2009年12月31日星期四

Happy New Year 2010

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　 ╭‧平安‧╮│╭‧幸福 ‧╮
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　 ╭‧健康‧╮│╭‧快樂‧╮
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　　　╭‧☆‧╮∣╭‧☆‧╮
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2009年12月30日星期三

2010 明年台股投資風險時間波推估

以下內容為新書"驫?猋股有麝"之部分內容，版權為聚財資訊所有請勿隨意轉載。

從月線來看，1999年二月出現低點之後的十年，剛好是2009年發動的低點。我們觀察每次西元尾數是7、0都是高點居多，西元尾數是9、1都是低點居多，西元尾數0∼1都是從高點到低點的轉折年。若是如此，我們發現1999年二月起漲，走A-B-C三段，因此2009年二月起漲，也有機會也走A-B-C三段；這樣也會符合2009年收紅，2010年收黑的假設。

有假設就要有支持的資金與力量進來；2009年年底有三合一選舉，不管哪一黨派，為了選舉都會以做多心態為主；樂觀氣氛就會讓股價有拉回修正後，再度發動另一波上漲動能。再者年底通常會有作帳行情，隔年元月效應與過年氣氛濃厚、資金寬鬆之下，再加上歷史統計每年10月買進，隔年Q1賣出報酬率是正的居多，由以上種種原因，支持2009年下半年還會有一段行情。

依照前面統計2010年最可能是從高點跌到最低點的啟動年；因此需要趁在2010下半年人氣鼎沸、樂觀至極時出脫股票，以免又再度套在高檔。於下一波的景氣循環低點，要買進便宜的股票，做下一個財富重分配的贏家。若可以利用本書空頭趨勢的避險動作，也可以為讀者賺下一段大多頭的起漲時的資金。

再來要來演到底2011年之後有何機會，而有開始上漲的契機；若真的可以有每十年的循環，會在2017附近才會有大震盪的拉回，也就是說，會有約六年的大多頭可以操作股票。若真的如十年週期再循環，往後十年是另一次財富重分配、值得好好做投資功課的好時機了。

每次總統就職前都會有選舉行情；以2008/5/20往前找一個波段低點，是在2006年7月份；約22個月前開始發動。2004/5/20往前找一個波段低點，是在2002年10月份，約19個月前開始發動。2000/5/20往前找一個波段低點，是在1999年2月份，約15個月前開始發動。

下一次選舉為2012/5/20。往前取平均值約18個月，大致上低點會落在2010年的11月份；於此剛好也符合前面假設2010年為從高點到低點的的假設。

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重要投資機會入場

2009/8/21
25日移動平均線移動平均線乖離率 : 6937.8716 -2.1%
100日移動平均線移動平均線乖離率 : 6416.5352 5.8%

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[機會]
1. 100日移動平均線移動平均線乖離率: +5% ~ -5%

2009年12月29日星期二

詹惟中 2010 : 小心月份

上萬點 (9000) 預測
農曆 4 月 (國 5/6) or 8 月 (國 9)

小心月份國曆
1: 2/13 - 3/15 12/6 - 1/3
2: 4/14 - 5/13
3: 6/12 - 7/11
4: 8/10 - 9/8
5: 12/6 - 1/3 (2011)

2009年12月28日星期一

基金內扣費吃掉1/4預期報酬

【經濟日報╱綠角】

在選購基金時，投資人通常懂得注意手續費的多寡。每當基金代銷機構推出手續費優惠活動時，往往讓投資人趨之若騖，紛紛投入基金投資的行列。

但買賣基金時的手續費，只是基金費用之一，是外顯且較引人注意的成本。真正對投資成績有龐大殺傷力的內扣費用，反而容易讓人忽略。

基金內扣費用中最主要項目便是經理費。以股票型基金來說，這個費用最常見的數字是1.5%。也就是說每投資100元在基金中，不論賺賠，基金公司每年會從中收走1.5塊錢。

100塊只收走1.5塊，很少嘛，有什麼關係呢？

關係可大了。我們換幾個方式來看這「小小」的1.5%。

假如股票型基金的預期報酬在扣掉通膨後是6%好了（這是個很樂觀的估計），那麼你每年花費1.5%的基金經理費，就等於是將四分之一的預期報酬割讓給基金公司，宛如一個25%的另類「所得稅率」。

請問政府的所得稅13%或是21%繳起來感覺如何呢？而且政府是你有賺錢才收所得稅，但基金公司可是不管有沒有替你賺到錢，都可以收你這25%的「所得稅」。

我們知道股票的預期報酬高過債券，債券的預期報酬高過現金。為什麼？很簡單，因為股票的風險大於債券，債券的風險大過現金。愈高風險的資產類別，就有較高的預期報酬，每高出一份風險所帶來的更多報酬，就叫做風險溢酬。

根據倫敦商學院教授Elroy Dimson的統計資料顯示，股票高過債券的風險溢酬約是每年4%。所以，透過股票型基金投入股市，然後繳交每年1.5%的經理費。這個行為等同於放棄 37.5%的風險溢酬。也就是說，這樣的基金投資人同意冒100%的股市風險，但只拿到剩下的62.5%的風險溢酬。請問，這樣合理嗎？

1.5%的經理費看起來很小，因為那是總資產的1.5%。基金公司希望它看起來很小，這樣投資人才不會注意內扣費用的高低，才不會想要比較或是將它壓低。所以基金公司當然會選用總資產百分比的方式來顯現內扣費用的高低。

其實小小的1.5%也是6%預期報酬的四分之一，也可以是4%風險溢酬的37.5%，小小的1.5%其實正張著血盆大口，毫不留情的吃掉原本可以放在你手上的投資報酬。

況且，許多基金相關頁面在展示資料時，只顯示經理費，彷彿這只是唯一的內扣費用。事實上，基金還要給保管機構費用，還要聘法律顧問，還要請會計師做財務簽證，還要給券商交易手續費等等。這些錢全部加起來，才是一支基金完整的內扣費用。這個全額的內扣費用，我們叫做總開銷比（或總開支比）。

境外基金的投資人可以到台灣晨星網頁（http://www.tw.morningstar.com/），先找到所要查詢的基金。然後在個別基金資料中的「費用」一欄，就可以找到基金內扣的總開支比率。

投信基金的投資人可點選投信投顧公會網站（http://www.sitca.org.tw）左欄的「產業現況分析」中的「境內基金」，然後點選「基金資料彙總」中的「各項費用比率（年）」。有很大的可能性，你會意外地發現，原來手上的基金，每年收走自己那麼多錢。

日常選購物品，我們都會留意物件的標價。你是否會不看標價就把東西拿到結帳櫃台？但你是否不知道基金內扣費用多寡，就在買基金呢？

（本文作者為網路知名財經部落客，曾出版「股海勝經」。部落格以推崇指數化投資，以投資人觀點出發，提供少見於主流媒體的觀點。）

【2009/12/22 經濟日報】

2009年12月27日星期日

ECFA : 兩岸經濟合作架構協議（Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement）

巴西_拉丁美州

2009/12 69800
已回至 2008 May 高點, 67588 <> 29400

等回檔再進入
2010/01 進場每月 3000 , 回檔再加至 6000+

新興市場
http://jack-tseng.blogspot.com/2009/08/blog-post_28.html

2009年12月20日星期日

咖啡 Coffee

摩卡咖啡
+ 巧克力 or 可可

拿鐵
+ 鮮奶

卡布奇諾
+ 蒸汽發泡的牛奶

美式咖啡

------------------------------------------

【藍山咖啡(BLUE MOUNTAIN)】

是生產於牙買加藍山海拔2500尺以上的咖啡豆，是一種微酸、柔順、帶甘、風味細膩的咖啡；純藍山咖啡口感、香味較淡，但喝起來卻非常香醇精緻；具有貴族的品味，乃咖啡中之極品。

【摩卡咖啡(MOCHA)】

目前以葉門所生產的咖啡為最佳，其次為依索比亞的摩卡；摩卡咖啡帶潤滑中之中酸至強酸、甘性特佳、風味獨特，含有巧克力的味道；具有貴婦人的氣質，

是極具特色的一種純品咖啡。

【哥倫比亞咖啡(COLOMBIA)】

哥倫比亞咖啡中以SUPREMO最具特色，其咖啡柔軟香醇；帶微酸至中酸，其品質及香味穩定，屬中度咖啡，是用以調配綜合咖啡的上品。

【曼特寧咖啡(MANDELING)】

是生產於印尼，蘇門答臘中最具代表性的咖啡；風味香、濃、苦，口味相當強，但柔順不帶酸，是印尼生產的咖啡中品質最好的一種咖啡。

【碳燒咖啡(CHARCAL FIRE)】

是一種重度烘焙的咖啡，味道焦、苦不帶酸，咖啡豆有出油的現象，極適合用於蒸氣加壓咖啡。

【巴西咖啡(SANTOS)】

巴西乃世界第一的咖啡生產國，所產之咖啡，香味溫和、微酸、微苦，為中性咖啡之代表，是調配溫和咖啡不可或缺的品種。

【肯亞咖啡(KENYA AA)】

是非洲高地栽培的代表性咖啡。AA代表其級數也就是最高級品，其咖啡豆肉質厚呈圓形，味濃質佳，通常採用淺焙。清晨起來喝一杯肯亞，具有醒腦的效用。

【夏威夷咖啡(KONA FANCY)】

屬於夏威夷西部火山所栽培的咖啡，也是美國唯一生產的咖啡品種，口感較強，香味濃，帶強酸，風味特殊。品質相當穩定，是前往夏威夷的觀光客必購土產之一。

2009年12月15日星期二

2010 星座生肖

生肖：兔
虎年財運：★★★★★ 大贏家
虎年財運會讓你賺足風光。上半年在投資上可採取積極進攻的態勢，一有機會就可大膽跟進，不怕你膽大，就怕你心不夠細，但得些好處後就應及時收手，不可過多糾纏。錢包滿了後，可別變成了鐵公雞，下半年宜在人際往來費些心思和金錢，將會為你帶來更大機遇。
科技紫微

處女座
開銷多，是處女座的人2010年的寫照。實用物品，餐飲，聚會，休閒，進修或怡情養性等項目，是處女座的你花不少錢的可能原因，不論情形為何，你在 2010年有幾筆支出是金額較大的，超過你往常的手筆，質量也比你經歷過的高檔些。2010/9-11月間，你會因花錢花的多，興起節制的念頭。
心境的起伏與轉變，是處女座的你2010年另一個重要寫照。你的生活接觸層面變的比以前寬廣，除了工作（或學習）方面的事物，你多了幾項生活重心，那些活兒會花去你不少時間，佔據你不少心思。你的視野變的多元，也讓你漸漸淡忘過去一段不愉快的經驗，是跟人有關的，只不過每當你回想起那段經驗時，仍不無感嘆。 2010/6-9月是你一段人際困擾頗嚴重的日子，那段時間週遭經常有人惹的你不滿，發牢騷，不過你的心態會漸漸的轉變，原本在意計較的事，變的不去想那麼多，開始持平常心看待事情的發展。
2010年（2009/9月到2010/11月）處女座運勢較好的月份是，2010/2月，8月，10月。運勢較差的月份是，2009/11月，12月，2010/1月，3月，4月，5月，6月，7月。

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文╱開運銀行吉賽兒老師

☆處女座
經過前兩年土星運行在處女的鬱悶，今年處女們可以明顯感受到「出運」了！對處女們來說在心情上輕鬆了不少，但是土星從4月到7月底會回到處女座，在這四個月的期間，很可能有一些原本以為先前已經處理好的事情又回過頭來要求處女們來負責，有可能是過去在處理時的一些失誤，或是以前沒發現的問題，總之，處女們在這一段期間，要小心來應付自己過去的責任。
雖然明顯感受卸下了沉重的負擔，處女們在2010年還是要小心，可能因為對未來太過天真的期待，或是形勢表面上看起來一片大好的情況之下，在還沒看清楚真實狀況就做下決定，雖然不至於招致龐大的損失，但是情緒上會有失落的可能。
另外，在2010年之後，處女和金牛座一樣，將走上15年的大運，年過40的處女們很有可能在這15年間提高社會地位，功成名就指日可待。

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處女座 Virgo 08/23~09/22　　先聲奪人，去偽存真。運勢大好的一週。處女座期待已久的事情本週得到滿意結果，期待指數第一次變成完整的現實。肩頭重擔大有減輕，原本擔心之事也逐漸趨於平緩。財運無常，但有機會重新得到領導信任給予重任，這段日子也再次成為眾友人的依靠。　　
愛情是拔得頭籌。　

