Quotation marks

Quotation marks are mainly used in direct speech. Direct speech gives the actual words that a speaker is using or has used. It is common in novels and other writing where the actual words of a speaker are quoted. In British English, these marks can also be called ‘inverted commas’. The… Read More

Learning Italian: Shopping in Italy

Italy is home to hundreds of top designer brands such as Gucci, Dolce e Gabbana and Prada, and hosts its famous Milan Fashion Week every year. For those who want to splash their cash (spendere e spandere in Italian), pick up some souvenirs or simply shop for groceries, this blog… Read More

French word of the week: seul

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 adjective 'seul'. Read More

Welcome to the ton: 7 new Bridgerton words

Dear reader, we are honoured to welcome you back to the ton! Last time we spoke, we gave you 9 words to sweep you into the world of Bridgerton, and now, with season 3 streaming on Netflix, we thought it was high time to return to everyone’s favourite Regency-era… Read More

Using colons

The colon indicates a break between two main clauses which is stronger than a comma but weaker than a full stop. A colon is used: in front of a list I used three colours: green, blue and pink. Make sure you wear clothes made from natural fibres: cotton, silk and wool. in… Read More