We've written several articles explaining the differences between words and expressions like these. Now we've collected all of them in one convenient list.

If you have questions about a particular group of words — or if you want to review something you already learned — please select the articles best for you and study at your own pace.

What's the difference between ...

"Everyday" and "Every Day"

> Read the article

"Fast" and "Quick"

> Read the article

"Look," "See" and "Watch"

> Read the article

"For Sale" and "On Sale"

> Read the article

"Used To," "Be Used To" and "Get Used To"

> Read the article

"Besides" and "Except"

> Read the article

"Do" and "Make"

> Read the article

"Both," "Either" and "Neither"

> Read the article

"Have to" and "Need to"

> Read the article

"How Far" and "How Long"

> Read the article

"Say" and "Tell"

> Read the article

"Could You" and "Would You"

> Read the article

Wrap-up

We hope these articles help you to get a clear understanding of how these important English words and phrases are used every day.

Although these blog posts provide plenty of example sentences to study, trying them out in a real chat is the best way to practice. Have a conversation with our AI chatbot or book a lesson with an Engoo tutor and practice using them yourself!

The post What's the Difference Between These English Words? appeared first on Engoo Blog.

To help you get familiar with these two groups of words, this article will highlight some of the most common uncountable nouns. We’ll also include example sentences using uncountable nouns and alternatives you can use to express the same idea in a different way.

Basic differences

Nouns in the English language can be separated into two major categories: countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

Choosing one or the other will affect the rest of the words you can use in your sentences. With countable nouns, you can add an “s” (or “es”) to it to talk about more than one thing. Additionally, you can use definite articles like "a," "an" and "the" with them. 

For example, “apple” is a countable known, as you can see in the following examples:

• I have an apple.
• He ate one apple.
• She bought six apples from the store.

In the first two sentences, the speaker is talking about only a single apple. But in the third example, the speaker is referring to more than one, and an “s” is added at the end to express a larger number. You can also have zero apples or one million apples.

However, look at this example:

• I bought milk from the store.

We cannot count milk (or other liquids), so it is an uncountable noun. We also cannot add an “s” to it — milk is just milk! Additionally, instead of using words like “a,” “few” or “many” to talk about it, we use "some," "a little," "a lot of" and (for negative sentences) "much."

• I need to buy a milk. > I need to buy (some) milk.
• We have many milks. > We have a lot of milk.
• We don't have much milk.

Examples of common uncountable nouns

Unfortunately, there is no major rule for knowing if a noun is countable or uncountable; you simply have to memorize them. However, below you can find a list of some common examples that may cause confusion. 

You will see in the examples below that instead of numbers, uncountable nouns often come after words like “some,” “a little” and “a lot."

Information

• He has much information. > He has a lot of information.

Although information is uncountable, you can count pieces of information.

• I have two pieces of information to share with you.

However, it is more common to simply use “some,” etc.

• I have some information to share with you.

Time

Time is a good example of an uncountable noun. Of course, we can count things like minutes, days and years, but we can’t count time itself.

• How many time do you need? > How much time do you need?
• We’ve been waiting many times. > We’ve been waiting a long time.

• We’ve been waiting for two hours.

You can count time when it refers to an instance in which something has happened.

• I visited Canada three times.
• How many times have you eaten at that restaurant?

Advice

• Do you have advices for me? > Do you have some/any advice for me?
• John had a lot of advices to share with us. > John had a lot of advice to share with us.

Like information, advice can be referred to as pieces.

• Can I give you a piece of advice?

Related article: “Advice” and “Advise”: What's the Difference?

Grammar

• I don’t understand these grammars. > I don't understand this grammar.
• I don't understand these grammar points.
• English grammars aren't difficult.  > English grammar isn't difficult.

Equipment

• The company owns many expensive equipments. > The company owns a lot of expensive equipment.
• Do you have any equipments? > Do you have any equipment?

Garbage/Trash

• Where can I throw away my garbages? > Where can I throw away my garbage?
• They left trashes in the living room. > They left (some/a lot of) trash in the living room.

