WhiteSmoke Blog
Welcome to the WhiteSmoke blog! Here you will find great tips and tricks for your English writing. Expect to find "How to Write" tutorials, explanations of English grammar rules, and the latest WhiteSmoke press releases, keeping you up to date on our writing technologies and other issues relevant for English writing.
If you have questions about English writing or English grammar, feel free to drop by and register at our English Writing Forum, moderated by our in-house Top Experts.
Do you want to bookmark the WhiteSmoke blog, submit it to your favorite news or social media site, or receive blog updates by RSS feed?
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If you have questions about English writing or English grammar, feel free to drop by and register at our English Writing Forum, moderated by our in-house Top Experts.
Do you want to bookmark the WhiteSmoke blog, submit it to your favorite news or social media site, or receive blog updates by RSS feed?
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June 2
Hot for Words, Hot for WhiteSmoke
Have you heard of HotForWords? Marina has taken You Tube by storm with her combination of intelligent lessons on English vocabulary and grammar, and her looks. As one of the most viewed channels on You Tube, we were very excited when Marina made a video about WhiteSmoke! Of course, we know that WhiteSmoke can help people writing in English with its intelligent grammar checking, spell checking and text enrichment capabilities, but don't take it from us, hear what Marina has to say! |
May 16
WhiteSmoke Survey: “85% of all writing contains at least one grammar error.”
The majority of adults are unable to write letters, emails or presentations without making grammatical errors, according to a survey released today by WhiteSmoke Inc., developers of an advanced English language grammar and writing engine that is popular worldwide.'Be', 'have', 'do', 'in’, ‘on’, and ‘at' caused the most problems, with 27% of writers forgetting to include these words when needed in simple sentences. Also missing were ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’ in the 5,000 pages of text analyzed by WhiteSmoke.
Despite numerous errors, nearly one half of 1,000 survey participants, age 18 – 80, claimed good grammar and spelling were important to them when writing or receiving written material.
While 50% took time to check their writing for grammar errors before they sent it to their bosses, one in five said they paid less attention to grammar when writing to friends and family. Surprisingly, colleagues and customers get short changed on grammar – only 11% of the survey participants said grammar mattered when sending material to these individuals.
The text analysis and research by WhiteSmoke coincides with the launch of its latest release-- WhiteSmoke 2008 Extended Edition. The 5,000 writing samples were analyzed by the software leader’s team of linguists and 85% of all documents contained one or more errors.
Continue Reading "WhiteSmoke Survey: Grammar Errors"...
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May 10
New Release: WhiteSmoke 2008 Extended Edition
Wilmington, Delaware, 6 May 2008. WhiteSmoke today launched the new WhiteSmoke 2008 Extended Edition of its advanced grammar and writing software, which is designed to dramatically improve individual writing style and eliminate embarrassing mistakes due to poor writing skills.WhiteSmoke 2008 Extended Edition builds on the current features, that make WhiteSmoke a leader in its field, and takes them to a new level of functionality. Features include:
1. The new Community-based Spell Checker that dynamically monitors new words and spelling trends in English based on frequency of use, and adds appropriate words to the database. Recent additions include “Facebook” and “Obama”.
2. The new Enrichment on Demand feature enables users to simply hover over any word and, where appropriate, synonyms will be offered immediately. This feature can be used in conjunction with WhiteSmoke's dictionary to provide users with powerful tools to improve vocabulary.
3. The Grammar Error Explanation feature provides users with the option of reading the grammar rule behind an error correction, thereby helping them learn from their mistakes.
4. The new AutoCorrect feature is for users who want to work quickly by allowing WhiteSmoke to correct certain errors automatically.
5. The re-branded Biotech Version (formerly the Medical Version) of WhiteSmoke for professionals and managers writing in the medical, biotech and related healthcare industries features over 130,000 medical and life science terms and definitions.
Continue Reading about "WhiteSmoke 2008 Extended Edition"...
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April 15
Suprising Results in the WhiteSmoke Spelling Survey
Over the last week we have released the results of a spelling survey commissioned by WhiteSmoke. The results have attracted widespread attention, from the USA, to the UK, India, Australia and beyond. The survey shows that a large percentage of native English-speaking adults cannot spell basic words in English.If you would like to take some of the survey questions to see just how well you spell, go straight to the quiz page now:
WhiteSmoke Spelling Quiz
Read more about the survey here:
Adult's Can't Spell
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April 9
English as a Second Language
English is the most studied subject in the world today. In a global society composed of numerous nations speaking different languages, having English as a common medium for communication has resulted in the need to educate hundreds of millions in the language skills needed for success in the spheres of education, business, academia, and the media. Aiding in the worldwide effort to bring English to everyone, the WhiteSmoke English writing software is an excellent tool for editing and proofreading your English texts.There is a bewildering array of terms denoting English language study, with ESL and EFL being the most prominent. When a T is added to the acronyms, they refer to teachers, as in TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language). English is the native language of the U.K, the U.S, Canada, South-Africa, Australia, and New-Zealand. It also holds a prominent status as second national language in India, some European countries, the Caribbean etc. A person learning English in these countries (usually immigrants and refugees) would be studying English as a second language, as the language is widely heard and seen in all walks of life, from street signs, printed and electronic media to major cultural events, and used by most people walking in the street.
