue to see plenty of new travel lingo to get us all gallivanting across the globe. Copyright 2025, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Pronoun Explainer: What Do Ella, Él, And Elle Mean In Pronoun Sets? If you’ve recently seen pronoun sets like she/her/ella, he/him/él, or they/them/elle, you may be wondering what the third word in each set means. In familiar pronoun sets like he/him/his, the third word indicates the possessive form. But that’s not the case with él, ella, and elle. Instead, these terms are used by people who speak both English and Spanish as a way to indicate their pronouns in both languages. What does she/her/ella mean? And he/him/él? In she/her/ella, the word ella—pronounced [ eh-yah ]—is the Spanish pronoun equivalent to the English she or her (in Spanish, the same word is used regardless of whether it’s the subject or the object). In he/him/él, él—simply pronounced [ el ]—is the Spanish pronoun equivalent to the English he or him. (It is often spelled without the accent mark.) Bilingual speakers of English and Spanish frequently use both English and Spanish in everyday life, so indicating their pronouns for both languages makes a lot of sense, especially in contexts where they may be conversing in both languages. ⚡️ What else bilingual pronoun sets show Informationally, bilingual pronoun sets can do double duty—not only do they indicate a person’s pronouns, they also indicate the two languages that a person speaks. Apart from its practical function, displaying a mixed-language pronoun set can also be a way for a person to express pride in their cultural identity. What does elle mean in they/them/elle? In English, pronouns like they and them can be used as singular, gender-neutral pronouns, including by people who identify as nonbinary or whose gender identity exists between or beyond the spectrum of strictly male or female. This is what the pronoun set they/them indicates. Sometimes, you’ll see the pronoun set they/them/elle. Because formal, traditional Spanish does not have a gender-neutral, singular pronoun (equivalent to the English they), some Spanish speakers use the neopronoun elle, which some pronounce as [ eh-yeh ]. It’s used to avoid the grammatical gender that’s built into the Spanish language, whose traditional plural equivalents of they are the masculine ellos and the feminine ellas. Like singular they, elle is also used as a pronoun by some Spanish speakers whose gender identity is not strictly male or female. Some people use the similar neopronoun ellx, which like other terms uses the letter x to create gender-neutrality. Relatedly, the avoidance of gendered language is also the reason why some people use the term Latinx. Copyright 2025, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

“Homophone” vs. “Homonym” vs. “Homograph”: Differences And Examples English is absolutely full of words that sound or look the same but have different meanings. And we have words for these kinds of words: homophones, homographs, and homonyms. But remembering the difference can be its own challenge. In this article, we’ll break down the differences and the overlap and provide examples of all three. Quick summary Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings, like there/their/they’re and its/it’s. Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. Homographs can be pronounced differently (like bass the fish and bass the instrument) or the same (like fair meaning “equitable” or “a carnival”). The word homonyms is often used to refer to all such words in general. Some words, like bark, fall into more than one category—bark on a tree and bark of a dog are both homophones (sounding the same) and homographs (being spelled the same), for example. What is the difference between homophones, homonyms, and homographs? There is a helpful way to tell the difference between the words homophone, homograph, and homonym: knowing what their endings mean can help you remember how they’re used. Homophone, homonym, and homograph all start with homo-, which means “same.” The -phone in homophone means “sound.” So homophones are words that sound the same. Homophones always have different meanings, but they may be spelled the same or differently. Bear (the animal) and bare (meaning “uncovered” or “empty”) are homophones. But so are bark (the sound a dog makes) and bark (the covering of a tree). And the different senses of bear (the animal and the verb meaning “to carry”). The -graph in homograph means “written.” Homographs are words that are written the same—meaning they always have the same spelling—but have different meanings. Homographs can be pronounced the same or not. For example, bass (the fish, rhymes with class) and bass (the instrument, rhymes with ace) are homographs. But so are the different senses of bark and bear. Take a closer look at the homonym pair bare vs. bear. Homonym examples As we’ve just explained, the term homonym can refer to both a homophone and a homograph, so we’ve broken them down into two separate lists. The items from both lists can be broadly referred to as homonyms. But for clarity, it’s best to use the term homophones when referring to words that sound the same and homographs when referring to words that are spelled the same. Still, there are examples that fit into both categories, such as the different senses of bark and bear discussed earlier. Homophone examples Here are just some of the many examples of homophones in English: there | their | they’re to | too | two its | it’s your | you’re whose | who’s by | buy | bye I | eye see | sea dear | deer bare | bear hair | hare here | hear air | heir where | wear pair | pear | pare fair | fare right | write | rite sight | site | cite steal | steel plain | plane sale | sail break | brake know | no week | weak add | ad meet | meat sell | cell great | grate piece | peace eight | ate one | won flower | flour for | four | fore our | hour wait | weight night | knight male | mail son | sun board | bored hole | whole sweet | suite tail | tale Homograph examples It’s impossible to count how many words are homographs because so many words have more than one meaning. We’ll separate this list into homographs that are pronounced differently and those that are pronounced the same. There are far fewer examples of ones that are pronounced differently. Homographs that are pronounced differently Here are several examples of homographs whose pronunciation is different. minute (the noun meaning “60 seconds”; the adjective meaning “very small”) bass (the fish; the instrument) Polish (from Poland) and polish (to make something shiny) bow (the noun referring to a ribbon tied in a decorative way; the verb meaning to bend reverently) close (the adjective meaning “nearby”; the verb meaning “to shut”) lead (the metal; the verb meaning “to act as a leader”) Homographs that are pronounced the same Here are some of the many, many homographs that sound the same, along with some of their common meanings (in many cases, there are multiple other meanings). bear (the animal; the verb meaning “to carry”) ring (a circle; a type of jewelry; what a phone does) fan (the appliance that makes wind; an admirer/appreciator) band (music group; a ring or strap) bat (the animal; a baseball bat) kind (the adjective meaning “nice”; the noun meaning “type”) part (a component of something; a line in one’s hair; the verb meaning “to separate”) park (a noun meaning an outdoor space; a verb meaning what you do to a car) class (lesson; category; classiness) fair (equitable or according to the rules; a carnival) Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Did You Know You Can Write These 17 Words On The Calculator? Where were you the first time you learned you could spell words on a calculator? For most of us, the answer is an elementary or middle school math class. Maybe you had a friend who taught you the numbers to push to spell hello. Or, perhaps you were busy with homework and noticed the upside down numbers on your calculator looked like LOL. Before long you were probably trying all sorts of letter combinations trying to spell the longest (and silliest) possible words. The extra fun thing about calculator words is that they’re one type of ambigrams. An ambigram is a word, number, or other figure that can be read upside down. To create and read a calculator word, you have to enter the corresponding numbers backwards, then flip the calculator upside down. When you do this, a 7 becomes an L, a 3 becomes an E, and suddenly, it’s a whole new world of words to explore. Here’s a look at some of the most classic and entertaining calculator words you may have forgotten about. Please note: this post includes some anatomy slang. zoo Or should we say 200? Some words become “calculator words” simply because they’re easy to write, and this is certainly one of them. Most of us know zoos as parklike areas where wild animals are on public display, but the word zoo can also mean “a place, activity, or group marked by chaos or unrestrained behavior.” For example, a math class where every student is busy writing secret messages on their calculators. Hey, we’re just kidding. sizzle Multisyllable calculator words are a good way to dazzle everyone with your sizzling intellect. Case in point: if you type 372215 and flip it upside down, you get the word sizzle. This word originated in English as an imitation of the hissing sound sometimes heard during cooking, so it’s one calculator word that’s both an ambigram and an onomatopoeia. boob If you’ve ever typed 8008 or 8008135 into your calculator, you aren’t alone. Boob and boobies are the quintessential, silly calculator words many people first learn in middle or high school. Boob is, of course, slang for a breast (or a foolish person—like the kind that types boob on a calculator). Like many words that make middle schoolers giggle, these ones are probably frowned upon in most math classes. The less we say about this one, the better. logo Logotype isn’t possible to spell on a calculator, but its shortened form, logo, certainly is. Typing 0607 will give you this noun that means “a graphic representation or symbol of a company name, trademark, abbreviation, etc., often uniquely designed for ready recognition.” Come to think of it, a brand name spelled out on a calculator could make a pretty cool logo. obsess If you’re a little bit obsessed with calculator words (or the number five), just input 553580. That’s how you spell obsess, which means “to occupy or preoccupy the thoughts, feelings, or desires of (a person); beset, trouble, or haunt persistently or abnormally.” The word comes from the Latin obsessus, a past participle of obsidēre, meaning “to occupy, frequent, besiege.” LOL You can laugh out loud or you can laugh on a calculator. 707 should get the message across. LOL is a ’90s internet abbreviation for “laugh out loud” or “laughing out loud.” These days, it’s less popular than a simple haha or a laughing emoji, but on a calculator it’s the clearest (and only) way to let someone know you appreciate their sense of humor. eggshell The next word on the list is eggshell. That’s 77345663, for those trying to spell it at home. This word, which refers to the shell of a bird’s egg, a paint color, and even a type of paper, may not be the zaniest word you can think of, but if your goal is to type the longest calculator word, it is definitely a contender. giggle Sometimes a good calculator word can give you a serious case of the giggles. Other times, the word is literally giggle. You can create this word by punching in 376616. This word, which entered English in the 1500s, is likely related to the Dutch gigelen or the German gickeln. On a calculator, it’s ideal for people who really like the number six. hello Here’s another quintessential calculator word that’s easy to learn. 