| How to Improve Your Grammar and Vocabulary Posted: 21 Feb 2020 04:00 PM PST Having a good grasp on grammar and vocabulary is important for your writing, speaking, and general interactions with other people. Improving your skills in each area is a great personal growth exercise that can benefit your everyday life. Start at the beginning and review the basics of sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, and word roots. Grow your vocabulary by reading, looking up words, and committing to use those words in your normal speech. For more help, enroll in courses and use language games and apps to make learning fun. [Edit]Reviewing Basic Grammar - Study foundational grammar rules. Even if you're a native language speaker, it never hurts to go back to the start and re-learn some of the basic grammar rules. Getting a grasp of technical rules can enhance your speech and writing while avoiding common mistakes. Either use an old textbook or look online for pages about grammar basics and study a bit every day to improve your grammar skills.[1]
- Books and online manuals like Purdue OWL and Chicago Manual of Style have information on all of the foundational grammar rules. Use them for the best information.
- Finding out which textbooks are used in college courses is another helpful way to find good resources.
- Review the rules of punctuation. Misuse of punctuation marks is a very common grammar mistake. While reviewing your grammar rules, pay attention to the correct usage of each punctuation mark to avoid mistakes in your writing.[2]
- Semicolons and dashes are often used incorrectly. Semicolons separate 2 independent sentence clauses that can stand on their own, but are related enough to make them part of the same sentence. Dashes connect groups of words in a sentence to emphasize a point, and are usually in the middle of a sentence.
- Remember that apostrophes show possession or indicate a missing letter in a contraction.
- Identify basic sentence structures to avoid mistakes. At a basic level, a sentence is a set of words or phrases that convey a complete idea. Typically, sentences contain a subject, verb, and object. There are many ways to construct a sentence, so review all of these building blocks to use them correctly.[3]
- Correct sentence order is usually subject, verb, and object. A simple sentence that follows this structure is "John opened the door."
- Watch out for sentence fragments. These lack a key part of the sentence structure. For example, "Opened the door" is a fragment because it's missing a subject. Make fragments complete sentences by adding another clause or word that fills in the blank.[4]
- Make sure your subjects and verb tenses agree with each other. For example, "They was running fast" is incorrect. "They were running fast" is the correct subject/verb agreement.
- Learn the prefixes and suffixes of words to figure out their meanings. In English, most words have Greek or Latin roots. Often, the beginning (prefix) or ending (suffix) of a word tells you something about that word's meaning. Study prefixes and suffixes so you can work out the meanings for words you've never seen before.[5]
- For example, you might not know what predisposition means. But because you've studied roots, you know that the prefix "pre-" means before, so you can at least get a basic grasp of the word's meaning.
- Suffixes work similarly. The suffix "-oid" means resembling, so you can tell that the word spheroid means something similar to a sphere.
- The nonprofit Center for Development and Learning has a comprehensive list of prefixes and suffixes at https://www.cdl.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Common-Prefixes-Suffixes-and-Roots-8.5.13.pdf.
- Eliminate the passive voice from your writing and speaking. The passive voice means that the subject of the sentence is not doing the action. For example, "The door was opened by him" is the passive version of "He opened the door." While it's not a grammatical error, the passive voice does make your writing wordy and much less clear. In most cases, avoiding it is best.[6]
- The easiest way to identify the passive voice is by asking yourself "Who or what is doing the action?" in this sentence. If it's not the subject, then you're probably using the passive voice.
- The passive voice is much more common in fiction writing as a stylistic choice. There are situations where it works for dramatic effect, so in these cases it's more acceptable.
- Say words and sentences out loud to identify mistakes. Sometimes, we can tell if a sentence or word is incorrect without actually knowing why. Something just sounds "off" about grammar mistakes. Get into the habit of saying your writing out loud while proofreading. This can help you identify potential problems and correct them.[7]
- Note that this doesn't always work. Some sentences may be entirely correct but sound strange. This tool is more of a guideline to identify potential mistakes.
- Analyze how other authors use grammar and punctuation. Reading widely is a great way to build your grammar and vocabulary. Look at different books, magazines, and websites to see how other authors construct their writing. Use their techniques in your own life.[8]
- Try to read things that have passed some kind of editorial process rather than unedited websites. Blogs, for example, may use incorrect grammar if no one is checking them, whereas magazines have editors that check for grammar accuracy.
- If you do read unedited things, try to identify and correct improper grammar as an exercise.
- Remember that reading older work may be less helpful because grammar rules change over time. A book from the 19th century, for example, will probably use grammar that you don't recognize, and using that grammar nowadays might be incorrect.
