The Star Online : Mind Our English

MIND OUR ENGLISH

To get in touch with us, email english@thestar.com.my

May 15: Court reporting: Proper grammar usage

Can a cheating husband have intimate relations with a guest relations officer (GRO) while his wife 'is conceiving'?

May 8: Brand name-calling

Do you pack food in 'Tupperware' and pamper your babies with 'Pampers'? You may be advertising for companies without knowing it.

May 1: Linguistic rojak

Where do you think the word ‘amuck’ came from? English has borrowed many words from other languages, including Malay.

AN inquisitive mongrel who is chasing a rabbit suddenly realises that he is lost. Wandering in the forest, he espies a tiger creeping towards him. “I am dead meat – this merciless creature is going to kill me to satisfy his hunger,” the dog thinks.

Apr 24: Slip slidin’ away

Whatever happened to the good old-fashioned phrase “ulterior motive”? It is still around, but has been overshadowed by “hidden agenda”, which a lot of people prefer to use nowadays.

Apr 17: Comings and goings

Send does not really mean hantar, nor does follow really mean ikut. There are different nuances which don’t always translate well, so beware!

Apr 10: Snobbery in language

If we choose to use the word lavatory over toilet or condo over flat, will that reveal something about our social class?

Apr 10: A note in parsing

THE wording of the above title is spurious, and deliberately so – but more about it later. In Lewis Carroll’s book, Through the Looking Glass, Humpty Dumpty says, “When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.” In the real world, however, such a cavalier attitude in the use of words does not carry a person far.

Apr 3: What do these words mean exactly?

A list of words and its usage.

Apr 3: Mary Poppins

IDIOMANIA By OH TEIK THEAM

Apr 3: April Fool!

New Year’s Day was once celebrated on April 1. Really!

Mar 27: Mispronounced words II

Did you know that 'almond' and 'salmon' should not be pronounced with the "l" sound? And don’t say 'trow' when you mean 'throw'!

Mar 27: Grammar couplets

By OH TEIK THEAM

Mar 20: Say it right

If you want to speak properly, you may want to know that there is more to A.E.I.O.U than meets the eye.

Mar 20: A bad word

Here are some “bad” words which you can use to describe people who put you off either because of their conduct, character or dressing.

Mar 13: Accent and slang

Footballer John Terry speaks differently from British Prime Minister David Cameron. And they may all be ‘geezers’ too.

Mar 6: British or American English?

Should you call it ‘movie’ or ‘film’? Well, it depends whether you’re talking about an Oscar (Hollywood’s Academy Award) or a BAFTA (British Academy Film Award). Confused? Read on...

Mar 6: This property is condemned

IDIOMANIA - By OH TEIK THEAM

Mar 2: Transition to transitives

Exploring verbs, intransitive and transitive, and the transition of the former to the latter, and the formation of transitive verbs.

Mar 1: Tenses in fiction

From today, MOE is answering readers’ queries in a new format. We will not be responding to every individual but will instead explain aspects of the English language based on problems raised by readers. We start off with the matter of the tenses used in writing and reviewing fiction.

Feb 24: Seeking answers

Use of questionnaires in business.

Feb 23: ‘When’ and ‘after’

COULD you please advise me on how to correctly use “when” and “after”?

Feb 23: Glaring mistakes in our signages

I RECENTLY made a trip to Penang. I enjoyed sightseeing around the island and, of course, I loved the food.

Feb 23: New format

FROM next month, Fadzilah Amin will be writing articles on matters that have been raised by readers through the years.

Feb 22: Can you stomach this?

DOES your English turn the stomach of your listeners? Then you should have a strong stomach for their insults and critical comments. “Stomach” expressions are not only related to food, but they also convey your disgust or repulsion.

Feb 17: The wayward word

Examining why a word is wrong in a sentence which is otherwise correct.

Feb 16: The letter ‘s’

Your questions answered: By FADZILAH AMIN.

Feb 16: Marble games

IDIOMANIA - By OH TEIK THEAM

Feb 15: Hold on, we’re off

Want to be a dab hand at English? Learn some of these handy expressions.

Feb 15: Creepy crawlies

Creepy crawlies make our hair stand on end. We feel squeamish so we squawk with fear or squirm in disgust. Although they are repulsive, they have crept into our English language to enrich our descriptions with vivid details.

Feb 15: Complete the proverbs

By OH TEIK THEAM.

Feb 10: Some observations

WRITING to the papers is not a hobby of mine. So, may I shoot three birds with one stone, please?

Feb 9: It’s the sound that matters

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED by FADZILAH AMIN.