07734 spells hello. Interestingly, it wouldn’t be possible to spell hello on a calculator if not for its modern form. The word evolved from hallo, a variant of hollo, which is itself a variant of the earlier Middle French hola, equivalent to “ahoy there.” There’s no great way to make the letter A on a calculator, so it’s a good thing language evolves. hobbies It’s nice to have hobbies. Hobby comes from the Middle English hoby, which referred to a horse in the 13th century. From hoby evolved hobbyhorse, a children’s toy, which was later shortened to its modern form. Since the word hobby means “an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation,” practicing your calculator spelling could technically count as one. If you grab the nearest calculator and type the numbers 5318804, you’ll have both the word hobbies and a new hobby. LEGO If you input 0637 on a calculator, you’ll get the name of a beloved classic toy. We know typing LEGO may not be as fun as playing with the trademarked LEGO construction toys, but it’s still pretty interesting, especially if you know where the LEGO name comes from. LEGO is an abbreviation of the Danish leg godt, which means “to play well.” Ohio You can’t spell all of the US state names on a calculator, but you can spell Ohio. Just hit 0140. While you’re typing it, it might be fun to share a few fun Ohio facts, like the fact that its capital is Columbus, it’s abbreviated with the letters OH, and it’s bordered by five other states: Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana. igloo It’s time for the ones and zeros to shine. Igloo can be spelled on a calculator by pressing 00761. First recorded in the mid-1800s, igloo comes from the Inuit word iglu, meaning “house.” In English, igloo doesn’t only describe dome-shaped structures. It’s also the word for “an excavation made by a seal in the snow over its breathing hole in the ice.” goggle Quick, what’s a six-letter calculator word that’s formed using at least three sixes? Goggle, or 376606, is the answer. Goggle is an interesting word because no one is 100% certain where it comes from. The word was first recorded in the 1300s and referred to movements of the eyes, such as bulging or rolling. It wasn’t until the 1700s that goggle began to refer to protective eye coverings. lilies The plural of lily is lilies, our next fun calculator word. Note that there is only one L in the middle of the word, so the correct way to input it on the calculator is 531717. A lily is, of course, a type of flowering plant, or it may refer to the ​​fleur-de-lis, especially as the symbol of France. It’s one of the only flower names able to be spelled using a calculator. boss Are you a 5508? That spells boss. You may be a boss in the literal sense, like a manager, or you might be a boss in the slang sense, which means “first-rate.” Believe it or not, the slang sense of the word isn’t just something the kids are saying. The first recorded use of boss to mean “excellent” occurred in the 1880s. shoes It’s almost time to hit the road, but not before we get to our final word: shoes. Footwear has certainly evolved since the ’90s and ’00s, when many of us were learning calculator words for the first time, but this five-letter word never goes out of style. In fact, shoe was first recorded in English before the year 900. All you need to do to spell this one is to hit 53045. Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

10 Conversational Tips That Take The Stress Out Of Small Talk We’ve all been there: you’re at a party and trying to find an “in” to start an engaging conversation with someone you just met. Or, maybe it’s a professional conference, and you want to make an impression on a new contact you’d love to have in your network. You want to say the right thing, but your mind feels blank, like you’ve completely forgotten how to communicate with other human beings. Making small talk is a skill, and it’s not easy, but the good news is that there’s always time to learn. Think about the conversations you have with the people you like and know well. When talking with these people, you likely practice good conversational skills without even realizing it, like: Listening attentively. Being present. Trying not to repeat yourself. Showing interest. Going with the flow. The trick to making great small talk is to find ways to call upon those same friendly conversational skills, even when you’re speaking with someone you don’t know well, in a brand-new environment, or in an awkward or high-pressure situation. How do you do that? We’ve got your back. Here are 10 tips to improve your small talk game and make it look easy. 1. Start with an introduction. Sometimes the best way to break the ice is simply to introduce yourself. “Hi, I’m Pete, the groom’s brother. How do you know the couple?” “I’m Allison Smith, the head of sales at Office Corp. What company are you representing?” “My name’s Lupita. I’m in the theater program here at NYU. What’s your major?” It seems easy, but you’d be surprised how quickly people can forget a simple introduction when they’re fumbling for the best thing to say. If you start with your name and some information related to the event or something you might have in common, you create opportunities to learn something about them, which can help you launch effortlessly into a longer conversation. 2. Have some topics in the bank. It’s easy for your mind to go blank when you’re asked a question about yourself or trying to pull topics out of thin air, so make sure you always show up prepared. Think of three to five interesting things you’ve done recently that might make good conversation starters, such as: A new restaurant you’ve tried. A book you loved. A movie you’re really excited about. The last trip you took. What you did over the weekend. Your most recent professional development opportunity. Your favorite hobby. The unique origins of pasta names. (Well, we like dictionary talk …) While you’re at it, brush up on current events that might be interesting to discuss. If you’re attending a work event, make sure you’re up-to-date on the latest industry news and goings-on at your company. 3. Use open-ended questions. Asking a “yes or no” question is one of the fastest ways to kill a conversation because it doesn’t give you anything to build on. Instead, try to ask open-ended questions. These are questions that can’t be answered with a single word, and that means the other person has to expand on what they’re saying, giving you plenty of opportunities to latch onto something they say and keep the words flowing. 4. Agree, then add something. If you’re at an event and someone makes an observation about your surroundings, the host, or even something totally unrelated, go with it. Their statement can be a good opportunity to add your own observations, establish a connection, and move forward into a conversation. First, affirm what they’ve said, then add your own take, and follow it up with an open-ended question that leaves room to move to a new topic. Here’s how it might look in action: Them: “This signature cocktail is pretty good, huh?” You: “It is. It really complements the appetizers. Have you tried them yet?” If you don’t happen to agree with what they’ve said, that’s okay! You can still politely acknowledge it and forge ahead. Them: “This signature cocktail is pretty good, huh?” You: “It’s very unique. My attention has been on the appetizers. Have you tried them yet?” 5. Be complimentary. If you want to seem friendly and approachable, find nice things to say about others. (We happen to have some helpful synonyms for the word nice and tips for delivering sincere compliments.) People are more likely to be drawn to you if you’re open about pointing out how funny something they said was, how much you admire their sense of style, or how interested you are in their work. Compliments can also be a way to begin a conversation. Try something like this: “I just had to tell you, I love that tie! It’s so bold. I’m Eric, by the way. What’s your name?” “Dr. Stein, I’m Lexi Jones. I’m so thrilled to meet you. Your book was fascinating. Are you studying anything new?” “I’m Shawn. My sister said you’re an amazing artist. I’m so glad we ended up at the same table. Tell me about your work.” 6. Let them teach you something. No one is an expert on every topic. If they mention something you don’t know much about, don’t let the conversation die there. Use it as an opportunity for conversation. People love to talk about themselves and things they’re passionate about, so express your curiosity and allow them to share more knowledge with you. Here are some ideas for how to do this: “I’ve never been fly-fishing before. What is it like?” “I’m not familiar with that program yet. Is it difficult to learn?” “I’ve been meaning to check out that band. Which album should I start with?” 7. Use the ARE method. If you’re the kind of person who wishes there was an easy equation for small talk, we have good news. Some psychologists recommend the ARE method. ARE stands for anchor, reveal, and encourage. First, anchor yourself and the other person in the moment by making an observation about your shared location or experience. Next, reveal something about yourself in relation to the anchor, like how it makes you feel, something you’ve noticed, or something you’re interested in or excited about. Lastly, encourage participation from the other person by asking a related question. It will look like this: Anchor: “There are so many new faces at the conference this year.” Reveal: “I’m really inspired by all of the talent here.” Encourage: “Have you met anyone interesting so far?” 8. Be real with it. If you’re feeling rusty at small talk, guess what? You are not alone. Most people struggle with talking to and getting to know new people, and it’s okay to admit that it’s hard. If you express that you’re not very good at small talk or feeling nervous in the situation, many people will find this relatable and it can start the conversation—which is the goal! It can be as simple as saying something like: “I’m terrible at small talk, but I’m really interested in speaking with you.” “I apologize in advance for any awkwardness. Small talk isn’t my strong suit, but I’m really curious about your work.” “Nothing like trying to make small talk with a table full of strangers, huh? How’s your night going?” 9. Have an exit strategy. Sometimes you just need to get away. That’s okay. Making a smooth exit is also a part of being skilled at small talk. You could excuse yourself to the restroom or the buffet, but the easiest way to get out of a conversation is to be polite and direct. Let them know you enjoyed speaking with them and that you’re going to direct your attention to something else now. “It was lovely meeting you. I’m going to refresh my drink and check in with the host.” “Excuse me, but I just saw someone I need to speak with. It was nice chatting with you.” “I’m so glad we met. I hope to run into you again later on.” 10. Practice often. For many of us, hating small talk also means avoiding it at all costs. The only problem is, this makes small talk harder when it can’t be avoided. Instead of fleeing from every situation that might require you to banter with strangers, try to see those as opportunities for more practice. Most small talk conversations have fairly low stakes. Practice introducing yourself, asking a few questions about the other person, and politely excusing yourself after a few moments. Before you know it, you’ll be a pro, and awkward silences will be a thing of the past. Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Ready To Make Small Talk? Here Are 10 Different Kinds To Try! If the term small talk sends a pang of dread shooting through your chest, you aren’t alone. That very word may have you picturing yourself stranded with a group of strangers, desperately trying to think of questions to ask while everyone stares at you awkwardly. Luckily, small talk doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of ways to improve your small talk skills. It also helps to remember that different situations call for different kinds of small talk. Small talk can be used to connect with old friends, make new ones, banter with potential dates, and network with clients and connections. Here’s a guide to the many different kinds of small talk and some fun facts about each type. Think of this as a cheat sheet you can carry with you into your next great conversation! chitchat If you’ve ever made “light conversation, casual talk, or gossip” with someone, then you’ve engaged in chitchat. It’s a form of small talk that might occur between acquaintances and usually doesn’t delve into heavy or serious topics. People have been chitchatting for a lot longer than you might think. The word is a duplicate form of chat that’s been in use in English since the early 1700s. table talk Table talk is called that because, well, it happens most often at a table. Defined as “informal conversation at meals,” table talk is what you might expect at a dinner party or an after-work happy hour meetup. Sometimes it can take a turn for the serious (see: awkward family dinners during Thanksgiving), but topics are usually lighthearted and meant to keep guests engaged. The phrase table talk has been in use since the mid-1500s. exchanging pleasantries If you don’t know someone well, the first step to talking with them is exchanging pleasantries. A pleasantry is “a courteous social remark used to initiate or facilitate a conversation,” such as complimenting the decor at a new acquaintance’s house or commenting on the weather as you and a new neighbor both check your mailboxes. The word pleasantry has been in use in English since the 1600s. shooting the breeze To shoot the breeze means “to talk idly, chat.” The word breeze sometimes means “an easy task; something done or carried on without difficulty.” In this sense, you can think of shooting the breeze as engaging in easy conversation, like the ones had when lounging around at a party or other relaxed gathering. This phrase may have originated as a variant of shooting the bull, in which bull means “empty talk or lies.” Shooting the breeze has been in use in English since at least 1919. causerie Causerie sounds like it might refer to something formal or serious, but it actually means “an informal talk or chat.” You might engage in a causerie while gathered around the buffet table or mingling with other attendees at a conference. First recorded in the 1820s, causerie comes from the French causer, meaning “to chat.” chinwag If you wish to “chat idly or gossip” with an acquaintance, you might pop by for a chinwag. Chinwag is a 19th-century word that is likely borrowed from British English, though the exact origins of the phrase are unknown. Chinwag likely refers to the physical act of talking, as in the way a chin wags, or “moves from side to side or up and down” when one speaks. Chinwagging is something you can do with a friend or with people you don’t know well. schmoozing Schmoozing is the kind of small talk that often happens when people are trying to make connections. It means “idle conversation; chatter,” but it’s often used to describe situations in which that idle chatter is intended to help you get “in” with a certain person or group. You might schmooze with the boss at the holiday party or schmooze with the other PTA parents you’re trying to get to know. The word schmooze is an Americanism, but it has roots in Yiddish. The verb schmues, from the Hebrew shəmūʿōth, means “reports, gossip.” persiflage The kind of frivolous, easy small talk you might make at a party can also be called persiflage. This word, meaning “light, bantering talk or writing,” comes from the French persifler, meaning “to banter” or “to tease.” Persiflage, then, describes small talk that is fun. It might include jokes, witticisms, and clever repartee. Who knows? You might even end up with a new friend. The word persiflage was first recorded in English in the 1750s. banter Banter is “an exchange of light, playful, teasing remarks; good-natured raillery.” It’s what can happen when small talk is going well. Often, you might engage in banter with a new acquaintance with whom you get along particularly well. Banter might also be the preferred type of small talk on a first date or when you’re really connecting with someone new on a dating app. The origin of the word banter is unknown, but English speakers have been using it since at least the 1660s. gossip Gossip technically counts as a form of small talk, but proceed with caution: depending on the subject of the gossip, this one could land you in hot water. Gossip is defined as “idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others,” and the concept has been around for a very long time. First recorded before 1050, gossip can be traced to the Old English godsibb, a term that initially meant “godparent,” but later came to be applied to familiar friends, especially a woman’s female friends. This is likely due to the outdated belief that women were more fond of “light talk” or gossip. Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

“A Lot” vs. “Alot” vs. “Allot”: How Much Difference Is There Between Them? We use a lot … a lot. But ask someone to define a lot and they’ll probably start by saying “A lot means … a lot!” That’s because it’s so commonly used that it can be hard to think of how to explain it. A lot can seem like it should be a single word—and maybe one day the spelling alot will appear in this dictionary. But right now, the two-word spelling a lot is the one that’s recognized as standard. As for allot, it’s a different word altogether (even though it’s pronounced the same). Allot some time to learn why a lot is spelled the way it is, and we promise you’ll learn a lot more along the way (including how to know whether a lot is being used as a noun or an adverb). Quick summary A lot, which is often misspelled as alot, means “a large number or quantity” or “very much,” and it can be used as a noun or an adverb. Allot is a verb that means “to portion out” or “to set aside a share or portion of something, such as money or time, for a specific purpose.” What does a lot mean? As a noun, a lot means “a large number, quantity, or amount,” as in That’s a lot of cheese! or I only have a few hobbies, but my husband has a lot. As an adverb, a lot means “very much” or “a great deal,” as in I love you a lot, or “often,” as in I’ve been practicing a lot. It’s used as an adverb in the phrase Thanks a lot (which is the same as saying Thanks very much). Sometimes, it can be hard to tell whether a lot is being used as a noun or an adverb (making it hard to know what it’s supposed to mean). One way to tell is to remember that the noun use of a lot can be (and often is) paired with the word of and another noun. For example, in the sentence I had to study a lot for the test, the term a lot could refer to a lot of material, in which case it’s being used as a noun. However, if a lot is supposed to mean “often,” it’s being used as an adverb. A lot is probably misspelled as alot so commonly because we tend to think of it as functioning as a single word, but it’s really a combination of two: a (the extremely common indefinite article we use all the time, as in I have a cat and a dog) and lot (which, by itself, can mean “large number or quantity” or “great deal”). The word lots can mean the same thing as (and can be used interchangeably with) a lot, both as a noun, as in Lots of people were at the party, and as an adverb, as in I love you lots or I’ve been practicing lots. A lot is informal but very common, and lots is even more informal. A lot is very similar to other constructions like a ton (which can be used as a synonym of a lot) and a bit (which can be thought of as the opposite of a lot). Like a lot, both terms can also function as both nouns and adverbs: a bit of cheese (noun); back up a bit so you can be in the picture (adverb). What does allot mean? Allot is a verb that means “to divide out something into shares or portions,” as in His estate was allotted among his heirs. It can also mean “to dedicate or assign something, especially money or time, for a specific purpose,” as in We’re going to allot half of our budget for supplies or Please allot some time to review your work. The noun form is allotment, which can mean the same thing as portion. How to use a lot vs. alot vs. allot When to use a lot: when you’re talking about a large quantity of something or want to indicate that something happens or is done often or all the time. A lot is only ever used as a noun or an adverb. When to use alot: don’t. It’s a misspelling of a lot. When to use allot: when you’re talking about dividing something into portions or devoting a portion of time, money, or something else to a specific purpose. Allot is only ever used as a verb. Examples of a lot and allot used in a sentence Check out these examples to see how a lot and allot are commonly used in a sentence (sometimes even in the same one). - I like a lot of toppings on my pizza. - I have a lot, and I believe it’s my responsibility to help people who have very little. - I’ve been thinking a lot about this problem, and I think I have a solution. - The remaining shares have been allotted between you and your sister. - The residents at the meeting requested that we allot more money to the park project. - You’ll need to allot a lot of time to count the ballots—there are almost 500. Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

