amalfabian

Does your writing have sentence variety?

This is probably my favourite paiting by Matisse. It is full of colour, energy, and emotion. A fresh perspective on the world. The vibrancy and variety of colours is mesmerizing. Orange, green, and red tilting lines shooting up from the boats. The left window frame containing mixtures of pink and purple.

What does this have to do with writing, I hear you ask. Well, writing also requires variety. When you write articles, stories, essays, and even reports, there should be sentence variety. Some sentences may be short, while others may be long and descriptive. Complex sentences may be used to express complex concepts or arguments. Sentence fragments may be used to bring out a particlar mood, emotion, or energy.

Let’s look at some common sentence structures. We’ll take it slow, starting from the start. And we will keep it simple. Promise.

Simple sentence A simple sentence expresses a complete thought. Here is an example: I like chocolate ice-cream. (It’s hot right now, and I really could do with some ice-cream.) Now, a simple sentence need not be restricted to a few words. You could write: I really like almond covered, chocolate ice-cream served in a big, crunch cone. What is the essence of that sentence? Yes, I like chocolate ice-cream. Clear and simple. Even though there are many words, the long sentence expresses a complete thought. It is a simple sentence.
Compound sentence

A compound sentence joins two simple sentences. To join these sentences, we use co-ordinating conjunctions such as: and, but, or, so, and yet. Here is an example: I like chocolate ice-cream, but I’m too lazy to go to the market. Here we have two seperate thoughts. Thought one — I like ice-cream. Thought two — I’m too lazy to buy it. What is interesting is that both these thoughts have equal grammatical importance. They both can stand on their own two feet. Why I say this will be clearer in the next type of sentence we will look at.

3. Complex sentence

A complex sentence has two parts. One part can stand on its own two feet. The other part cannot stand on its own. It requires support. Let’s look at this example: I like chocolate ice-cream which is from the Mambo Ice-Cream Cafe. In this sentence there are two parts. Part one: I like chocolate ice-cream. It makes sense, by itself. Doesn’t it?

Part two: which is from the Mambo Ice-Cream Cafe. Does that make sense? What is from Mambo Ice-Cream Cafe? No idea. Not a clue. This part only makes sense when it is linked with Part one. So, let’s read the sentence again — I like chocolate ice-cream which is from the Mambo Ice-Cream Cafe. Do you see it now? The sentence has two parts. One part can stand on its own two feet. The other part needs to lean on someting. By itself, Part two’s meaning is not complete.

Apart from using which, in a complex sentence you can use words such as that, who, and when.

4. Ing-words.

How does this sound? Having decided to buy chocalate ice-cream, he left for the market. Or: Meeting his friends at the market, they decided to go to the Mambo Ice-Cream Cafe. Do you like this sentence variation? It’s a change from the usual run of the mill sentences. Try it, sometime.

5. Fragments.

Ice-Cream? Chocolate? Where to go? Then he remembered Mambo. The one and only Mambo Ice-Cream Cafe. This type of writing should not be used in a formal setting, neither at work nor university. But, you can use sentence fragments in more informal contexts, such as writing a blog post. These bursts of words may not always be grammatically correct, but they do bring a certain energy to the page.

Let’s put all these different types of sentences in one paragraph:

Looking out the window, he saw the fishing boats bobbing in the harbour. He peered at the name on one of the boats. It was MAMBO. Mambo. Mambo Ice-Cream Cafe. He remembered the strong flavour of chocolate which exploded in his mouth. He called out to his wife and they crossed the harbour. Mambo Ice-Cream Cafe was waiting patiently for them.

In the above paragraph we have different types of sentences. The first sentence starts with an ing-word (Looking out the window…). Then there is a simple sentence. Another simple sentence — It was MAMBO.Followed by sentence fragments (Mambo. Mambo Ice-Cream Cafe.) Followed by a complex sentence (the one with which). Followed by a compound sentence (the one with and). And the last sentence is a simple sentence.

What do you think? Does this kind of sentence variety provide rhythm and pace to the writing? How would it be if there were only simple sentences? Would it be less interesting? I think it would.

Now, look at your writing. Do you use a variety of simple, compound, complex, and other types of sentences? Do you use a mix of short, medium, and long sentences?

Whether you are writing a page in a diary or a report for work, see how you can vary your sentences. It will bring more zest into your writing. Who knows? Maybe your writing will exude energy, freshness, and a sense of purpose, just like the Matisse painting.

How to approach IELTS writing

Here is my advice for IELTS writing, task 2. The advice is simple: Don’t write. Yes, you read that last part correctly. Don’t write.

In everyday life, the writing you do is confined to the demands of your job. You may write emails informing clients about new products. You may write a report updating your manager on a project. But, I doubt you write about the need for the government to fund artists. I doubt you write on how effective language translation technology is.

By the way, those last two topics could be in your IELTS exam. So, let’s transport ourselves to test day. Sitting in a hall with paper and pencil, you have to write intelligently about a topic that you have never considered before. The clock is ticking. What do you do? Tik-tok-tik-tok. You put pencil to paper. You may have some learnt some tips a few days ago. Tips about the need for paragraphs. Tips about the types of adverbs you should use (e.g. nevertheless or however). In fact, you may be overflowing with tips and tricks told to you by YouTube videos, trainers, and previous IELTS candidates.

In this post we will focus on how to approach the task of writing. Let’s start the journey on the right foot. Let’s leave the stress-inducing exam hall behind, and enter the safety of your home. We’ll go step by step. Ready?

Step one: Read the prompt. Have you read the prompt correctly? You may think you have. But, have you really? Many candidates believe they are answering the prompt, when in reality, they are answering a prompt that wasn’t even asked! So, read the prompt atleast twice. Make sure you understand it. Underline important words. Underline. Underline. Underline. Don’t be lazy.

Step two: Don’t write. Activate your grey cells. Let’s take the example of this prompt – Some people think that it is necassary for the government to fund the arts. What are your views? What do you feel about funding the arts? Don’t say what you think other people want to hear. What is your authentic reaction?

Step three: Don’t write. Speak. (Remember, you are home, safe and sound.) Let’s say you are in favour of government funding. Now, state your argument for it. You may have this thought: funding the arts helps to promote the culture of a country. Okay, that’s a good start. Now, ask yourself, why is that important? You could say: in today’s globalized world, local culture is being marginalised by western culture. Hmm… Good point. But what is so important about local culture? Why save it? And then a brilliant thought flashes through your alert mind — culture is the identity of a country. It is what makes a place unique, special.

Step four: Don’t write. Find other reasons to support your view. Does culture attract tourists? Why? Will that lead to higher employment? How so? Will there be an increase in tax revenue for the government? How would that happen? Can you cite a real world example? For instance, is there a region you know that has benefited from tourism?

Step four: Don’t write. Collected your thoughts. Say them out loud. Record yourself on your cellphone. How does it sound? Is there a logical flow? Does each sentence build on the previous one?

I am currently reading a book, On Writing Well, by William Zinsser. Zinsser’s advice for good writing is — think in paragraphs. That is fabulous advice! Don’t think in terms of sentences. Go for the big picture. See all the jigsaw pieces snugly fitting together, completing the puzzle.

Step five: Don’t write. Refine your arguments. Is everything you say aligned to the prompt? Are you focused like a laser? Ask questions such as:

What is the central idea for the first paragrah? How about for the second one? Third one? Dig deeper into a paragraph. Is this the best supporting argument I can come with? Is this the most relevant example I can think of?

Do you have a friend who is preparing for IETLS? Do you know someone who is good at writing or speaking? If yes, ask them to listen to your response. Ask for advice on how to improve your answer. They may come up with interesting insights.

Step six: It’s now time to write. Write words; write sentences; write paragraphs. There is a lot to keep in mind when writing. You must focus on grammatical accuracy. Make sure there is variety in the words you use. There are many, many steps hidden in this sixth step. There is not enough space in this post to cover them. We will touch on them in later posts.