In other countries, such as China, the Congo, Argentina, or Japan, a person studying the language would be referred to as studying English as a foreign language. This is because English is rarely visible publicly with most people using their own native tongue for all their needs. A continuum can therefore be made up, with ESL and EFL at its two extremes. There are unique challenges in learning English characteristic to either one of these learning situations, but generally speaking, having the language around you (ESL) makes it easier and faster to acquire by most learners.
Continue Reading "English as a Second Language"
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April 8
Don't Hesitate, Hyphenate!
Hyphen use is one of those tricky corners of the English language. The fact is, many people writing English are not really sure when they need to use a hyphen. There are many cases, such as with compound adjectives, where hyphens are required to emphasize the connection between the words that together modify the noun. Then there are cases where, due to style, common practice, or the advent of newly formed words, hyphens are an essential part of a word's spelling.Confused?
Our Top Expert has put together two articles that will help you understand exactly when you need a hyphen, and when you don't. The first focuses on use of the hyphen as a punctuation mark within a sentence structure. The second focuses on the specific use of hyphens in the spelling of certain words. So, don't hesitate, read the following articles and start hyphenating!:
Use of the Hyphen in English Punctuation
Use of the Hyphen in English Spelling
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April 3
The Rough Guide to Plural Nouns in English
Our Top Expert has just finished a great article for English learners and seasoned native speakers alike - an overview of plural forms of nouns. For learners, the article will provide a broad and informative introduction to the various plural forms of nouns in English. For seasoned native speakers, the article contains some interesting information on unusual plural forms. Check it out at the link below:Singular and Plural Nouns in English
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March 27
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About English Verb Tenses But Were Afraid to Ask!
Our Top Expert has put together another great article, this time a great primer on English verb tenses. Here is an excerpt:"Some argue that English only actually has two tenses, as only the Present Simple and the Past Simple change the verb form (inflect), while others make use of a variety of auxiliary verbs in order to be formed. However, for the ease of learning the tenses successfully and systematically, we use the below terminology that makes life much easier. The verb tenses in Old English were much more complicated, as verbs inflected for person, tense, aspect, and mood, as still in other languages nowadays. The verb forms in Modern English are relatively simple."
To continue reading about tenses in the English language, go to the full article:
English Verb Tenses
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March 26 2008
User Question: How Do I Go about Writing and Planning a Text?
It is an age old problem, and a question we get asked by WhiteSmoke users often: What is the best way to approach a piece of writing, be it an essay, a letter to a prospective client, or even just a letter to a friend? Well, our Top Expert has written a new article on English writing, outlining a step-by-step process to help you get started writing any text and convey your ideas successfully. So, if you sometimes struggle with organizing your thoughts and getting them down on paper, check out the article, and write better, right now!:English Writing: The Writing Process
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March 20 2008
WhiteSmoke Opens Technical Operations in San Francisco to Meet US Demand
SAN FRANCISCO, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- WhiteSmoke, the leading software company developing innovative solutions for correcting and enhancing English writing, today announced that Americans are most likely to use its award-winning English writing software. 85% of its 700,000 downloads to date stem from the US. This rising demand has led WhiteSmoke to open new technical operations in San Francisco to better meet US demand for its all-in-one writing software which includes an advanced grammar checker, text enrichment and a spellchecker.WhiteSmoke puts its recent increase in user numbers down to its highly successful Easter promotion, which has driven downloads of the unique software to over 700,000 at www.whitesmoke.com. Although the company offers both US and UK English versions and has an international customer base, it seems that more Americans want to improve written English across all age groups and occupations.
Continue Reading the Latest WhiteSmoke Press Release....
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March 10 2008
"To Be" or Not "To Be"
Is that the question?Well, if you have ever wondered about the verb "to be" in English, your questions have been answered by our Top Expert in the latest WhiteSmoke English lesson. From its forms and meaning through to its uses in various contexts, this simple guide will help you better understand all the ways you can "be" in English.
Continue Reading "The Verb 'To Be' in English"...
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March 4 2008
WhiteSmoke Google Gadget Launched to Improve Writing for Google Users
New WhiteSmoke Google Gadget corrects spelling and grammar mistakes and enriches your “Googlish” text
WhiteSmoke announces the immediate availability of its new WhiteSmoke Google Gadget:
WhiteSmoke Gadget in the Google Gadget Directory
Joining numerous other applications and services already available as Google gadgets, the WhiteSmoke Google Gadget brings award-winning English grammar checking, spell checking, and text enrichment to users of a range of Google services, such as iGoogle and Google Page Creator. Blogger, Google’s giant blog network, currently supports Google gadgets in its “draft” mode.
