Tip 44: STARTLING

This word is special. It remains a word when a letter is removed at each of the 8 steps.

STARTLING

Step 1: Remove L --> STARTING
Step 2: Remove T --> STARING
Step 3: Remove A --> STRING
Step 4: Remove R --> STING
Step 5: Remove T -->  SING
Step 6: Remove G -->  SIN
Step 7: Remove S -->  IN
Step 8: Remove N -->  I

What a startling word!

Tip 43: Unless versus Until

"Unless" and "if" have a different effect on the meanings of words.
Eg: She cannot go to the party unless she finishes her homework.
Eg She cannot go to the party if she cannot finish her homework.

"Unless" and "until" have the same effect on the meanings of words.
Eg: She cannot go to the party unless she finishes her homework.
Eg She cannot go to the party until she finishes her homework.

Tip 42: Silent Letters

We know that words are not always pronounced according to the way they are spelt. In many cases, this has to do with silent letters.

See if you have been saying these words correctly.

Silent "b"
bomb, climb, crumb, dumb, lamb, limb, numb, plumber, thumb, tomb, womb, debt, doubt, subtle, succumb, aplomb.

Silent "g"
gnat, design, sign, assign, reign, resign, gnarl, consign, align, gnash, gnaw, feign, cologne, benign, foreign, campaign, champagne

Silent "k"
knew, knack, kneel, knot, knowledge, knead, know, knit, knock, knife, knee.

Silent "w"
wrath, wrap, wrist, wrinkle, wring, wrench, write, wry, wreak, whole, two, whom, whose, playwright, wrestle, wreath, wrap, wrapper, sword, who

Silent "s"
fascinate, science, scent, descent, ascent, muscle, scene, obscene, conscience, isosceles, disciple, conscious, miscellaneous, scissors

Silent "h"
whack, whiff, while, whip, whine, whet, what, whim, wheel, whale, wheeze, wheat, whisk, whiskers, whirl, why, wharf, which, whisper, white

Silent "u"
baguette, biscuit, circuit, guitar, built, guinea pig, guide, guess, guise, queue

Silent "n"
condemn, solemn, autumn, column, hymn

Silent "t"
tsunami, often, soften, jostle, apostle, rustle, christen, bristle, wrestle, nestle, castle, whistle, bustle, moisten, listen, glisten, mortgage, hustle

Silent "p"
psychology

Silent "es"
shoppes

Tip 41: Singular or Plural for "Anyone"?

This one might just stump you:
Which is correct? "Does any...?" or "Do any...?"
What's your verdict?
.
.
.
.
.
.
I would go with,
"Does anyone know where my wallet is?"
"Do any of you know where my wallet is?"
"Does any of the twins know where my wallet is?"
"Do any of the students in your class know where my wallet is?"

Tip 40: Bring, Take, Fetch

Most of us, both children and adults, are confused by the use of bring, take, fetch.
These rules will straighten things out:

Bring: "from there to here"
E.g Uncle Peter, thanks for bringing us to this fabulous beach!
E.g Ming, I promise I'll bring the book with me tomorrow.

Take: "from here to there"
E.g Dad likes to take this laptop with him when he goes overseas.
E.g Mum, are you free to take us to the movies?

Fetch/Get: "from here to there and back to here again"
E.g I need to fetch my daughter from school at 6pm everyday.
E.g Jack went to fetch/get a pail of water.

Tip 39: Animal Verbs

A list of animal verns --> wolf, dog, bear, fox, crow, hawk, fish, duck, rabbit, ape, bull, worm, hare, bat, seal, ferret, hound, badger, yak, crane, goose, cow, leech, peacock, parrot, hog, squirrel away, monkey, weasel into, horse around, horse play, bull-up, snake, chicken, outparrot, pig out, swan around, cod.

wolf = to eat voraciously; gobble. Eg wolfed down five ham burgers
dog = to remain persistently attached to. Eg. He had been dogged by ill-health all his life.
bear = to be able to accept and deal with something unpleasant.
fox = to trick or confuse somebody. Eg The sly thief outfoxed all the detectives.
crow = to brag. Eg He has been crowing about his winning since morning.
hawk = to try to sell things by going from place to place asking people to buy them= peddle.
fish = to search for something or information. Eg Quit trying to fish for any information from me! Mother rummaged through her bag and fished out her handphone.
duck = To move your head or body downwards to avoid being hit or seen.
rabbit on = to talk continuously about somebody or something that is not important or interesting; to babble.
ape = to mimic somebody else behaves or talks in order to make fun of them.
bull = to push ahead or through forcefully. Eg He bulls through the press horde that encircles the car.
worm = to work (one's way or oneself) subtly or gradually; or artful or devious means. Eg She wormed her way into his confidence. He can't worm out of this situation.
hare = to move hurriedly, as if hunting a swift quarry. Eg. He went haring off after a lower-priced car.
bat = Informal To discuss or consider at length. Eg bat an idea around.
seal= to prove authenticity or attest to accuracy, quality.
ferret = to uncover and bring to light by searching. Eg ferret out the solution to a mystery.
hound = To pursue relentlessly and tenaciously; to urge insistently; nag. Eg hounded me until I agreed to cut my hair.
badger = To harry or pester persistently.
yak = To talk persistently and meaninglessly; chatter.
crane = To stretch one's neck toward something for a better view.
goose = to startle someone by pinching or poking him with a finger. Eg The CEO goosed her by the photocopier.
cow = to intimidate someone using threats or violence:
leech = to attach oneself to another in the manner of a leech.
peacock = To strut about like a peacock; exhibit oneself vainly.
parrot = to repeat words without understanding them
hog = to have more than your fair share – Eg Don't hog the biscuits. Pass them down to this end.
squirrel away =- to hide something in a secret place
monkey = fool around. Eg Let's not monkey around with this...."
weasel into = to be sneaky.
horse around = to play dangerous games, "horse play"
bull-up = to shine, or smarten up. He bulled up his uniform for inspection.
snake = to wind, The road snaked through mountain passes
chicken out - to give up out of fear
parrot = to mimic
pig out = to eat like there is no prospect of food for the next four days.
swan around = to behave arrogantly.
cod = to deceive

Tip 38: Why Notes Are Powerful

Never knew what I've been doing since I was a student was powerful.