Water/Liquids

• We bought two waters. > We bought (some) water. 
• We bought two bottles of water.

Art

• What kind of arts do you like? > What kind of art do you like?
• He has many arts on his wall. > He has a lot of art on his wall.

There are some cases in which you may see or hear it with an “s.” This is usually when referring to an industry or academic subject, such as in a Bachelor of Arts degree or “arts and crafts.”

• I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.
• My son is doing arts and crafts in his after-school program.

Nature

• We saw many beautiful natures during our trip. > We saw a lot of beautiful nature during our trip.
• Our cabin was surrounded by natures. > Our cabin was surrounded by nature.

Stuff

“Stuff” is a unique word because it can refer to almost anything. However, it is always uncountable.

• What kind of stuffs do you want to buy? > What kind of stuff do you want to buy?
• I have many stuffs in my apartment. > I have too much stuff in my apartment.

Related article: What Does "Stuff" Mean and How Do You Use It?

Knowledge

• I gained many knowledges from the lesson. > I gained a lot of knowledge from the lesson.

Furniture

• Do you have a lot of furnitures? > Do you have a lot of furniture?

Business

Sometimes a noun can be either countable or uncountable depending on how it is used. For example, if you use "business" to refer to a company, it can be counted.

• He started four different businesses over his long career.

However, when it refers to work/tasks/etc., it is uncountable.

• Our business has been doing very well in recent months.
• We have a lot of business to do today.

Clothes

"Clothes" is uncountable and always refers to more than one piece of clothing.

• She bought six clothes from the store. > She bought some clothes from the store.
• She bought six pieces of clothing from the store.
• I packed a lot of clothes for my trip.

Remember that the pronunciation never changes; it always sounds like "close" or "rows."

Food items

Things such as salt, sugar, mayonnaise, ketchup, etc. are uncountable.

• He never puts ketchup on his burgers.
• Can you pass the salt, please?
• I need to buy some flour from the grocery store.

Wrap-up

We hope these examples have given you a better idea of the different ways to use countable and uncountable nouns. Don't worry if you sometimes make mistakes with them — it takes time to get used to using them properly.

We encourage you to research more uncountable nouns to increase your knowledge and make your grammar as strong as it can be. If you want to practice in a real conversation, book a lesson with an Engoo tutor and have a chat!

The post How to Use Countable and Uncountable Nouns appeared first on Engoo Blog.

To help you use each accurately and effectively, we've explained 10 of the most common examples below.

Affect / Effect

"Affect" is a verb meaning "to have an impact on."

• How will this news affect our business?

• Work-life balance can affect your mental health.

"Effect" is a noun meaning "a change produced by someone or something."

• Does this medicine have any side effects?

• We won't understand the effects of this decision for many years.

Than / Then

Use "than" to compare something to something else. It comes after an adjective.

• He is faster than any of the other racers.

• My new car is more reliable than my old one.

When used with "other," it can also mean "apart from" or "except."

• He doesn't go anywhere other than the grocery store and the library.

• Other than curry, I don't really like spicy foods.

"Then" is an adverb that indicates the next step in a series or process.

• Walk straight for two blocks, then turn left.

• I'm going to take a quick nap, then I'm going to study a little more.

Your / You're

This pair is often confused in writing, but the difference between the two is simple.

"Your" is a possessive word, like "my," his," "hers" or "theirs."

• Is this your phone?

• What's your favorite movie?

"You're," however, is a contraction of "you are."

• You're coming to the dinner party tonight, right?

• That's a beautiful dress you're wearing.

Lose / Loose

"Lose" is a verb that is the opposite of "win." Its pronunciation is similar to "choose."

• Everyone expects us to lose this game, but we'll surprise them all.

• It doesn't matter if we win or lose; let's just have a good time playing.

"Loose" is an adjective that is the opposite of "tight." In other words, loose things can move around easily. Its pronunciation is similar to "goose."

• I used to be heavyset, so all of my old jeans are loose now.

• This screw feels a little loose. Can you hand me the screwdriver, please?