The free and user-friendly WhiteSmoke Google Gadget is based on the recently launched WhiteSmoke 2008 grammar application. Gadget users can either copy-paste or type in a text and have it analyzed using the full power of the WhiteSmoke grammar engine. Spelling mistakes are marked in red, grammar and punctuation mistakes in green, and text enrichment suggestions in blue. WhiteSmoke’s text enrichment feature includes suggestions for synonyms and contextually-based additions of adjectives and adverbs. After users correct their text, they can copy-paste it to whatever application they need.
Continue Reading "Grammar Checker Google Gadget Launched"...
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February 27 2008
Grammar and Spelling Correction Company WhiteSmoke Awarded Five Stars for its Website in the Good Web Guide
PRESS: Wilmington Delaware, 26 February 2008. WhiteSmoke today announced that it has been awarded a top five-star rating in the definitive guide to the best sites on the Internet – the Good Web Guide.
A US-based company, WhiteSmoke Inc. develops US and British English editions of its grammar and spell checking software that “helps you improve your whole experience of written communication - at home, at the workplace and on the Internet, ” according to the Good Web Guide.
Based on natural language processing (NLP) technology, WhiteSmoke’s all-in-one program provides a wide range of tools for editing a user’s writing, including a http://www.whitesmoke.com/grammar-check.htmlgrammar checker, a spell checker, and a unique text enrichment feature. These core features are supplemented by a proprietary English dictionary and thesaurus, and over 600 writing templates. WhiteSmoke works everywhere you write, including your favorite desktop applications or social media sites.
Continue Reading "The Good Web Guide Review WhiteSmoke"...
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A US-based company, WhiteSmoke Inc. develops US and British English editions of its grammar and spell checking software that “helps you improve your whole experience of written communication - at home, at the workplace and on the Internet, ” according to the Good Web Guide.
Based on natural language processing (NLP) technology, WhiteSmoke’s all-in-one program provides a wide range of tools for editing a user’s writing, including a http://www.whitesmoke.com/grammar-check.htmlgrammar checker, a spell checker, and a unique text enrichment feature. These core features are supplemented by a proprietary English dictionary and thesaurus, and over 600 writing templates. WhiteSmoke works everywhere you write, including your favorite desktop applications or social media sites.
Continue Reading "The Good Web Guide Review WhiteSmoke"...
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February 24 2008
Lots of English Lesson Updates!
Over the last month there has been a lot of activity over at our Free English Lessons Portal. Our local Top Expert has been writing a series of articles on English grammar, including some on everyone's favorite subject - English verb tenses. You can go straight to the English Lessons Portal and navigate your way through the content there.
Present Simple Tense
Past Simple Tense
Present Progressive Tense
Past Progressive Tense
English Verbs - Basic Terms
English Verbs - More Terms
Irregular Verbs in English - Part 1
Irregular Verbs in English - Part 2
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Present Simple Tense
Past Simple Tense
Present Progressive Tense
Past Progressive Tense
English Verbs - Basic Terms
English Verbs - More Terms
Irregular Verbs in English - Part 1
Irregular Verbs in English - Part 2
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February 24 2008
Spelling Rules for the Verb Tenses in English
Our Top Expert has just written an article called "Spelling Rules for Verb Tenses in English". There you will find a range of tricks and tips for learning how spelling changes depending on the tense of the word. This article will be particularly handy for readers who are learning English as a Second Language, or Business English.
So, if you want to know when to use "-ed" or "-d", whether to add "-s" or "-es", or when exactly you should use "-ing", click below to read the full article:
Spelling Rules for Verb Tenses in English
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So, if you want to know when to use "-ed" or "-d", whether to add "-s" or "-es", or when exactly you should use "-ing", click below to read the full article:
Spelling Rules for Verb Tenses in English
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February 12 2008
WhiteSmoke's OEM Grammar Engine Embedded in the Q Group's Online English Courses
WILMINGTON, Del.--(Business Wire)--
WhiteSmoke, developer of world-leading English grammar and writing
software, and The Q Group, developer of innovative solutions for
online English language learning, today announce the integration of
WhiteSmoke's OEM Grammar Engine with The Q Group's e-learning
programs.
Continue Reading "OEM Grammar Checker Integration"...
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WhiteSmoke, developer of world-leading English grammar and writing
software, and The Q Group, developer of innovative solutions for
online English language learning, today announce the integration of
WhiteSmoke's OEM Grammar Engine with The Q Group's e-learning
programs.
Continue Reading "OEM Grammar Checker Integration"...
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February 10 2008
The Demise of Good English
Will being the international language also lead to the downfall of English?
Microsoft, the BBC, McDonald’s, Queen Elizabeth II, Shakespeare, Madonna, MTV, the Beatles, Hollywood, CNN – Anglophonic culture represented by the English language is all over the planet. English is today’s “lingua franca”, that is, the language used for international communication by speakers whose native tongue is not English. It is used for international business, serves academic circles, and is the most prevalent language on the Internet and in popular media. Will English as we know it continue to dominate the global public sphere?