To conclude, when you are face to face with a prompt, don’t immediately start filling a page. Mull over the prompt. Once you have some thoughts in your mind: speak. Record your ‘speech’. Listen, critically, to what you have said. This will clarify your thinking. It will help you organise your essay – paragraph by paragraph. Only after you are confident that you have a good essay in your mind: write.

If you sincerely practice these steps for three or four prompts, you will see an improvement in the content and structure of your essays. And you will agree with me when I say that the act of writing is much more than putting words on a page.

Why is IELTS writing so hard?

For many candidates the writing module is the most difficult part of taking the IELTS. Why is it so? Here are some reasons:

Essay writing is not a priority in the Indian curriculum. When I was at school, decades ago I admit, I don’t remember writing any essays. Things may have changed since then, but I doubt that there have been any drastic alterations to the educational system. Indian schools do not teach academic writing, atleast not in any meaningful way. Young Indians do not learn how to systematically analyse an issue, form opinions, and then defend those opinions. Our educational system rewards memorization and not critical thinking. IELTS rewards critical, logical thinking.
After college, there is a mad scramble to get that dream job. For new recruits, the work pressure can be high. If one hasn’t developed the habit of reading in childhood, it is difficult to become a reader later in life. In general, people have limited exposure to issues outside their domain of expertise. An engineer may know very little about the public healthcare system. A marketing associate may have never read a single article on music or theatre. A chemistry teacher may not be aware of the importance of studying history or sociology. People who have a broader understanding of the world, find it easier to tackle the wide range of topics in IELTS.
Often, our conversations tend to be superficial. When the conversation is about politics, culture, or society, we rarely discuss the underlying causes of an issue. Consider the quality of debate on our national news channels. I rest my case. People who explore issues indepth, tend to do better in IELTS.
This may be the most difficult point for us to acknowledge. Some people are convinced that their writing skills are quite good. In fact, some are under the impression that their essays are excellent! Self-evaluation is a tricky business. When it comes to language skills, we naturally compare our performance with that of our peers. It is a slippery slope for many reasons. One, you may be making errors that you are not aware of. Two, you may have a false sense of security because you feel that you are superior to the person sitting next to you. (That person’s language level may be very low.) Beware of the illusion of knowledge and of the illusion of competence.

To do well in IETLS (Writing Task 2) you need to form an opinion about the prompt, clearly state that opinion, and present supporting arguments in a persuasive, coherent manner. For that to happen, you need to be familiar with the structure of academic writing. And you need to have a good level of general knowledge. For example, if the prompt in Task 2 is about space exploration, and you have never, ever in your life thought about the topic, then writing about it under examination conditions is challenging.

There are deep, systemic reasons why candidates from India, and possibly other countries with similar educational systems, find IELTS writing so difficult. That is why it is very hard to become an effective writer overnight. It takes time, practice, and patience.

The first step to improving your band score is to understand why you find writing so hard. Consider the four points above. Are there any points you relate to? Take your time – introspect. It will help you become a better writer.

Interrupting during a meeting

Imagine a time before zoom conference calls. Yes, a time before we were boxed in boxes on a laptop screen. A time before Covid-19 (I smile and sigh at the thought). Imagine a time before PowerPoint presentations. A time before cellphones. A time before even phones where you had to physically ‘dial’ a number. A time before cars. Before roads, even. Keep time-travelling with me. We have reached a time before the invention of the wheel. We are now with our ancestors huddled around a crackling fire, under a brightly-lit night sky. The topic is where to travel next. North? East? A unshaven man points to the hills beyond the forest. Someone else, to the valley down below. A woman just keeps shaking her head. Yes. We are witnessing one of the first meetings of mankind.

Over the millenia, when it comes to meetings, not much has changed. Meetings still go on and on – at times aimlessly. Your colleague makes an irrelevant point. X dominates the discussion (as usual). You want to say something important, but what do you do? Do you just blurt it out? How can you intervene effectively?

When intervening during a meeting (online or offline), it is a good idea to use phrases signalling that you have something to say. These phrases act as a bridge between your point and the discussion at hand.