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●肖兔運程：有升有跌
出生年份：1939、1951、1963、1975、1987、1999
天生富貴指數（五$最高）：$$$
性格：機靈跳脫
溫純機智，天生性格跳脫，卻又懂得細心待人，觀人於微，人緣超好，勁惹桃花，所以往往是交際能手，備受同事與客戶的稱讚，經常有生意臨門，老闆放心。而且，兔兔感情豐富，對生活文化藝術都有一定修養，學識廣博，更有利交朋結友。
兔兔缺點是依賴性強，卻又多心兼心散，容易分神貪玩，所以難以成為一個當機立斷的領導人物。兔兔最擅長交際應酬，且處事圓滑，識臨場執生，最適宜從事市場推廣、傳媒或教師等，經常要與陌生人接觸的行業。
整體運：得失參半
適逢紅鸞桃花年，事業運有所提升，財運不俗；桃花運旺盛，有桃花代表人緣好，亦代表有婚嫁機會。
人緣好但今年是非亦多，容易人事不和，幸好有「太陰」女貴人星坐鎮，有女貴人扶持，應儘量近貴人而遠小人。
今年處於正、偏兩財俱旺之年，但不要過分急進行事，又由於今年處於「桃花破財」之年，切勿與剛相識的女士有金錢瓜葛，提防有被苛索金錢的危機。
寒命人：有貴人或異性相扶，能提升事業運，但不宜獨自發展新事業，因寒命人運勢始終較弱。
熱命人：從商及自雇一族，財運明顯上升；打工仔如遇上有新發展機會，例如被高薪挖角或有新任務亦應嘗試。
平命人：事事順利，運氣提升。
<宜>
多與同事溝通、行街食飯，尤其多些約女同事，對你工作有數都未定。
<忌>
切勿借錢給別人或做擔保人，否則會破財。
<財運>
蘇民峰：可賺大錢
無論寒命、熱命或平命人，因今年是紅鸞桃花年，對事業運都有所提升，加上是辛苦個人力量得財年，如從事收入不穩定工作，如律師、醫生、金融、保險、地產等行業，多勞多得，財運不俗。可是寒命人於這幾年運程不濟，財運相對減少。
麥玲玲：賺女人錢
雖然有財星但不能過分急進，做生意人士宜以穩步上揚為從商策略。太陰屬女性貴人星，假若生意範疇與女性有關，例如賣女裝或美容生意，今年必定生意興隆。而今年有凶星主女性導致破財，要慎防與女性相關的金錢瓜葛。
<事業運>
蘇民峰：人緣助運
由於是辛苦個人力量得財年，工作量必然比往年多，幸好本年亦是你的紅鸞桃花年，人緣特別好，對工作亦間接有幫助；而今年有女貴人扶持，如上司是女性的話，做起事來更事半功倍。
麥玲玲：女上司撐
得到太陰星眷顧，假若上司為女性，今年可得到對方的賞識，加薪幅度理想，工作發展穩步上揚。不過今年三刑作祟，與同事及下屬溝通不足，因而阻礙工作進度。今年有轉工念頭，謹記不要急進，以免下錯決定。
麥玲玲醒你投資秘訣：不宜短炒，只宜長遠而能保本的投資。另外，今年太陰屬女貴人，多留意身邊女性會對投資有利。
<蘇民峰批旺財月份>
旺財月：西曆4、6、7、9、12月
破財月：西曆5月
是非多，要靠太陰女貴人幫助解窘，月亮屬陰，佩帶月亮形飾物可旺貴人運。
<出生年份>
39年地位提升：工作上仍有提升之象，尤其是從商、自雇一族，名氣、地位提升將更加明顯。
51年錦上添花：財運暢旺之年，尤其熱命、平命人更錦上添花，寒命的你，財運仍有一定增長。
63年不宜投資：寒命人不宜投資，只適宜學習或買實物為佳。熱命、平命人，有機會自應大膽嘗試。
75年財運向好：工作量大增，從事收入不穩定的工作最為有利，對普通的上班一族來說則無大幫助。
87年情緒波動：情緒不穩定，所有發展都突然慢下來，倒不如放下心情，索性遠遊，見識世界。
99年備受注目：今年是桃花年，在校內特別受歡迎，從而提高學習情緒。另參加校內比賽有機會得獎。
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2010生肖運勢-屬兔運程

：其年病星上照，宜注意健康；官符時有是孝；男女各自掃財，凡事小心，歲中陰氣重，不宜遠行；冬至之後厄勢去、好運來。本年過勢還很糟糕、應有耐性，待好運到時再投資創利一定能平安發財，閒時多進廟，求菩薩保佑。

一生總運勢
　　卯年生人，性質溫和而事業有妖嬌，好靜不宜好動，缺乏思慮決斷，致使遺失了好機會，但富有背叛心而重友情，常浪費金錢，亦?事業上多情屢次失敗，此人色情之念深致誤招一生的不幸，宜應謹慎之，兔年生的人敏感，記憶力強，有慈悲心。守秩序，堅實、謙讓、沈靜孤立、審美福漸漸衰微之兆，所以前運應積儉，以待老年之用。

◎ 1927 1987丁卯年生：【望月之兔】（五行屬火）為人手足不停，身心不閒，衣祿不少，性巧聰明，作事有頭無尾，女人稟性好靜，一生安穩有幸，男人福分之命。
◎ 1939 1999己卯年生：【出林之兔】（五行屬土）為人風流，一生衣祿豐足，自然善閒遊，嬉戲不受人欺，六親冷淡，骨肉難為，妻招年長，配偶命好，女人與鄰和睦，親族賢達，長壽之命。
◎ 1951 辛卯年生：【蟾窟之兔】（五行屬木）為人口快心直，有志氣權柄，利官見貴，身閒心不閒，六親少靠，自立成家，少年勞碌，晚年大利，女人操持家庭興隆之命。
◎ 1963 癸卯年生：【山林之兔】（五行屬金）為人酒食不少，福祿有餘，凶中化吉，早年財帛不聚、多收入多支出，晚景興隆，女人中年與晚景多犧牲利益，保持之命。
◎ 1915 1975乙卯年生：【得道之兔】（五行屬水）為人志氣軒昂，計謀巧妙，求一生近貴，百事如意，文武皆通，女人福壽無虧之命。

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http://blog.xuite.net/osaki99/blog/27504197

2009年12月12日星期六

塑膠容器分類

五號「PP」才安全！六號塑膠送微波爐等同自殺

就母體塑膠材質，PP耐熱性佳且最輕

就毒性釋出，母體塑膠，PE，PP都OK，但PE耐熱較PP差，但仍需考慮顏料及其他添加劑

PET、PS、PVC不適用耐熱食品包材

常見塑膠材質包裝容器
link

2009年12月11日星期五

TDR 存託

2010/04/02

[圖]2009/12/11

PCHOME
http://pchome.syspower.com.tw/group/mkt0/cid99.html

工商時報歸在: 存託存託憑證

2009年12月8日星期二

杜金龍 2010 ~ 2011

從波浪理論推估指數，明年最高點可望出現於2月的9421點
台灣GDP負成長出現之際，就是台股長期低點，2008年11月3955點的低點

預估明年最高點可望出現於2月的9421點，初升段結束之後將面臨拉回修正，
2010年Q2將下跌至8400點，小幅回檔A波高點9000點後，再下跌至 7400點；
預估Q3將出現第二波回檔波的B波與C波之後，Q3來到最低點6888點；Q4可望反彈至8250點，之後開始再進入主升段第3波，
2011 年6月將出現高點9800點。

昨日跌破年線時的指數計算，再下跌9.47％，台股加權指數約會落在6,759點；
另外，若根據波浪理論，台股自3,955上漲至8,395點，共上漲 4,440點，強勢盤的整理幅度不可超過38.2％，
也就是不可跌破6,698點，因此，研判波段低點會在6,700點以上止跌。 (2010/05/22)
link

====================================================================
大華投顧杜金龍董事長今（8）日在大華證券「2010投資展望說明會」中表示，從歷史經驗顯示，台灣GDP負成長出現之際，就是台股長期低點，2008年11月3955點的低點，當季台灣GDP即為-2.53%；他並指出，從波浪理論推估指數，明年最高點可望出現於2月的9421點。

杜金龍分析，2008年Q4起至今台灣經濟成長率仍呈現負成長，截至11月底止，經濟成長率-2.53%，2010年經濟成長率+4.39%。回顧台灣過去四十八年的歷史，曾出現過三次經濟負成長，分別是1975年Q1、2001年Q3與2008年Q4。但對照台股，也證明是長期低點出現的位置，台股自 2008年11月的3955點，到2009年11月中漲到7875點，反彈漲幅近一倍，再次證明是台股再一次多頭循環的起點。

從資金面來看，被視為股市資金動能的M1B，累計今年1至10月的年增率已經來到14％，穿越了M2的7.4％，兩者差距6.6％，顯示資金面仍有利股市，台股資金動能依舊相當充沛。

此外，根據央行統計，10月外資淨匯入28.47億美元，截止10月底，準備投入台股的外國人新台幣帳戶餘額為2,044億元。而國人準備進軍股市的證券劃撥餘額，也高達1.1930兆元，顯示國內外資金對兩岸利多的台股，仍深具信心。

杜金龍用波浪理論來做指數的推估，2008年11月台股指數3955如為長線低點，則之前，確實完成了ABC三波下跌。同時進入台股第七次大循環的初升段 3955點起漲，預估明年最高點可望出現於2月的9421點，初升段結束之後將面臨拉回修正，2010年Q2將下跌至8400點，小幅回檔A波高點 9000點後，再下跌至7400點；預估Q3將出現第二波回檔波的B波與C波之後，Q3來到最低點6888點；Q4可望反彈至8250點，之後開始再進入主升段第3波，2011年6月將出現高點9800點。

杜金龍認為，台股在選舉題材及企業獲利、資本支出持續成長下，今年指數將溫和盤堅至 8,000點(以3955點的2倍為7910點附近)。2010年ECFA及MOU題材仍會持續發酵，預估台股指數2010年2月將會來到9,421點。選股策略電子族群中以LED TV、觸控面板、WIN 7、太陽能、網通為主，金融及中概股也都值得留意。農曆年前紅包行情投資人一定要把握。

2009年11月21日星期六

杜拉克 5維管理

2009年11月15日星期日

[軟體] 免費並且開放原始碼的C++程式設計軟體

Dev-C++
http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html

Visual C++ Express
http://www.microsoft.com/Express/VC/

2009年11月14日星期六

糖尿病年輕化粗腰肥胖者當心隱性糖尿病

今天是世界糖尿病日，在台灣，糖尿病的人口逐年增加，再加上肥胖人口成長，糖尿病有年輕化趨勢，糖尿病醫學會推估，國內有三十多萬「隱性糖尿病患者」，這群自認年輕、沒有糖尿病三多症狀的民眾，一旦沒有做好預防，四到五年後，就可能成為糖尿病患者。　　 (陳奕華報導)

　　「隱性糖尿病」是指空腹血糖正常，飯後兩小時的血糖值降不下來，在140到200之間，患者通常沒有喝多、尿多、吃多糖尿病症狀，不過往往在四到五年後，因為心血管疾病或是眼睛模糊到醫院檢查後，才發現有糖尿病。特別是腰圍過粗，身體質量指數在27以上，都屬於隱性糖尿病的危險因子。

　　糖尿病學會副秘書長張恬君說：「簡單講譬如說，正常人假使分泌出的一單位的胰島素，可以降30到50的血糖值，可能那種粗腰的對胰島素阻抗比較強強，分泌出來一單位只降個十幾的血糖，慢慢時間久了，你的胰島細胞也分泌不足夠了胰島素，就會造成糖尿病。」

　　根據統計，國內至少有120萬的糖尿病人口，其中兩到三成不知道自己已罹患糖尿病。值得注意的是，肥胖人口增加，糖尿病也有年輕化趨勢，五十歲以下的糖尿病患者占了四分之一，其中以三十到五十歲的中壯年最多，有高達21萬人，顯示糖尿病不再是老人才要面對的問題，建議有家族史、腰圍過粗的民眾，多關心自己的血糖值變化。

更新日期:2009/11/14 17:35

2009年11月7日星期六

[工作]「菜」英文工作少一半　主管職務「入門票」

　　英文能力在就業市場中，已成為重要職缺的「入門票」，英文不好可能讓工作機會少了一半。根據人力銀行的最新統計，有近5成的工作載明要求英文能力，其中有近7成的「中階主管」職缺、近8成「高階主管」職缺必須具備英文能力，也就是說，上班族想要爬的高，就先要「跳」過英文門檻。

　　跟據104人力銀行的統計，目前線上所有「全職」工作機會中，有47.5%的職缺要求英文能力；如果求職者想應徵主管職，註明為「中階主管」職缺中，則約有67%的工作機會要求英文能力；「高階主管」職則有75%的工作機會要求英文能力。

　　其中，「電腦及消費性電子業」(11.3%)、「軟體及網路業」(8.9%)、「半導體業」(7.3%)、「教育服務業」(6.2%)、「批發業」(6.2%)的工作機會中，註明要求英文能力的比例較高。