Continue Reading "The Demise of Good English"...
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Continue Reading "The Demise of Good English"...
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January 9 2008
WhiteSmoke English Language Use Statistics
Our press release of a couple of days ago, based on our research into common errors made in English writing, has garnered quite some interest in the press: among others, publictechnology.net and startups.co.uk ran articles based on our statistics.
This interest shows that now more than ever there is a growing awareness that bad grammar reflects badly on the message the writer is trying to convey. This problem has been amplified online, as people seem to miss more errors in their writing. Whether you are a corporate professional writing important business documents, or a blogger writing about your niche interests, good grammar will help you achieve your goals more effectively.
WhiteSmoke gives you the integrated solution you need for great writing, with its online grammar checker, spell checker and text enrichment features. Write better, right now.
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This interest shows that now more than ever there is a growing awareness that bad grammar reflects badly on the message the writer is trying to convey. This problem has been amplified online, as people seem to miss more errors in their writing. Whether you are a corporate professional writing important business documents, or a blogger writing about your niche interests, good grammar will help you achieve your goals more effectively.
WhiteSmoke gives you the integrated solution you need for great writing, with its online grammar checker, spell checker and text enrichment features. Write better, right now.
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January 7 2008
THIS IS A WHITESMOKE PRESS RELEASE
Most People Need to Watch their Language at Work
Despite the ready availability of free spelling and grammar checkers, 60% of all business correspondence STILL gets sent containing one or more grammar or spelling errors, according to the results of a study released today by WhiteSmoke, developer of the world's leading English writing software solutions. Many of the errors can be traced to free word processing checkers that do not perform context-based text modifications, a field in which WhiteSmoke is a forerunner.
Continue Reading "Most People Need to Watch Their Language at Work"...
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Continue Reading "Most People Need to Watch Their Language at Work"...
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January 2 2008
Free Essay Writing Help
Welcome to the New Year! We'll start this year with a collection of articles for students - a whole range of articles to help you write better essays. From specific advice on how to write a conclusion, through to more general articles on how to write a research paper or how to write a book review, the WhiteSmoke articles for essay writing will get you off to a good start in 2008.
Follow this link for the full range of essay writing articles:
Free Essay Writing Articles
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Follow this link for the full range of essay writing articles:
Free Essay Writing Articles
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December 31 2007
Free Letter Writing Articles
WhiteSmoke has created a range of free articles for any letter you need to write. Use our letter writing templates to help sharpen your writing for any occasion. There is something here for everyone, from a letter of apology template through to tips on writing a cover letter for a job application. So, if you need to get a headstart on a letter, head over to the Free Letter Writing Articles page now:
Free Letter Writing Templates by WhiteSmoke
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Free Letter Writing Templates by WhiteSmoke
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December 30 2007
WhiteSmoke Free Business Writing Articles
I previously indicated that I will try to cover more business writing on this blog, following some requests from readers. A good place for anyone interested in Business English or business writing in general would be our index of business writing articles. We create new content regularly, so make sure to keep checking back. To go to the business writing article index, follow this link:
Free Business Writing Articles by WhiteSmoke
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Free Business Writing Articles by WhiteSmoke
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December 26 2007
English Vocabulary: Wait, There's More!
We continue our guide to English vocabulary with Part 2 of our history of English vocabulary.
The Renaissance arrived to England in around 1500 with a burst of literary works being published in Early Modern English thanks to the developments in mass printing. It was only at this time that some initial consolidation was beginning to occur in the language's vocabulary. After centuries of the church dictating religious guidelines for the cultural and spiritual life of Europeans, an increased nostalgic interest in the humanistic values of ancient Greece and Rome produced a torrent of unparalleled creativity.
Scholarly research was written in Latin, as English was considered poor in vocabulary and too crude for expressing abstract ideas. A large portion of such words were originally Latin but entered English through their French manifestation. The education of children, however, was now being carried out in English. This entailed the use of new words from Greek, while Latin continued to be a steady source of vocabulary.
Continue Reading "English Vocabulary: Modern Times"...
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The Renaissance arrived to England in around 1500 with a burst of literary works being published in Early Modern English thanks to the developments in mass printing. It was only at this time that some initial consolidation was beginning to occur in the language's vocabulary. After centuries of the church dictating religious guidelines for the cultural and spiritual life of Europeans, an increased nostalgic interest in the humanistic values of ancient Greece and Rome produced a torrent of unparalleled creativity.
Scholarly research was written in Latin, as English was considered poor in vocabulary and too crude for expressing abstract ideas. A large portion of such words were originally Latin but entered English through their French manifestation. The education of children, however, was now being carried out in English. This entailed the use of new words from Greek, while Latin continued to be a steady source of vocabulary.
Continue Reading "English Vocabulary: Modern Times"...
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December 23 2007
Just How Many English Words Are There?
We have just opened up our Guide to English Vocabulary with a two part article on the history of English Vocabulary. Today we will look at Part 1, and tomorrow Part 2.
The English language has become the international language. In addition to the 400 million people speaking English as a first language, about 800 million use or study English as a second/ foreign language. As English grammar is relatively simple compared to other languages, it is the vastness of English vocabulary which poses a real challenge in the quest to master the language.
Almost every word in English seems to have many synonym sets with rough to subtle differences in meaning between members of each set. For example, to name the place where one lives, you can use home, house, quarters, or lodging (standard); residence, domicile, or habituation (formal); and shack, digs, spot, or pad (informal, slang). A set of words can also be found to describe a person who talks a lot: articulate, eloquent, fluent (positive connotation); vocal, talkative, verbose (neutral connotation); chattering, gossipy, and gabby (negative connotation). There just seems to be no end to English words.
The most complete dictionary of English, the Oxford English Dictionary, or OED (second edition, 20 volumes, 1989) has more than 600,000 word entries (including archaic forms and variant spellings). Nevertheless, English is estimated to have more than a 1,000,000 words, as the second half of the 20th century enriched the language with an abundance of specialist, technical and scientific terms, not to mention slang and contributions from local English varieties (American, British, Australian & New-Zealander English, Indian English, and more). Just for comparison, Arabic has "only" 200,000 words, German 160,000, French 140,000, Japanese 116,000, and Hebrew 100,000 (rough estimates).
Continue Reading "English Vocabulary: The Beginnings"...
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The English language has become the international language. In addition to the 400 million people speaking English as a first language, about 800 million use or study English as a second/ foreign language. As English grammar is relatively simple compared to other languages, it is the vastness of English vocabulary which poses a real challenge in the quest to master the language.
Almost every word in English seems to have many synonym sets with rough to subtle differences in meaning between members of each set. For example, to name the place where one lives, you can use home, house, quarters, or lodging (standard); residence, domicile, or habituation (formal); and shack, digs, spot, or pad (informal, slang). A set of words can also be found to describe a person who talks a lot: articulate, eloquent, fluent (positive connotation); vocal, talkative, verbose (neutral connotation); chattering, gossipy, and gabby (negative connotation). There just seems to be no end to English words.
The most complete dictionary of English, the Oxford English Dictionary, or OED (second edition, 20 volumes, 1989) has more than 600,000 word entries (including archaic forms and variant spellings). Nevertheless, English is estimated to have more than a 1,000,000 words, as the second half of the 20th century enriched the language with an abundance of specialist, technical and scientific terms, not to mention slang and contributions from local English varieties (American, British, Australian & New-Zealander English, Indian English, and more). Just for comparison, Arabic has "only" 200,000 words, German 160,000, French 140,000, Japanese 116,000, and Hebrew 100,000 (rough estimates).
Continue Reading "English Vocabulary: The Beginnings"...
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December 20 2007
THIS IS A WHITESMOKE PRESS RELEASE
Last Minute Holiday Gift Idea: Give the Write Gift for 2008 Job Seekers
PRNewswire WILMINGTON, Delaware December 19 -- Do you know someone who needs help with their writing, or plans to look for a new or better job in the New Year? WhiteSmoke, the world's leading English writing enhancement software [ www.whitesmoke.com ], could be the right choice for a practical last-minute holiday gift.
Unlike ordinary grammar and spell checkers, WhiteSmoke 2008 checks spelling in context -- such as write and right -- as well as grammar and punctuation. What's more, this personal technology gift offers an active thesaurus that automatically suggests alternative and additional words for the user, based on its analysis of millions of pages of real business documents. There is also a dictionary which pops up at the click of the mouse to save time looking up unfamiliar words, and over 600 resume and letter templates for just about any business situation.
Continue Reading "Give the Write Gift for 2008 Job Seekers"...
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Unlike ordinary grammar and spell checkers, WhiteSmoke 2008 checks spelling in context -- such as write and right -- as well as grammar and punctuation. What's more, this personal technology gift offers an active thesaurus that automatically suggests alternative and additional words for the user, based on its analysis of millions of pages of real business documents. There is also a dictionary which pops up at the click of the mouse to save time looking up unfamiliar words, and over 600 resume and letter templates for just about any business situation.
Continue Reading "Give the Write Gift for 2008 Job Seekers"...
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December 19 2007
Dreaming of a WhiteSmoke Christmas
With Christmas Day rapidly approaching, time is running out for gift buying. Even though there is a plethora of options, sales and special deals, we still sometimes find ourselves looking for something different to buy; something useful for a family member or a friend. With so many of our loved ones spending time on computers and the Internet at work, school, and during their free time, a software program can be both an interesting and a practical Christmas gift.
