Artist or Artiste?

Artist = a person who produces works in any of the arts subject to aesthetic criteria [ahr-tist] 1) Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most famous artists in the world. 2) She is a tattoo artist in Cochin. 3) You’re an artist! 4) He is the greatest living artist. Artiste = a skilled performer, especially a dancer, singer, or actor [ahr-teest] 1) Famous cine artiste Jagadish will be the chief judge. 2) Sambasivan is the most famous Kathaprasangam artiste from Kerala. 3) mime artiste, cine…

Continue reading »

Magnet or Magnate?

magnate = a person of power or influence (often in a specified area) 1) M A Yusuf Ali is a business Magnate from Kerala who owns the Lulu group of companies. 2) She was a magnate in the newspaper industry. 3) Real estate magnate, Media magnate, political magnate, property magnate. magnet = something that attracts (iron) 1) Kids took out a magnet from the damaged motor. 2) I love Fridge magnets. 3) Earth behaves like a big magnet 4) Munnar is a magnet for tourists…

Continue reading »

Prove your Mettle

Mettle refers to what a person is made of. It is a person’s ability to cope well with difficulties; endurance; determination; courage. 1) France showed their mettle by defeating Argentina in the FIFA World Cup. 2) It’s time for you to prove your mettle 3) The competition will test her mettle. metal=opaque, lustrous elements that are good conductors of heat and electricity They are generally malleable, ductile and dense compared to other elements. 1) Aluminium is a metal and hence readily conducts heat. 2) metal…

Continue reading »

A piece of advice to the learners of English Language

You can learn the language at any age provided you have a passion or desire for it. Unlike literature, functional aspects of English have greater practical utility in our day-to-day communication, either verbal, written or through devices. Though there is no shortcut for language study, there is a specific sequence to be followed in accordance with the step-by-step appropriacy of dealing with the subject which I have christened as SVK – ABC approach where A stands for the items to be considered first in the order of our study…

Continue reading »

Prescribe versus Proscribe

prescribe = recommend as something beneficial; to give medical prescriptions 1) The doctor prescribed three months of physical therapy for my leg injury. 2) You are bound to follow the rules as prescribed by the authorities. proscribe = forbid, especially by law. 1) Regulations proscribe the use of mobile phones in the examination halls. 2)The education department proscribed the controversial portion from the syllabus.

Continue reading »