So, if you need to interrupt the speaker, you can say: ‘Excuse me, I would like to make a point.‘ When all eyes are turned to you, make your point. Similarily you can say: ‘Sorry to interrupt.‘ Or you can start with the person’s name. ‘Anand. If I could just stop you there.‘

There are times when you have a perspective/opinion/fact that builds on what is being discussed. To introduce your point, you can say: ‘I’d like to add …‘ or ‘And in addition, there is also this fact…‘ Americans say, ‘I would like to piggyback on what John just said.’

In your next meeting, pay attention to how people interrupt each other. Do they just start speaking? Or do they begin with a phrase (such as Excuse me…) ?

How you intervene is influenced by the work culture in your office. If it is reasonably informal, then you could say, ‘I’d like to add...’ On the other hand, if it is more formal, then it would be better to say, ‘Excuse me, may I say something?‘

Also, think about where your fellow participants are from. When speaking with Americans, it may be alright to say, ‘I’d like to piggyback on what X said.‘ But if the participants are from India, they may not understand what you are saying!

I remember a day in my very first corporate training assignment – an MNC in Gurgaon, a place near New Delhi. We were practising how to speak effectively in a meeting. Sitting in two rooms, the participants had a mock conference call amongst themselves. They used phrases such as the ones we have looked at. There was a noticeable difference when they made interventions using these phrases. Everyone sounded more confident. More in control. More professional.

I’m confident that when you start using these phrases you will notice the difference. The next time you are in a meeting, and you are itching to say something, use one of the phrases we have looked at. You can mix and match the words from different phrases. See what works for you.

Now that you are aware of some phrases for meetings, be alert when people use similar phrases. If you like them, go ahead and steal the words. Use them in your next meeting. Our distant ancestors around that fire would have done the same thing.

How Indian is your English? part 2

This is my second article on Indian English. The first one, https://amalfabian.com/2020/09/12/how-indian-is-your-english/, introduces the topic. Here, we’ll look at some more examples.

Imagine this. This is your first trip outside India. You’re in London, at a restaurant. You glance at the menu and then ask your colleague a serious question. “Are you veg?” She may not understand what you have just said. She may even think that you are asking her if she is made of veg. (Do you understand?) The expression is Indian English. The international English version is: “Are you a vegeterian?”

In India, the opposite of veg. is well, non-veg. If there is a carnivore inside you, and you happen to be abroad, I advise you not to say: “I am non-veg.” Instead, say, “I eat meat.”

Let’s leave the topic of food. Now, this is super-duper important. What you’re going to read is said often at the workplace. Tell me whether this sentence is okay or not. “According to me,we should sponsor the women’s cricket team.”

Is that sentence alright, in terms of vocabulary? And the answer is no. When we use the phrase according to… it normally refers to a third person or a thing. For example: According to the consultant, we should strengthen our retail network. Or: According to the UN report, this country has a lot of potential.

Now, if you want to talk about your opinions, then say: In my opinion… So, if you are at a meeting, you could say: In my opinion, we should sponsor the women’s cricket team.

If you want to be more informal, then: I think... or I believe… are good phrases to use when introducing one’s opinion.

So, the next time at work or on zoom, when you want to express yourself during a meeting or an important discussion, monitor your language. In your mind, if you are making a sentence starting with “According to me…” Stop. Change tracks. And confidently say: Excuse me, I’d like to say something. In my opinion…

To find out more about Indian English, do check out my book on https://wordpress.com/post/amalfabian.com/1420

Secrets for good writing – I

This post will help you write in a more logical, thoughtful manner. (I hope!) And it will help you better evaluate what you read.

So, let’s start. Read the first part of this paragraph from a report and tell me whether it makes sense:

The market size is USD 100. The Republic of Wazoo is a potential market for our bicycles. Our business development team has been in contact with a major retailer in Wazoo. The main challenge in the country is distribution.

Don’t google Wazoo. The Republic of Wazoo does not exist. My question to you is this: how logical is the flow of thoughts? Confusing. Yes, I agree. The sequencing of sentences is all jumbled up. Here is a more readable version:

1. The Republic of Wazoo is a potential market for our bicycles. 2. The market size is USD 100. 3. The main challenge in the country is distribution. 4. Our business development team has been in contact with a major retailer in Wazoo.