Feb 3: ‘Adverbing’ merrily

Exploring words that modify adjectives, verbs, other adverbs, and even sentences.

Feb 2: Grammar books

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED by FADZILAH AMIN.

Feb 2: Spot the synonym

By OH TEIK THEAM.

Feb 1: FYI, it’s SMS

Texting has become a daily routine in communication.

Jan 27: No subject-verb agreement

OPEN CHANNEL

Jan 26: Proof is in the pudding

Your Questions Answered By Fadzilah Amin.

Jan 25: Hansel and Gretel

TALES OF THE PUN-EXPECTED - By OH TEIK THEAM

Jan 25: Just hold on

WORDWISE - By S.H. LOKE

Jan 25: Don’t let English die

From Zainol Abdullah

Jan 20: To get it right

Further exploring some words and expressions that do not look right.

Jan 20: Parents must play their part

OPEN CHANNEL from Senthil Woon

Jan 19: Definitely ‘the’

Your Questions Answered by FADZILAH AMIN.

Jan 18: Tipping the balance

Are we getting the point?

Jan 18: Grammar couplets

WE learn about the subject of a sentence from the predicate:

Jan 13: Filing progress reports

In business, the bosses need to be informed of what’s happening on a project.

Jan 12: Subjunctive form

Your Questions Answered: By FADZILAH AMIN

Jan 12: The case of articles

From John Jose.

Jan 6: The rite write

Exploring some words and expressions that do not look right.

Jan 5: Until today

THE expression “until today” is very common among Malaysians. I think the phrase is often wrongly used and does not describe what a speaker is really trying to convey.

Jan 4: An attitude of gratitude

Exploring words that end in ‘ude’.

Dec 29: Word order

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY FADZILAH AMIN

Dec 28: Bounty from the sea

More nautical expressions for ye mariners all!

Dec 23: Strange ways of adjectives

Adjectives may act strange/strangely, as outlined in this article.

Dec 22: Saying sorry

Your Questions Answered By Fadzilah Amin.

Dec 21: A tale of Aladdin

HOW would you like to have a shining silver coin in your pocket?” the mysterious old man with dark and deep eyes and a pot belly asked Aladdin. “It’s money for jam. The bananas you’re trying to sell in this market are only attracting six-leggers. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana. Tsk, tsk.”

Dec 16: Connect now

Formality is just as important in a business e-mail as in a letter

Dec 15: The root of the cause

Your Questions Answered by FADZILAH AMIN

Dec 15: Up for the role

IDIOMANIA By OH TEIK THEAM

Dec 14: A simple purchase

Co-ordinated By Jane F.Ragavan

Dec 14: A simple purchase

Co-ordinated By Jane F.Ragavan

Mind Our English

Dec 9: The subject is king

Exploring what constitutes the subject of a sentence and how it is used.

Dec 9: Mark these words

THESE three letters are in response to Dr Lim Chin Lam's article, "Punctuation please" (MOE, Nov 25).

Dec 8: Word order

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED by FADZILAH AMIN.

Dec 7: Set the tone

See your true colours shining through.

Dec 2: Nautical notes

There’s an ocean of expressions for the seafarers among us.

Dec 1: Goldilocks and the three bears

FUN WITH PUNS

Dec 1: Writing dates

Your Questions Answered by FADZILAH AMIN.

Nov 30: Allies and enemies

Exploring the left and right dichotomy.

Nov 25: Punctuation please

Exploring the use of punctuation and some aspects thereof.

Nov 25: Derived from Dhivehi

OPEN CHANNEL

Nov 24: Hyphen dilemma

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED by FADZILAH AMIN

Nov 23: The Great Race

Idiomania: By OH TEIK THEAM.

Nov 23: Wordwise: So many

Wordwise: By S.H. LOKE.

Nov 18: Convenient communication

In business, phone calls are indispensable.

Nov 17: Do or have?

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED by FADZILAH AMIN.

Nov 17: Less than zero

From sm.

Nov 16: If you must win

Nov 11: How foreign is English?

Exploring the foreignness of the English language.

Nov 10: Skirt the issue

Your Questions Answered by FADZILAH AMIN.

Nov 10: Running with ‘on’

OPEN CHANNEL from I. Ho and Khei Yok Man.

Nov 10: Out of moonshine

Nov 4: Cool matters a great deal

Taking a look at words related to size.

Nov 4: Confused verbs

By ERIC CHRISTEN.

Nov 3: The -ing form

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED by FADZILAH AMIN

Oct 28: Words of kilter

Let’s explore some words that do not quite fit into context.

Oct 27: Tenses and verbs

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED by FADZILAH AMIN.

Oct 27: Barriers to learning a language

By Khei Yok Man.

Oct 21: The Indian barber

“YOUR usual haircut?” the Indian barber said to me, as he held his scissors and comb over my head.

Oct 20: ‘To’ before a verb

Your Questions Answered by FADZILAH AMIN

Oct 20: Still in to use ‘on’

Open Channel

Oct 19: Time to meet

A meeting is a good time to exchange ideas and come to some agreement.

Oct 19: A cacophonous chorus

Wordwise by S.H.LOKE

Oct 14: Primer on Manglish

Exploring some notable features of the pidgin that is Manglish.

Oct 14: To Kill A Mockingbird

CHOOSE the idiom whose meaning is given in the brackets:

Oct 13: ‘On’ or ‘in’?

Your Questions Answered: By FADZILAH AMIN.

Oct 12: Find moe-embedded words

See if you can fill in the blanks with words that have moe in them.

Oct 6: Usage of 'marry'

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED by FADZILAH AMIN.

Oct 5: Reverse take

Changing the order of words in a sentence can bring about a whole different meaning.

Oct 5: Listening skills in business

By YONG AH YONG.

Sep 29: Using all but

Your Questions Answered: By FADZILAH AMIN.

Sep 29: Sign of bad English

The standard of English in this country has gone down the proverbial drain, says Michael Tan.

Sep 28: Stand out in an interview

ENGLISH IN MANAGEMENT - By YONG AH YONG

Sep 23: Building blocks

Positive’ and ‘negative’ affixes.

Sep 22: A cow humanised

Your Questions Answered: By FADZILAH AMIN

Sep 22: The good word

Here is a list of words which can help you to flatter your friends or compliment them appropriately.

Sep 21: Fiddler on the roof

How to play (with words) on the fiddle.

Sep 21: Laughing stock

Malacca is a World Heritage site and has much to offer foreigners and Malaysians alike. However, tourists will be laughing at the use of English on signs and notices.

Sep 16: Teacher’s approach is crucial

Open Channel.

Sep 15: Capital idea

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED By FADZILAH AMIN

Sep 15: The positive side of ‘on your bike’

WE refer to the article “Appalling ignorance” by A Reader who questioned the use of the idiom “on your bike” that we, the organisers of OCBC Cycle Malaysia, are using as a catchphrase for our upcoming mass participation cycling event (MOE, Sept 2).

Sep 14: Strictly speaking

This is the first article in a series on using English in business. Today’s topic is the oral presentation.

Sep 9: Pet hates

Outlining some irksome words and expressions heard in conversation and seen in print.

Sep 8: Pronounce the ‘h’

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED by FADZILAH AMIN.

Sep 7: Read ’em and weep

Written English can bring on the woes.

Sep 2: Appalling ignorance

From A reader.

Aug 31: Composition

In the following tale, the names of over 20 classical composers are hidden in the text. Can you find them all? – Ed.

Aug 26: Is English French-fried?

Exploring some aspects of Frenchness in English.

Aug 25: Worst comes to worst

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED By FADZILAH AMIN

Aug 24: Counter culture

The consistently inconsistent hallmark of English.

Aug 24: Expressing yourself

I HAVE been teaching English for the past 26 years. Teaching the language can be challenging at times, especially when we have students who are not motivated and weak.

Aug 19: Fusion talk

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if Malaysians are speaking English.

Aug 18: History alive

Your Questions Answered: By FADZILAH AMIN

Aug 17: Grammar couplets

What is a verbal? It’s a verb that functions as a different part of speech. Gerund, participle, infinitive – we have an example of each!

Aug 12: A pronouncement on pronouns

Musing over some peculiar features of pronouns.

Aug 11: Redundancies

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED by FADZILAH AMIN.

Aug 10: Snow White

Coordinated by JANE F.RAGHAVAN

Aug 10: Interesting words

IT helps to use words with some originality in mind and here are a few of my favourites.

Aug 5: Make it snappy

The evocative language of sports.

Aug 4: Reason for the doubt

Your Questions Answered by FADZILAH AMIN

Aug 3: Sock, punch, wallop

Fighting for the right words.

Aug 3: Grammar couplets

By OH TEIK THEAM.

Aug 3: Now they are fried

Open Channel.

Jul 29: Not quite journalese

Musing over English competency across the Causeway.

Jul 28: Letter or alphabet?

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY FADZILAH AMIN.

Jul 28: Ordering in slang

There is an understanding that once in a while, it is all right to use the exception permitted in English to express yourself or to make it easy so that you will be heard loud and clear by the person you are talking to.