Rule: Don’t use indefinite articles with plural words.Incorrect: He has a muscular arms. Correct: He has muscular arms. Rule: Use a partitive structure with words that are never singular.Incorrect: She wore a blue jeans. (Other examples: shorts, pants, jeans, leggings) Correct: She wore a pair of blue jeans. Exception: Words like “series” and “species” look plural, but they are also singular and can be used with an article.Correct: I
Read on »Posts By: Nicholas Walker
What is the difference between a simple sentence, a compound sentence, and a complex sentence?
Learn the difference between simple, compound and complex sentences with anticipations, interruptions, and afterthoughts. In just 17 minutes, you will know how to punctuate and structure every sentence you will ever want to write. This article can also help you understand how to avoid common errors like fragment, run-on, and comma splice errors because understanding
Read on »Quoted and Reported Speech
Learn the rules and see examples for quoted and reported speech. Practice finding and correcting errors with online exercises.
Read on »Question Formation Errors
Question forms in English can be tricky.Most questions require the inversion of the subject and the auxiliary. There are a number of auxiliaries to choose from, and auxiliaries must agree with their subject. This handy guide will help you eliminate common errors and ask correctly formed questions. The Virtual Writing Tutor grammar checker can catch
Read on »Silent Letters: Pronunciation Made Easy
English is semi-phonetic, which means that the way a word is spelled can give clues to its pronunciation but can also be quite misleading. Often, the pronunciation of a word can be very different to what you might predict based on its spelling. One way English is semi-phonetic is the use of silent letters. Silent
Read on »Had Better: Meaning, Form, and Common Errors
Meaning We use “had better” for strong advice, urgent advice (for others and yourself), and threats. You had better do the dishes before your mom comes home. [Strong advice] You had better run! Your train is coming. [Urgent advice] I‘d better put the turkey in the oven now or it won’t be ready in time.
Read on »Walk-me-through the Main Features
You may have noticed the latest addition to the Virtual Writing Tutor grammar checker main page. It’s a short little walkthrough of the principal features of the grammar checker for newcomers. You only get to see it twice before it disappears forever. Why did we add it? The Problem One usability issue I see again
Read on »TOEFL Writing Topics
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person should never make an important decision alone. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person’s childhood years (the time from birth to twelve
Read on »IELTS or TOEFL: Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing an English proficiency test for immigration or university entrance can be a challenge. Two of the most popular tests are the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS). They have similarities and differences you need to know about before you choose so that you make the
Read on »Advanced Vocabulary Booster #2
On this page, you will find another dozen randomly chosen, low-frequency, high-impact vocabulary words that you can integrate into your speaking and writing. If you are preparing for the IELTS or the TOEFL exam, using these words correctly will give the examiners a good impression of the size and sophistication of your active vocabulary. Scroll
Read on »Advanced Vocabulary Booster #1
Welcome to the first installment of the Virtual Writing Tutor’s Vocabulary Booster. On this page, you will find a dozen randomly chosen, low-frequency, high-impact vocabulary words that you can integrate into your speaking and writing. If you are preparing for the IELTS or the TOEFL exam, using these words correctly will give the examiners a
Read on »Essay Writing in 9 Easy Steps
Follow these steps to write a successful essay. Step 1: Choose a purpose Which question will you answer with your essay? The question you attempt to answer will determine your purpose. What isn’t what it appears to be? Purpose = to inform What situation needs to change? Purpose = to persuade How have I been wronged?
Read on »Electrophysiology Glossary
Reading resources Electrophysiology Study (EPS) and Catheter Ablation Vocabulary resources Electrophysiology glossary flash cards Electrophysiology glossary Electrophysiology Glossary ablation A removal or excision, usually carried out surgically. abnormal Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient. anemia A reduction in the hemoglobin of red blood cells with consequent deficiency of oxygen in the
Read on »Diagnostic Imaging Glossary
Listening resources Radiologyinfo.org A Day in the Life of a Radiological Technician Reading resources Radiologic and MRI Technologists Radiology Technician: A Day in the Life Grammar Checker Check your grammar here. Vocabulary Activities Drag and Drop Vocabulary Matching Exercise Drag and Drop French-English Vocabulary Matching Exercise Diagnostic Imaging Glossary allergic reaction The hypersensitive response of the
Read on »240 IELTS Essay Writing Topics
If you want a good IELTS workout, set yourself the goal of writing a 300 word essay for one IELTS task 2 writing prompt from each of the 17 categories listed below. After you have drafted your essay, do a grammar check. For Vietnamese students interested in the IELTS, check out IELTS defeating. Free IELTS Essay
Read on »Word Choice Errors
Below is a list of word choice errors the Virtual Writing Tutor can detect and correct. The list is not exhaustive. Instead, it will give you a sense of the kinds of errors that I consider a word choice error and I have been working to correct. Transfer errors Word choice errors are often due
Read on »Translation Card Game
English has borrowed 60% of its vocabulary from French over the centuries. Some words have entered English almost unchanged. Some loanwords are unrecognizable. Some words look the same in both languages but are used in different ways. False Cognates These “false-friends” or “faux-amis” are often referred to as false-cognates, from the Latin co for “together” and
Read on »30 Kickass Ways to Start an Essay
The purpose of the first sentence in your essay is to make your reader want to read your next sentence. In truth, every sentence you write has the same purpose: to keep them reading to the end. So, you have to start off strong. Your first sentence has to have some impact on the
Read on »Stickers for teachers
You can design your own custom stickers and even sell them for a commission, and /or order stickers for your school that others have designed and have them delivered.
Read on »Intransitive Verb Errors
INCORRECT: Recent studies have risen a number of key questions regarding the impact of CCTV on crime. CORRECT: Recent studies have raised a number of key questions regarding the impact of CCTV on crime. RULE: The verb have risen is intransitive, and therefore it cannot have an object like a number of key questions. INCORRECT:
Read on »Free Go Fish Card Game
Play this card game in groups of three or four. Shuffle and deal six cards each. Players take turns asking “Do you have any _____?” to complete books of the same rank. The player with the most books at the end of the game is the winner. For complete playing instructions, see How to Play
Read on »Postcards for Pen Pals — Free Download
Postcards are great. The colourful picture on the front can surprise, inform, and inspire. The stamp on the back can form part of a collection. There is just enough room to write a few well-chosen sentences. Messages are short and focused. The beginnings and endings are formulaic. Good Pedagogy Indeed, the skills you learn from
Read on »Late? Use this Easy Essay Outliner Now
Writing an essay outline with an essay outliner. Itis easy. Just fill out a form to create your outline with this easy essay outliner. Essay outlines help you organize your ideas into an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion effortlessly. Read on to find out just how easy it is to write an essay outline.
Read on »50 Common Errors
Here are 50 common errors that my college ESL students often make in their writing and speaking. Mistakes are shown in context, with incorrect sentences, corrections, and a rule to explain how to avoid the usual mistakes that students make in their writing. Search for an error using CTRL + F. If you see a
Read on »Unnecessary Words
Some words should be removed from sentences. They are either implied (and therefore redundant) or express a meaning that can be said in fewer words. Here are a few examples: I have had this problem since when I was young. I like to play ski. After leaving school, he joined a music band. He said
Read on »Construction and Civil Engineering Glossary
What is Construction and Civil Engineering? Wikipedia defines it as a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewerage systems, pipelines, structural components of buildings, and railways For more glossaries or to learn how to create
Read on »Computer Science Glossary
Computer Science means the study of the principles and use of computers. To learn more about computer science, a good place to start is Wikipedia. For other field-related glossaries, look at the vocabulary section oft his blog. To make your own field-related glossary, click here. Activities Listen and match Match audio & definitions Match terms
Read on »Chemistry Glossary
Reading resources Science Daily: Chemistry News A day in the life: Chemist A day in the life: Chemical Engineer A day in the life: Biochemist Grammar resources Online ESL grammar checker Vocabulary Lists Chemistry Glossary of Terms Recommended
Read on »Business Glossary
How-to play the English-French Business Vocabulary Card Game Download the PDF of the business vocabulary cards above and print double sided copies from page 2 onward. In groups of three or four, place the pack of cards on the table in the middle with the cards face down. Player one picks up a card and
Read on »Biology Glossary
Listening resources Biology: a crash course Introduction to Biology Reading resources A day in the life: Biologist Grammar resources Online ESL grammar checker Glossaries Glossary of Biology
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