　　至於職務部份，則以「業務/貿易人員」(20.6%)、「工程研發人員」(14.2%)、「軟體/工程類人員」(9%)、「行銷人員」(8.1%)等工作機會，要求英文的比例則較高。

　　104人力銀行行銷總監邱文仁表示，英文能力在職場中已是不可或缺，求職者如果英文不好，找工作時可供投遞履歷的職缺馬上減少一半。提醒上班族，進入職場後英文能力仍必須不斷精進，因為愈高階的職務，要求具備英文能力的比例愈高。

　　邱文仁表示指出，英語在職場上可能不只是一種「競爭力」，甚至是很多好工作的「入門票」。身邊有一些好友竟然放棄得來不易的升遷機會，就是因為擔心升遷後，要用「英文」跟國外的老闆溝通，而感到壓力太大，這樣實在很可惜。

　　每個人都知道英文很重要，不過，並非每個人都知道該從哪裡下手學習。邱文仁建議，要先有明確的「學習動機」，再尋求持續努力的「快樂學習方法」。例如，以每日收看喜愛的外國影集，輕鬆的訓練英語聽力，邊做家事邊聽空中英語教室的有聲CD。

　　另外，手機裡也可訂閱商用英文短訊，在等車時也可以做簡短的學習。或是到美語補習班練習文法及會話，上課可以讓自己多一點機會，去開口講英文；邱文仁認為，就算自己語文天份不夠，也會因為一直接觸有所進步，勤絕對能補拙。

卡優網更新日期:"2009/11/07 02:04" 王怡茹

[健康] 氣溫驟降時　小心眼睛也會中風

冬意漸濃氣溫明顯下降是心血管疾病及腦中風好發季節。您知道嗎？眼睛也會因冷空氣刺激血管收縮造成血管栓塞引發中風，嚴重的話會導致失明。嘉義基督醫院眼科醫師楊博閔提醒，若你突然間視力模糊或片刻看不見時，有可能是「眼中風」前兆，提醒您儘速就醫檢查。

近來氣溫變化大，因眼中風至門診求診病患漸多，而心臟病、高血壓、高血脂、糖尿病、年長者、吸菸者等，是眼中風高危險群。早晚溫差大，易使心血管等長期慢性疾病血管彈性與血壓調節功能變得更差(如冬季從溫暖被窩中爬起後易發生眼睛中風)，嘉基眼科醫師楊博閔提醒高危險群病患，避免眼中風需注意冬季保暖以預防眼部血管阻塞。

眼中風為眼科急症之一，稱為「中心視網膜動脈阻塞」，若中心視網膜動脈完全阻塞，約九十分鐘後會造成視網膜不可回復的傷害，嚴重的話會導致失明，而送醫時間將影響視力恢復程度。

嘉基眼科醫師楊博閔提醒民眾，若民眾突然間視力模糊、看不見，最好先自行作單眼視力檢測(左右眼交換，遮蔽一眼凝視前方)，因為眼中風除了視力變差之外，並不會有其他不適感，故常常會延誤治療時機，所以若發現視力有受損狀況需儘速就醫，以免憾事發生。

此時節，嘉基老人醫學科主任張育誠也特別提醒，有心臟病、高血壓的老人，下床時動作一定要放緩，因早晨是一天中血壓變化快速的時刻，也是中風與心肌梗塞的好發期，避免早晨起床立刻運動，可降低心血管疾病的患者發生意外的機率。

NOWnews 更新日期:"2009/11/07 10:04" 記者郭政隆╱嘉義報導

2009年10月31日星期六

弟子規

總敘

弟子規，聖人訓，首孝弟，次謹信，汎愛眾，而親仁，有餘力，則學文。　　

入則孝

父母呼，應勿緩。父母命，行勿懶。父母教，須敬聽。父母責，須順承。冬則溫，夏則凊；晨則省，昏則定。出必告，反必面；居有常，業無變。事雖小，勿擅為；茍擅為，子道虧。物雖小，勿私藏；茍私藏，親心傷。親所好，力為具，親所惡，謹為去；身有傷，貽親憂，德有傷，貽親羞。親愛我，孝何難；親憎我，孝方賢。親有過，諫使更；怡吾色，柔吾聲。諫不入，悅復諫；號泣隨，撻無怨。親有疾，藥先嘗；晝夜侍，不離床。喪三年，常悲咽；居處變，酒肉絕。喪盡禮，祭盡誠；事死者，如事生。　　

出則弟

兄道友，弟道恭，兄弟睦，孝在中。財物輕，怨何生；言語忍，忿自泯。或飲食，或坐走，長者先，幼者後。長呼人，即代叫；人不在，己即到。稱尊長，勿呼名；對尊長，勿見能。路遇長，疾趨揖，長無言，退恭立。騎下馬，乘下車，過猶待，百步餘。長者立，幼勿坐；長者坐，命乃坐。尊長前，聲要低；低不聞，卻非宜。進必趨，退必遲；問起對，視勿移。事諸父，如事父；事諸兄，如事兄。　　

謹

朝起早，夜眠遲，老易至，惜此時。晨必盥，兼漱口，便溺回，輒淨手。冠必正，紐必結，襪與履，俱緊切。置冠服，有定位，勿亂頓，致污穢。衣貴潔，不貴華，上循分，下稱家。對飲食，勿揀擇，食適可，勿過則。年方少，勿飲酒，飲酒醉，最為醜。步從容，立端正，揖深圓，拜恭敬。勿踐閾，勿跛倚，勿箕踞，勿搖髀。緩揭簾，勿有聲；寬轉彎，勿觸棱。執虛器，如執盈；入虛室，如有人。事勿忙，忙多錯；勿畏難，勿輕略。鬥鬧場，絕勿近；邪僻事，絕勿問。將入門，問孰存，將上堂，聲必揚。人問誰，對以名，吾與我，不分明。用人物，須明求，倘不問，即為偷。借人物，及時還，後有急，借不難。

信

凡出言，信為先，詐與妄，奚可焉。話說多，不如少，惟其是，勿佞巧。奸巧語，穢污詞，市井氣，切戒之。見未真，勿輕言，知未的，勿輕傳。事非宜，勿輕諾，茍輕諾，進退錯。凡道字，重且舒，勿急疾，勿模糊。彼說長，此說短，不關己，莫閒管。見人善，即思齊，縱去遠，以漸躋。見人惡，即內省，有則改，無加警。唯德學，唯才藝，不如人，當自礪。若衣服，若飲食，不如人，勿生慼。聞過怒，聞譽樂，損友來，益友卻。聞譽恐，聞過欣，直諒士，漸相親。無心非，名為錯，有心非，名為惡。過能改，歸於無，倘揜飾，增一辜。　　

汎愛眾

凡是人，皆須愛；天同覆，地同載。行高者，名自高；人所重，非貌高。才大者，望自大；人所服，非言大。己有能，勿自私；人所能，勿輕訾。勿諂富，勿驕貧；勿厭故，勿喜新。人不閒，勿事攪；人不安，勿話擾。人有短，切莫揭；人有私，切莫說。道人善，即是善，人知之，愈思勉。揚人惡，即是惡，疾之甚，禍且作。善相勸，德皆建；過不規，道兩虧。凡取與，貴分曉；與宜多，取宜少。將加人，先問己；己不欲，即速已。恩欲報，怨欲忘；報怨短，報恩長。待婢僕，身貴端，雖貴端，慈而寬。勢服人，心不然，理服人，方無言。　　

親仁

同是人，類不齊；流俗眾，仁者希。果仁者，人多畏；言不諱，色不媚。能親仁，無限好；德日進，過日少。不親仁，無限害；小人進，百事壞。　　

餘力學文

不力行，但學文，長浮華，成何人。但力行，不學文，任己見，昧理真。讀書法，有三到，心眼口，信皆要。方讀此，勿慕彼，此未終，彼勿起。寬為限，緊用功，工夫到，滯塞通。心有疑，隨札記，就人問，求確義。房室清，牆壁淨，几案潔，筆硯正。墨磨偏，心不端；字不敬，心先病。列典籍，有定處；讀看畢，還原處。雖有急，卷束齊，有缺壞，就補之。非聖書，屏勿視，蔽聰明，壞心志。勿自暴，勿自棄，聖與賢，可馴致。

2009年10月27日星期二

傑西李佛摩

「巴菲特」＋「李佛摩」，建議相關閱讀書籍：

一、「巴菲特」

1、價值投資致勝11堂課〈金融研訓院〉

2、掌握巴菲特選股絕技〈寰宇出版〉

二、「李佛摩」

1、探金實戰•李佛摩投機技巧〈寰宇出版〉

2、傑西．李佛摩股市操盤術 ( 完整版 ) 〈寰宇第一名〉

3、股票作手回憶錄（完整版）〈寰宇出版第二名〉

「探金實戰•李佛摩投機技巧」上市近兩個月，

寰宇每天出貨超過百本，九月一刷，十月二刷，

每天博客來財經理財新書排名都在前十名，

健康的奧秘

2009年10月25日星期日

在投資一個國家之前，如何評估價值？

在投資一個國家之前，如何評估價值？

巴菲特進場指標 : 股市市值╱GNP
美股市場的市值/GNP比值在過去一個世紀大約在40%-200%之間變動，而巴菲特認為70-80%左右，股市的價值是合理的，可以進場買股票。

S&P 五百 1079.60 10/23
那麼現在多少呢？大約在一年內，你其實都可以用S&P 500指數除以11，就可以得到粗略的比例了

1079.60/11 = 09.14% << 已經太高

http://buffettism.blogspot.com/2009/09/blog-post_8768.html

2009年10月24日星期六

2007年Web 2.0新人王

2007年Web 2.0新人王
eyespot
http://www.eyespot.com/
vodpod
http://vodpod.com/beta_home
Magnify
http://www.magnify.net/
BubblePLY
http://www.bubbleply.com/
Streampad
http://www.streampad.com/
phonezoo
http://phonezoo.com/
goape
http://www.goape.us/
MOG
http://mog.com/
Tabblo
http://www.tabblo.com/
Webshots
http://www.webshots.com/
AllYouCanUpload
http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/
pikipimp
http://www.pikipimp.com/
Ajax 13
http://eu.ajax13.com/
Zoho Virtual Office
http://www.zoho.com/virtual-office/
Solodox
http://www.solodox.com/
SlideShare
http://www.slideshare.net/
cyn.in
http://cyn.in/
Remember the Milk
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/
Thinkature
http://thinkature.com/
Central Desktop
http://www.centraldesktop.com/
hipcal
http://www.hipcal.com/
vivapop
https://www.vivapop.com/
spongecell
http://spongecell.com/
skobee
http://www.skobee.com/
Spotback
http://spotback.com/
Newsvine
http://www.newsvine.com/
BuzzFeed
http://www.buzzfeed.com/
Wikio
http://www.wikio.com/
Clipmarks
http://clipmarks.com/
Blue dot
http://bluedot.us/
MarkaBoo
http://www.markaboo.com/
BibSonomy
http://www.bibsonomy.org/
snap
http://www.snap.com/
Swicki
http://swicki.eurekster.com/
Sphere
http://www.sphere.com/
hakia
http://www.hakia.com/
Yourminis
http://yourminis.com/
PageFlakes
http://www.pageflakes.com/
zimbio
http://www.zimbio.com/
Protopage
http://www.protopage.com/
　
http://www.pcuser.com.tw/pcuser_download_book/d_n_78all.htm

時間管理

T:目標
I:引導
M:管理
E:執行

可休閒時間=可運用時間-工作/學習時間

工作成果=工作效率 x 所付出的時間

專心於一事'追二兔不得一兔'

[如何做好筆記]
1. 不讓過程留白
2. 摘錄重點內容
3. 加入個人感受(想法)
4. 隨時補充資料

[時間管理]
1. 分輕重緩急
2. 優先順序
3. 適當分配有限時間
4. 事先規劃工作事項

[時間管理分類重點]
1.重要又緊急
2.重要不緊急
3.緊急不重要
4.不緊急又不重要

[別人對軟體業的想法]

莘莘學子與軟體業新進請聽聽在下的十招～對於這十招提供了一些
基本的解釋也希望能以詼諧的方式幫助各位加深印象～相信這十招
各位經過更多歷練後會有更多解釋～所以把這篇從原篇中獨立出來
，希望能方便讀者參考：

第一招：看到問題唸十次
　a. 確認你記得問題下次還記得
　b. 確認你瞭解問題，沒有漏掉什麼要求
　c. 確認你以後踫到類似問題，還會想到它
　d. 確認你連做夢都會想到它～悲慘的程式設計師宿命～

第二招：程式不會寫，先開始寫註解
　a. 例用註解將問題描述，將問題做分析
　b. 把分析方法與解法都 document 起來～對你自己最有益處
　c. 直接註解而省略白紙，由註解行數的改變，讓你老闆知道你有在努力做～
　c. 人家是用照片寫記憶～程式設計師是用文件寫記憶～

第三招：解法不會寫，先寫工具
　a. 一個複雜的問題，尤其是面對演算法相關的所謂困難部份，如果能把工具(諸如模擬)
　　寫出來，這樣是比較容易找出解法的～
　b. 工具總是可以拿來重覆利用的～這會讓你越寫越輕鬆～
　c. 寫工具也是一種重要練習～

第四招：整個問題不會解，先解會解的
　a. divide and conquer（偶稱它為個個擊破法）不用多說，不知道網上查也會知道～
　b. 就像寫論文一樣，如果無法提出所有問題的統一解決方法，限定一些條件來解
　c. 還有有時候一下就想最困難的問題，一來浪費進度、二來心情不佳、三來老闆可能把
　　　預算砍了因為沒有結果～所以先解會解的是經驗上的金玉良言～因為一來你花了
　　　２０％完成了80%超越進度，老闆來拍肩膀了，二來你解了簡單問題心情大好，更
　　　覺得整個問題也沒什麼大不了，說不定困難問題因心情好（沒有專牛角尖）也就想
　　　到而解決了，三來老闆看你有成果說不定常拍你肩膀哩～(老闆這時候真好騙～可惜
　　　薪水不好騙)

第五招：查網路、問別人、看書獲取各種解題的資源
　a. 想想偶們還在用193x的理論，當然問題絕不可能只有你才踫到，一定粉多人早就
　　　見過了～只有你踫到的通常是你自己寫出來的bug～
　b. 這是群策群力的時代，多找資源、人家的經驗和別人幫忙～
　c. 對應於b, 現在這個社會最忌諱單打獨鬥, 那代表你不能 team work～
　d. 增加知名度、人緣～ Social 粉重要～切記～切記～

第六招：暴力法求解再找最佳化
　a. 先求有再求好～
　b. 有成果人家才看得見～不然做不出來，中間再怎麼完美都沒有用～
　c. 暴力法通常是最白痴也最有效的辦法～
　d. 有時白痴解法最好～因為只有呆子在演東西給傻子和電腦看～你還期待有什麼
　　　人會看你的程式？偶們高貴的使用者嗎？
　e. 一代萎人瞪小平同志說過：「黑?、白? 會抓老鼠的就是好喵」

第七招：多印追蹤資料少偵錯
　a. 講得粉白話～就是要你可以節省出問題找錯的時間～這樣才有更多時間解決真正
　　　是問題的問題
　b. 因為有追蹤資料 (trace information)不僅你可以找問題，別人也才可以幫你找
　　　出問題，想想吧～如果 compiler 只告訴你程式錯，而沒告訴你大約是哪裡它踫
　　　到錯～你要花多少時間解決一個打錯字的問題
　c. 真正的問題也常能由追蹤資料找出蜘絲馬跡
　d. 養成習慣，不要等到當了還在想怎麼寫追蹤資料的程式碼或可以重覆發生的方法～
　e. 你是壞人喲～幹嘛壞怕留下線索～還是你是蜘蛛精，「偶揮揮手不帶走一片data而
　　　當機」所以，人家是照相機抓得住偶，程式設計師是用 bug 抓往住偶～偶不是故
　　　意幫那家快倒的、沒有「即時更新技術」的公司打廣告～

第八招：多讀、多寫、多想、多說
　a. 多讀，像第一招，有時候會幫助你瞭解問題的所在或 think out of box，讀也包括
　　　讀參考資料～
　b. 多寫，熟能生巧～工欲善其事，必先利其器～
　c. 多想，解法大部份還是要腦袋想出來，即使是人家的也要腦袋理解、吸收
　d. 多說，只有在你能表達出問題所在，才表示你真正瞭解問題～只有你能表達出你的知
　　　識，那個知識才是你的～

第九招：學會改進重於學會重寫
　a. 任何時間都要學會成本控制～不然你就沒有經費～
　b. 當來練習學會維護別人寫得爛程式～以後踫到再怎麼爛也看得懂～
　c. 為什麼爛－用註解的方法記錄下來，有機會(成本效益考量)再改進-記住是改進，不
　　　是重寫
　d. 由這種維護的痛苦加深寫好程式的方法和印象～真是歹命呀～;)
　e. 工作機會要找改進的粉多，完全寫新的粉少～

第十招：記得備份
　a. 即使BMW也會 Crash，那「軟～」體會可能都不當機嗎？有誰說他家有裝避雷針不
　　　怕閃電、有水管(ＰＶＣ)把電源線和所有線包起來不讓老鼠咬～還有說他寫的程式永
　　　遠不會當 (如果是，偶送你Taiwan No 1封號　的病毒～)
　b. 讓電腦忙一下讓腦袋休息一下，對大家都好～
　c. 還是記得備份～遠方又傳來哀嚎：「神啊～請讓偶記得備份～」

大約解釋一下，聽得懂的請消化吸收、聽不懂的當偶是說笑話也可以～希望大家能把軟體產
業走得更進步～

世界地圖

好看格式 2

貼文章

2009年10月21日星期三

好看格式

There is no question that in the past few years, we have had irresponsible lending, irresponsible borrowing and irresponsible spending, and now all the results of that, the spillover effects of that, are coming home to roost. Some of it isn't bad; the only problem is, there are an awful lot of people who did the right thing: paid their bills on time, made more than the minimum payments, were on-budget, had a plan, and they wake up one morning and either their account was closed, their credit limit was cut, or they find that their minimum payment was doubled... and on top of that, their interest rates were increased by 10-12 percentage points. This was not only jarring, but it took people who had solid credit histories and it put them into sort of limbo, put them into negative credit history zone for a while, which didn't help anybody.

insert txt

華南銀行「薪貴族」－薪資戶專享網路銀行優惠活動 : 99/06/30

http://www.hncb.com.tw/campaign/9810_salarygift/

http://ms6.hncb.com.tw/a/click.asp?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ehncb%2Ecom%2Etw%2Fcampaign%2F9810%5Fsalarygift%2F&project_no=4451&user_no=1756&Link_no=1

2009年10月20日星期二

常吃勾芡食物當心血糖飆破表

喜歡吃燴飯，羹湯，和蚵仔麵線的人，要當心，這些小吃之所以美味，就是因為加入了太白粉水，也就是勾芡這一道手續，讓食物又濃又稠，不過勾芡美食，卻是，誘發糖尿病的幫兇，醫師提醒，太白粉溶解後在體內的吸收速度是一般米飯的三倍，糖尿病患吃多了會造成體內糖分瞬間增加而發病，一般人吃太多，也可能造成心血管疾病。咕溜溜的羹湯，晶瑩剔透，還有這個，大腸麵線，濃稠滑順，拌著大腸，不時竄出濃濃柴魚香，總讓人，愛不釋口！羹湯，蚵仔麵線，酸辣湯，燴飯。都是廣受歡迎的台灣美食，他們共同的特色，就是三個字，濃，稠，香！(味道很濃，很香當然愛吃，，。。。)。要煮出濃稠美味，靠的就是勾芡的加持，這杓太白粉，加入開水拌攪，再倒入湯湯水水中,3秒內，湯頭搖身一變，馬上濃稠滑潤。只是，讓人嚐來幸福的"勾芡美食"，不但，熱量高出一般米食三倍，小心，它更是，糖尿病發病幫兇！(醫師說會讓血糖急速上升含雙糖87.8%，造成體內糖分瞬間增加血管病變。。。)。勾芡食物在胃裡的吸收速度，是一般米食的三倍，不只糖尿病患要少吃，一般人吃太多，不只變胖，也可能導致心血管疾病，冰品中的粉條，珍珠奶茶的珍珠，也通通都是太白粉的變身。提醒您，少吃為妙，別為了一時口腹之慾，讓這些白色粉末，變成了你的健康殺手！

2009年10月19日星期一

Printable Paper 提供各式各樣的紙張範本供使用者免費下載列印

http://www.printablepaper.net/

好文: 資料該用何種圖表來呈現 - Chart choose

http://extremepresentation.typepad.com/blog/2006/09/choosing_a_good.html

簡單的月曆

2009年 10月
日	一	二	三	四	五	六
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

Time Zone Map

http://www.travel.com.hk/region/timezone.htm

簡單的日曆

109年10月

19 日

星期一

The World Clock – Time Zones

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

http://www.travel.com.hk/region/timezone.htm

World Time Server Clocks

http://www.gmodules.com/ig/creator?synd=open&url=http%3A//www.worldtimeserver.com/clocks/wtsclockgg1.xml&pt=%26context%3Dd%26type%3Dgadgets%26synd%3Dig%26lang%3Dzh-tw%26.lang%3Dzh-tw%26country%3Dtw%26.country%3Dtw%26start%3D0%26num%3D1%26target%3DpEhR%26objs%3D&sn=pEhR&lang=zh-tw

網頁設計軟體 : Free Javascript Editor [智能型提示]

download file:

http://www.yaldex.com/Ready/fjse.zip

http://www.yaldex.com/JSFactory_Pro.htm

2009年10月18日星期日

WORD CHOICE

WORD CHOICE: rich, well-off, wealthy, affluent, prosperous
Rich is a very direct way of saying that someone has a lot of money and possessions : one of the richest women in America
Well-off means fairly rich, so you can buy most things. People are more likely to describe themselves as 'well-off' than 'rich' : My parents were pretty well-off.
Wealthy is a slightly more formal word meaning rich, especially over a long period of time : He came from a wealthy family.
Affluent and prosperous are fairly formal words, often used to describe societies where the economy is successful and the standard of living is good.
Affluent means rich enough to have things like expensive cars and holidays : People are becoming increasingly affluent.
Prosperous means rich and successful : the more prosperous regions of the country

WORD CHOICE: fear, afraid, frightened
fear (noun) is the feeling of being afraid. Do not say that you 'have fear'. Use be afraid or be frightened : My whole body was paralysed with fear. | She was suddenly very afraid. | We were too frightened to speak .
The verb to fear is used mainly in literature or newspapers, and not usually in speech : She feared that he would not be found alive. |Fearing more riots, the government made concessions.
It is more usual to say that someone is afraid or is frightened : My parents are afraid that I'll get involved with drugs. |People were frightened of being mugged.

WORD CHOICE: after, in, afterwards
after is usually used as a preposition (followed by a noun) : I'll do it after lunch. | Please call after 9.30.
after followed by a time period is more often used to talk about past events : After a few minutes he stopped.
in followed by a time period is more often used to talk about future events : He'll be here in a few minutes.
after can be used as an adverb, but only following another time adverb such as soon , not long , or shortly : Tim came in at midnight, and Lucy not long after.
afterwards can be used instead, and can also be used as an adverb on its own : His parents came shortly afterwards. | You can meet the actors afterwards (NOT after).

WORD CHOICE: ago, before, previously
Use ago to say how much time has passed from the time something happened to now, the time of speaking : I saw her a few minutes ago. |We went to Madrid two years ago.
Use before to say how much time passed from the time something happened to a time in the past : We went back to the same hotel where we had stayed two years before.
Previously is used in the same way, but is more formal : The meeting was a follow-up to one that had been held four days previously.
GRAMMAR
!! Do not use a preposition ('at', 'in', 'on' etc) before a phrase with ago : They first met fifteen years ago (NOT at/in fifteen years ago).
!! Do not use 'since' or 'before' with ago : I came to the USA two months ago (NOT since/before two months ago).
!! Use the past tense, not the present perfect, with ago : I started (NOT I've started) a new job a few weeks ago.

WORD CHOICE: also, too, as well, either
also, too and as well can be used in many of the same contexts : She's a valued colleague, and a great friend too OR and a great friend as well OR and also a great friend.
also is the most formal and the most likely to be used in formal writing such as reports.
as well is the most informal and the most likely to be used in speech.
!! too is never used at the beginning of a clause. Also is not usually used at the end of a clause : Smoking makes you ill. It costs a lot too/as well OR It's also expensive OR Also, it's expensive.
Use either when you are adding another negative fact : Our first attempt didn't work, and our second didn't either (NOT also didn't).

WORD CHOICE: still, always
Use still to say that a previous situation has not changed, and is continuing at the time of speaking : He still lives (NOT always lives) with his parents. | They still haven't sold their house. | I still get upset when I think about it.
Always means 'all the time' or 'every time' : I always see him on Tuesdays.
GRAMMAR
Still usually comes before the verb, or before the main verb if there is an auxiliary : She still calls me regularly. | Is he still crying? |I can still remember them.
!! Still comes after the verb 'be' : It was still dark outside. | You are still my best friend.
!! Still usually comes before any negative word : She still isn't ready. | I'm still not tired. | They still can't decide.
!! Do not say 'still now' : I still think (NOT still now think) he's the best player ever.