WhiteSmoke is the type of software program that almost anyone can find a use for. It is an English writing and grammar tool that runs with any other application you are working in. If you write, either at work, at school, or privately with friends on Facebook or your favorite chat program, you can benefit from WhiteSmoke. WhiteSmoke makes sure your writing is totally free of spelling and grammar errors, and even suggests ways to enrich your writing with synonyms, adverbs and adjectives.
Continue Reading "Dreaming of a WhiteSmoke Christmas"...
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WhiteSmoke is the type of software program that almost anyone can find a use for. It is an English writing and grammar tool that runs with any other application you are working in. If you write, either at work, at school, or privately with friends on Facebook or your favorite chat program, you can benefit from WhiteSmoke. WhiteSmoke makes sure your writing is totally free of spelling and grammar errors, and even suggests ways to enrich your writing with synonyms, adverbs and adjectives.
Continue Reading "Dreaming of a WhiteSmoke Christmas"...
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December 18 2007
WhiteSmoke YouTube Channel - New Video
WhiteSmoke can improve just about anyone's writing - as this video shows! Check it out, and subscribe to the WhiteSmoke YouTube Channel for more fun videos, as well as screencasts of the WhiteSmoke program, in the coming months!
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December 18 2007
How to Write a Letter Calling for Community Action
Today we have a different type of article to give WhiteSmoke Blog readers. As members of various local communities, there often comes a time to protest against a government plan for the neighborhood, or the establishment of a new industry on our waterways. Whatever the community issue may be, crafting a course of action depends on the ability of the community to communicate its needs and wants effectively - that is where good writing comes into play. Read on:
Being part of a community can sometimes involve acting together for the common good. Local environmental problems, or safety concerns after dark, for instance, are issues that could require collective action for change. If you want to call on the community to act on a particular issue, you must begin with a strong and persuasive letter to all community residents outlining the problem and suggesting a course of action. Your letter needs to make the community see the problem as its own, and therefore be willing to act together for the common good.
Continue Reading "How to Write a Letter Calling for Community Action"...
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Being part of a community can sometimes involve acting together for the common good. Local environmental problems, or safety concerns after dark, for instance, are issues that could require collective action for change. If you want to call on the community to act on a particular issue, you must begin with a strong and persuasive letter to all community residents outlining the problem and suggesting a course of action. Your letter needs to make the community see the problem as its own, and therefore be willing to act together for the common good.
Continue Reading "How to Write a Letter Calling for Community Action"...
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December 17 2007
Develop Your Career With Better English
Career development is a lifelong project. There are many aspects to consider, and if you are really serious about knowing where you are going career-wise, it is a good idea to design a career development plan. This can be done by yourself, or as part of a career development program. Here we will talk about one small but important element of career development - English communication, and how a solid English writing tool like WhiteSmoke can help you progress along your career path.
There was a time when career development was a project undertaken by an employer and an employee together, but in the current business environment, the responsibility is on you as the employee to design your own career path. This reflects the nature of the contemporary job market in general, where people no longer develop their career in one company, but instead changes jobs many times throughout their working life.
Continue Reading "Develop Your Career With Better English"...
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There was a time when career development was a project undertaken by an employer and an employee together, but in the current business environment, the responsibility is on you as the employee to design your own career path. This reflects the nature of the contemporary job market in general, where people no longer develop their career in one company, but instead changes jobs many times throughout their working life.
Continue Reading "Develop Your Career With Better English"...
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December 16 2007
Improving Your Pitch
When writing a business pitch or other company related documents, many people let themselves down because of grammatical and stylistic mistakes. But follow the eight useful tips below and your next pitch will be more effective, more powerful and error-free.
1. Avoid tired hyperbole - Too many companies "think outside the box," use "state of the art solutions", "have a team-oriented approach" and "partner with their clients." Prospective clients can glaze over when they hear these shop-worn business boasts hyperbolically used "ad infinitum" or dare we say "ad disgustum?"
2. Remember the motto: "It IS all about YOU" - We become consultants because we want to sell OUR personal services and expertise TO someone who needs US and is willing to pay US for our special expertise. Next time, remember this - people hire professionals! This is why you should make sure your next proposal addresses the client directly: "We will do this for you, the way you want it done, and we will do it better and faster than the competition...."
Continue Reading "Improving Your Pitch"...
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1. Avoid tired hyperbole - Too many companies "think outside the box," use "state of the art solutions", "have a team-oriented approach" and "partner with their clients." Prospective clients can glaze over when they hear these shop-worn business boasts hyperbolically used "ad infinitum" or dare we say "ad disgustum?"
2. Remember the motto: "It IS all about YOU" - We become consultants because we want to sell OUR personal services and expertise TO someone who needs US and is willing to pay US for our special expertise. Next time, remember this - people hire professionals! This is why you should make sure your next proposal addresses the client directly: "We will do this for you, the way you want it done, and we will do it better and faster than the competition...."
Continue Reading "Improving Your Pitch"...