Beside / Besides

"Beside" is a preposition that means "next to."

• I have a picture of my wife and daughter beside my computer at work.

• The man sitting beside me in the movie theater fell asleep.

"Besides" is also a preposition, but it means "aside from ~."

• He doesn't have any friends besides us.

• Besides Italy, I've never been anywhere in Europe.

It can also mean "furthermore" or "in addition to that." Use it to add an extra reason or justification for something.

• I'm getting sleepy, so I'm going home now. Besides, I have to wake up early tomorrow.

• I don't want to upgrade my phone because it's so expensive. Besides, my old phone still works fine.

Except / Accept

"Except" means "not including." Use it when something is not part of a group.

• Everyone except James came to the meeting.

• I've read every book in the series except the final one.

"Accept" is a verb with several uses.

to receive or agree to

• Please accept this gift as a gesture of my appreciation.

• We accept your proposal.

• We accept cash, credit and debit cards.

to welcome, to be friendly to

• I was worried the other members wouldn't accept me, but they're all very friendly.

Although / Though

Use "although" at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence as another way to say "however" or "but."

• The train will get us there much faster. Although, it is quite expensive.

• The detective knew someone there was the killer, although he wasn't sure who.

• Although he's been living in this country for many years, he doesn't speak the local language.

"Though" is used in a similar way, but it can also be placed at the end of a sentence.

• The train will get us there much faster. It's quite expensive, though.

• The detective knew someone there was the killer. He wasn't sure who, though.

Bear / Bare

Of course, bears are the large, furry animals you can find in forests or in the zoo. But this word also has several meanings as a verb.

to carry weight

• These steel beams are strong enough to bear the weight of the heavy building materials.

to endure, to tolerate

• I can't bear that smell anymore. Let's open up the windows!

to give birth

• She's going to bear a child sometime in the next few weeks.

This usage sounds a bit formal; it is more common for people to say "have a baby."

• She's going to have a baby sometime in the next few weeks.

"Bare," on the other hand, is an adjective that also is used in multiple ways.

not covered or clothed

• We walked along the beach in our bare feet.

• We removed the old carpet to see the bare floorboards underneath.

empty

• The grocery store's shelves were completely bare.

basic

• A score of 80% is the bare minimum necessary to pass this test.

It is also used as a verb meaning "to uncover." This is often used figuratively.

• The author bared his soul in his emotional new book.

Breathe / Breath

The final "e" changes both the meaning and pronunciation of this pair of words.

"Breathe" is a verb for taking air into and out of your lungs.

• It became harder to breathe as we reached the top of the mountain.

• This device will let you breathe underwater.

Without the "e," "breath" is the noun for the air that goes into and out of lungs.

• He took a deep breath before doing his first skydive.

• The air is so cold, I can see my breath.

Farther / Further

As adverbs for comparing distances, this pair of words can be used in the same way.

• Do we have much farther to go?
• Do we have much further to go?

• We have to go even farther before we arrive.
• We have to go even further before we arrive.

• My home is farther away than yours.
• My home is further away than yours.

However, "further" can also be an adjective meaning "more" or "additional."

• For further details, please visit our website.

• We will require further discussion before we can announce a decision.

Wrap-up

Don't be discouraged if it takes you some time to get used to using these word pairs correctly. As we mentioned at the start of this article, even native speakers sometimes struggle to get these right, so it's OK!

Pairs like "except/accept" and "then/than" are less strict when speaking because they have similar pronunciations. But you'll want to pay special attention to the other pairs because of their bigger differences, both when speaking and writing. Practice makes perfect!

The post 10 Commonly Confused English Word Pairs appeared first on Engoo Blog.

"Pay," "spend" and "cost" are all important words to know for shopping, but each one is used in a specific way depending on the focus of your sentence. Let's take a closer look at them in order to understand when and how to use them properly.

Pay

Let's begin with "pay," which is mostly used as a verb meaning “to give money in return for work, goods, services, etc.” The focus is on an action someone is performing.

Someone pays (for something).

Please pay the cashier at the front of the store.

