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5 Practical Pointers

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  Writing a business email is often easier than speaking: you don’t have to worry about pronunciation, and you can take time to edit your message. But there are some rules to remember when writing emails. Here are some tips to keep in mind to ensure that your email makes a good impression. 1. Know Your Email Terms English email programs use lots of abbreviations, and if you don’t know them, your email asking your boss for a raise might end up going out to the entire office! “Reply to all”  means your email will be sent to everyone who received the originally letter you’re replying too. In the address section of the email, the  “cc” (carbon copy)  section sends copies of the email to the people you indicate, while the  “bcc”  section lets you send copies discreetly – the b stands for  “blind”  (hidden). If someone asks you to  “forward”  an email, they mean to send a copy of the email to them using the forward feature, which is sometimes abbreviated as  “fw.” 2. Use the Right Greeting A

Literary Genres (4): Fiction

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  Etymologically, the word fiction has been derived from Latin word “fictus,” which means “to form.” However, in literature, Merriam Webster defines it as, “literature in the form of prose, especially novels, that describes imaginary events and people.” In fact, it is one of the two branches of literature, the other being non-fiction. This particular branch of literature consists of stories, novels, and dramas based on made-up and fabricated stories and characters. Fiction contains certain symbolic and thematic features known as “literary merits.” In other words, fiction narrates a story, which aims at something bigger than merely a story. In this attempt, it comments on something significant related to social, political, or human related issues. Fiction may be based on stories of actual historical events. Although fictitious characters are presented in a fictitious setting in stories and novels, they may have some resemblance to real life events and characters. Writers alter their cha

“Thank You” in an English Email

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  When we’re sending emails, it’s easy to be too direct. This can upset the reader or cause offence. Saying “thank you” is a great way to make your email more polite and personal. What’s the best way to do it, though? Find out with our top ten ways to say “thank you” in an English email. The first five of our ways to show your thanks work best at the beginning of the email. Thanking your reader is a wonderful way of opening an email. It sets the right tone and makes the reader feel appreciated, which is very important if you want them to help you again in the future. 10. Thank you for contacting us If someone writes to enquire about your company’s services, begin your email with this sentence. Show your appreciation for their interest in working with your company. This is also a useful way to introduce the main topic of your email when used with the prepositions “about” or “regarding”. For example, “Thank you for contacting us regarding our current products and prices.” 9. Thank you fo

Learn English with the help

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  For decades, immersion has been considered one of the more efficient and thorough ways of learning a foreign language. The theory is that putting yourself in an environment where all, or a large majority, of the language spoken, is a second language you will naturally learn the language. Immersion also allows for continued growth. Immersion has a number of drawbacks. The skills acquired are mostly conversational with only basic written language skills, and the ability to immerse yourself in another culture was not available to everyone. The digital age has changed the learning landscape dramatically. Not only is it easy to learn English online in self-paced programs, but it is also amazingly easy to immerse yourself an English environment for at least part of each day. How to learn English with the help of Netflix Due to its wide scope of English language programmes available, it is fairly simple to find programs that fit your current level of understanding. Using Netflix in conjunct

Literary Genres (3): Fantasy

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Fantasy is a form of literary genre in which a plot cannot occur in the real world. Its plot usually involves witchcraft or magic, taking place on an undiscovered planet of an unknown world. Its overall theme and setting involve a combination of technology, architecture, and language, which sometimes resemble European medieval ages. The most interesting thing about fantasies is that their plot involves witches, sorcerers, mythical and animal creatures talking like humans, and other things that never happen in real life. Examples of Fantasy Fantasy stories can be about anything, anywhere, anytime with essentially no limitations on what is possible. A seemingly simple plotline can be made into a fantasy with just one quick moment: Susie sat at her table with all of her favorite dolls and stuffed animals. It was afternoon tea time, and she started serving each of her pretend friends as she did every other day. But today was no ordinary day. As Susie reached the chair where she had sat her

Expand Your Vocabulary

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  From keeping up with the latest celebrity gossip to finding out about current events, newspapers and magazines have it covered. But did you know that you can actually use newspapers and magazines to improve your English vocabulary? Read on to find out how to improve your English vocabulary while having fun at the same time! Apps First, install a couple of English-language news apps or magazines on your smartphone or laptop. For example, if you’re into current events try this newspaper. Gentlemen, if you are into fitness try this magazine, ladies try this one. Fashionistas could head to here. On iPhone, search on the App Store or on Android, search on Google Play. Make Time Next, make time in your day to check out the latest stories. You could read during a lunch break or at home in the evenings. The more that reading in English becomes a habit, the better your English will become! Remember, only read about things that interest you. This will keep you interested and stop you getting b

The Old Man and the Sea (2)

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  The Old Man and the Sea is a short novel written by the American author Ernest Hemingway in 1951 in Cayo Blanco (Cuba), and published in 1952. It was the last major work of fiction written by Hemingway that was published during his lifetime. One of his most famous works, it tells the story of Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman who struggles with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Cuba. In 1953, The Old Man and the Sea was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and it was cited by the Nobel Committee as contributing to their awarding of the Nobel Prize in Literature to Hemingway in 1954. “No. I know others better.” “Que Va,” the boy said. “There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you.” “Thank you. You make me happy. I hope no fish will come along so great that he will prove us wrong.” “There is no such fish if you are still strong as you say.” “I may not be as strong as I think,” the old man said. “But I know many tricks and I have