[Edit]Enhancing Your Vocabulary - Find new vocabulary words by reading different in subjects. Just like with grammar, reading is the best way to improve your vocabulary. Read widely, in many different genres, to encounter as many words as possible. Then keep track of the words you don't know to learn new ones.[9]
- Before looking up unfamiliar words, try to figure their meanings out by looking at prefixes, suffixes, and the sentence context.
- Try to focus on more advanced books and periodicals as your grammar improves. A higher-brow publication like The Atlantic will use more complicated words and grammar than the New York Post, for example, and you'll learn more vocabulary.
- Look up words you don't know in the dictionary. As you read, write down all the words you can't figure out and look them up later. Write down the word and its definition. Keep a journal of these new words and study them as you amass more. This will build your vocabulary in no time.[10]
- Either keep a dictionary near you or do an internet search for the word. Look up the other words on the page as well to learn even more.
- Use a thesaurus to find words related to the original word. In addition to simply defining the words you find, learn all the other words that mean the same thing. A thesaurus gives you all the synonyms of a given word. Looking up new words expands your vocabulary to include all the words that are related to the original word, building your knowledge more than just defining new words.[11]
- You can use a physical thesaurus, or look for one online and type the word in.
- A thesaurus also contains antonyms, or words that mean the opposite of a word. Looking at the antonyms builds your vocabulary even more.
- Incorporate the new words into your daily speech. Practice is the best way to enhance your vocabulary. As you learn more words, put them to use. Incorporate them into your daily speech to get used to using more advanced words.[12]
- Once easy way to do this is pick a new word each day and look for situations where you can use it. Try to use that word as much as possible throughout the day.
- When you get better, you can pick multiple words that you'd like to use throughout the day. Over time, you'll get very good at effortlessly using more advanced words in your normal speech.
- Eliminate nonspecific or filler words from your speech. Words like "umm" or "like" delay your speech and make you sound unsure of what you're saying. Try to eliminate them altogether. Also, general words like "good" and "bad" aren't very descriptive. Replace these words with more descriptive ones like "ecstatic" or "inconvenient." These make you sound more intelligent and confident in what you're saying.[13]
- Instead of using filler words, try to pause instead. This makes it look like you're thinking carefully about your responses.
- Always try to use the most descriptive words possible. General words don't say all that much, and make your vocabulary seem much smaller.
[Edit]Using Learning Aids - Enroll in a college course to review the rules of grammar. If you really want to improve your grammar, there are many courses you can choose from to refresh your skills. Local community colleges usually offer weekend or night classes for non-matriculated students who just want to learn new skills, so see if there are options in your area. There are also many online choices for you.[14]
- YouTube has many free instructional videos to improve your skills. For more in-depth, paid options, a site like Udemy has many courses that might appeal to you.
- If you don't want to take a whole course, get a textbook or test review book and work in it in your spare time.
- Pay attention to spell check while you're writing to catch mistakes. Most word processors now have a built-in spell check feature that highlights misspelled words and grammar mistakes. Pay attention to this feature to correct any mistakes. But also review why certain mistakes are wrong. If spell check identifies a sentence fragment, for example, look at what made that phrase a fragment. Then you'll expand your knowledge of grammar to avoid similar mistakes.[15]
- Remember that spell check doesn't catch everything. Don't rely on it completely. Proofread your work in addition to using spell check.
- Do crossword puzzles in your free time to learn new word definitions. These puzzles give you tons of new word options. Subscribe to a local newspaper and do the crossword puzzle every day. For more practice, get a whole book of crossword puzzles. Keep track of the new words you learn doing these puzzles to grow your vocabulary.[16]
- For an added exercise, pick one of the new words you learn in a crossword puzzle and use it in your everyday speech.
- Play word-based board games like Scrabble. These games are a fun way to grow your vocabulary with friends and family. Play for entertainment, but also keep track of the new words you see. Then write them down to use later on.[17]
- Add a challenge to your friends or family to use some of the words they learned while they talk. Include everyone on your mission to improve your vocabulary.
- Use vocabulary apps to learn new words. There are tons of free apps that will help you grow your vocabulary. The most common ones are "word a day" apps that give you a new word to use every day. Download a few of these apps and use them regularly. Over time, you can build a much larger vocabulary without a lot of effort.[18]
[Edit]References |
| How to Organize Your Bathroom Drawers Posted: 21 Feb 2020 08:00 AM PST Organizing your bathroom drawers can save you a lot of time during your morning routine and will make finding things in your bathroom a lot easier. Before you start arranging your bathroom products, you should clean out your drawers and separate your items into different categories. After you've organized them, you can use drawer dividers to keep them separated. If you organize your drawers using these methods and still don't have space, there are also alternative storage solutions you can use to organize all of your bathroom products. [Edit]Cleaning and Categorizing Drawers - Dump everything out of your drawers. Lay down a towel on a countertop or flat surface and dump the contents of your drawers onto the towel. Taking all of your products out of the drawers will make it easier to organize and categorize your products.[1]
- The towel will prevent glass items from breaking.