I paid (the fee) for my friend because she forgot her purse.

Can I pay with a credit card?

Please pay your bill by the 15th of next month.

I don't need a wallet; I can use my smartwatch to pay.

Neither “spend” nor “cost” can be used in these examples.

Spend

Next, "spend" as a verb means “to use up” or “to give money for goods or services.” This is almost the same as the definition for “pay!” Sometimes you can use either word without changing a sentence’s meaning, but you’ll need to change the preposition.

I pay about $12 a month for my Netflix subscription.

I spend about $12 a month on my Netflix subscription.

(Notice that "pay" needs "for" and "spend" needs "on.")

But in other situations, you cannot do this. For example, you cannot say “spend the cashier” or “spend a late fee.”

So what makes "spend" unique? It is used to focus on the payment itself. In other words, a sentence with “spend” is about the money being exchanged.

Someone spends (an amount) on something.

They spent about $2000 on their vacation.

I spent $50 on this jacket and $20 on this hat.

What should I spend this gift certificate on?

How much did you spend?

I have a strict budget, so I need to watch how much I spend each month.

Cost

Finally, the verb “cost” means “to require payment before something can be received or done.” So the focus of a "cost" sentence is on the item or service that must be paid for, not the person performing the action or the amount being paid.

An item or service costs something.

How much does this shirt cost?

I didn’t think it would cost that much!

It costs too much to repair the TV, so just buy a new one.

Many groceries cost more than they did just a few months ago.

The shipping costs almost as much as the item itself!

Again, the other two verbs would not work in these sentences.

So, let's review:

She paid $20 for the book.

The focus is on a person's action.

She spent $20 on the book.

The focus is on an amount of money.

The book costs $20.

The focus is on an item requiring payment.

Noun Forms

We've covered the main uses in the verb forms, but each of these words can also be used as a noun.

"Pay" as a noun refers to money someone receives as a reward for work.

My pay increased after I got promoted.

The pay for these two jobs is the same.

He's looking for a new job that offers higher pay.

The noun form of "spend" isn't common in daily conversation. It refers to the amount of money spent for a particular purpose over a particular length of time. It's mostly used in business situations.

The company decided to increase its advertising spend on social media.

The average spend for each customer is about $30 per visit.

As a noun, "cost" refers to the amount of money you have to pay in order to buy or do something.

Companies build factories in developing countries because of the lower cost for workers.

You can upgrade to a better seat for no extra cost.

Other Uses

These words are not only used to talk about money, so let's look at some other ways to use them.

"Pay" means "give" when used together with specific words.

Please pay attention.

You should pay respect to your seniors.

He paid the woman a compliment on her dress.

“Spend” can refer to time as well as money.

We'll spend one week in Spain before going to Germany.

She spent all summer learning how to ride a skateboard.

He spent his life making paintings and sculptures.

“Cost” can be used to say that something has been lost or that something bad is now necessary.

All of those overtime hours are costing him his health.

That mistake will cost us a lot of extra work.

The politician's advisors warned him that the scandal could cost him the election.

Wrap-up

These three important words for talking about money are similar, but they are not the same. When you aren't sure which one to use, ask yourself if the focus of your sentence is a person, an amount of money, or an item/service. This is a handy way to help you make the right choice!

We have several other articles explaining the difference between similar words and expressions. Take a look!

• What's the Difference Between "Fast" and "Quick"?
• What's the Difference Between "For Sale" and "On Sale"?
• "Have to" and "Need to": What's the Difference?

The post "Pay," "Spend" and "Cost": What's the Difference? [Updated] appeared first on Engoo Blog.

This article will explain what separates these important words, and provide examples to help you understand and use them in your own conversations. It's not too difficult once you look at them carefully. Let's begin!

Then (adverb)

Events in a sequence

The most common usage of "then" is to express that something has happened or will happen after something else has already taken place.

In this example, the speaker will first go to the gym. After that is finished, they will visit the post office. Here are more examples:

A point in time

"Then" is also used to refer to a particular time, either in the past or the future.

