Co-ordinated by SIMRIT KAUR
Let's face it. Our English could do with a leg up. Especially in this fast-paced world of the Internet, when access to knowledge requires proficiency in the language. That is why The Star has, since April 2001, embarked on a campaign to promote the correct use of English. As we are inviting every Malaysian to come in with us on this, we're calling our campaign Mind Our English. The campaign is being promoted in our print version but you can also check us out on this site where we will include useful links and also multi-media clips when appropriate. To get in touch with the campaign people, email english@thestar.com.my

Nov 20: More soundbites

RAMBLINGS - By DR LIM CHIN LAM

Nov 19: Tense confusion

Your questions answered by FADZILAH AMIN.

Nov 13: Latin quips and quotes

Many Latin expressions have survived the test of time.

Nov 12: Why ‘airlines’?

Your Questions Answered: By FADZILAH AMIN.

Nov 11: Fun with synonyms

EACH sentence here contains a synonym of the italicised word(s), spelt out in consecutive letters. Can you spot it?

Nov 6: Why ‘y’ is special

On why, out of the 26 letters of the English alphabet, this one is special.

Nov 5: Pythagoras’ theorem

Fadzilah Amin explains how this is pronounced.

Nov 4: Getting it right

Notes from the Language underground

Oct 29: Buy more house?

Your Questions Answered: By FADZILAH AMIN

Oct 28: The whole enchilada

There is a wealth of food-related phrases that add flavour to the English language.

Oct 28: Open Channel

Oct 23: Flexibility – and beyond?

RAMBLINGS - By DR LIM CHIN LAM

Oct 22: Error in PMR paper

Your Questions Answered: by FADZILAH AMIN

Oct 21: Underworld lingo

Criminal jargon has become part of our everyday lexicon.

Oct 15: Prescribe vs proscribe

Your Questions Answered: By FADZILAH AMIN

Oct 15: Look and Learn

Mistakes spotted by our readers.

Oct 14: Out of the blue

Idiomatic expressions add seasoning to one’s language, but should be used judiciously.

Oct 14: Point of view

Many different words can be used to describe the way we look at things. Test your vocabulary skills with this exercise.

Oct 9: Combination words

Often I wonder how easy it is for the mind to wander and ramble and delight over the vast terrain that is the English language. It is quite another thing to gather the interesting bits and pieces and put them together in an article – which brings me to one aspect of etymology, viz. combination as a strategy in word-building.

Oct 8: I, who am ...

Your Questions Answered by FADZILAH AMIN 

Oct 7: Be flexible

Some words have broad meanings.

Oct 7: More on expletives

From Dr Lim Chin Lam, Penang

Oct 2: Troublesome words

In his introduction Bill Bryson states that the purpose of the book Troublesome Words is to explain distinctions between words that are easily confused in usage.

Oct 2: Look and Learn

From David Yeoh AND Ong Eng Hock

Oct 1: Hook, line and sinker

What is a ‘sinker’? Fadzilah Amin answers this, and other queries from readers.