- Throw away expired items that you don't need. Look at the expiration label on the products in your bathroom to determine which products are expired. Makeup and medicine are 2 things in your bathroom that will often expire over time.[2]
- Throw away anything that you don't plan on using in the future. Go through the remainder of your items and get rid of things that you may have once used but that you don't use anymore. This could include things like a specific perfume or hair gel. If you haven't used something in over a year, there's a good chance you should throw it away.[3]
- Try to throw away as many unused products as you can to make room for new things.
- Separate your products into different categories. Group your items by the type of product or the time of day that you usually use the items. For instance, you can group shaving products, beauty care, and first aid items in separate categories. You can also separate items by how often you use them. If there are things you use on a daily basis, you can group them together. If there are things you just use occasionally, they can go in a separate category.
- You may also want to separate items into smaller sub-categories.
- For instance, when organizing beauty care products, create a category for your nail care items and a separate section for makeup.[4]
[Edit]Arranging Your Drawers with Drawer Dividers - Purchase drawer dividers online or at a department store. Drawer dividers will help you separate your products into different compartments and will make it easier to quickly locate the things that you need. Measure the dimensions inside of your drawers with a ruler or measuring tape, then find dividers that will fit inside of them.[5]
- Dividers will usually have size information on their packaging or in the product details.
- Insert the dividers into your drawers. Read the instructions that came with the dividers so you know how to properly install them. Unfold the dividers and place them into the bottom of the drawers. If your organizers shift around in your drawers, apply Command strips to the bottom of them to hold them in place.[6]
- Count the spaces in your drawer dividers so that you know how many different product categories you can separate.
- Place the most-used products in the top drawers. Figure out the stuff that you use on a daily basis and group them together. Place all the products that you use on a daily basis on the top drawer so that you can access them easily. The lesser-utilized products that you only use occasionally can go in the lower drawers.
- Items like face wash, toothpaste, makeup, and shaving equipment are often used on a daily basis.
- Things like first aid equipment can be put in lower drawers.
- Put the largest items in the largest compartment first. Large items could include things like combs, electric shavers, or facewash. Organizing them in your drawers first will leave enough room for smaller products. Continue to organize them by type, but group the larger things together and keep them in the same compartment.
- Put the rest of the products in their own compartment. Place the different products categories into their own compartment as neatly as possible. Avoid just throwing items into the compartments or it will look messy.[7]
- Avoid stacking items on top of daily-used products so that you can access them easier.
[Edit]Using Alternative Storage Solutions - Store your products in the medicine cabinet as an alternative to drawers. A medicine cabinet can also make great backup storage if you run out of space in your drawers. Arrange the products in your medicine cabinet as neatly possible. Group different types of products together as you would for your drawers.[8]
- Medicine cabinets are great for smaller items like medicine and face creams.
- Medicine cabinets are also great if you want to keep certain items away from small children.
- If you don't have a medicine cabinet in your home, you can install one yourself.
- Use the area under the sink to store larger items like cleaning supplies. The area under the sink is the perfect place to store cleaning products because there is often more room there. You can also put whatever bathroom items that don't fit in your drawers or medicine cabinet under the sink.[9]
- Larger items like a plunger or toilet scrubbing wands can also go under the sink.
- Place items in baskets if you have no drawer space. Purchase plastic or wood baskets from a department store or online. Put the baskets on top or under your sink and carefully put different categories of products in them. If your baskets are on your sink, put your daily-use items in them for easy accessibility.[10]
- You can also label each basket so that you can find your products faster.
- Store your items in a rolling cart if you don't have storage room. If you've used other storage solutions and still don't have space, you can buy a rolling cart from a department store or online. Organize the cart like you would your drawers so that you can easily access different categories of product.[11]
[Edit]References |
| How to Make an Avocado Dessert Posted: 21 Feb 2020 12:00 AM PST Avocado might not be the first ingredient you reach for when making dessert, but it could be. Avocado is a source of nutritious fats and its buttery texture means that it blends well with coconut and chocolate. To try an avocado dessert, make a pudding by blending avocado with cocoa and a little milk. You could also blend avocado with sweetened condensed milk and cream to create a no-churn avocado ice cream. If you want to downplay the flavor of avocado, mix a gluten-free brownie batter that includes avocado, chocolate chunks, and cocoa powder. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Chocolate Avocado Pudding - of ripe avocados
- of plain, chocolate, or non-dairy milk
- 3 to 5 tablespoons of (21 to 35 g) of unsweetened cocoa powder
- of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 1/4 teaspoon (1 g) of salt
- 2 to 3 ounces (30 to 45 g) of dark or bittersweet chocolate
- of sweetener, such as sugar, honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar
- 1 to 3 tablespoons (19 to 57 g) of coconut cream, optional
- 1/2 of a very ripe banana, optional
Makes 5 to 6 servings [Edit]Avocado Ice Cream - of ripe avocados
- 1 14-ounce (396 g) can of sweetened condensed milk
- of lemon juice
- 1 pinch of sea salt
- of heavy cream, chilled
Makes 6 servings [Edit]Fudgy Avocado Brownies - 2 ripe avocados
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (100 g) of granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup (135 g) of packed brown sugar
- 2/3 cup (85 g) of cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) of baking soda
- 1 1/2 cups (262 g) of chocolate chunks
- 1 pinch of salt
- of vanilla
Makes 9 brownies [Edit]Chocolate Avocado Pudding - Cut the avocados in 1/2 and scoop the flesh into a food processor. Put ripe avocados on a cutting board and carefully cut lengthwise through both sides of each avocado. Use your hands to twist the sides of the avocado apart. Then, use a spoon to remove the pits and scoop the flesh from each 1/2 into a food processor.[1]
- There's no need to cut the avocados into chunks since you'll be blending them.
- Add milk, cocoa, vanilla, and salt to the food processor. Pour of plain, chocolate, or non-dairy milk into the food processor. Then, add 3 tablespoons of (21 g) of unsweetened cocoa powder, of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste, and 1/4 teaspoon (1 g) of salt.[2]
- For example, use almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or hemp milk.
- If you'd like your pudding to have a stronger chocolate flavor, add an extra 2 tablespoons (14 g) of cocoa powder.
- Blend the ingredients for 30 to 45 seconds. Turn on the food processor and blend the ingredients until the avocados are completely smooth. You might have to stop the machine and scrape down the sides if bits of avocado are getting stuck.[3]
- Set aside the avocado mixture while you prepare the chocolate.
- Chop 2 to 3 ounces (30 to 45 g) of chocolate into pieces. Put dark or bittersweet chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids on your cutting board. Then, use a large knife to carefully cut the chocolate into chunks.[4]
- It's important to use a dark or bittersweet chocolate so your pudding has a rich flavor.
- Microwave the chocolate in 20-second increments until it's melted. Transfer the chocolate chunks to a microwave-safe bowl and heat the chocolate for 20 seconds. Stir the chocolate and microwave it for another 20 seconds. Stir frequently to help the chocolate melt evenly.[5]
- It will take 45 to 60 seconds total for the chocolate to melt.
- Stir of your choice of sweetener into the melted chocolate. To sweeten your avocado pudding, use sugar, honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar, for instance. Stir the sweetener into the chocolate until it's incorporated.
- Adding the sweetener will make the melted chocolate thicker.
- Scoop the melted chocolate into the avocado mixture. Take the lid off of the food processor or blender and scrape the melted chocolate into it. Avoid spooning the melted chocolate through the food processor's feeder tube because too much of the chocolate will stick to the tube.[6]
- Add coconut cream or a banana to the processor if you want to flavor the pudding. For a slight coconut flavor, add 1 to 3 tablespoons (19 to 57 g) of coconut cream to the food processor. If you want your pudding to be a little sweeter, add 1/2 of a very ripe banana.[7]
- The banana will also make the pudding smoother and thicker.
- Blend the pudding for 2 minutes or until it's completely smooth. Put the lid on the food processor and blend the ingredients for 1 minute. Then, stop the processor and scrape down the sides of the processor. Blend the pudding for 1 more minute so it's smooth and thick.[8]
- If the pudding is too thick for your liking, blend in your choice of milk at a time until it's the consistency you want.
- Chill the avocado pudding for 20 to 30 minutes before serving it. Spoon the pudding into a large bowl or individual serving bowls. Cover the pudding with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 20 to 30 minutes.[9]
- Refrigerate leftover pudding in an airtight container for up to 1 day.
