Current English usage

The usage of certain words and phrases changes from time to time. Listen to good speakers and read modern authors to learn how words and phrases are used in their speech and writing respectively.

1. Aged: This word can be pronounced in two different ways.

I saw some aged men with white beards sitting on a bench. (pronunciation: ay-jid)

'A boy aged ten greeted me at the entrance. (pronunciation: ayjd).

2. Ageing can be spelt as aging in current English.

An ageing/aging film star bagged the life-time award.

3. Agenda, meaning 'things to be done,' was originally a plural noun. However, in modern English agenda is a singular noun. Its plural is agendas.

4. An atheist is a person who believes that there is no God. An agnostic believes that it is not possible to know whether God exists or not.

5. Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) is a frequently misspelt word. Remember to use an 'o' not an 'a' after 'g'.

6.Abuse is frequently used to refer to the use of substances injurious to health. So we have: drug abuse, child abuse, alcohol abuse etc.

7. Accelerate (to go faster) is frequently misspelt. Note the use of double 'c' but single 'l'.

8. Access is both a noun and a verb.

Noun: The robber could not gain access to the building.

Vote: The robber's attempts to access (gain entry) the building were unsuccessful.