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December 13 2007
The Guide to Effective Sales Writing
Quality sales writing is an art which requires a delicate balance between intelligent English writing with an appealing writing style, sharp sales skills, and an accurate understanding of the wants and needs of the target audience. Good sales writing will not only speak to existing needs, but persuade the customer to see new benefits they can enjoy from the product or service in question. In order to improve your sales writing to be more compelling and resonate with a wider audience, you need to simultaneously improve your understanding of the content you need to write, and work on your sales pitch through correct grammar, greater English vocabulary and an exciting writing style.
Continue Reading "The Guide to Effective Sales Writing"...
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Continue Reading "The Guide to Effective Sales Writing"...
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December 3 2007
Why in the World is English Spelling So Crazy?
One of our resident Top Experts has just written a great article on English spelling, showing some of the historical influences that have led to the spelling standards we have today. Here is an excerpt:
"During the rather complex history of English, the language has been subjected to numerous influences that resulted in it actually becoming a mixture of other languages, benefiting from abundant contributions to its vocabulary, but also blending different spelling systems. These contribute to the irregular and sometimes incredibly inconsistent and confusing spelling of the written language, which in turn interacts with a varied and sometimes unpredictable pronunciation. In order to master English spelling, one needs to learn a great many spelling rules and be aware of the numerous possible letter combinations."
The full article provides further interesting information on English spelling, and marks the beginning of our English Spelling Guide - part of our free English Lessons series.
Continue Reading "An Introduction to English Spelling"...
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"During the rather complex history of English, the language has been subjected to numerous influences that resulted in it actually becoming a mixture of other languages, benefiting from abundant contributions to its vocabulary, but also blending different spelling systems. These contribute to the irregular and sometimes incredibly inconsistent and confusing spelling of the written language, which in turn interacts with a varied and sometimes unpredictable pronunciation. In order to master English spelling, one needs to learn a great many spelling rules and be aware of the numerous possible letter combinations."
The full article provides further interesting information on English spelling, and marks the beginning of our English Spelling Guide - part of our free English Lessons series.
Continue Reading "An Introduction to English Spelling"...
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November 27 2007
WhiteSmoke's Grammar, Spelling and Style Capabilities
WhiteSmoke is a fully featured grammar checker, spell checker and enrichment tool for your English writing. Because WhiteSmoke has such advanced grammar capabilities, we decided to compile a list of the type of corrections that WhiteSmoke can make. With this, you can see the many advantages that WhiteSmoke can bring to your writing.
Check out the list here: WhiteSmoke's Grammar Capabilities
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Check out the list here: WhiteSmoke's Grammar Capabilities
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November 26 2007
How to Create New Business Opportunities
Businesses need to constantly seek new ways to expand and diversify their customer base in order to remain a viable option in a competitive market. New business opportunities can be found in many directions - strategic partnerships with other businesses, expanding your market over a larger geographical base, developing new products for niche markets, or promoting a strong web presence for your products and services. Whichever direction you go in to create new business opportunities, one thing is certain - without clear and communicative business writing, you will be limiting your chances for success before you even leave the starting block.
The WhiteSmoke writing tool provides you with the business communication fundamentals you need, right at your fingertips. You can think of WhiteSmoke as your own personal English copyeditor. With advanced English grammar and spelling correction, unique text enrichment, a dictionary-thesaurus and over 600 letter templates, WhiteSmoke is you all-in-one solution for all your business communication.
How exactly is this related to creating new business opportunities? Continue reading...
Continue Reading "How to Create New Business Opportunities"...
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The WhiteSmoke writing tool provides you with the business communication fundamentals you need, right at your fingertips. You can think of WhiteSmoke as your own personal English copyeditor. With advanced English grammar and spelling correction, unique text enrichment, a dictionary-thesaurus and over 600 letter templates, WhiteSmoke is you all-in-one solution for all your business communication.
How exactly is this related to creating new business opportunities? Continue reading...
Continue Reading "How to Create New Business Opportunities"...
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November 22 2007
How to Write a Press Release
As part of our ongoing series of articles related to business writing, let's look at writing a press release:
Writing a press release for a product is a necessary skill if you are a copywriter or marcom manager. It is important to consider how to approach the writing of a press release, as the writing style is significantly different from most marketing copy. A press release does not sell a product, but announces its availability and provides relevant background information that is of interest. The goal is to have your press release attract a reporter who sees a good story in it. It must be written in a style that will be appealing for press reporters and editors.
Continue Reading "How to Write a Press Release"...
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Writing a press release for a product is a necessary skill if you are a copywriter or marcom manager. It is important to consider how to approach the writing of a press release, as the writing style is significantly different from most marketing copy. A press release does not sell a product, but announces its availability and provides relevant background information that is of interest. The goal is to have your press release attract a reporter who sees a good story in it. It must be written in a style that will be appealing for press reporters and editors.
Continue Reading "How to Write a Press Release"...
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November 21 2007
How to Request a Raise or a Promotion
At some time, we all want to do it! But what is the best approach?