WORD CHOICE: nervous, anxious, annoyed, irritated
If you are nervous , you cannot relax because you are worried about something that you have to do : I was nervous about my job interview. | He sounded really nervous when he first started speaking.
If you are anxious , you are very worried about something that may happen or may have happened, over which you feel you have no control : When she didn't come home from school her parents began to get anxious.
Do not use nervous to talk about angry feelings. Use annoyed or irritated.
If you are annoyed , you feel slightly angry with someone because of what they have done : I was annoyed that he kept me waiting.
If you are irritated , you are made slightly angry by something that keeps happening : Irritated by their giggling, he told them to be quiet.
!! If someone is irritating you, you can say that they get on your nerves (NOT 'on your nervous') : His fidgeting is getting on my nerves.

WORD CHOICE: except, besides, apart from, unless
except means 'not including' or 'but not' : They invited everyone except Julie.
besides means 'in addition to' : Besides Italy (NOT except Italy), I would like to visit France and Spain.
apart from can be used with either meaning : I ate everything apart from (OR except) the soup. | What do you like doing apart from (OR besides) swimming?
except is not used to introduce another clause. Use unless or except if , except when , except while , except that : We won't go unless you really want to (NOT except you really want to). | I cycle to work, except when it rains (NOT except it rains).
In spoken English, people sometimes leave out 'that' : The play went well, except (that) a few people forgot their lines.

WORD CHOICE: seem, appear, look, sound
Seem and appear have the same meaning but appear is more formal : They seem upset. | This appears to be a good solution.
You use look to say how someone or something seems to you when you look at them : Maureen looked tired. | That book looks good.
You use sound to say how someone or something seems to you when you hear or read about them, or hear them : She sounds a lovely person. | The party sounded great. |He sounded tired.
GRAMMAR
Seem can be followed by an adjective or an adjective and noun : She seemed happy. | He seems a nice man.
Seem can also be followed by a verb in the infinitive : His story seems to be true. | You seem to think it's my fault.
!! Seem can be followed by as if or as though but not just by as : It seems a small thing (NOT it seems as a small thing), but it's very important. |It seemed as if he wanted us to leave (NOT it seemed as he wanted ...).

WORD CHOICE: proud, arrogant, conceited, big-headed, vain
Proud is a fairly general word used to say that someone is pleased with themselves, pleased with what they have achieved, or pleased with something or someone connected with them such as their school or their family : His proud parents watched the presentation. | I'm very proud of my students. |She was proud to be in the team.
Proud is usually neither approving nor disapproving, although you can say someone is too proud , meaning that they will not admit they are wrong or need help.
Arrogant is a disapproving word meaning that someone thinks they are better than other people : He was so arrogant he thought he could not possibly lose. | the arrogant way she dismisses my opinions
Conceited and big-headed are disapproving words meaning that someone thinks they or their achievements are better than they really are. Conceited is fairly formal and big-headed is informal.
Vain is a disapproving word meaning that someone thinks they are very special, especially because they are very proud of the way they look.

WORD CHOICE: as, like, as if
Use as in comparisons in the expression as ... as , with an adjective or adverb in between : Basketball is as popular as football here. | He can't read as well as his classmates .
as is also used in the expressions not so .... as and the same (...) as : I wouldn't go so far as that. | He is the same age as me.
Use like in comparisons followed by a noun : A movie is not like a book (NOT not as a book). |Like other people (NOT as other people), he values his privacy.
Use as if followed by a clause to compare a real situation with an imaginary situation : He talked to them as if they were children.
!! Some people use like in this sort of comparison : They act like they own the place. It is better not to do this as many people think it is incorrect.
!! as if cannot be followed directly by a noun : You treat them as if they were your parents (NOT as if your parents).

WORD CHOICE: say, tell, give, ask
You use say when you are mentioning someone's exact words : 'Hello,' she said. | Someone said, 'Let's go!'
Say can be followed by 'that' : He said that he was tired. In speech people often leave out 'that' |They said there had been a mistake.
Say can be followed by 'something', 'anything', 'nothing', or 'so' : Did you say something? | Nobody dared to say anything. | You have to come - Dad said so.
It can also be followed by 'goodbye' or 'hello' : I'll just go and say hello to David.
Apart from these uses, say is not normally followed by an object. For example, it cannot be followed by 'a story', 'a lie', 'some information', or 'an answer'.
You tell a story, a joke, a lie, or the truth : They told a funny story about their trip.
You give information, an order, an instruction, or an answer : He gave no reply.
!! You do not say a question. You ask a question : Can I ask a question?
You can say something to someone : Has he said something to you?
When talking about giving information, it is more usual to say that you tell someone something : Clare told us something interesting (NOT said us something...). | Can anyone tell me what time it is? (NOT say to me what...)
You can tell someone about something : Did you tell Lucy about the party? (NOT say to Lucy about...)
You can say to do something, but it is more usual to tell someone to do something : The teacher told us to open our books (NOT said us/said to us to...).

WORD CHOICE:at, in, on
Talking about time
Use at
with clock times : at one o'clock | at 6.30
with points of time in the day : at midnight | at noon | at dawn | at sunset
with holiday periods, meaning the few days around the holiday : at Easter | at Diwali
with weekend , in British English : See you at the weekend! |At weekends we go out.
Use in
with parts of the day : in the morning | in the evening |I never watch TV in the daytime.
with months, seasons, years, centuries : in May | in summertime |in 2004 | in the 21st century
Use on
with dates and specific days : on 29th July | on Tuesday afternoons |on the last day of term
with weekend , in American English : We sometimes go there on weekends.
Talking about position and place
Use at
with particular positions or places : at the end of the corridor | at the back of the room | at the corner of the street
to mean 'next to' or 'beside' : She sat at her desk. |He stopped me at the door.
with words for buildings, for example airport , university , restaurant , art gallery : at the airport | at the Lyceum theatre
with city or place names, when you are talking about stopping during a journey : Does this train stop at Watford? !! BUT otherwise use in - see below
Use in
with a position or place, when something or someone is inside a larger thing such as a room : in the bath | in the kitchen | in the garden | in the doorway
with cities, counties, states, and countries : When will you arrive in Tokyo? | He lives in Germany. | She's working in California.
with the names of squares, plazas etc : in Times Square
Use on
with a position or place, when one thing is attached to or touching another : a spot on the end of her nose |a jacket on the back of a chair
with street names : on the High Street | on 42nd Street | on Broadway

WORD CHOICE: beautiful, pretty, handsome, good-looking, attractive, gorgeous, stunning
beautiful is used to describe someone, usually a woman or child, who is attractive in a very special and noticeable way.
pretty is usually used to describe a girl or woman who is good-looking, with regular features. It can also be used to describe a boy or young man who has an attractive but feminine face.
handsome is usually used to describe a man or boy who is good-looking, with strong regular features. It can also be used to describe a woman, usually an older woman, who has attractive but masculine features.
good-looking can be used to describe anyone who you think is nice to look at.
attractive is used to describe someone who looks good in a way that attracts sexual interest : I can see he's handsome, but I don't find him very attractive.
gorgeous and stunning are emphatic ways of saying that someone is very attractive. Gorgeous is used mostly in spoken English.

WORD CHOICE: become, get, go, turn, grow, come
become can be followed by an adjective or noun, not a verb : Her husband became jealous. | We soon became friends.
The following words are used with an adjective instead of become, in certain cases:
get is very often used instead of become , and is more usual in spoken English : I was getting hungry. | Things got worse and worse.
go is used
to say that something changes colour : The sky went pink.
to say that someone feels a change in their body : My fingers have gone numb.
with blind and deaf : He went blind.
with mad , insane , crazy etc : The crowd went wild.
turn is used especially to say that something changes colour : The liquid turned green. |His face turned pale.
grow can be used in fairly literary written English
to say that something changes gradually : It grew dark as we walked.
with a to-infinitive, to say that someone gradually starts doing something : We grew to love each other.
come is used
with adjectives like apart , undone , and unstuck : Your shoelace has come undone. | A few pages came loose.
with true : Her prediction came true.
with a to-infinitive to say that someone starts doing something : I eventually came to realize (NOT became to realize) I was wrong.

WORD CHOICE: in front, opposite, face
If something or someone is in front of a building, they are directly outside the front of it : Meet me in front of the station.
If something or someone is opposite a building, they are outside the front of it on the other side of a street, area of land etc : the fields opposite the school
Use the verb face to say that a building has something outside the front of it : My apartment block faces (NOT is in front of) the sea. |a house facing the square
WORD CHOICE: in front of, before
!! Use in front of not 'before', to talk about doing something so that people can see or hear you : I had to explain myself in front of (NOT before) the whole class.
!! Use before , not 'in front of',to talk about the order in which things happen : Before starting (NOT In front of starting), let's list what we have to do.

WORD CHOICE: believe, believe in
If you believe something, you think it is true. If you believe someone, you think they are telling the truth : Nobody believed what I said. |I didn't do it - you've got to believe me!
Use believe in to mean
that you think something exists : Do you believe in God?
that you think that something is good : He doesn't believe in private education.
that you think someone is good and will achieve good things : My mother always believed in me.

WORD CHOICE: under, underneath, below, beneath
Under is the usual way to say that one thing is at a lower level than another, or is covered by it : Your shoes are under the table. |He lay under a blanket.
Under is nearly always used as a preposition (followed by a noun).
Underneath has a similar meaning to under , and is used especially when something is hidden or covered : a box underneath the floorboards
It can also be used as an adverb : She lifted the cover and peeped underneath.
Below is used when one thing is at a much lower level than another, and can be a preposition or an adverb : the apartment below ours |Mist lay in the valley below.
Beneath can be used in the same ways as under and below , but is a more literary or formal word : beneath the silvery moon | the cliff, and the ocean beneath

WORD CHOICE: big, large, great
big and large have the same meaning, but large is slightly more formal and more likely to be used in written than spoken English : a big lunch | a large house
large is used with quantity words such as 'number' and 'amount' : large amounts of money | a large proportion of the students
great is not usually used to talk about size but it can be used in literary writing to describe very large and impressive things : Before them stood a great palace.
great is used with length , height , and age , and in the expression a great deal (=a lot) : The grass had reached a great height. | a great deal of money
WORD CHOICE: big, tall, high
big is not used just to describe a person's height. It is used to describe a child who is growing, or a person who is heavy, with a lot of fat or muscle on their body.
tall is used to describe a person's height. It can also be used to describe trees, buildings, or other things that are narrow and measure a long distance from bottom to top : She is tall and thin. |the tallest building in London
high is used to describe things or places that are a long way from the ground : a high shelf |the highest mountain in the world

WORD CHOICE: a bit, a bit of
Use a bit before an adjective, not before a noun, nor before an adjective+noun : He's a bit shy (NOT a bit shy man).
Before a noun or adjective+noun, use a bit of : Let's listen to a bit of music (NOT a bit music). |It was a bit of a strange decision (NOT a bit strange decision).
You can also use a bit after the main verb : I cried a bit (NOT a bit cried).

WORD CHOICE: unusual, strange, odd, bizarre, extraordinary, exceptional, remarkable
Unusual is neither approving nor disapproving : a suit made of unusual material | an unusual name | Her response was unusual.
Strange and odd mean unusual in a way that you cannot understand. They are sometimes used to show slight disapproval or distrust : a very strange man | I found his attitude a bit odd.
Bizarre means very unusual, especially in a way that you think is amusing or that is hard to believe : a bizarre haircut
Extraordinary can be approving or disapproving, but suggests approval when it is used to describe a person : What an extraordinary idea! (can suggest you strongly disagree) |My mother was an extraordinary woman (=very impressive, talented etc).
Exceptional and remarkable often mean unusually good or impressive : a writer of exceptional talent | a remarkable film

WORD CHOICE: fault, blame, mistake
If someone causes something bad, you can say that it is their fault or that they are to blame : The accident was my fault. | Nobody is to blame for what happened.
!! Do not say that someone 'has the/a etc fault' : We didn't think that it was our fault OR that we were to blame (NOT that we had any fault).
!! Do not say that something is 'someone's blame'.
Use fault to mean something that is wrong with a machine or system, or something that you could criticize about a person or thing : The car engine had developed a fault. | The book's only fault is that it is too long.
Use mistake to mean something that is wrong in someone's grammar, spelling, calculations, decisions etc : Please correct any mistakes (NOT faults) in my letter .

WORD CHOICE: bring, take, get, fetch
bring means to carry something or come with someone to the place where you are or to the place where you are talking about : Would you like me to bring anything to the party? |She brought her Spanish friend into class.
take means to carry something or go with someone to another place, away from where you are or where you are talking about : Don't forget to take your umbrella. |I'll take you home.
get means to go to another place and come back with something or someone : I went upstairs to get my jacket.
In British English, you can also use fetch : Will you fetch Susan from the airport?
In American English, you only use fetch to talk about a dog getting something.