“Few” vs. “Couple” vs. “Several”: How Much Do They Really Mean? Every day, without thinking about it, we all refer to quantities without specifying a number. Most commonly, we do this by using terms like a few, a couple, and several. A lot of people have strong opinions about what each of these terms means—and what it doesn’t. In this article, we’ll discuss the differences, the overlap, and dig into these questions and a few (or several) more, including: - How many is few? - What’s the difference between few and a few? - How many is a couple? - What’s the difference between a couple and a few? - How many is several? Quick summary A couple most strictly means two, but it’s often used casually to mean much the same thing as a few, which commonly means around two, three, or four—it can be relative to the situation and the size of the numbers under discussion. For example, you might say only a few people came when it was 12 but 50 were invited. Several most commonly means more than two, but fewer than many. Depending on the context, the meanings of couple, few, and several, can overlap. How many is a few? A few is generally considered to mean between two and several. Some people use a few to mean around three, but this is not a universal interpretation. Its meaning is highly relative to the context—it often depends on what’s being discussed, especially the scale and expectations. When you say you ate a few of something, such as potato chips or candies, you might mean you ate three or four, but you could also mean you had, say, 10 or a small handful—especially if they’re small or you’d normally eat more. There are many other situations in which the same number would be considered many or a lot, especially if it’s considered more than normal. few vs. a few Even though they are both used to refer to a small but nonspecific quantity—and in some situations may even indicate the same quantity—the terms a few and few are subtly different. Sometimes, a few is used to point out that there are some, as opposed to none, as in Dave said we didn’t get any applications, but there are a few. You could also say Dave said we didn’t get any applications, but there are some. In contrast, few, as in Few are suited for this kind of work or There are very few positions available, emphasizes the limitedness of the quantity. Few emphasizes the low quantity and lack of items. Here are three sentences (and their interpretations) that illustrate the potential difference in meaning between few, a few, and only a few: - A few people attended. (This simply indicates the approximate number of people who attended). - Few people attended. (This emphasizes that attendance was low.) - Only a few people attended. (This emphasizes that attendance was low—and perhaps lower than expected or desired.) How many is a couple? In its strictest sense, the phrase a couple means two. It is commonly followed by of, as in I have a couple of errands to run or They made a couple of mistakes. Sometimes, it’s used without of, which is considered even more informal, as in a couple miles or a couple books. A couple more is also used frequently and informally: a couple more cookies and a couple more minutes. It’s very common for a couple to be used casually to mean around two, or three, or … in other words, it’s often used interchangeably with a few. a couple vs. a few In casual use, a couple and a few are often used interchangeably to refer to a low but nonspecific number of things. A couple is often more strictly interpreted as two or at least around two—maybe three or four, depending on the context. It’s possible that some people say a couple when they mean two or even three but then switch to a few when they mean three or four or more. But there’s no “correct” definition—everyone’s use differs without the meaning being misinterpreted too much. Of the two, a few is the more flexible. Most people would probably agree that even though a few and a couple are commonly used interchangeably, a few more commonly refers to higher quantities than a couple does. A couple is typically a small number, while a few can range higher depending on the context, scale, and expectations of what’s being discussed. How many is several? When it comes to several, well, there are going to be several answers. Generally speaking, several is used to refer to quantities above two or so but not so much that it’s a lot or many. Perhaps the most common interpretation or intended sense of several is around three to five, but this can vary greatly depending on the context. If the numbers under discussion are particularly large, then the exact meaning of several can expand. For example, several people could mean eight or nine or even more in a crowd of hundreds, but four or five in a crowd of 10. several vs. few Due to their malleable, nonspecific nature, several and a few can certainly overlap. Obviously, a few is on the low end, with several higher, so they overlap somewhere in the middle. For example, four cats could be several or a few, depending on the situation, expectations, or other factors. Here are some examples of how several vs. few are used interchangeably. - My sister called several minutes ago. - My sister called a few minutes ago. Examples of few, couple, and several used in a sentence Here are some examples of how a few, few, couple, and several are used in real-life contexts. - I like a few olives on my salad. - Few people have seen the new house yet, but we did invite a few close friends over when we moved in. - I ate a couple of cookies from the jar. - I need a few good ideas—I’d like everyone to submit a couple of suggestions. - We need to interview a few more candidates if we hope to have several on the shortlist. Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

“Crevasse” vs. “Crevice”: Understanding The Chasm Of Differences Both crevasse and crevice refer to cracks in things, but their meanings are not exactly the same. And neither are their pronunciations. In this article, we’ll break down the distinctions, explain how the difference in pronunciation can help you remember the difference in meaning, and reveal which one is big enough for you to fall into. Quick summary A crevasse, [ kruh–vas ] with a second syllable that rhymes with mass, is a very big, deep crack, especially a chasm in a glacier or the earth’s surface. A crevice [ krev-is ] with a second syllable that rhymes with miss, is a small crack in something that forms an opening into the thing’s surface. What is a crevasse? A crevasse, [ kruh–vas ] with a second syllable that rhymes with mass, is a very big, deep crack, especially one in a glacier or the earth’s surface. A close synonym is chasm. Much more specifically, crevasse can also refer to a breach in an embankment or levee. What is a crevice? A crevice, [ krev-is ] with a second syllable that rhymes with miss, is a small crack in something that forms an opening into the thing’s surface (as opposed to a hairline crack, which is thinner and doesn’t open up). Synonyms include words like crack, cleft, and rift. An informal synonym is cranny (as in nooks and crannies). Crevice usually refers to a crack in some kind of surface, such as in asphalt or a piece of wood. Where do crevasse and crevice come from? Crevasse and crevice come from the same French word, the verb crev(er), meaning “to crack.” Crevice is older. The first records of it in English come from the 1300s, while the first records of crevasse come from the US in the 1800s. crevice vs. crevasse The word crevice typically refers to small cracks in a surface, such as a wooden table or an old piece of rubber. A crevasse, on the other hand, is a huge opening in something, especially a glacier or the ground. There’s no official point at which a crevice becomes a crevasse, but if it’s big enough for you to fall into, then you can definitely call it a crevasse. For middle-of-the-road openings (medium-sized ones, not like actual sinkholes in the street, which count as crevasses), it’s probably best to avoid crevice and crevasse and instead opt for a word like fissure, which can refer to an opening of any size. The difference in pronunciation can also help you remember the difference in meaning. The second syllable of crevasse rhymes with mass, which means “big.” Examples of crevasse and crevice used in a sentence Here are some examples of sentences with crevasse and crevice to give you an idea of how they’re typically used. - We descended into the crevasse, one of the largest in the glacier. - Once inside the crevasse, we examined the ice to look for any small crevices. - Hikers discovered a crevasse in the earth large enough to hold a school bus. - Moss was growing inside a tiny crevice in the rock. - The surface of the cake is covered in crevices, but you won’t be able to see them once you spread the icing on top. Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

When Do You Use “Who” vs. “Whom”? Over the last 200 years, the pronoun whom has been on a steady decline. Despite its waning use in speech and ongoing speculation about its imminent extinction, whom still holds a spot in the English language, particularly in formal writing. Understanding when and how to use this pronoun can set your writing apart. If whom is on the decline, then who must be growing in popularity. The two—as you’ll recall from English class—are related and may seem interchangeable. But are they really? Who vs. whom, what’s the difference? Whom is often confused with who. Who is a subjective-case pronoun, meaning it functions as a subject in a sentence, and whom is an objective-case pronoun, meaning it functions as an object in a sentence. When to use who Who, like I, he, she, we, and they, is used as the subject of a sentence. That means it performs actions. Examples of who in a sentence See how who is used as a subject in different ways: Who rescued the dog? I’m not sure who called my name. Do you know who baked this cake? Who is doing the rescuing in the first sentence. Similarly, who called and who baked in the other examples. When to use whom Whom is a little trickier. Like me, him, her, us, and them, whom is the object of a verb or preposition. That means whom is acted on. Take your grammar game to the next level with your own personal Grammar Coach™! Get started now for free! Examples of whom in a sentence See how whom acts as an object in each of these instances: Whom did you see? His grandchildren, whom he loves so much, are in town for a visit. The cook, whom we just hired, failed to show up to work today. In the first sentence, whom is being seen here, not doing the seeing. In the other examples, whom is being loved and hired. Whom is the direct object in all three sentences. Take a look at these sentences: She gave whom the package? Whom should I call first? My brother doesn’t remember whom he e-mailed the questions. In these sentences, whom functions as an indirect object. That is the person on the receiving end of the action. For example, the package was given to someone. It was given to whom. Whom also commonly appears when it follows a preposition, as in the salutation “To whom it may concern.” Does it concern he? No. Does it concern him? Yes. When in doubt, substitute him (sometimes you’ll have to rephrase the sentence) and see if that sounds right. If him is OK, then whom is OK. If the more natural substitute is he, then go with who. For example: You talked to who/whom? It would be incorrect to say, “You talked to he?”, but saying, “You talked to him?” makes grammatical sense. So you would ask, “You talked to whom?” All of that said, in informal speech and writing, speakers will often opt for who where whom has traditionally been used. This choice sounds more natural and less formal to most native English speakers. Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

