Who doesn’t love a good drink of water? Ask any health professional, and they’ll tell you all the benefits of drinking adequate amounts of water. Some experts will recommend drinking eight glasses a day, while some might go so far as to tell you that you should always have a bottle of water handy. And, …
Marcel Iseli
Life is all about change. In fact, part of being alive is experiencing and going through this change. We are born, we learn how to walk on four legs then two, we develop the ability to talk and exchange complex ideas, we fall in and out of love, we have children of our own, and …
Expressions like “Oh my god!” might seem universal, but actually they’re tied to culturally specific things we often take for granted. The use of “God,” for example, assumes that everyone ascribes to a monotheistic religion like Christianity. In Japan, that’s certainly not the case. A 2015 survey from Statista found that only 1.5% of the …
Showing thanks is an integral part of who we are as human beings. In fact, a study by Harvard found that people who often express their gratitude tend to be happier than those who just focus on the negative aspects of their lives. They tend to feel more optimistic and to have a better feeling …
Slang can be completely incomprehensible, even if the expression is written in plain English. That’s sort of the beauty of it actually. You need someone to clue you in. Today we will clue you in on the slang expression “Say less.” Let’s dive right in. [toc] What does “say less” mean? ‘Say less’ …
An ESL student once asked a native English speaker the correct way for seeking advice or suggestion. The student asked, “Am I supposed to say ‘What do you suggest I do?’ or ‘What do you suggest me to do?’” The native speaker responded, “Well, I think both questions seem to mean the same, but the …
The phrase “in a timely manner” conjures up images of a bygone era when time seemed to move more slowly. It has its origins in the emergence of bureaucracy, and has been replaced by terms more commonly used these days in project management. In the 21st century, we would more likely speak of delivering, ‘to …
Now and then, you’ll find yourself at a disadvantage. Despite your best efforts, your rival or opponent might have a leg up on you. Losing can feel hopeless and frustrating, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t reverse your fortune and take control of the situation. When people are sure of their victory, they may …
In certain situations, you may be required to refer to somebody by an honorific or some respectful form of address. In Japan, you may call an older coworker or classmate “Senpai.” If you work at a grocery store, then it’s polite to refer to a male customer as “Sir.” In a similar vein, it’s polite …