WORD CHOICE: wide, thick, broad
Wide is used to talk about the distance across something such as a road or river. It is also used to talk about the distance from one side to the other of an object : a doorway two metres wide
Thick is usually used to talk about the distance between the two largest surfaces of an object : The steel doors are four inches thick.
Broad can often be used instead of wide , but it is slightly literary : broad, graceful avenues
Broad is always used with shoulders and back : a big man with broad (NOT wide) shoulders
Wide is used with nouns such as range , variety , and choice to say that something includes a lot of different things.
Broad is used with nouns such as outline , picture , and description to say that a description is general rather than specific.

WORD CHOICE: by, with, in
by is used especially in passives, to say who or what does or causes something : She was hit by a truck. |a book written by Peter Carey
Use with or in after verbs which describe a state rather than an action : The room was lit with candles. | Her house is always filled with music. | The books were covered in dust.
Use with to say what tool you use to do something : I got the stain out with this brush (NOT by this brush).

WORD CHOICE: call, phone, telephone, ring
In spoken English, it is usual to say that you call or phone someone : He calls me almost every day. | Phone me when you get there.
In spoken British English, it is also very usual to say that you ring someone : Have you rung Kim yet?
It is fairly formal and not very usual in spoken English to say that you telephone someone.
!! Do not say that you 'call to' someone : I called him (NOT called to him) to let him know.
!! There is no verb 'phone call' : I need to call (NOT to phone call) Monica.
You can also say that you give someone a (phone) call or, in British English, give them a ring : Give me a call sometime. |I think I'll give Mum a ring.
!! Do not say 'give someone a phone'.

WORD CHOICE: can, could, be able to
Use can and be able to to say that someone has the ability to do something. Be able to is more formal : Can you swim? | Young children are not able to open the bottle.
Use could to say that someone has the ability to do something, but does not do it : He could do a lot better.
Could is also the past form of can . Use could or a past form of be able to to say that someone had the ability to do something in the past : She could ride a bike when she was three. | He was able to walk with a stick.
!! In the following cases, you cannot use can . You must use be able to :
with used to , to say that someone had the ability to do something in the past but no longer does : I used to be able to play the violin.
to talk about future ability. Use will be able to : After only a few lessons, you will be able to understand basic Spanish.
after other verbs, for example might , may , would , want , or hope : He might be able to fix your car. | You should be able to taste the difference. |I want her to be able to use a computer.

WORD CHOICE: job, work, post, position, occupation, profession, career
Your job is the work that you do regularly in order to earn money, especially when you work for a company or public organization : My last job was with a computer firm. | He finally got a job in a supermarket.
Work is used in a more general way to talk about activities that you do to earn money, either working for a company or for yourself : Will you go back to work when you've had the baby? | I started work when I was 18.
!! Do not say 'what is your job?' or 'what is your work?'. Say what do you do? or what do you do for a living?
Post and position are more formal words for a job in a company or organization. They are used especially in job advertisements and when you are talking about someone moving to a different job : This post would suit a recent graduate. | He left last summer for a teaching position in Singapore.
Use occupation to talk about the kind of work that someone usually does, for example if they are a teacher, lawyer, driving instructor etc. Occupation is used mainly on official forms : State your name, age, and occupation in the box below.
!! Do not use occupation to talk about your own job : I am an accountant. (NOT My occupation is an accountant).
A profession is a kind of work for which you need special training and a good education, for example teaching, law, or medicine : the legal profession
Your career is the type of work that you do or hope to do for most of your life : I'm interested in a career in television. | His career is more important to him than his family.

WORD CHOICE: in this case, in this respect
Do not use in this/that case to refer to a particular aspect of something. Use in this/that respect : He supports the death penalty, and in that respect (NOT in that case) I think he is wrong. | Computers can search for information much more quickly than humans, and in this respect (NOT in this case) they are more efficient.

WORD CHOICE: money, cash, change, currency
Money is the most general word for the notes and coins that you use for buying things : Can I borrow some money? | Put the money straight in your purse.
Use cash when you want to emphasize that you mean notes and coins, and not cheques, credit cards etc : You have to pay in cash - they don't accept cheques.
!! Do not say 'pay by cash'. Say pay in cash .
Use change when you mean money in the form of coins, or the money you get back when you pay for something with more money than it cost : I need some change for the phone. | He left the shop without waiting for his change.
Use currency to refer to the money of a particular country : You'll need about £500 worth of Japanese currency.

WORD CHOICE: cause, reason
A cause is something such as an action, event, or situation that makes something happen : The cause of the accident is not known. |a determination to tackle the causes of crime
A reason is an explanation for something : Can you think of any reason why he would behave in this way? | There is a good reason (NOT a good cause) for my decision.
GRAMMAR
Use the cause of , not 'cause for' or 'cause why' : What is the cause of all this unrest?
!! cause for is used in some expressions such as cause for alarm/concern/complaint/optimism/satisfaction : There is no cause for concern. | His remarks give some cause for hope.
Use cause somebody to do something , not 'cause that somebody does something' : A cat ran into the road, causing her to brake suddenly (NOT causing that she braked suddenly).

WORD CHOICE: surely, definitely, certainly, naturally, be sure to
Use surely to say that you think something must be true, especially when other people do not agree : They should be there by now, surely.
Use definitely to say that something is certain to happen or be true : I will definitely be back (NOT I will surely be back) by ten.
Use certainly to emphasize that something is true : He certainly is (NOT surely is) a great cook.
Use naturally to mean 'as anyone would expect' : They were very late, so naturally I was (NOT surely I was) worried.
Use be sure to to say that something is certain to happen : If you work hard you are sure to succeed (NOT you will surely succeed).

WORD CHOICE: chance, chances, luck
chance means possibility : There is a small chance he is still alive. | You've got a good chance of passing.
chance also means opportunity : You will have the chance to meet the star of the show.
chance also means that something happened by coincidence or was not planned : It was pure chance that we bought the same shoes.
Someone's chances are the probability that they will do something : Her chances of finding him after all these years are slim. | He aims to win today - what are his chances?
!! Use chances of doing something, not 'chances to do something' : Your chances of getting (NOT chances to get) a job are as good as anyone's.
luck is when something good happens without being planned : He won more through luck than skill. | It was such luck that you were there to help me!

WORD CHOICE: cost, costs, price, charge, fee, fare
Use cost to talk about paying for services and activities, rather than objects : The total cost of the trip was under $500. |I worked out the cost of the repairs.
Your costs are the amount of money you have to spend in order to run a business or to do a particular activity : The shop was not making enough money to cover its costs.
Use price to mean the amount of money that you must pay for something in a place such as a shop or restaurant : We are cutting all our prices (NOT costs) by 50% for one day only! | We were shocked by the price of a cup of coffee in London.
A charge is the amount you have to pay to have a particular service or use something : For a small charge we will also make your hotel reservations.
A fee is the amount you have to pay to enter or join something : The gallery charges no entrance fee. |The fee for membership is £25 per year. It is also the amount you have to pay for a professional service |The lawyer explained her fees.
A fare is the amount you have to pay to travel somewhere by bus, train, plane etc : I need some money for my bus fare. | His parents paid his fare to Sydney.

WORD CHOICE: fat, overweight, obese, chubby, plump, big, well-built
In general, people do not like to be called fat. But some ways to say 'fat' are less rude than others.
fat is a very direct word. You might use it about yourself but it will usually cause offence if you use it about someone else : I'm so fat at the moment!
overweight is a more polite way to say that someone is fatter than they usually are or than they should be : She is a little overweight.
obese is a word used especially by doctors to describe people who are very fat, in a way that is bad for their health.
chubby is a more informal word and is used especially of children or of rounded body parts such as cheeks or knees.
plump means fat and rounded in a pleasant way : a plump, motherly woman
big and well-built are fairly polite ways to describe someone with a large, strong, or fat body : For big men like him, air travel can be uncomfortable.

WORD CHOICE: close, shut, lock, turn/switch off
In many contexts, the verbs close and shut can be used in exactly the same way : Please close OR shut the gate. | The windows were all closed OR shut. |She closed OR shut her eyes. |The store closes OR shuts at 7.
!! Use close for a road, border, or airport : All the crossing points on the border have been closed (NOT shut).
!! Before a noun, use closed : a closed door (NOT shut door)
!! You cannot say 'close someone somewhere'. Use shut or lock to say that someone is put in a room or building and cannot get out : They shut her (NOT closed her) in her bedroom. | He was locked (NOT closed) in a cell.
Use switch off or turn off with electrical things : Will you turn off (NOT close) the TV? | I switched off (NOT closed) all the lights.

WORD CHOICE: clothes, clothing, garment, cloth
clothes are things that you wear, for example shirts and dresses : I need some new clothes. | Do you ever wear your sister's clothes?
!! clothes is always plural and has no singular form : He was wearing nice clothes (NOT a nice clothe/clothes).
Use clothing to talk about a particular type of clothes or when talking about making or selling clothes : Special protective clothing is worn. | a clothing manufacturer
!! This word is not used much in ordinary spoken language : I went shopping for summer clothes (NOT clothing).
In formal English, you can use garment or piece/item/article of clothing to refer to one thing you wear : a long velvet garment |a discarded article of clothing
But it is more usual to name the particular thing you mean : He was wearing a long coat (NOT long garment) .
Cloth is the material that clothes are made from : a suit made from fine woollen cloth

WORD CHOICE: teacher, professor, lecturer, tutor, instructor, coach, trainer
A teacher usually works in a school : Do the children like their new teacher?
A professor is a teacher of the highest rank in a British university, and is a general term for a teacher in an American college.
Someone who teaches in a British university and who is not a professor is called a lecturer .
A tutor gives lessons to just one student or a small group of students, especially privately in their home or a student's home : a private tutor
An instructor is someone who helps people learn a sport or practical skill, such as driving, skiing, or swimming : a riding instructor
A coach is someone who helps a person or a team to improve in a sport : the school swimming coach
A trainer is someone who teaches people the skills they need for a job : a teacher trainer . It is also someone who teaches skills to animals |a racehorse trainer

WORD CHOICE: include, consist of, comprise, be composed of, be made up of
Use include to mention only some of the things that something has as its parts : The price includes lunch.
If you want to mention all the parts that something has in it, use consist of, comprise, be composed of, or be made up of : The Romance family of languages consists of French, Spanish, Italian, and several other languages. | The house comprises two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room. |The jury was composed of nine whites, one Hispanic, and two Asian Americans. | an organization made up of 600,000 small business owners
!! Do not say that something 'is consisted of' certain things or that it 'consists' them. Say it consists of them.
!! Do not say that something 'comprises of' certain things, even though you might hear English speakers say this. Most careful users consider this to be incorrect so you should avoid using it.
!! Do not say that something 'is composed by' or 'is composed with' certain things. Say it is composed of them.

WORD CHOICE: customer, client, patron, shopper, consumer
Customer is the most general word. A customer is someone who buys something from a particular shop. People who pay to use something such as a transport service can also be called customers : A customer came in and bought several jackets. |Customers are advised that the next train is delayed.
A client is someone who pays for a service : a hairdresser and her clients
A patron of a particular restaurant, bar etc is someone who eats or drinks there. This is a fairly formal word and it is more usual to use customer : Patrons are asked to refrain from smoking.
A shopper is someone who is involved in the activity of buying things from shops : The street was crowded with shoppers.
A consumer is anyone who pays for goods and services. This word is used especially when you are talking about people's rights : Consumers have a right to know what they are buying.

WORD CHOICE: continual, continuous
continual and continuous are both used to describe things that continue without stopping : continual rain | a continuous fall in unemployment since 1998
Use continuous to describe things that go on without a break : I had six continuous hours of meetings. | a continuous line of trees
Use continual to describe things which happen repeatedly : his continual attempts to intervene
Use continual when the thing that is happening is annoying or bad : She was fed up with the continual arguments.

WORD CHOICE: control, manage, run, be in charge
To control something means to have the power to make it work in the way that you want, usually without anyone else being able to stop you : The army controls the north of the country. |With 75% of the shares, he effectively controls the company.
To manage something means to organize the way that it works, often with responsibility for other people's work : She manages a team of software developers. | David managed a small bookstore.
To run something such as a business means to organize it and take the important decisions about how it works, perhaps as the owner of the business : I run my own cleaning business. | Louise will be running the project.
To be in charge means to have responsibility for a situation or activity and decide what happens in it : When the Director is away, her deputy is in charge. | He's in charge of marketing.
WORD CHOICE: control , check , inspect , examine , test , monitor
!! Do not use control to mean 'check' or 'test'. Use one of the following verbs:
check or inspect means to look at something carefully to see if it is correct, safe, or legal : Your passports will be checked on arrival. | Safety officers inspected the building.
examine means to look at something very carefully in order to find out more about it : Experts who examined the letter declared it a fake.
test means to carry out an experiment or process in order to find out what qualities something has : They test blood samples for drugs. |Every car is tested to ensure that it meets high safety standards.
monitor means to keep checking or testing something over a period of time to see if it changes : Her heart rate is being monitored. |This device monitors room temperature and humidity.