26 Types of Punctuation Marks & Typographical Symbols We use words in writing. Shocking, I know! Do you know what else we use in writing? Here is a hint: they have already appeared in this paragraph. In addition to words, we use many different symbols and characters to organize our thoughts and make text easier to read. All of these symbols come in two major categories: punctuation marks and typographical symbols. These symbols have many different uses and include everything from the humble period (.) to the rarely used caret symbol (^). There may even be a few symbols out there that you’ve never even heard of before that leave you scratching your head when you see them on your keyboard! What is punctuation? Punctuation is the act or system of using specific marks or symbols in writing to separate different elements from each other or to make writing more clear. Punctuation is used in English and the other languages that use the Latin alphabet. Many other writing systems also use punctuation, too. Thanks to punctuation, we don’t have to suffer through a block of text that looks like this: - My favorite color is red do you like red red is great my sister likes green she always says green is the color of champions regardless of which color is better we both agree that no one likes salmon which is a fish and not a color seriously. Punctuation examples The following sentences give examples of the many different punctuation marks that we use: - My dog, Bark Scruffalo, was featured in a superhero movie. - If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, who are you going to call? - A wise man once said, “Within the body of every person lies a skeleton.” - Hooray! I found everything on the map: the lake, the mountain, and the forest. - I told Ashley (if that was her real name) that I needed the copy lickety-split. What is a typographical symbol? The term typographical symbol, or any other number of phrases, refers to a character or symbol that isn’t considered to be a punctuation mark but may still be used in writing for various purposes. Typographical symbols are generally avoided in formal writing under most circumstances. However, you may see typographic symbols used quite a bit in informal writing. Typographical symbol examples The following examples show some ways that a writer might use typographical symbols. Keep in mind that some of these sentences may not be considered appropriate in formal writing. - The frustrated actor said she was tired of her co-star’s “annoying bull****.” - For questions, email us at anascabana@bananacabanas.fake! - The band had five #1 singles on the American music charts during the 1990s. - My internet provider is AT&T. Punctuation vs. typographical symbols Punctuation marks are considered part of grammar and often have well-established rules for how to use them properly. For example, the rules of proper grammar state that a letter after a period should be capitalized and that a comma must be used before a coordinating conjunction. Typographical symbols, on the other hand, may not have widely accepted rules for how, or even when, they should be used. Generally speaking, most grammar resources will only allow the use of typographical symbols under very specific circumstances and will otherwise advise a writer to avoid using them. Types of punctuation and symbols There are many different types of punctuation marks and typographical symbols. We’ll briefly touch on them now, but you can learn more about of these characters by checking out the links in this list and also each section below: Period Question mark Exclamation point Comma Colon Semicolon Hyphen En dash Em dash Parentheses Square brackets Curly brackets Angle brackets Quotation marks Apostrophe Slash Ellipses Asterisk Ampersand Bullet point Pound symbol Tilde Backslash At symbol Caret symbol Pipe symbol Period, question mark, and exclamation point These three commonly used punctuation marks are used for the same reason: to end an independent thought. Period (.) A period is used to end a declarative sentence. A period indicates that a sentence is finished. Today is Friday. Unique to them, periods are also often used in abbreviations. Prof. Dumbledore once again awarded a ludicrous amount of points to Gryffindor. Question mark (?) The question mark is used to end a question, also known as an interrogative sentence. Do you feel lucky? Exclamation point (!) The exclamation point is used at the end of exclamations and interjections. Our house is haunted! Wow! Comma, colon, and semicolon Commas, colons, and semicolons can all be used to connect sentences together. Comma (,) The comma is often the punctuation mark that gives writers the most problems. It has many different uses and often requires good knowledge of grammar to avoid making mistakes when using it. Some common uses of the comma include: Joining clauses: Mario loves Peach, and she loves him. Nonrestrictive elements: My favorite team, the Fighting Mongooses, won the championship this year. Lists: The flag was red, white, and blue. Coordinate adjectives: The cute, happy puppy licked my hand. Colon (:) The colon is typically used to introduce additional information. The detective had three suspects: the salesman, the gardener, and the lawyer. Like commas, colons can also connect clauses together. We forgot to ask the most important question: who was buying lunch? Colons have a few other uses, too. The meeting starts at 8:15 p.m. The priest started reading from Mark 3:6. Semicolon (;) Like the comma and the colon, the semicolon is used to connect sentences together. The semicolon typically indicates that the second sentence is closely related to the one before it. I can’t eat peanuts; I am highly allergic to them. Lucy loves to eat all kinds of sweets; lollipops are her favorite. Hyphen and dashes (en dash and em dash) All three of these punctuation marks are often referred to as “dashes.” However, they are all used for entirely different reasons. Hyphen (-) The hyphen is used to form compound words. I went to lunch with my father-in-law. She was playing with a jack-in-the-box. He was accused of having pro-British sympathies. En dash (–) The en dash is used to express ranges or is sometimes used in more complex compound words. The homework exercises are on pages 20–27. The songwriter had worked on many Tony Award–winning productions. Em dash (—) The em dash is used to indicate a pause or interrupted speech. The thief was someone nobody expected—me! “Those kids will—” was all he managed to say before he was hit by a water balloon. Test your knowledge on the different dashes here. Parentheses, brackets, and braces These pairs of punctuation marks look similar, but they all have different uses. In general, the parentheses are much more commonly used than the others. Parentheses () Typically, parentheses are used to add additional information. I thought (for a very long time) if I should actually give an honest answer. Tomorrow is Christmas (my favorite holiday)! Parentheses have a variety of other uses, too. Pollution increased significantly. (See Chart 14B) He was at an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting. Richard I of England (1157–1199) had the heart of a lion. Square brackets [] Typically, square brackets are used to clarify or add information to quotations. According to an eyewitness, the chimpanzees “climbed on the roof and juggled [bananas].” The judge said that “the defense attorney [Mr. Wright] had made it clear that the case was far from closed.” Curly brackets {} Curly brackets, also known as braces, are rarely used punctuation marks that are used to group a set. I was impressed by the many different colors {red, green, yellow, blue, purple, black, white} they selected for the flag’s design. Angle brackets <> Angle brackets have no usage in formal writing and are rarely ever used even in informal writing. These characters have more uses in other fields, such as math or computing. Quotation marks and apostrophe You’ll find these punctuation marks hanging out at the top of a line of text. Quotation marks (“”) The most common use of quotation marks is to contain quotations. She said, “Don’t let the dog out of the house.” Bob Ross liked to put “happy little trees” in many of his paintings. Apostrophe (‘) The apostrophe is most often used to form possessives and contractions. The house’s back door is open. My cousin’s birthday is next week. It isn’t ready yet. We should’ve stayed outside. Slash and ellipses These are two punctuation marks you may not see too often, but they are still useful. Slash (/) The slash has several different uses. Here are some examples: Relationships: The existence of boxer briefs somehow hasn’t ended the boxers/briefs debate. Alternatives: They accept cash and/or credit. Fractions: After an hour, 2/3 of the audience had already left. Ellipses (…) In formal writing, ellipses are used to indicate that words were removed from a quote. The mayor said, “The damages will be … paid for by the city … as soon as possible.” In informal writing, ellipses are often used to indicate pauses or speech that trails off. He nervously stammered and said, “Look, I … You see … I wasn’t … Forget it, okay.” Typographical symbols Typographical symbols rarely appear in formal writing. You are much more likely to see them used for a variety of reasons in informal writing. Asterisk (*) In formal writing, especially academic and scientific writing, the asterisk is used to indicate a footnote. Chocolate is the preferred flavor of ice cream.* *According to survey data from the Ice Cream Data Center. The asterisk may also be used to direct a reader toward a clarification or may be used to censor inappropriate words or phrases. Ampersand (&) The ampersand substitutes for the word and. Besides its use in the official names of things, the ampersand is typically avoided in formal writing. The band gave a speech at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Bullet Point (•) Bullet points are used to create lists. For example, For this recipe you will need: • eggs • milk • sugar • flour • baking powder Pound symbol (#) Informally, the pound symbol is typically used to mean number or is used in social media hashtags. The catchy pop song reached #1 on the charts. Ready 4 Halloween 2morrow!!! #spooky #TrickorTreat Tilde (~) Besides being used as an accent mark in Spanish and Portuguese words, the tilde is rarely used. Informally, a person may use it to mean “about” or “approximately.” We visited São Paulo during our vacation. I think my dog weighs ~20 pounds. Backslash (\) The backslash is primarily used in computer programming and coding. It might be used online and in texting to draw emoticons, but it has no other common uses in writing. Be careful not to mix it up with the similar forward slash (/), which is a punctuation mark. At symbol (@) The at symbol substitutes for the word at in informal writing. In formal writing, it is used when writing email addresses. His email address is duckduck@goose.abc. Caret symbol (^) The caret symbol is used in proofreading, but may be used to indicate an exponent if a writer is unable to use superscript. Do you know what 3^4 (34) is equal to? Pipe symbol (|) The pipe symbol is not used in writing. Instead, it has a variety of functions in the fields of math, physics, or computing. Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Fill Your Pot Of Gold With 18 Brilliant Words For St. Patrick’s Day Every March, people around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parades, street parties, festivals, sing-alongs, arts exhibitions, and yes, green rivers (such as the Chicago River, dyed green with what’s essentially food coloring). What began as a feast day for the patron saint of Ireland has evolved into a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and heritage—and it’s hard to resist the temptation to look for a lucky four-leaf clover come St. Patrick’s Day. But there’s more to the day and the culture of Ireland than the color green or traditional celebrations. In honor of this special holiday, here are 18 interesting words to help you learn more about Irish history, culture, and the roots of St. Patrick’s Day. blarney Have you heard the one about the Blarney stone? Blarney means “flattering or wheedling talk; cajolery.” It’s often applied to insincere flattery that’s used to gain favor. The word, which was first recorded in English in the late 1700s, comes from the centuries old legend of the Blarney stone. It’s said that anyone who kisses the stone in Blarney Castle near Cork, Ireland, is given the gift of flattery and eloquence. “Erin go Bragh” Erin go Bragh is a popular expression of loyalty to, or affection for, Ireland, its people, and its culture. The phrase, which means “Ireland forever,” is an Anglicization of Éire go Brách, which translates to “Ireland till the end of time.” The phrase may have first come to use during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 as a rallying cry for Irish independence. In the time since, it’s been used in music, sports, and during celebrations like St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate Irish pride and culture. leprechaun Leprechauns originated in Irish folklore, but they’ve become a famous symbol all over the world. A leprechaun is a dwarf or sprite, often depicted as “a little old man who will reveal the location of a hidden crock of gold to anyone who catches him.” Though leprechauns are usually seen as joyful or mischievous, some representations of leprechauns feature offensive stereotypes that should be avoided. For example, the University of Notre Dame’s “fighting Irish” leprechaun has been voted one of the most offensive mascots in US sports. banshee Leprechauns aren’t the only well-known figures from folklore. In Irish legend, a banshee is “a spirit in the form of a wailing woman who appears to or is heard by members of a family as a sign that one of them is about to die.” The word comes from the Irish Gaelic bean sídh, which translates to “woman of the fairy mound.” In legends, banshees most often appear at night, and some believe they can only be seen by those of Irish descent. Saint Patrick Although the origin of St. Patrick’s Day is a mix of fact and legend, Saint Patrick was a real person. The day commemorates the feast of Saint Patrick, a ​​British-born missionary and bishop who became the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick is believed to have been born Maewyn Succat, and later chose the Latin name Patricius, or Patrick in English and Pádraig in Irish. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland and famously believed to have used the shamrock as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity. Emerald Isle Ireland is sometimes called the Emerald Isle. This poetic nickname for Ireland stems from the lush, green land and rolling hills that make up many parts of the country. Emerald green is a “clear, deep green color” most often associated with the gem of the same name. Green is strongly associated with Ireland not only because of the landscape and symbols like the shamrock, but also because of its use among people fighting for Irish independence throughout history. luck If you’ve ever searched for a four leaf clover, then you know a little something about the supposed link between Irish culture and luck. Luck is “the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person’s life,” and many people believe Irish symbols, particularly those seen on St. Patrick’s Day, have a special ability to attract good luck. Maybe you’ve heard the phrase the luck of the Irish? This phrase is considered a cliché and is mostly only used in the US, but it’s an example of just how common it is to think Irish culture is imbued with potent powers of good luck. (Need a few more serendipitous ways to say lucky?) Gaelic You’ll notice many of the words on this list have Gaelic roots. Gaelic isn’t only one language. The term encompasses Celtic languages that include the speech of ancient Ireland and more modern dialects that have developed from it, especially Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic. Though the term Irish Gaelic is sometimes used outside of Ireland, Irish is made up of distinct dialects that vary in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar, and the words Gaelic and Irish shouldn’t be used interchangeably. shamrock Shamrocks are among the most famous symbols of St. Patrick’s Day. ​​The word shamrock can describe a number of trifoliate, or three-leafed, plants but especially “a small, yellow-flowered clover: the national emblem of Ireland.” Shamrock comes from the Irish Gaelic seamrōg, or “clover.” Saint Patrick’s close association with Ireland and legendary use of the shamrock as a symbol for Christianity helped make it a symbol of Irish culture. These days, shamrocks are so popular there is even a Shamrock emoji. donnybrook In English, donnybrook means ​​”an inordinately wild fight or contentious dispute; brawl; free-for-all.” It comes from Donnybrook Fair, a traditional fair that was held in Donnybrook, county Dublin, Ireland, until 1855. The fair featured livestock and produce and later evolved into a carnival. It was ultimately shut down due to its reputation for brawls and raucous behavior. The word donnybrook entered English in the mid-1800s. Fun fact: the Donnybrook Fair grounds are now the Donnybrook Rugby Ground. bodhran Music is a big part of many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and some of it includes the bodhran. A bodhran is “a handheld, shallow Irish drum with a single goatskin head, played with a stick.” It’s often used in traditional Celtic folk music, and it’s known for its deep, distinct sound. Bodhran is borrowed in English from the Irish bodhrán, which derives from the middle Irish bodar, meaning “deafening, deaf.” Celtic The Celts were once the largest group in ancient Europe, and their influence on the language and culture remains prominent today, especially in Ireland. Celtic is a term for the family of languages that includes Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, and Breton. More broadly, Celtic refers to anything “of the Celts or their language.” limerick A limerick is “a kind of humorous verse of five lines.” It’s also a county in Ireland, and the two share an interesting link. The first known use of limerick referring to the poem comes from the late 1800s, and the word is thought to have originated as a part of a party game. People playing the game took turns making up nonsense verses, then everyone would sing the refrain: “Will you come up to Limerick?” The refrain referenced Limerick, the place, but later came to represent the poems themselves. clover It’s said that if you find a four-leaf clover, it will bring you good luck. So, is a clover the same thing as a shamrock? It’s complicated. Clover and shamrock are both used to describe plants from similar species. While shamrock derives from an Irish word, clover has roots in Old English. Clovers may have two, three, four, or more leaves, while the traditional shamrock that’s used as a symbol of Ireland has three. In other words, shamrocks are a type of clover, but not every clover is a shamrock. balbriggan There are many things that take their names from places in Ireland. Balbriggan is one. In addition to being a city in Ireland, balbriggan is “a plain-knit cotton fabric, used especially in hosiery and underwear.” The fabric was first made in the town of the same name, and the word has been in use in English since the mid-1800s. shillelagh A shillelagh is a cudgel, or club, traditionally made of blackthorn or oak, and it’s become a recognizable symbol of Irish culture in some St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The name shillelagh comes from the Irish Síol Éiligh, the name of a town in County Wicklow, Ireland. The adjoining forest once provided the wood for the clubs, which are now sometimes carried in parades or sold as souvenirs. brogue Let’s hear it for the brogue. A brogue is “an Irish accent in the pronunciation of English.” Believe it or not, this term may be related to shoes. The word brogue can also refer to “a coarse, usually untanned leather shoe once worn in Ireland and Scotland.” It’s thought that brogue in reference to accents may be a special use of the word; it was first recorded in English in the early 1700s. rainbow Rainbows are often associated with Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day. Some legends say leprechauns leave gold at the ends of rainbows. There may also be a scientific explanation for Ireland’s close association with rainbows. A rainbow is an “arc of prismatic colors appearing in the heavens opposite the sun and caused by the refraction and reflection of the sun’s rays in drops of rain.” Because of its rainy climate and latitude, Ireland may actually have better conditions for the formation of frequent rainbows than other places. Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

21 Contemplative Quotes From Muslim Americans About The Month Of Ramadan Ramadan is one of the holiest times of the year for Muslims around the world. It’s a time when Muslims fast, reflect, pray, give charity, and come together as a community. Ramadan is observed in different ways around the world, but the bedrock of this holiday is the same; the Qur’an directly states that followers should fast upon the first sight of the new moon in the month of Ramadan to glorify Allah to commemorate when the Qur’an was revealed. During Ramadan, observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking (yes, that also means water) from sunup to sundown. Ramadan culminates in a celebration known as Eid al-Fitr, or the festival of breaking the fast. To better understand what Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr mean to the Muslim community, here are 21 quotes from prominent Muslim Americans and the key words that highlight the significance of this time. Here you will see reflections on their faith, community, and the meaning of this holy month. 1. The most rewarding part of being a Muslim athlete is my faith in God paired with my faith in myself. I approach every match with positivity and the belief that I can beat anyone on any given day. And in the face of defeat, I am able to learn from my mistakes and work on my weaknesses to prepare for next time. —Ibtihaj Muhammad, interview, Yahoo.com, 2016 faith Ibtihaj Muhammad made history by being the the first Muslim-American woman to wear a hijab while representing the US at the Olympics in 2016, where she won a bronze medal in fencing. Her mother encouraged her to get into fencing because it was a sport she could participate in while respecting their religious beliefs. In this quote, she describes her faith, or “belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion,” and how it helped her meet her athletic goals. 2. And in the process of restraining ourselves from the blessings so readily available to us, we naturally develop empathy for those who aren’t as fortunate. It’s a special type of worship that is incredibly both sacred and fulfilling. It gives a spiritual dimension to being unapologetically Muslim in America. —Omar Suleiman, “Why 80% of American Muslims Fast During Ramadan,” CNN.com, 2018 empathy Omar Suleiman is an American imam and academic who is here describing the purpose of fasting during Ramadan. He notes that it is a way to develop empathy, or “the psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.” In this case, fasting helps one develop empathy with those who may not have enough to eat. 3. Ramadan is not just predicated upon eating or not eating or drinking or not drinking. It’s a state of mind. And it’s an attempt to achieve God consciousness that carries on throughout the day. —Wajahat Ali, interview, “Revealing Ramadan,” On Being podcast, 2009 state of mind While many focus on the fasting element of Ramadan, writer Wajahat Ali is describing how it is more than just refraining from eating and drinking. It is a state of mind, a term that means “mood or mental state.” The goal is to take on fasting as a way of thinking and feeling throughout the month. 