Now, isn’t that better? The first sentence introduces the theme of the report. The second sentence supports the first sentence by defining the market size in dollar terms. The third sentence introduces the main obstacle of entering this market. The fourth sentence states how this obstacle can be overcome. And then the fifth sentence will give us more information about the retailer. And then the sixth sentence will state how working with this retailer will help us have a presence in Wazoo. And then… Can you see it? Can you feel it? Can you recognize the logical and organized flow of thoughts/ideas/assertions.

This logical flow of thoughts/ideas is called coherence. Coherence is really, really, really important. It is the underlining order in your email, business plan, report, essay, or anything else you write. It is how the different parts of your writing cooperate to create forward momentum, direction, credibility, and meaning.

Hint: When reviewing your writing for coherence, don’t focus on the individual words or phrases. View sentences as units of thoughts/ideas. And then ask yourself questions such as: How are these thoughts/ideas sequenced? Should they be re-arranged? Is there a well-structured argument which I am building up to? Go behind the words. Meet the thoughts/ideas. Interact with them. Drink some coffee with them. Assess whether they make sense. Decide whether they are being well supported. Ensure that they are being presented in the most effective manner possible.

Let’s bring back the focus to the words in sentences. Read what you have written, and mull over these questions. What is the purpose of a particular sentence? Is it to introduce a new topic? Is it to give more details about what has been stated in a previous sentence? Is it to provide a concrete real-world example for a general statement that has been made earlier?

There is something secretive about coherence. When it is there in full force, not many readers notice it. It is hidden inside and in-between words, sentences, and paragraphs. But when it isn’t there…

How Indian is your English?

Indian English in India is well, all around us. It is embedded in the language that our colleagues, customers, and managers speak. Indian English, as a term, is a wide tent. It covers typical grammatical errors, vocabulary specific to Indians, and a range of regional accents. Here we will focus on vocabulary.

When it comes to the use of Indian English vocabulary, it is not necessarily incorrect. Language is all about communication. And if the other person understands the thought/idea/emotion you wish to convey, then we have communication. So, don’t feel that there is anything wrong when Indian English is used.

Having said that, if you are communicating with international clients and colleagues, it would be better to use international English expressions. This will reduce the chance of miscommunication.

So, what are examples of Indian English? Read these three quotes and decide which ones contain Indian English in them.

“We will revert to you tomorrow by 3 pm.”
“Hi! What is your good name?”
“I’ll meet you at the backside of the building.”

So, of these three examples, which contain Indian English? Yes, all of them! Revert is classic Indian English. It may have been used in England, but that would have been ages ago. Now, you could say: “I’ll get back to you.” Doesn’t that sound less official? Friendlier?

Good name. Most probably, you would have identified this as Indian English. It is a direct translation from Hindi. Aapka shubh naam kya hai? In Hindi that means: What is your good (or auspicious) name. Perfectly polite in that language. But, the sentence does not translate well into English. Go with: What is your name? If you need to be more polite, ask: Could you tell me your name, please?

Backside of the building. This has generated a few giggles from visitors to our country. ‘Backside’ usually refers to the backside of a person. If you haven’t got it, contact me. I’ll be more explicit. Instead of backside, you could say: I’ll meet you at the back of the building.

There are many ways to express an idea or thought. For example, in India for the word warehouse, we, at times, use the word godown. Be aware of both variations, and use the right one at the right time and place.

There are many more Indian English expressions out there. If you would like to know more, you can check out my book, Common Indian Errors in Business English. https://wordpress.com/block-editor/post/amalfabian.com/1420

A thoughtful guide to better email writing

The title of this post is rather ambitious, especially the ‘thoughtful guide’ part, but there is a reason why I chose those words. In my experience of conducting writing workshops at companies, I have found that many people are not particularly thoughtful when it comes to reading and composing emails.

Emails are written forms of communication that are permanent records. So, they do need to be taken seriously. Let’s approach email writing within the framework of those most relevant of questions: why, who, what, how, where, and when.

