Consider any information here as out-of-character. Use with care.
Improve Your English
Since a time, it can be observed that Germans do not master their language any more. But this is not restricted to Germans. Obviously the growing consumption of audio-visual media, esp. TV, leads to a loss of certainty and routine in the use of written language, and this is, for now, a special problem of our youth.
So this is not a sign of lacking intelligence or education, it is only a lack of exercise.
It always makes me laugh when I see native speakers of English confuse these word:
- there (here and there) - their (our and their)
- formally (in form and style) - formerly (in the past)
- whether (if) - weather (sun and rain)
- personal (own) - personnel (team, employees)
- boarder (pupil of a boarding school) - border (frontier)
- bare (blank and bare) - bear (carry, or: animal)
- here (here and there) - hear (hear and see)
- you're (something you are) - your (something belonging to you)
And here some more terms prone to mistake:
- existance (better: existence)
- more to come...
Spelling and pronunciation conflicts between the English and American languages can lead to ESL confusion:
- Fibre (UK) / Fiber (US) - as in optical fibre cable or getting more fibre into your diet
- Aluminium / Aluminum (US) - the latter being originally a trade name for aluminium products and since having stuck
- Hmmm, this list could get long...