Therefore

“Then” is frequently used as a casual way to say “therefore” or “in that case.”

Staff

She’s out of the office right now.

Caller

OK, then I’ll call back later.

Staff

These are on sale today.

Shelly

Really? I’ll take three, then.

A

That’s too late for us.

B

Then come earlier.

At the end of a statement

“Then” often closes casual statements, usually after a decision has been made about something.

It is also used in this way to show frustration or annoyance at someone else's action or decision.

Suggestions

The set phrase "Well then ~" is common as an informal way of making a suggestion.

Than (conjunction, preposition)

Let’s move on to explaining “than.” 

Please pay attention to the difference in both spelling and pronunciation. In a conversation moving at normal speed, it may be difficult to hear the difference. However, even if they sound the same, you should be able to understand which word is being used based on the context.

Making comparisons

”Than” is basically used when comparing things or situations.

In the last example, someone's arrival is compared to when the speaker thought they would arrive.

Expressing contrast

This usage is similar in meaning to “instead of.”

At the beginning of a sentence, it is used together with "rather."

Exceptions

Used with “other,” it means "except for" and expresses that something or someone is not included.

Here, the laptop is not included in "anything."

Common expressions with "then" and "there"

Finally, let's look at some expressions that use these two words.

Then and there

Meaning: at that specific moment

Better late than never

Meaning: something that happens late is better than something that never happens

Better safe than sorry

Meaning: preparation is important in order to avoid trouble or inconvenience in the future

Wrap-up

As you can see, only a single letter is enough to change the pronunciation, meaning and usage of these two words.

If you aren’t completely comfortable with them yet, pay attention each time you see or hear them; how are they used, what is the situation, and what meaning do they express?

With enough practice, you will eventually be able to use both naturally and without thinking about them — just like native speakers do.

The post "Then" and "Than": What's the Difference? appeared first on Engoo Blog.

When you are speaking, you may not think much about these differences. However, when writing in English, it becomes important to choose the correct one. So let's go over how to choose and use each properly. After that, we'll also explain some other similar word pairs.

Everyday vs. Every day

"Everyday" (with no space) is an adjective that describes something that is common or something that happens daily.

Sometimes, "everyday" is used with the nuance that something is unimportant or boring. This usage is common when comparing things.

So how does "everyday" compare with "every day"?

Well, when used this way (with a space), it is an adverb — it describes how often something happens. It is another way to say "each day."

A

Do you cook?

B

Not every day, but I like trying new recipes from time to time.

Anyway vs. Any way

Similar to the previous pair, "anyway" and "any way" are often confused but should be used differently. 

Let's first look at "any way." It basically means "in whatever way" or "in no way," depending on the context.

Here, the speaker is telling someone to do whatever they have to do to finish the project — it doesn't matter what.

This time, the speaker is emphasizing that there is no connection between their organization and another. 

Let's move on to "anyway" (with no space). It is an adverb that has several uses.

"Besides"

It is often used at the end of a statement when giving an additional reason for something.

This usage is very similar to "besides," except that it usually goes at the end of a sentence instead of the beginning.

Changing the subject

"Anyway" is a very useful tool for directing the flow of a conversation. For example, if you'd like to change what you are talking about, you can use it to introduce a new topic.

A

We'll finish the project by next week.

B

That's good. Anyway, what are your plans for the weekend?

Sometimes, people say "anyways" instead of "anyway." This sounds more casual but does not change the meaning.

Be sure to use it carefully; you don't want to suddenly change topics when the previous discussion feels incomplete. Wait for a time in which it feels natural to make a change.

Continuing a discussion that has been interrupted

When a discussion has been interrupted, you can use "anyway" to return to what you were talking about. Interruptions may happen because you and your partner temporarily changed topics, or because someone or something has disturbed you.

In very informal conversations, people often add extra emphasis when they feel the discussion has moved too far from the original topic, or when the interruption was very strange. This is usually done in a joking way.

You can also say "As I was saying" for the same effect.

Ending a conversation

"Anyway" can also be used to signal that you need to end a conversation.

"Even though"

Finally, "anyway" expresses that something happens without being affected by something else.

Think of this usage as another way to say "even though."

Anyone vs. Any one

Let's look at one more pair of similar terms.

"Anyone" is a pronoun that refers to a person. We use it in questions and negative sentences.

On the other hand, "any one" refers to a single person or thing.

Wrap-up

You may not need to think about the small differences between some terms when you're speaking. But in writing, it's important to choose the correct words for the job. If you're ever not sure which choice is correct, use this article as a guide — at least until you can memorize them all!

If you'd like to learn about the differences between other similar terms, this article explains many that are easy for learners to confuse.

The post What's the Difference Between "Everyday" and "Every Day"? appeared first on Engoo Blog.

The way you agree depends on what your conversation partner has said. But even if it were the same in every situation, it's still useful to learn more than one way of expressing an idea.

So this article will explain the basics of quickly and easily agreeing with your conversation partner in two major ways. Let's begin!

Agreeing with positive statements

There are two ways to quickly respond to positive statements that you agree with. The first way is quite simple: "Me too.”

Javier

I'm tired.

May

Me too.

Javier

I can speak German.

May

Me too.

Javier

I've visited India.

May

Me too.

Javier

I love pizza!

May

Me too!

The other way of agreeing uses “so,” but the verb you use next will depend on what your conversation partner has said. When responding to statements using "be," "can" or "have," you must use the same verb.

Javier

I’m tired.

May

So am I.

Javier

I can speak German.

May

So can I.

Javier

I've visited India.

May

So have I.

For other verbs, you can simply use “do.”

Lily

I love pizza!

[love]

Kenny

So do I.

Lily

I play a lot of video games.

[play]

Kenny

So do I.

Lily

I hate cigarette smoke.

[hate]

Kenny

So do I.

One big exception to the rules above is for talking about loving another person.

If someone says that they love pizza, responding with "Me too" or "So do I" is correct. However, if someone says "I love you," those same responses mean that you also love yourself! 

Trin

I love you.

Andy

Me too. / So do I.

[= I also love me.]

Trin

!!!

If you want to express your love for your partner, you would say, "I love you too."

Trin

I love you.

Andy

I love you too.

Trin

💗💗💗

Agreeing with negative statements

What if someone makes a negative statement that you agree with? In this case, the responses we introduced above are not appropriate. For example, if someone says that they don't like pizza, replying with "Me too" would be incorrect grammar.

Instead, we need to use “neither.” The simplest way to use it is the phrase “Me neither.”

Paul

I'm not a vegetarian.

Meg

Me neither.

Paul

I can't speak Spanish.

Meg

Me neither.

Paul

I've never gone scuba diving.

Meg

Me neither.

Paul

I don’t really like broccoli.

Meg

Me neither.

The other way is to say "Neither … I." The same rule for matching verbs applies here as well.

Paul

I'm not a vegetarian.

[be]

Meg

Neither am I.

[be]

Paul

I can't speak Spanish.

[can]

Meg

Neither can I.

[can]

Paul

I've never gone scuba diving.

[have gone]

Meg

Neither have I.

[have]

Paul

I don’t really like broccoli.

[like]

Meg

Neither do I.

[do]

Wrap-up

“Me too” is a very useful phrase, but it isn't always grammatically correct. 

The most important thing to keep in mind is whether or not the statement you are responding to is positive or negative. If you choose the longer version, select the verb that matches the original statement and the rest is simple!

This article only covers the very basics of these forms, but there is more to learn. Check out this article for even more detailed information on other ways to use “too” and “neither.”

The post "Me Too" and "Neither Do I" - A Quick Guide to Agreements appeared first on Engoo Blog.

This article will explain these two words along with some others with similar meanings. We'll also introduce common expressions that include them in order to help you get a clear idea of the variety of ways they can be used.

Basic meanings

Fast

Fast basically refers to something moving or happening with speed. For example, you can use it to talk about things like cars or runners. 

