learning english

What’s the difference between affect and effect?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: affect and effect. affect Affect /əˈfekt/ is a verb. To affect someone or something means to cause them to change, often in a negative way. More than seven million people have been affected by… Read More

What’s the difference between accept and except?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: accept and except. accept function playAudio(url) { new Audio(url).play(); } Accept /əkˈsept/ is a verb. If someone offers you something and you accept it, you agree to take it. I never accept presents from clients. Your… Read More

What’s the difference between borrow and lend?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: borrow and lend. borrow function playAudio(url) { new Audio(url).play(); } If you borrow something that belongs to someone else, you use it for a period of time and then return it. Could… Read More

What’s the difference between loose and lose?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: loose and lose. loose Loose /luːs/ is an adjective. It means `not firmly fixed’, or `not tight’. The handle is loose. Mary wore loose clothes. lose Lose /luːz/ is a verb. If you lose something, you cannot find it,… Read More

17 other words for ‘cry’

We use the word ‘cry’ commonly in English, yet there are many other different words you can use instead to be more specific and make your writing more interesting. Here are some synonyms for ‘cry’ when used to mean that someone is unhappy:… Read More

17 other words for ‘look’

The word ‘look’ is very common in English, yet there are many other different words you can use instead to be more specific and make your writing more interesting. Here are some synonyms for ‘look’ when someone looks briefly: glanceThe driver glanced right,… Read More

15 other words for ‘laugh’

We use the word ‘laugh’ commonly in English, yet there are many other different words you can use instead to be more specific and make your writing more interesting. Here are some synonyms for ‘laugh’ when used as a verb: be in stitches… Read More

15 other words for ‘small’

The word ‘small’ is frequently used in English, yet there are many other different words you can use instead to be more specific and make your writing more interesting. Many synonyms for ‘small’ describe how the size of something – try some of… Read More