Why

What is the purpose of your email? Is it to apologize to an upset customer? Is to remind colleagues about the Friday office party? Is it persuade a client to purchase a new product? You should have a clear idea as to why you are composing an email. That will help you to determine the tone, content, and structure of your message. Is your purpose to inform, persuade, reassure, or apologize?

Some people think that the answer to why is obvious. I would still urge you to think about it. If you are a manager, ask your subordinates why they are sending certain emails. You may be surprised to hear their answers.

2. Who

Who is the receiver of your email? If it is someone who is in a higher position than you, the tone would be more formal. If it is a colleague or a person reporting to you, the tone should be semi-formal.

If you want to be formal, you could start with: Dear Mr. So and so. If you want to be informal, go with: Hi So and so.

3. What

Once you have a clear understanding of why and who, then the next step is to answer the question: what. What pieces of information should you include in your message? What pieces of information should you leave out?

Do you remember the story of Goldilocks and the three bears? She entered the empty cottage and there were three bowls of porridge on the table. Goldilocks selected the bowl of porridge which was neither too hot nor too cold. It was just right, temperature wise. Similarly, when selecting information, select the relevant points. Make sure there is sufficient detail. And make sure there is no irrelevant information. Find that balance.

4. How

How will you communicate your thoughts, ideas, and information? The kind of language you use depends on who your reader is. For people working in the same team / department, there is a lot of shared knowledge and experience. So, you can use abbreviations and jargon — your readers will understand. Everyone’s on the same page. However, if you are sending an email to a person outside your department / company / sector, think about what details and explanations need to be there. Are you using jargon that may not be understood? Would the reader be able to easily follow your message? Remember this: just because what you have written is clear to YOU, it does not follow that the message will be clear to the reader.

How will you organize the email? What piece of information comes first? What comes second? Ensure that your message is coherent. That means that there is a logical flow of thoughts / ideas / information. Again, just because you think it is logical, that does not follow that it is. You can get feedback from a colleague. Ask her if she thinks the receiver will understand your email. (This usually helps. A fresh pair of eyes is generally a good idea.)

5. Where

Nowadays, many people skim written material. They do not see much value in taking the time to read emails. (You may be skimming these words right now.) Imagine you send an email stating that the training session is at hotel X in city Z. After skimming your email, the reader may think that the event is at hotel X in city Y, instead of city Z. Does this type of confusion sound familiar to you? Trust me: it happens. When stating the address of a place, be as clear as possible. Bold the details, if needed. Use space to separate the address from the rest of the text, if needed.

When giving directions, be as precise as possible. Just because the way to the location is clear to you, it doesn’t mean… well, you know where I’m headed.

6. When

Timelines are crucial. State clearly by when you would like the response / information. No need to be confrontational. Be polite. You could write: Could you send the financial statements by the 20th of Feb.? Or: We would appreciate it if you would send us the feedback by the 15th of March.

If you are communicating with people from outside India, you may want to specify the time zone, such as IST or GMT.

There is a specific aspect of when I would like to look at. Picture this: you are boiling mad, mad, mad. Your manager has sent you an email accusing you of something that you did not do. When do you send a response? My suggestion: wait. If you feel that you need to take some immediate action, do this: write a response, but DO NOT click on the send button. Let the words simmer in your draft folder for a while. When you have calmed down, re-read your response. Have you provided sufficient evidence/justification for your assertions? Are you being as objective as possible? Are you using any emotional words that you may regret in the near future?

This is the last part of when, and is probably the most important part of this post. If you are planning to take away just one point from this post, this is it. When do you send your email? Do you send it just after typing it? I would recommend that you have a second look. Proofread. Are there any spelling errors? Is punctuation used correctly? Warning: The spell-checker function gives us a false sense of security.

Edit. Are your sentences well structured? Hint: In general, shorter sentences are better than longer ones. The longer the sentence, the higher the probability that it contains a grammatical error. The longer the sentence, the higher the probability that the message is not very clear. Write short sentences. Just do it.

Make sure that your email makes sense for the reader. Think about the why. Does the email satisfy your original purpose? For example: Has the reader been reassured? Or has she been clearly informed?