WORD CHOICE: critic, review, criticism, critique
!! Do not use critic to refer to something that a critic says or writes.
A review is the usual word for a short article that a critic writes in a newspaper or magazine : His first novel got wonderful reviews. |Have you read the reviews of her play?
criticism is the activity of publishing opinions about things such as books and films, or a group of essays, lectures etc on this subject : a collection of literary criticism
A critique is a detailed explanation of the problems of something such as a set of political ideas, in the form of a speech, book, article etc : He wrote a critique of capitalism.

WORD CHOICE: habit, custom, tradition, practice
A habit is something that you do often, because you have done it many times before.
Do not use habit when you are talking about actions or ways of doing things that have existed among a group of people for a very long time. Use tradition or custom .
Use tradition when the thing you are referring to has existed for many years, especially when it has been passed down from parents to children : It is a tradition in his family for all first-born males to be called Peter. Use custom to refer to something that is considered normal or polite, especially when you are talking about other countries or other times : the Japanese custom of taking off your shoes when you enter someone's house Use practice to talk about the usual way of doing something in a particular area of life : the practice of killing animals for their fur

WORD CHOICE: damage, hurt, injure, wound
Damage means to cause physical harm to a thing or to a part of your body : Fires can damage crops and animals. | He damaged a knee ligament playing rugby.
You do not usually talk about damaging a person. Use hurt , injure , or wound instead : He was hurt in a climbing accident (NOT He was damaged in a climbing accident).
However, you can talk about damaging an unborn child : German measles in pregnancy can damage your baby.
Use hurt or injure to talk about people suffering physical harm as a result of an accident, earthquake, hurricane etc : No one was hurt in the car crash. | We hoped he wasn't seriously injured.
!! Do not say 'injure someone's health'. Say ' damage someone's health '.
Use wound to talk about someone being hurt by a weapon such as a gun or a knife : He shot dead three people and wounded several others. | a wounded soldier

WORD CHOICE: damp, moist, humid
Use damp especially to say that something is slightly wet in an unpleasant way : The room was cold and damp.
Use moist to say that something is slightly wet in a pleasant way or in the way it should be : She took a mouthful of the delicious moist cake. | rich, moist soil
Use humid to talk about the weather or the air when it is slightly wet and makes you feel uncomfortable : the hot humid atmosphere of a greenhouse

WORD CHOICE: machine, device, gadget, appliance
A machine is a piece of equipment that uses power to do a particular job. It is usually large and stays in the same place : a machine that sorts mail | a washing machine
You use the words device and gadget especially when you think the equipment is very cleverly designed. A device is a piece of equipment that does a particular job, for example takes measurements or controls the operation of a machine. It may use electrical power or be used by hand : a device for detecting blood alcohol levels from breath samples | a temperature control device
A gadget is a small piece of equipment that does something useful or impressive : one of those gadgets that sorts coins | kitchen gadgets
An appliance is a piece of electrical equipment used in your home such as a washing machine or fridge. This word is used especially by the companies that produce and sell them : the world's largest producer of household appliances | domestic appliances

WORD CHOICE: dinner, supper, tea, lunch
In Britain, the main meal of the day is dinner and it is usually eaten in the evening. Some people call this meal supper , but to others supper is a very small meal that is eaten just before they go to bed. Some people call this main evening meal tea , but to others tea is a small meal that is eaten in the afternoon.
Some people use dinner to refer to the meal they eat in the middle of the day, but if you want to be clear that you are referring to this meal, use lunch .

WORD CHOICE: direct, take, guide, lead
If you direct someone somewhere, you tell them which way to go to get there, but you do not go with them : He directed me to a hotel near the airport (NOT He guided me to a hotel near the airport).
!! Do not say that you direct something in a particular direction. Say that you point something in a particular direction : He pointed the gun at the policeman (NOT He directed the gun at the policeman).
If you take , guide , or lead someone somewhere, you go with them there : I'll take you to the airport. Use guide especially to talk about helping someone along a difficult route : They guided me through a maze of one-way streets. Use lead to talk about going in front of someone who is following you : The waiter led us to a table in the corner.

WORD CHOICE: illness, disease
Illness and disease are often used in the same way and are equally common in spoken English.
However, illness is more often used to refer to the length of time or state of being unwell : He died after a long illness. | if you are off school because of illness
!! Do not use illness to talk about less serious problems such as headaches or colds.
Disease is a particular kind of illness, especially one that spreads from one person to another or affects a particular part of your body : infectious diseases | heart disease
!! Disease can also be used to mean a lot of different diseases : Cigarette smoking causes death and disease.

WORD CHOICE:owing to, due to, because of, thanks to
Owing to and due to are slightly formal. They are often used in official notices and public statements : Owing to bad weather, this morning's flight will be delayed. | He is retiring due to ill health.
!! Owing to and due to are prepositions (they come immediately before a noun). They are not conjunctions (they cannot connect two parts of a sentence) : I had to wait hours because the plane was delayed (NOT I had to wait hours owing to the plane was delayed).
In spoken English, it is more usual to use because of than owing to or due to : All my clothes got wet because of the storm (NOT owing to the storm).
Thanks to is used to explain why something good has happened : Thanks to the success of his first album, he is now a wealthy man.

WORD CHOICE: during, while
!! Do not say 'during doing something'. Say while doing something : While travelling to work, I saw an accident (NOT During travelling to work, I saw an accident).
!! Do not say 'during someone does something'. Say while someone does something : He stole her money while she slept (NOT He stole her money during she slept).
!! Do not say 'during someone is young/asleep etc'. Say while someone is young/asleep etc : It's best to get your teeth fixed while you're still young (NOT during you're still young). during, for, or since? See note at SINCE

WORD CHOICE: since, for, during, over
Use since to say that something started at a point in time in the past, and is still continuing : He has been living in Leeds since 1998. | We've known about it since May.
Since is usually followed by a time expression ('last year', 'this morning', '4 o'clock' etc) or by the simple past tense. Use the present perfect or the past perfect in the other clause : I have loved movies since I first went to the cinema. |He had been seriously ill since Christmas.
!! Speakers of British English usually say it is a long time/two weeks etc since ..., and speakers of American English it has been a long time/two weeks etc since ..., but both uses are correct : It's weeks (BrE)/It's been weeks (AmE) since I saw Grandma.
Use for when you state the length of time that something has been happening : We have known each other for ten years (NOT since ten years). | I had been waiting for hours (NOT since hours). |I haven't seen him for ages (NOT since ages).
During and over are used when you state the period of time in which something happens or changes : During her first year at college, she had several boyfriends. | Over the last six months, crime has doubled.

WORD CHOICE: each, every
It is often correct to use either each or every , but they have slightly different meanings.
Use each when you are thinking about the people or things in a group separately, one by one : Each student came forward to receive a medal (emphasizes that they came forward one after another) |Each time you exercise, you get a little stronger.
Use every when you are thinking about the whole group of people or things together, with no exceptions : Every student was given a prize (emphasizes that everyone in the group got a prize) |Warm up every time you exercise.
!! Do not use each with words such as 'almost', 'nearly', or 'not'. Use every : Almost every window was broken. | Not every child enjoyed the party.
!! Do not use each in negative clauses. Use none : None of the answers were correct (NOT Each of the answers were not correct).
GRAMMAR
each and every are followed by a singular verb : Each item was thoroughly checked. | Every member wears a uniform.
each and every are usually followed by a singular pronoun or determiner (he, she, it, his, himself etc) : Each component can be replaced separately if it breaks. |Every woman must decide for herself.
But you can use 'they', 'them', 'their' etc when you do not want to say whether people are male or female : Every child has their own room.

WORD CHOICE: gain, earn, get
Do not use gain to mean 'get money for work you do'. Use earn : people earning less than £10,000 per year | How much does he earn?
Gain means to get something useful or necessary, whether or not you deserve it : I have gained a lot of useful experience. | Her problems seem to have gained her more support from the public.
Use earn rather than gain to say that you get something because you deserve it : Through hard work you will earn the respect of your colleagues.
Get can be used as a less formal way of saying gain or earn : I get $20 an hour. | He has started to get a reputation for being awkward.

WORD CHOICE: ground, land, earth, soil, floor
The ground is the surface that you walk on when you are outdoors : There were a few flakes of snow on the ground. | an area of muddy ground
land is an area of ground that is owned or controlled by someone : They were on his land. | land set aside for housing
It is also the part of the earth's surface that is not covered in water : animals that live on land
earth or soil is the soft substance that covers the ground and that plants grow in : Green shoots peeped through the earth. | fertile soil
The Earth or earth is also the planet that we live on.
The floor is the surface that you walk on when you are indoors : There's mud all over the floor!

WORD CHOICE: especially, specially
It is better to use especially in front of adjectives to emphasize them, although some people also use specially : The cake was especially good. | This part is especially interesting.
Use especially to say that something applies more to one thing or situation than to others : Everyone loved it, especially the children. | You should call first, especially if you're going to be late.
Use specially to say that something is done or made for a particular purpose : I got this specially for you. |specially designed equipment
!! Especially never comes at the start of a sentence : He loves fruit. He especially likes kiwis (NOT Especially he likes ...).

WORD CHOICE: lastly, finally, eventually, in the end, at last
!! Do not use lastly to say what happened at the end of a period of time or after several other things happened. Use one of the following expressions:
Use finally or eventually to say that something happens after a long time : Finally we managed to get the car to start. | When she eventually turned up, the food was cold.
Use eventually or in the end to say what the result or outcome of something was : They eventually got bored and went home. | In the end we decided to cancel the trip.
Use at last to say that something happens after a long period of waiting or trying, when you are glad about this : It's good to be home at last. | At last, the pizza's here!
Use lastly or finally to introduce the last point you want to make, the last action in a series of actions, or the last item in a list : Lastly, I would like to remind you that smoking is not allowed. | Load the paper, select the number of copies, and lastly press 'Print'. | You add flour, salt, and finally milk.

WORD CHOICE: excuse me, pardon me, beg your pardon, sorry
excuse me and pardon me are polite expressions that you use when you do something that could be slightly embarrassing or rude, for example in the cases below.
You usually use sorry to apologize after you have done something wrong. See also: regret
Use excuse me when you want to interrupt someone, say something to a person you do not know, or get past someone : Excuse me, do you know the time? |Excuse me, can I just reach across and get my bag?
Use excuse me when you have to leave someone for a short time : Excuse me for a moment while I make a call.
excuse me can also be used, especially in American English, when you have not heard or understood what someone has said : 'You're late.' 'Excuse me?' 'I said you're late.' 'Oh, sorry.' Speakers of British English usually use pardon : 'My name is Timothy.' 'Pardon?'
In American English, it is also possible to use pardon me in these situations.
In British English, you usually say pardon me when you have done something slightly impolite such as burping or sneezing. In American English, you usually say excuse me .
I beg your pardon is a rather old-fashioned expression used to apologize for doing something embarrassing or for making a mistake in what you have said : There are 65 - I beg your pardon - 56 students on the course.
!! Do not confuse the verb excuse /Ik'skju:z/ with the noun excuse /Ik'skju:s/ , which means a reason for doing something wrong, often an invented or false reason.

WORD CHOICE: wait, expect, look forward to, await
Wait means to stay somewhere or not do something until something comes, happens etc : I'm waiting to hear from Dan before I arrange my trip.
Expect means to believe that something will come, happen etc : The police are expecting (NOT waiting) trouble.
Look forward to means to be excited and pleased about something that is going to happen : I'm looking forward to getting his letter.
!! Wait is never followed directly by a noun. You must say wait for : She was waiting for a bus (NOT waiting a bus).
In formal English, you can use await , which is followed directly by a noun : We are awaiting your instructions.

WORD CHOICE: in fact, as a matter of fact, the fact is
Use in fact or as a matter of fact to say more about a previous statement : Antibiotics will not help. In fact, they may make symptoms worse. |The album is brilliant - their best ever, as a matter of fact.
You can also use in fact or as a matter of fact to correct what has been said : They had met but were not, in fact, friends. | 'You've never been there, have you?' 'As a matter of fact I have.'
Use the fact is to introduce your main point or to say what the real truth is : Many women are constantly dieting. The fact is, most diets do not work. |The fact is, he's just no good at his job.

WORD CHOICE: rather, fairly, quite, pretty
Rather, fairly, quite, and pretty are all used to say that something is true to some degree, but not completely or extremely : She's rather shy. | You should find the test fairly easy. | It took quite a long time (NOT a quite long time). |His English is pretty good.
Rather is fairly formal but can be used in spoken English, especially British English. In American English it is more usual to use pretty . In both American and British English, pretty is more usual in speech than in writing.
Quite can also be used in front of an adjective or adverb, and in British English a verb, to mean 'completely'. This is a fairly formal use : You are quite wrong. |I quite understand your feelings.

