Coma vs. comma
Coma = a prolonged state of deep unconsciousness caused ,especially by severe injury or illness. After the accident, she went into a coma. The road crash left him in a coma. He’s alive, but he’s been in a coma for a week. When she woke up from coma , but she couldn’t speak or recognize her own children. He was brought to hospital in a comatose state. ( comatose – (adjective)= in an unconscious state. Comma = a punctuation mark (,). Johny, Sreekand, Abdulla , Venu,…
Prospectus vs. prospects
Prospectus = brochure; a document giving details of a college, school or business and its activities. You will find details of all our courses in the prospectus attached. A school or company prospectus. Prospects = possibilities, future, scope. You should have better job prospects with a post graduate degree in Commerce. The manager held out bright prospects if I would accept the position. The accident darkened his prospects of becoming a good football player. Related words: Prospective = potential, probable, likely to be, with effect…
Useful Idioms – part 3
(1) Make a name for oneself = become famous Balabhaskar made a name for himself as a talented violinist. By the time she was thirty Lagi Varkey made a name for herself as a successful Headmistress. By hard work and determination James made a name for himself and became the best trainer in Engineer’s Driving School. (2) On one’s way up = rising to better and better position. John is definitely on his way up in the financial world. He started as a junior officer and…
Pass away vs Pass out
Pass away= die ( a euphemistic or polite expression) He passed away by a massive heart attack at his house. He amassed a lot of wealth, but unfortunately he passed away even before he could enjoy a bit of it. His unexpected passing away last year left the poor family in great shock and tragedy. He is afraid he won’t be able to pass away peacefully because of his family problems. . Pass out = (1) to become unconscious for a short time; faint. He…
Obsequious vs Obsequies
Obsequious = (adjective) polite in an unpleasant and insincere way from the hope of reward or advantage ; servile The obsequious servants competed among themselves to please the snobbish rich man. The sweeper is embarrassingly obsequious to the manager. They were served by obsequious waiters. Obsequies = ( noun, pl) funeral ceremonies. They were ostentatiously solemnizing the obsequies of the departed monarch. A large congregation thronged to the Cathedral for the obsequies of the president. The murder victim’s father was the chief mourner at the…
Useful Idioms – part 2
Make it = (1) Be able to be present at a particular event; to manage to arrive on time. We just made it in time for the wedding despite the unexpected harthal. I don’t know whether I will be able to make it to Kochi for the cricket match. I can’t make it to Chicago for the DCP meet. I’m sorry, I can’t make it on Tuesday. Can you make it on Wednesday? I can’t make it tomorrow. (2) to succeed in a particular activity.…
How to avoid sexism and feminism in writing?
SEXISM = discrimination against women, especially the oppression of women by men. FEMINISM = movement for recognition of the claims of women for rights(legal, political etc.) equal to those possessed by men. In the past, when people referred to a member of a group containing both men and women( boys or girls) they used the pronoun he/him/his. A good doctor listens carefully to his patients. Nowadays, many people feel that this usage is unfair to women. If you want to avoid the danger of seeming…
Difference -Mature vs Matured (as adjectives)
Mature(adjective) – fully grown or developed. (NOTE:- when you are talking about people, the usual word is ‘MATURE’ (NOT matured) He’s a mature boy of sixteen ( Not matured). She’s a mature woman. He took a mature decision about the marriage of his daughter. He’s not mature enough to get married. Nehru was a mature political leader. Mature(verb) He felt that he had grown up and matured very much. Boys mature more slowly than girls both physically and psychologically. Mature(adjective-2) The whisky is kept here…
Useful ACRONYMs
Some useful ACRONYMs related to educational pursuits and their shortest explanations. ACRONYM = an abbreviation from the initial letters of the words. LPSA = Lower primary School Assistant.( LP teacher) UPSA= Upper Primary School Assistant.(UP teacher) HSA = High School Assistant.(High School teacher) HSST= Higher Secondary School Assistant.(Higher Secondary School teacher) CBSE= Central Board of Secondary education. GRE= Graduate Record Examinations. This is the gateway to higher studies in the US. CAT = Common Admission Test, the most popular examination for MBA admissions. CMAT =…
What’s bottom-line
Bottom line(1) = The last figure on a financial profit and loss statement or on a bill. What is the bottom line? How much do I owe you? Don’t tell me all those figures. Just tell me the bottom-line. What is the bottom line for this quarter? . Bottom line(2) = the final result, outcome, decision or the most important point. The bottom line is that the chairman wants to dictate all of the Board’s decisions. The bottom line ,however, is that he has escaped.…