[Edit]Avocado Ice Cream - Scoop the flesh from of avocados into a blender. Set the avocados on a cutting board and carefully slice lengthwise down each side of the avocados. Use both hands to twist the sides in opposite directions so the pieces separate. Then, lift the pit out with a spoon and discard it. Use a spoon to scoop the ripe avocado flesh into a blender.[10]
- If you don't have a blender, use a food processor instead.
- Put the sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, and salt in the blender. Open a 14-ounce (396 g) can of sweetened condensed milk and scoop it into the blender. Add of lemon juice and 1 pinch of sea salt.[11]
- Blend the ingredients until they're smooth and transfer them to a mixing bowl. Blend for at least 30 seconds so there aren't any chunks or pieces of avocado visible. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides of the blender if pieces get stuck. Once the avocado mixture is smooth, pour it into a large mixing bowl and set it aside.[12]
- Beat of heavy cream in a separate bowl on high speed. Pour the chilled cream into the bowl of a stand mixer and use a whisk attachment to beat the cream on high speed. Keep beating until the cream holds firm peaks.
- If you don't have a stand mixer, use a hand mixer instead.
- Fold the whipped cream into the avocado mixture until it's incorporated. Carefully spoon the whipped cream into the bowl using a spatula. To fold the whipped cream, hold the spatula and use a gentle twisting motion with your wrist to curve the spatula around and through the center of the mixture. Keep doing this until there aren't streaks of avocado.[13]
- It's important to fold the mixture instead of stir it since you're trying to keep the volume in the cream you whipped.
- Pour the mixture into a loaf pan and cover it with foil. Use the back of a spoon to make the mixture level in the pan before you cover it with aluminum foil.
- If you prefer, put the mixture into an ice cream maker instead. Follow your machine's operating instructions to freeze the avocado ice cream.
- Freeze the ice cream for 6 hours before serving it. Remove the loaf pan once the ice cream is completely firm. Then, scoop the avocado ice cream into serving bowls and enjoy!
- Because there are no preservatives in this ice cream, store the leftover ice cream in the freezer and use it within 1 day.
[Edit]Fudgy Avocado Brownies - Preheat the oven to and line a pan. Tear off a piece of parchment paper and lay it in the bottom of the baking pan. Set the pan aside while you prepare the batter.[14]
- If you don't have parchment paper, spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cut 2 avocados in 1/2 and scoop the flesh into a blender. Put the ripe avocados on a cutting board and carefully use a knife to cut the avocado lengthwise. Then, twist the avocado apart and use a spoon to scoop out the pit. Take the spoon and scoop the avocado flesh into a blender.[15]
- If you don't have a blender, use a food processor.
- Add 2 eggs, both types of sugar, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and vanilla to the blender. Crack the eggs into the blender and add 1/2 cup (100 g) of granulated sugar, 2/3 cup (135 g) of packed brown sugar, 2/3 cup (85 g) of cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon (5 g) of baking soda, 1 pinch of salt, and of vanilla.[16]
- This recipe doesn't contain flour so it's gluten-free.
- Blend the brownie batter for 30 seconds. Put the lid on and blend the ingredients until the avocado is completely smooth. Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender to ensure that avocado pieces aren't stuck.[17]
- Add 1 1/2 cups (262 g) of chocolate chunks and pour the batter into the pan. Pour the chocolate chips directly into the brownie batter, but don't use the blender to mix them. Pour the batter into the parchment paper-lined pan and use a spatula to scrape all of the batter out.[18]
- Bake the brownies for 20 to 25 minutes. Put the pan into the preheated oven and cook them until they start to pull away from the edge of the pan. To test if they're done, lightly touch the top of the brownies. If they're done, the brownies will feel firm and will spring back slightly.[19]
- If your finger leaves an indent, cook the brownies for another 3 to 5 minutes and check them again.
- Remove the brownies and cool them for 5 to 10 minutes before serving them. Turn off the oven and wear oven mitts to take the pan out of the oven. Let the brownies cool for 5 to 10 minutes so they're easier to cut. Serve the brownies warm or at room temperature.[20]
- Put leftover brownies in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 1 week. If you prefer, freeze them for up to 4 months.
- To tell if an avocado is ripe, press it gently. It should yield a little instead of being completely firm. You can also remove the little stem. The avocado under the stem should be green, not brown or black.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Chocolate Avocado Pudding - Measuring cups and spoons
- Knife and cutting board
- Food processor
- Spatula
- Serving bowls
- Microwave-safe bowl
[Edit]Avocado Ice Cream - Knife and cutting board
- Blender or food processor
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixer with whisk attachment
- Spatula
- loaf pan
- Aluminum foil
[Edit]Fudgy Avocado Brownies - Knife and cutting board
- pan
- Parchment paper
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Blender or food processor
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