A nickname isn’t a preferred short, alternative or familiar form of the actual name on youur passport. It may be mean and unkind, unrelated to the actual name, or even offensive.
Author Archives: Mike Wilkinson
When isn’t it -ize?
When you’re using the -ize spelling rather than -ise, there are some words that retain the -ise ending nevertheless. How can you tell?
Get real
A very versatile verb that native English uses a great deal but is often forgotten about by non-natives: to get.
An existential question
Casually noting that something is present in English just uses the verb “to be”, whereas “to exist” is reserved for more positive assertions.
Richard of York gave battle in vain
That’s the mnemonic we all learned at primary school in England for the colours of the rainbow. Unfortunately, that’s one more colour than in Dutch!
Zwarte Piet
No matter what your personal take is on Black Peter, be aware that Brits and Americans are liable to see him as an offensive racial stereotype.
As you ought to realise
Realising mostly means comprehending rather than creating something: getting the picture, not painting it.
Biological or organic?
Environmentally-aware agriculture is organic in English, not biological.
A timely reminder
A project can be completed on time, or in good time, or as scheduled. But the nuances of “timely” aren’t always quite the same.
Expertise
Only use this to mean someone’s acquired skill and knowledge in English, not as a term for a valuation or checkup or other professional opinion.
Advanced Dunglish 