If you know you are a great performer at work and an asset to your company, there may come a time when you want to approach your boss for a raise or a promotion. There are many ways to go about this, and of course having a meeting to talk about it is essential. First, however, it can be a good idea to precede any face-to-face meeting with a well written letter. A letter will give you the opportunity to express everything you want to say, in a logical and thought-out way. For maximum effect, it is wise to proofread your letter thoroughly - an embarrassing spelling or grammar error could have some bearing on how your boss receives your request!
Continue Reading "How to Request a Raise of a Promotion"...
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If you know you are a great performer at work and an asset to your company, there may come a time when you want to approach your boss for a raise or a promotion. There are many ways to go about this, and of course having a meeting to talk about it is essential. First, however, it can be a good idea to precede any face-to-face meeting with a well written letter. A letter will give you the opportunity to express everything you want to say, in a logical and thought-out way. For maximum effect, it is wise to proofread your letter thoroughly - an embarrassing spelling or grammar error could have some bearing on how your boss receives your request!
Continue Reading "How to Request a Raise of a Promotion"...
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November 20 2007
Parts of Speech in English - A General Overview
All the words in English can be divided into 8, 9 or more groups according to their function in the language. These groups are traditionally called parts of speech and are today referred to as lexical categories or word classes. The following terms comprise the most basic grammar terminology every English user must be familiar with in order to understand how language works to create meaning.
Nouns (success), verbs (succeed), adjectives (successful), adverbs (successfully) and interjections (wow!) are sub-grouped into content words, namely, words that provide the concepts and ideas underlying the sentence. Content words are constantly being added to or removed from the language (an open word class), as changing usage patterns influence dynamic changes in a language's vocabulary.
Conversely, determiners (the), pronouns (we), prepositions (at) and conjunctions (and) are sub-grouped into structure words, whose number almost always stays constant in a language (closed word class). These are words that tie the content words together into a grammatically correct sentence and reflect the inner grammar rules of the language structure. These, as opposed to content words, change very slowly, if at all, throughout a language's history.
It is vital for any English writer to be familiar with the parts of speech in order to have the terminology to study and analyze the language and identify mistakes in writing. Moreover, a word can function as a different part of speech depending on its role in the sentence structure (the terms of which are also vital for successful writing). This affects the word's meaning and structure, making it important to confirm whether you are using the correct part of speech in the correct position in the sentence.
Continue Reading "Parts of Speech - A General Overview"...
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Nouns (success), verbs (succeed), adjectives (successful), adverbs (successfully) and interjections (wow!) are sub-grouped into content words, namely, words that provide the concepts and ideas underlying the sentence. Content words are constantly being added to or removed from the language (an open word class), as changing usage patterns influence dynamic changes in a language's vocabulary.
Conversely, determiners (the), pronouns (we), prepositions (at) and conjunctions (and) are sub-grouped into structure words, whose number almost always stays constant in a language (closed word class). These are words that tie the content words together into a grammatically correct sentence and reflect the inner grammar rules of the language structure. These, as opposed to content words, change very slowly, if at all, throughout a language's history.
It is vital for any English writer to be familiar with the parts of speech in order to have the terminology to study and analyze the language and identify mistakes in writing. Moreover, a word can function as a different part of speech depending on its role in the sentence structure (the terms of which are also vital for successful writing). This affects the word's meaning and structure, making it important to confirm whether you are using the correct part of speech in the correct position in the sentence.
Continue Reading "Parts of Speech - A General Overview"...
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November 19 2007
Business English and Business Writing Resources
At WhiteSmoke, we have a very large customer base interested in all things related to business writing. Our Business Writing Software is, followed closely by the Executive Writing Version, the most popular product we sell. Due to this, we in the content department are constantly looking at improving our free English Lessons and writing new content specifically targeted to Business English and business writing generally. Our Business English and Business Writing pages are good places to start, and we will be adding some more specific business writing tips and tricks over the coming months to this blog. So, stay tuned!
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English Grammar and Writing Blog Archives
November 15 2007 - Use of Quotation Marks in English Punctuation - Part 2
November 14 2007 - Use of Quotation Marks in English Punctuation - Part 1
November 13 2007 - Improve Your Writing With English Writing Software
November 12 2007 - New Content on the WhiteSmoke Facebook Portal
November 11 2007 - Spell Checking and WhiteSmoke
November 8 2007 - WhiteSmoke's Text Enrichment Feature
November 7 2007 - Use of the Colon in English Punctuation
November 6 2007 - How to Offer a Suggestion to a Customer
November 5 2007 - Sentence Structure in English Writing - Part 4
November 4 2008 - WhiteSmoke Facebook Group
November 4 2008 - Sentence Structure in English Writing - Part 3
November 1 2007 - Sentence Structure in English Writing - Part 2
October 2007 posts
September 2007 posts
- Expanded vocabulary
- Templates
- Punctuation corrections
- Improved clarity
- Grammar check
- Thesaurus
- Spell check
- English-Dictionary
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