Quick/quickly

Quick is an adjective, while quickly is the adverb form. In comparison to fast, which is more general, these two words often give a sense of urgency, as if something sudden is happening or needs to happen with speed.

Differences in usage

To understand more about what makes these words different, let's take a closer look at the contexts in which they are used.

Fast

Fast is generally used in a larger number of situations and describes the speed of an object, person or action over time or distance.

Quick/quickly

On the other hand, quick and quickly are often used to describe brief actions happening in a short period of time.

For example, the phrase "He grabbed the ball quickly" focuses on an action that happens in only a brief moment.

Additionally, they are often used with imperatives for giving commands.

Common idioms and expressions with "fast" and "quick"

You can find each of the words we've covered so far in several common expressions. Sometimes the meaning is clear from the words alone, but in most cases, the figurative meanings must be memorized.

Playing it fast and loose

Meaning: breaking or ignoring traditions or rules

Fast friends

Meaning: close friends

Fast asleep

Meaning: in deep sleep

A quick fix

Meaning: a temporary solution that is usually of low quality

Think quickly

Meaning: processing information with speed, usually to make a decision

Make a quick buck

Meaning: earn money fast

Similar vocabulary

There are other words similar to fast and quick that can be used in mostly the same ways.

Swift

Rapid

Speedy

Nimble

Note that "nimble" also includes the nuance of lightness, which allows for fast movement.

Wrap-up

The differences between fast and quick may be trickier than you imagined. Just remember that quick refers to short moments, while fast usually implies a longer amount of time.

Because of how common these words are in daily conversations, you will have plenty of chances to practice using them. In time, you'll be able to use both naturally and without thinking about it.

If you'd like to learn about the differences between other similar terms, this article explains many that are easy for learners to confuse.

The post What's the Difference Between "Fast" and "Quick"? appeared first on Engoo Blog.

There isn't as big of a difference between the two as many students think. After all, the grammar and sentence structure are basically the same. However, there are some differences, mostly in word choice and expressions for particular situations. To help you understand how and when to use both, this article will look at each type in detail.

Summary of differences

Basically, using more informal language creates less of a separation between you and the person you are speaking with. Using formal phrases sounds unnatural when speaking to family or close friends, whether in person or through texts and emails.

Some languages, such as Japanese and Korean, have clear rules about levels of politeness when speaking to elders and people with a high rank. While English has both formal and informal ways to say things, the difference between them is much less strict compared to these other languages.

Characteristics of formal English

Formal English basically has the following characteristics:

• Fewer contractions
• No slang
• Polite expressions
• Generally longer words and expressions

Characteristics of informal English

Informal English is characterized by the following things:

• Many abbreviations and contractions
• Usage of slang
• Shorter, more casual expressions
• More idioms
• More backchanneling

Let's take a closer look at what separates these two types. 

Contractions and abbreviations

As we mentioned above, the use of contractions is a big difference between the two styles. Though very common in casual English, abbreviations are often avoided in more formal communication. In the list below, the informal contractions are on the left, and the more formal versions are on the right.

• I'll > I will
• we'll > we will
• don't > do not
• wanna > want to
• gonna > going to
• gotta > got to
• hafta > have to

Actually, the first three examples on this list are usually OK even when speaking professionally. However, abbreviations such as "wanna" and "hafta" should definitely not be used in formal situations.

Common expressions

Using or not using slang and casual expressions is a big way to change your style of speech in English. Look at the different ways to greet someone in the following examples.

Similarly, there are various ways to respond to requests or to confirm information.

*This expression comes from the US military, which uses special words to represent individual letters in radio communication. "Roger" represents the letter "R," which itself is short for "received," as in "Message received" or "I understand."

If you have to refuse an invitation or give someone bad news, you have these options:

Politeness level

When making requests, the situation and person you are speaking to should determine which level you use. For example, "Can you~" is not bad in business situations, but "Would you~" is better.

Next, let's look at ways to thank someone.

Adverbs and conjunctions

Listed below are regular adverbs and conjunctions on the left and their more formal versions on the right.

