Language Learners

French word of the week: dessous

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French word 'dessous'. Read More

What’s the difference between your and you’re?

Your and you’re are homophones that are often confused by learners and native speakers of English alike. Here is a short guide to help understand the difference between them. your Your is a possessive determiner. You use your to show that something belongs or relates to the person or people that you are… Read More

Spanish words of the week: tramo or trama?

So which potentially confusable Spanish nouns are we disentangling this week? Let’s see where we get to with tramo (masculine) and trama (feminine). Read More

French word of the week: devoir

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French verb 'devoir'. Read More

Using semicolons

The semicolon is used to mark a break between two main clauses when there is a balance or a contrast between the clauses. Compare: The engine roared into life. The propellers began to turn. The plane taxied down the runway ready for takeoff. with: The engine roared into life; the propellers… Read More

Spanish words of the week: conducta or conducto?

Our weekly appointment with a pair of similar-looking Spanish nouns with different meanings is here again, so let’s see where a comparison of the commonest senses of feminine conducta and masculine conducto leads us. Read More

French word of the week: retourner

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French verb 'retourner'. Read More

Using bullet points

Using bullet points in a non-fiction text is a clear way to organize information you wish to present. The types of text that are suitable for bullet points are lists, notes, instructions, and information texts. To use bullet points correctly, there needs to be a piece of introductory text, ending… Read More

Spanish words of the week: calzada or calzado?

Putting our best foot forward (or even our second-best one) let’s turn to another pair of Spanish nouns that are nearly identical in form, though not in ending or gender, and which have very different meanings. Read More