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If elephants could write down their memories, they'd use their trunks. The Trunk is a collection of articles with advice on learning languages, writing, and communicating better in English.

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If you could solve one issue you’re always uncertain about when using English, what would it be?

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

We use idioms every day to express common beliefs.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsHealthcare EnglishLanguage Learning Tips

When you watch movies or listen to songs in English, are there famous lines or favourite quotes that stick in your mind?

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

Still hesitating whenever these popular pesky points pop up:

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

The trend to using less and less punctuation doesn’t mean you don’t need any at all.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsWriting in English

These three pairs of words look like they should be opposites, but are they?

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Category: Common English ConfusionsHealthcare English

People often hesitate when they have to decide between these two words.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsHealthcare EnglishLanguage Learning Tips

A common confusion is when to use ‘for’ to describe purpose and when to use ‘to’.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsHealthcare EnglishLanguage Learning Tips

Recycling doesn’t just benefit the environment.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

I like chocolate.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

All three involve our sense of sight, but there are differences.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsHealthcare EnglishLanguage Learning Tips

Safe vs secure

Sometimes, ‘safe’ and ‘secure’ are interchangeable, but not always.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsHealthcare English

Have you been using this power tool to its potential to advance your English skills?

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

Doing fun stuff like watching TV shows, reading books and listening to podcasts are valuable ways to beef up your English.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

With their similar sounds and meanings, ‘lay’ and ‘lie’ are easy to confuse.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsHealthcare EnglishLanguage Learning Tips

‘Myself’ isn’t a substitute for ‘me’.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

Sometimes you have to proceed with caution when copying native speakers.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

3 quick fixes

I hear and read these slips of the tongue all the time.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

We all know that a common confusion in English concerns pronunciation.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

In the current confusing chaos, we need courage and creativity.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips