language use | Compelling Edits

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Roberta Basarbolieva

Janus Words: The Two-Faced Words of English

What comes to mind when you read the verb ‘to dust’? If it is something along the lines of ‘I hate dusting the cupboards – it’s a...

Roberta Basarbolieva

Dissecting the Frog: How to Make Your Writing Funnier

Everyone enjoys a little humour sometimes. We judge the interest level of seminars, books, and even news articles by whether they can...

Roberta Basarbolieva

Using the Present Perfect: Why Would You?

One thing that I always notice when reading British and American novels one after the other is the difference in their use of the Present...

Roberta Basarbolieva

Using Clichés: Should You and When?

A widely debated point in writing both fiction and non-fiction is the use of clichés: phrases or expressions that are overused; so...

Roberta Basarbolieva

Weasel Words: What Are They? How Should You Use Them?

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word ‘weasel’? Fast, sleek, always able to escape? Weasel words fit two of those...