4. Ramadan, Muharram, the Eids; you associate no religious event with the tang of snow in the air, or spring thaw, or the advent of summer. God permeates these things—as the saying goes, Allah is beautiful, and He loves beauty—but they are transient. Forced to concentrate on the eternal, you begin to see, or think you see, the bones and sinews of the world beneath its seasonal flesh. —G. Willow Wilson, The Butterfly Mosque: A Young American Woman’s Journey to Love and Islam, 2010 eternal Author G. Willow Wilson, best known for her work on the Ms. Marvel comic book series featuring Muslim-American teen Kamala Khan, describes in her memoir The Butterfly Mosque how she understands the meaning of the ritual of holidays such as Ramadan with respect to the lunar calendar. She connects it to the eternal, or something “without beginning or end.” 5. At the end of the day we’re all spirits having a physical experience. … And that really comes from my relationship with Islam because it just makes me really conscious of my action. —Mahershala Ali, interview, NPR, 2017 conscious Actor and rapper Mahershala Ali also picks up on the connection between the spiritual and physical world that G. Willow Wilson is discussing. Conscious is an adjective with a variety of meanings, including “aware of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc.” The word conscious in English comes from the Latin conscius meaning “sharing knowledge with.” 6. It’s about meditation and prayer and thinking about those who are truly less fortunate, feeling that hunger and thirst and observing it day in and day out, sunup to sundown. It’s quite an experience, yeah. —Mo Amer, quoted in the Austin-American Statesman, 2018 meditation Palestinian-American stand-up comedian and writer Mo Amer is best known for his role in the sitcom Ramy. In this quote, Amer describes what Ramadan means to him. He says it is about meditation, meaning “continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation” or “devout religious contemplation or spiritual introspection.” 7. I think a big part of my faith teachings is to work together towards equality: that we’re all created equal, and under the eyes of God, we all have a right to freedom and to access our rights equally. —Ilhan Omar, quoted in Huffpost.com, 2016 equality Representative Ilhan Omar, one of the first two Muslim women to serve in Congress, represents Minnesota’s 5th congressional district. Here she describes Islam as a religion that promotes equality, “the state or quality of being alike.” Her language here also connects her faith tradition to the preamble to the Declaration of Independence in this quote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” 8. And you see this humanity and camaraderie and brotherhood that I think is deeply touching, deeply gratifying, and I think in so many ways humbling, and really, kind of helps you reset your emotional and spiritual compass, to know what is important in life, not to take these moments or granted. —Ayman Mohyeldin, quoted in BuzzFeed.News, 2018 camaraderie Egyptian-American television and news anchor Ayman Mohyeldin reflects in this quote on the importance of sharing and experiencing iftar with the less fortunate. Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast at sunset during Ramadan. He notes the feeling of camaraderie among people at that meal, a word that means “a spirit of trust and goodwill among people closely associated in an activity or endeavor.” 9. We use the fast to try to purify and cleanse our souls, and to ask forgiveness for our sins. We also learn self-restraint and we become much more aware of those less fortunate people around us for whom “fasting” is not a choice, for whom hunger is part of daily life. The fast is an act of worship and a spiritual act; it is also an act of social solidarity. —Mehdi Hasan, “What Is Ramadan and Other Questions Answered,” The New Statesman, 2016 social solidarity Mehdi Hasan is a British-American journalist and television host who is here describing what he understands as the purpose of fasting during Ramadan. He says it is a form of social solidarity. Solidarity means “union or fellowship arising from common responsibilities and interests.” Social solidarity specifically describes a kind of fellowship with other people in a community, in this case the Muslim community and greater community at large. 10. The older I get, the more grateful I am for those reminders to stop, be still, reflect, and be grateful. I find those moments can be really restorative like returning to a power station. —Tahereh Mafi, interview, Coveteur.com restorative Young adult author Tahereh Mafi, best known for her Shatter Me series, describes her spiritual practice as a restorative time. Restorative here means “capable of renewing health or strength.” Believe it or not, restorative comes from the same Latin root as the English restaurant. 11. We start the fast in the morning strong. By noon we start to get weaker. By the afternoon, we really begin to feel the fast. By sunset, right before we break it, things get difficult. Our lives mirror this. We start our lives strong as youth until we reach noon time, our 30’s and 40’s, we start to get weak. Once we reach old age … our physical abilities are greatly reduced until we leave this life. Fasting shouts to us our own mortality. —Imam Suhaib Webb, Facebook post, 2013 mortality Imam Suhaib Webb in this quote connects the daily fast of Ramadan with the life cycle. Part of the life cycle is death, which reminds us of our mortality, “the state or condition of being subject to death.” The word mortality itself ultimately comes from the Latin mors meaning “death.” 12. Ramadan is a time to control one’s desires and get closer to God. The self-discipline that we learn carries on to other areas of our lives so we can be better family members, friends and, yes, co-workers. —Linda Sarsour, quoted in HuffPost.com, 2016 self-discipline The word self-discipline means “training of oneself, usually for improvement.” Political activist Linda Sarsour describes Ramadan, particularly the fast, as a time to work on one’s self-discipline. Discipline comes from the Latin for “instruction.” In this way, self-discipline is a kind of autodidacticism. 13. It’s not a chore, but it is a discipline. And what I mean by that is it takes self-control, it takes some willpower, but it’s a great pleasure and a joy. —Ingrid Mattson, interview, “The Meaning of Ramadan,” NPR, 2017 joy Activist and academic Ingrid Mattson also notes that Ramadan is a time of self-discipline. She describes this practice of self-control as a joy, “a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something greatly valued or appreciated.” The positive connotation of the word joy makes us think of the Ramadan fast as a beneficial exercise of willpower rather than as something negative. 14. While fasting, understand the whole picture. Remember that fasting is not just about staying away from food. It is about striving to become a better person. And in so striving, we are given a chance to escape the darkness of our own isolation from God. But like the sun that sets at the end of the day, so too will Ramadan come and go, leaving only its mark on our heart’s sky. —Yasmin Mogahed, from YasmineMogahed.com, 2012 striving Yasmin Mogahed is an educator who teaches people about Islam. In this quote, she encourages people to think of the Ramadan fast as an opportunity to strive, a verb with a variety of meanings including “to exert oneself vigorously; try hard” and “to make strenuous efforts toward any goal.” This word captures the difficult nature of a fast; it comes from the Old French estriver, meaning “to quarrel, compete.” 15. As for fasting, it is a spiritual mindset that gives you the stamina required to play. Through Allah’s mercy, I always felt stronger and more energetic during Ramadan. —Hakeem Olajuwon, quoted in Andscape.com, 2017 stamina Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon was a center in the NBA in the 1980s and early 1990s. He describes the Ramadan fast as giving him increased stamina, or “strength of physical constitution; power to endure fatigue, privation, etc.” According to some (including his teammates!), he was thought to play especially well during the month of Ramadan. 16. Ramadan for me is this reset where spirituality becomes the core, and I try to build the world around that. —Hasan Minhaj, “Ramadan Reflections and Reset,” YouTube, 2021 reset Television host and comedian Hasan Minhaj sees Ramadan as an opportunity to reset, a noun meaning “an act or instance of setting, adjusting, or fixing something in a new or different way.” In other words, it is a chance to put things in a new order or to see the world in a new way. 17. As we welcome the final iftar of #Ramadan this evening, which marks the beginning of Eid—I urge us all to still find joy in our holiday. I know it’s hard with everything going on right now, but our joy is also our resistance. They want to break our spirits. We can’t let them. —Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, Twitter (@xoamani), 2021 resistance Ramadan is a time of submission, but for some, like activist and founder of MuslimGirl.com Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, it is also a time of resistance. Resistance means “the act or power of resisting, opposing, or withstanding.” 18. If there’s anything Muslims can do during this global pandemic [during Ramadan], it is to have our compassion shine. —Rashida Tlaib, interview, MLive, 2020 compassion Representative Rashida Tlaib serves Michigan’s 13th congressional district. At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, she gave an interview saying that Ramadan was a time for compassion, meaning “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” This is connected to the third pillar of Islam, zakat, meaning “charity.” 19. I’m a person of faith, and the language that I use to define my faith, the symbols and metaphors that I rely upon to express my faith, are those provided by Islam because they make the most sense to me. The Buddha once said, “If you want to draw water, you don’t dig six 1-ft. wells, you dig one 6-ft. well.” Islam is my 6-ft. well. —Reza Aslan, quoted in Time, 2013 language Iranian-American writer and public academic Reza Aslan has written and spoken a great deal about the Islamic faith and religion in general. He notes that his language, or “a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or cultural tradition,” when expressing his faith comes from Islam. 20. Remember that the main purpose of this month of fasting is to actually increase our remembrance and closeness to Allah. —Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), “Message from Yusuf Islam,” YouTube, 2020 remembrance The legendary folk musician Yusuf Islam, also known as Cat Stevens, encourages others to see the fast during the month of Ramadan as an opportunity to practice remembrance, or “commemoration.” In other words, one should be mindful of God’s presence during this time. In fact, the word remembrance ultimately comes from the Latin root memor, meaning “mindful.” 21. There is always a big emphasis on what children wear for Eid. Growing up, I remember my mother having my outfit ready and laid out a month in advance. One year, I even recall sleeping in my fancy attire, as I was so excited to try it on the night before and knew I would be waking up early for prayer. I remember so much of that time, from the ages of about eight to ten, when I would go shopping with my mom. —Halima Aden, quoted in CNA Luxury, 2020 attire Somali-American Halima Aden is a high fashion model, so it’s heartwarming that her memories of Eid (al-Fitr) include clothes. She describes the fancy attire, a word meaning “clothes or apparel, especially rich or splendid garments,” that her mother would get for her and her siblings for the celebration. Maybe hearing from all these high-profile people talk about the importance of the month of Ramadan and their faith has got you wanting to learn more about the holiday and its celebration. We have you covered. You can learn more about the important practices, values, and meanings of this time with our article The Major Facts About the Month of Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak! Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