When it is an important email, take more time. Answer the questions: why, who, what, how, where, and when. Apart from the questions we have looked at, you could identify other questions which may be relevant to your message. Slow down. Don’t be in such a hurry. The extra few minutes you take for reviewing your email will be worthwhile. There will be a marked improvement in your communication skills.

By being more thoughtful and systematic, you will find that your emails become clearer, more concise, and more focused.

Those crazy little words called prepositions – II

Where are you right now? During these lockdown days, most probably, you are in home. Correct? No. That sentence is grammatically incorrect. You are at home. Prepositions when it comes to spaces can get tricky. I know.

We use in when talking about a well-defined space. So, my guess is that you are reading this post in a room. When it comes to the preposition in you can say: in my building, there are thirty flats. If you are feeling hungry, there are muffins in the box.

So, here comes the question. Don’t mull over it. Go with your gut feeling. You have two options: a. The party is in the garden. b. The party is at the garden.

Did you say in the garden? Woohoo! That’s correct. A garden is a well-defined space and so we use in. If you got it wrong, no worries. Now you know.

When we talk about spaces that have a specific purpose, then things change. We usually use at. That’s why it is at home and not in home. The word home has specific emotions and meanings attached to it. It’s not a random place.

Now, picture this. You are flying to Colombo for a meeting. You call your friend and say, “Hey, I am at the airport. Do you want me to buy anything for you?” Note that you said at the airport, and not in the airport. So when it comes to airports, train stations, and other places with specific purposes, use at.

This is the really tricky part. Let’s look at another place: a hospital. If you are at the hospital visiting a relative who is a patient there, you say: I’m at the hospital. On the hand, if Rahul is a patient, you say: he is in hospital (UK English). In US English, it would be: he is in the hospital.

There is more I’d like to tell you about prepositions, but I want these above points to sink in, nice and slowly. So, I’ll end the post here.

If you would like to read my first post on prepositions, click here

Articles – III

I’ve noticed that many people do not have time to learn about articles. They’re just not bothered, frankly. But, if you don’t use articles correctly, there will be grammatical errors in your presentations, emails and reports. This is the third post on articles. In the previous posts, we looked at the indefinite and definite articles.

And now, for the grade finale. Let us find out about that most mysterious article of all, the third type of article, known as the zero article. To see the zero article, tap twice inside the golden frame below. You will have to tap twice, quickly. And then focus on the empty space within the frame. (Make sure you look at all parts of the frame, especially the corners.) Are you ready? Go ahead.

Source: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/679128818778148568/

Did you see it? The zero article? What? Are you saying that nothing happened? Nothing at all? Well, in a sense, that is true. You see, the zero article is invisible. Before we talk more about this type of article we need to be clear about two concepts. Read these two definitions:

Abstract nouns — An abstract noun is a noun that you cannot touch, see, smell, hear, or taste. For example, peace, love, and imagination are abstract nouns.
Plural count nouns — These are nouns that can be counted. Examples are: masks, beds, and vampires. You can say I see: five masks, three beds, and two vampires.

Did you get that? Okay then. We use the zero article before an abstract noun or before a plural count noun. Simple as that.

Here are some sentences where we use the zero article. Imagination is what we need. As a rule, I don’t meet vampires after sunset. In both these sentences, there is a zero article before the noun — imagination (abstract noun); vampires (plural count noun).

We are almost done here. I need to tell you about the times when we use the definite article the before an abstract noun or a plural count noun. We use it when talking (or writing) about something specific. For instance: The imagination of a child is limitless. Or: The vampires from my hometown are quite friendly and reasonable. In both these sentences, we are referring to a specific type of noun — the imagination of a child; the vampires from my hometown.

When reading the newspaper or a report from work, see whether you can identify and ‘see’ the zero article.

That’s the end of this series on articles. Hope you’ve found it (somewhat) useful!

If you would like to read the previous two posts on articles, here they are:

https://amalfabian.com/2020/07/15/articles-articles-articles/

https://amalfabian.com/2020/07/22/articles-part-ii/