The regular words are not necessary to use for business; it is fine to use "so" and "but" whether you're communicating with close friends or with your boss. However, if you are writing a business document or an academic paper, the higher-level words can make your work sound more professional.

• so > therefore
• but > however
• maybe > perhaps / possibly

There are many more words like this that have informal and formal versions.

Homonyms

Depending on the situation in which they are used, some words have completely different meanings. These words are called "homonyms."

Sometimes meanings can also change depending on the type of industry a company is in, so it's a good idea to learn the specific words used in your business.

Numbers

Writing numbers in letters is rare in everyday English. However, you can often see this in business English, especially on formal documents, contracts and checks. 

Wrap-up

As you can see, rather than totally different grammar and special terms, the differences between formal and casual English mostly come from small changes and careful word choices. So for readers who are wondering which one to study, you may need to change the way you think about it. 

Each industry will have unique words and expressions, but in general, there is no "business English," only English that is more polite. And since there will always be times when politeness is appropriate, it's important to learn the different ways you can express the same ideas. Learning both styles will prepare you to speak confidently no matter what situation you are in.

Adapted from an article written by Tamaki Saito

The post What's the Difference Between Business English and Regular English? appeared first on Engoo Blog.

If you're confused by this vision-based vocabulary, this article will be a handy guide to help you understand what makes each word unique and how to use them properly.

Look

Since all of these verbs relate to vision and the eyes, what separates them is the focus of attention. In other words, who or what is being looked at, watched or seen.

Starting with look, it is most often used to refer to objects as well as things or scenes that do not move. 

However, it can be used to refer to people and living things.

However, even in uses like the one above, the person speaking was probably not moving much.

Of the three verbs covered in this article, look is the most commonly used in the imperative form, or, when giving instructions or commands.

For all of these uses, the action is usually quick. This makes it different from watch, which we'll explain next. 

In casual speech, look is often used to introduce a strong statement.

While this usage is very common, it is not related to vision. In fact, it is actually closer in meaning to "listen"!

Watch

"Watch" is used when directing attention to someone or something in motion. So instead of documents, buildings or a clock, for example, it is used for actions, performances and processes that take time to complete.

You can notice the difference between look and watch in the following pair of example sentences:

The first sentence uses "sunset," which is a noun for an event or time of day when the sun goes down. The second uses "sun set" — here, the sun is in the process (or action) of setting. Compared to the first sentence, the second example implies the passage of time in order to complete a process.

See

"See" is a bit different than the other two verbs. This is because its main nuances are ability and reported information.

Jake

Look over there! It's Jim! 

Jess

I don't see him. Where is he?

See is also used in documents to refer to different sections.

—

To summarize, look is mostly used for subjects that are still and don't move, while watch focuses on subjects in motion. Looking can usually be done quickly, while watching often takes some time. 

As for see, it is less about vision and more about ability — whether something/someone is or is not visible. Additionally, look and watch can be used imperatively, but see is almost never used this way.

Other vision-related verbs

Once you've understood how to use the three verbs above, you can move on to learning some other vocabulary related to the eyes.

Glance

"Glancing" is looking at someone or something quickly.

Stare

When you "stare," you are looking at someone or something with intense focus. It is generally considered rude to stare at other people.

Glare

"Glaring" is just like staring except that it is only used when the subject is a person. Also, while staring is often done with a blank or neutral expression, when you glare, you have a mean or unfriendly expression.

Gaze

"Gazing" is looking while thinking about something that is usually unrelated — or maybe thinking about nothing in particular.

Peek

"Peek" is quite similar to glance because it refers to looking quickly. It is often used when looking at something inside of an enclosed space.

Wrap-up

As you can see, English has quite a variety of ways to talk about how we use our eyes. Sometimes, these verbs don't relate to vision at all.

Remember the unique points of each individual word and you'll be able to use them skillfully at the proper times. 

If you'd like to learn about the differences between other similar words, this article explains many that are easy for learners to confuse.

The post What's the Difference?: "Look," "See" and "Watch" appeared first on Engoo Blog.