What Are The 4 Types Of Brackets? When considering punctuation marks, there are four pairs of marks that may be referred to as a type of bracket. They are parentheses, square brackets, curly brackets, and angle brackets. Of these four, parentheses are by far the most commonly used and are the punctuation marks that most writers are likely most familiar with. Although you may not get many chances yourself to bust out a pair of curly brackets or angle brackets, it doesn’t hurt to learn what they are typically used for so they don’t catch you by surprise. Types of brackets Parentheses () Let’s look at each of the four different types of brackets, moving from the pair you are most likely to see to the pair you will almost never see (in writing, at least). Despite being the most commonly used of the four types of brackets, parentheses are still less common than other punctuation marks in formal writing. Most writers will tend to use them sparingly but effectively. Parentheses have a lot of different uses. One particularly common use is to insert additional but unessential information, such as a writer’s commentary, into a sentence. Last year, the first pitch was thrown by Santa Claus (yes, really). Bananas are good for you (and tasty, too). Some other information that might be contained within parentheses includes sources, references, abbreviations, acronyms, telephone area codes, and lifespans. Parentheses examples The owners loved dressing their dogs up in funny outfits. (The dogs were much less enthusiastic about it.) The cat population doubled over the past 10 years. (Purrcy and Kitchins, 2005) The shuttle was built by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Edward I of England (1239–1307) was called “Edward Longshanks.” Square brackets [] Square brackets, often just called brackets in American English, are typically only used with quotations in formal writing. Square brackets are used to indicate to a reader that the writer added their own words to a quote, added additional context, or otherwise made a change to a quote that wasn’t originally there. The term sic is also often used in a pair of square brackets to indicate that a quote originally had a grammatical error in it, and the writer didn’t make a mistake when reprinting it. Square bracket examples The following examples show the different ways that square brackets are typically used with quotations. The president said, “He [the Polish ambassador] is a tough negotiator, but I’m confident we will reach an agreement that is best for both countries.” The legendary pop singer said that “[she] would come back [to Miami] every summer if [she] could.” My textbook says, “The explorers traveled down the Mississipi [sic] River.” Curly brackets {} Curly brackets, also known as braces or curly braces, are rarely used in formal writing and are more common in other fields such as science, math, and computing. Some style guides will allow them to be used for one specific purpose: grouping together a set. The pastries {cakes, pies, croissants, danishes} looked delicious. Informally, curly brackets may also be used to attempt to avoid confusion if a writer is using multiple sets of brackets in the same sentence. Clifford (a {very, very} big dog) stomped his way down the street. Both of these uses, though, are rare and many style guides and grammar resources may not have any formal use for curly brackets in writing. It is entirely possible that you may never read anything that uses curly brackets. Curly bracket examples The following examples show how curly brackets might be used. Keep in mind that these sentences may not be considered appropriate in formal writing. The circus animals {lions, tigers, elephants, monkeys} were very well trained. Madame Mysteria (who I {sadly} never met) was a legendary fortune teller. Angle brackets <> Angle brackets have no formal use in writing, at least in English. In other languages, double sets of angle brackets are sometimes used in place of quotation marks. Like curly brackets, you are much more likely to see angle brackets used in other fields, such as math and computing. Informally, angle brackets might be used in place of parentheses to insert asides or you might see them used to introduce a website in an older piece of writing. Angle bracket examples The following examples show how angle brackets might be used in writing. These examples would typically not be considered appropriate in formal writing. The car was both very fast and very pink. << Much too pink if you ask me >> If you’re curious, you can find the rest of Chef Baker’s recipes at <www.bakeittillyoumakeit.yum> Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Add A Pop Of Color With The Vibrant Purple Synonyms When you hear the word purple, what pops into your head? Chances are it’s one of a huge number of different shades, ranging from pale lavender to deep burgundy. There are so many different colors that fall under the vast umbrella of purple, so when you’re writing or talking about something in the shade, it’s helpful to be a bit more specific. Shades of purple can be found on everything from fruit to plants to wild animals. Here are 15 unique and vibrant words you can use when talking about the color purple. lilac Lilac is a “pale, reddish purple” that might call to mind a stroll through a garden. The color is named for the purplish flowers that grow on the shrub of the same name. This pale violet color is at home in a spring scene or even in the color palette of a sunrise. First recorded in the early 1600s, the word lilac comes from the Persian līlak, meaning “bluish.” plum If you need a darker shade of purple, plum will do. Plum is “a deep purple varying from bluish to reddish.” Like many words on the list, plum gets its name from something in nature. In this case, it’s the fruit that grows on plum trees. It can be traced to the Greek proúmnē, or “plum tree,” and it has been in use in English since at least the 900s. violaceous Is it purple or is it violaceous? This adjective means “of a violet color; bluish-purple.” It’s a perfect descriptor for anything with purplish hues, from fruit to flowers to the looming mountains in the distance. Violaceous is related to violet and was first recorded in English in the mid-1600s. magenta Magenta is a “purplish red.” It’s also the name of a town in Italy where the French and Sardinians defeated Austrian troops in 1859. The color was named for this battle site, as the famous fight took place shortly before magenta dye was discovered. But why was the town called Magenta? The town’s name may trace back to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius, who is believed to have had a headquarters there. amethyst Some shades of purple really shine. Amethyst is “a purplish tint,” consistent with the purple or violet color of a type of quartz that shares the same name. It has a surprising backstory. Though the word has been in use in English since the mid-1200s, it has roots in the Greek améthystos, meaning “not intoxicating, not intoxicated.” This is because it was once believed the stone amethyst could prevent intoxication. amaranthine If you’re describing a red wine or something else that’s “of purplish-red color,” consider amaranthine. Amaranthine is the color of amaranth, a flowering plant known for its striking foliage or flower clusters. Amaranth comes from the Latin amarantus, an alteration of the Greek amáranton, meaning “unfading flower.” periwinkle Is it blue or is it purple? If it’s periwinkle, it must be somewhere in between. Periwinkle means “a blue-violet color,” and it’s associated with myrtle, a trailing plant with evergreen foliage and blue-violet flowers. Periwinkle is a common color used on furniture or clothing. The word has been in use in English since before the year 1500. grape If you asked someone to name something purple, a grape would probably come to mind. Because of the appearance of the fruit, grape has also come to mean “a dull, dark purplish-red color.” When something is grape, it has the flat, muted shade we associate with grapes, and it may range from a very deep purple to one with shades of pink or red. Grape comes from Middle English and was first recorded in the early 1200s. lavender While the plant lavender is well known for its scent, it has also influenced the name of a well-known shade of purple. Lavender, as a color, is “a pale bluish purple.” It’s a popular choice for weddings. There’s even lavender ice cream! Lavender comes from the Medieval Latin lavendula, meaning “a plant livid in color.” wine Wine isn’t just a drink you have with dinner. It’s also “a dark reddish color, as of red wines.” Wine might describe the particular shade of purple you want to paint your kitchen or the pretty new lipstick that’s on sale at the cosmetics store. While wine certainly indicates a deep purple-red color, you could be even more specific by naming a certain type of wine. For example, burgundy can be used to mean a “grayish red-brown to dark blackish-purple.” violet As a flower, violets are known for their vibrant purple color. That’s why the “reddish-blue” color of the same name is called violet. Violet exists at the opposite end of the visible spectrum from red. You probably recognize it as the “V” in the abbreviation ROYGBIV, the colors of the rainbow. Typically, violet is more red in hue than a standard purple, like the color of the sky at sunset or the feathers of a Violet-backed starling. pomegranate Much like the fruit, pomegranate is a deep reddish or pinkish-purple color. Because of its complexity, it’s a great color for decorating. Pomegranate has been in use in English since at least the late 1200s, and it has a pretty straightforward origin. The name for the many-seeded fruit comes from the Medieval Latin pomum granatum, which literally means “a seedy apple.” heliotrope For a lighter shade of purple, give heliotrope a try. It’s “a light tint of purple; reddish lavender.” Not only is this word fun to say, but it also has a cool backstory. Like other purple shades, the color heliotrope shares its name with a plant. Helios is Greek for “sun,” while the Greek trópos means “a turn, change.” The plant heliotrope was named for the way its flowers and leaves turn towards the sun. orchid The word orchid calls to mind the delicate flowers of an orchid plant, which are sometimes a light “bluish to reddish purple color.” You can use orchid to talk about light shades of purple that fall somewhere between lilac and lavender. Orchid entered English in 1845 in the third edition of School Botany by John Lindley, and you might be surprised by its origins. This plant-name-turned-color can be traced to the Greek órchis, meaning “testicle.” perse Perse means “of a very deep shade of blue or purple.” You might use perse to describe fabric or pigments that are a deep indigo or even purple with hints of black. Though a less common term for purple, the word has been in use in English since the 1300s. It comes from the Middle English pers, perhaps a variant of the Medieval Latin persus, a kind of blue. 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