WORD CHOICE:pay, salary, wages, wage, income, fee
Pay is the money that you earn by working : The pay is much better in the private sector. | people on low pay | pay negotiations
Someone's salary is the money they are paid every month by their employer, especially someone in a profession, such as a teacher or a lawyer : Some managers earn annual salaries of over £80,000.
Use wages to refer to the money that someone is paid every week by their employer, especially someone who works in a factory or a shop : Some companies pay higher wages than others.
!! Do not use wages before a noun. Use wage : wage earners
Someone's income is all the money that they receive regularly, for work or for any other reason : families on low incomes |Rent from the old farm was their only source of income.
Use fee to refer to the money paid to a lawyer, doctor, or similar qualified worker for a piece of work they have done : Your accountant's fees are too high. | legal fees

WORD CHOICE: a few, few, a little, little, a bit, fewer, less
a few and few are used before plural nouns.
a few means 'a small number' : It will take a few minutes. | I've got a few friends who live nearby.
few means 'not many'. It emphasizes how small the number is. It is mainly used in writing or formal speech : Few people would deny her talent. |He has few interests outside his work.
In spoken English or informal writing it is more usual to say not many : Not many people saw what happened.
a little and little are used before uncountable nouns.
a little means 'some, but not a lot' : We still have a little time left.
In spoken British English, it is more usual to say a bit : 'Are you tired?' 'A bit.' |I've got a bit of money left.
little means 'not much'. It emphasizes how small the amount is. It is mainly used in writing or formal speech : There is now little hope of success.
In spoken English or informal writing it is more usual to say not much : There was not much milk left.
The comparative of few is fewer : Few people have read the book, and even fewer understand it.
The comparative of little is less : We know little about his adult life, and less about his childhood.
!! Sometimes people use less before a plural noun, but many people think that this is incorrect, so it is better to use fewer : a village of fewer (NOT less) than 200 inhabitants

WORD CHOICE: first, first of all, firstly, at first
Use first , first of all , or firstly to introduce the first item in a list of two or more points, instructions etc : First, make sure the screws are securely fixed in position. Then attach the wire. | The plan was not practical, firstly because of the cost, and secondly because local people did not support it.
Use first or first of all to say what happens first in a series of actions : First I fed the baby. Then I made myself a sandwich.
Use at first to say what happened at the beginning of a period of time, when this changed later : At first I was nervous, but I soon started to relax .

WORD CHOICE: repair, fix, mend
Repair is slightly more formal than fix or mend . You can repair anything that is broken or damaged, or has a hole in it : He repairs old furniture. |It cost too much to get the car repaired. |The roof needs repairing in a few places.
In British English, fix and mend have the same meaning, but people more often use fix to talk about repairing a machine, vehicle etc and mend to talk about repairing holes in clothes, roads, roofs, and fences.
In American English, mend is usually only used to talk about repairing things with holes in them, especially clothes and shoes.

WORD CHOICE: travel, travelling, journey, trip, voyage, crossing, flight
Travel (uncountable noun) and travelling are used to mean the general activity of moving from place to place : Air travel is becoming cheaper. | Her work involves a lot of travelling.
!! You do not say 'a travel'.
Use journey to talk about travelling a long distance or travelling regularly, when the emphasis is on the travelling itself : a long and difficult journey (NOT travel) through the mountains | I read during the train journey to work. |Did you have a good journey? (=Were you comfortable, was the train on time etc?)
A trip is when you go on a short journey, or a journey you do not usually make, and come back again. Use this when the emphasis is on where you are going or why you are going there : my first trip to the States | a business trip |Was it a good trip? (=Did you achieve what you wanted to or have a good time there?)
Voyage is used for a long sea journey : a voyage across the ocean
Crossing is used for a fairly short sea journey : The crossing takes 90 minutes.
Flight is used for a journey by air : Have a good flight!

WORD CHOICE: storey, story, floor
Storey (BrE) or story (AmE) is usually used to talk about the structure of a building : a building dozens of storeys high | a three-storey house
The plural of story is stories : The office block was 20 stories high.
To talk about where someone or something is in a building, use floor : We went up to the top floor. | He works on the fifteenth floor. | Is there a bathroom on this floor?

WORD CHOICE: glance, glimpse
glance (verb) means 'to look quickly and deliberately' and a glance is the act of quickly looking at someone or something : I glanced at my watch. | She gave me an amused glance.
glimpse (verb) means 'to see something or someone by chance for a very short time' and a glimpse is a sight that you see by chance for a very short time : I glimpsed someone behind the curtain. | We got a glimpse of her face as she hurried past.

WORD CHOICE: gleam, glint, glisten, glitter, glow
All these words mean 'to shine' but are used in slightly different ways.
gleam is used especially of smooth clean surfaces that shine : She polished the car until it gleamed. | gleaming white teeth
glint means to shine brightly with a small flash of light. It is used especially of shiny metals : Her jewellery glinted in the sun.
glisten is used of wet or oily surfaces that shine : The wet streets glistened.
glitter means to shine brightly with many small flashes of light : the glittering frost
glow means to shine with a warm soft steady light. It is often used of things that give off heat : The coal in the fireplace was still glowing.

WORD CHOICE:come, go
Use come for movement towards the place where the speaker is or will be : Come and see me at my office. | I could see them coming down the hill (=getting nearer to me) |. |When are you coming home (=to our home) |?
Use go for movement in other directions : Are you going to Sally's tonight? | I wish he would go home (=to his home, away from me).

WORD CHOICE: suppose, guess
In spoken phrases, I suppose and I guess are used in the same way, but suppose is more usual in British English and guess in American English : I suppose that's his mum. | I guess you're right. | I suppose you can come if you want to. | I guess I'll go home now. |'Should we sit here?' 'I suppose so.' | 'Isn't he coming?' 'I guess not.'
GRAMMAR
!! Do not say 'be suppose to do something'. Use be supposed to : You're supposed to take your shoes off. | He's supposed to be very clever.

WORD CHOICE: rarely, seldom, hardly, scarcely
Rarely and seldom both mean 'not often'. Seldom is more formal or literary : People rarely ask questions. |She was seldom seen in public. | The disease is rarely fatal.
Hardly and scarcely both mean 'almost not' or 'only just'. For example, if you hardly had time to do something, you almost did not have time. Scarcely is more formal or literary : I hardly had time to ask her name. |We had scarcely arrived when he asked us to leave.
Hardly and scarcely can also be used with 'ever' to mean 'not often, almost never', with 'any' to mean 'very few, almost none' etc : I've got hardly any money left. | Hardly anyone agreed with her.
In speech, it is usual to say that you hardly ever do something, rather than that you rarely do it : I hardly ever go to the cinema.

WORD CHOICE: help, assist, give somebody a hand, lend a hand, help out
Help is the most general verb meaning 'to make it possible or easier for someone to do something'.: Note that in the patterns help to do something
or help someone to do something you can leave out the 'to' and say help do something or help someone do something : Cleaner water will help prevent disease. |money to help people build new homes.
Assist is a formal word, and means to help someone by doing part of the work for them, especially the things that are not very important : Would you be kind enough to assist me in a small experiment?
!! Do not say 'assist someone to do something'. Say assist someone with something or assist someone in doing something.
!! Do not use assist to mean 'attend' or 'be present at'.
Give somebody a hand, lend a hand, and help out are used in more informal English. Give somebody a hand means to help someone, especially by carrying or lifting things : Can you give me a hand stacking up these boxes? Lend a hand and help out mean to help someone, especially when there are not enough people to do something : Police came from other areas to lend a hand. | Their friends helped out with the fundraising.

WORD CHOICE: rent, hire, lease
Rent is used to talk about paying to live in or use a building that is owned by someone else : We rented an apartment together.
In American English, you also rent a car or electrical equipment : The TV is rented.
In British English, you can use rent or hire , but it is more usual to say that you hire a car : You can hire a car at the airport.
Lease is used to talk about renting buildings, cars, or equipment over a long period of time, especially for business use : If you upgrade computers regularly, it may work out cheaper to lease them.

WORD CHOICE: hold, take/get hold of, pick up
Hold means to have something in your hand, hands, or arms : He was holding a piece of paper.
If you want to talk about someone putting their hands or fingers around something and starting to hold it, use take/get hold of : She got hold of the knife and stabbed him.
If you want to talk about someone putting their fingers around something and taking it, especially from the floor, use pick up : I picked up all the toys from the floor.
!! Use pick not pick up when you are talking about pulling flowers off a plant : She was in the garden picking flowers (NOT She was in the garden picking up flowers).

WORD CHOICE: wish, hope, want, would like
Use wish to talk about things that are not true, not possible, or very unlikely : I wish I knew more about science. |She wished she hadn't said anything. |I wish I could win the lottery.
Use hope to talk about things that could happen, could have happened, or could be true : I hope you have a happy birthday. | I hope they got there in time.
!! Do not use wish + (that) to say that you want something to happen in the future. Use hope : I hope (NOT wish) that we'll all meet again soon. |I hope you have a great time.
You can use wish + noun in polite expressions meaning that you want someone to have something : We wish you a safe journey. | I wish you lots of luck.
!! Wish to is very formal. Use want to or would like to to say what you want to happen : I want to write to him but I don't know his address. | I would like to run my own restaurant.
GRAMMAR:tenses with 'wish'
Things that you want to happen in the present or future
Use wish + past tense or wish + would : I wish I didn't have to go. |I wish they would stop arguing.
You can use that or leave it out : I wish that he would help more.
!! In British English, you can either say 'I wish I was' or 'I wish I were', which is rather formal. In American English, you should use were : I wish I were ten years younger.
Things that you want to have happened in the past
Use wish + past perfect tense : I wish I had paid more attention in class.

WORD CHOICE: ignore, be ignorant of, not know
If you ignore something, you know about it or have seen or heard it, but deliberately do not take notice of it : We cannot ignore the problem.
!! Do not use ignore to mean 'not know about something'. Use not know instead : We don't know how famous people live their lives (NOT We ignore how famous people live their lives).
You can also say that you are ignorant of something, especially when you should know about it : They seem to be ignorant of the dangers involved.

WORD CHOICE: sick, throw up, vomit, ill, not well, unwell
In British English, sick is usually used in the expressions be sick (=have the food in your stomach come up through your mouth) and feel sick (=feel as if this is going to happen) : Someone had been sick on the floor. | Stop it, I feel sick!
In American English, you say that someone throws up . Throw up is also used in British English but is fairly informal.
Vomit is a fairly formal way to say 'throw up'.
If someone has an illness or disease, you usually say that they are ill in British English, and sick in American English : He missed a lot of school when he was ill (BrE)/sick (AmE) .
In American English, ill suggests you have a more serious disease, from which you may not recover.
If someone is slightly ill, you often say in British English that they are not well : I won't come out - I'm not very well.
Unwell is a more formal word for 'ill' or 'sick'.

WORD CHOICE: kill, murder, execute, put to death, kill yourself, commit suicide, slaughter, massacre, assassinate
There are many different words meaning to kill someone. Kill is the most general : He says he did not mean to kill his wife. | Thousands of Russian soldiers were killed in the war.
Use murder to talk about deliberately killing someone, especially after planning to do it : He is charged with murdering a policeman.
When you are talking about killing someone as a punishment for a crime, use execute or put someone to death : He was executed by a firing squad. | the first person to be put to death in San Quentin jail
If someone deliberately causes their own death, say that they commit suicide or that someone kills himself or herself : the feeling of hopelessness that led him to commit suicide, |It was not the first time she had tried to kill herself.
Slaughter and massacre mean to violently kill a large number of people who cannot defend themselves. These words are used mainly in writing or journalism : Hundreds of innocent civilians were slaughtered. | Soldiers massacred 900 men, women, and children in the village.
Use assassinate to talk about killing an important person, especially a politician : J.F.Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963.

WORD CHOICE: type, kind, sort
Type , kind , and sort all have the same meaning and can be used in the same situations : What type of car do you drive? | an interesting kind of plant | a new sort of mobile phone
If you are saying that something is partly true or are not being exact, use sort of or kind of rather than type of : It's a sort of oval shape.
GRAMMAR
Type , kind , and sort are countable nouns, and they must be plural after determiners with plural meanings:
this type/kind/sort of + singular noun : I don't like this type of thing. | This kind of mistake is easy to make. |Red wine goes well with this sort of dish.
these/those types/kinds/sorts of + plural/singular noun : How common are these types of illness(es)? |Those kinds of colours look good with dark skin.
!! Remember to use the plural types/kinds/sorts after all, both, certain, different, many, several, various etc : movies that appeal to certain kinds of people (NOT certain kind of people) | Many sorts of jobs require computing skills (NOT many sort of jobs).

WORD CHOICE: know, find out, get to know
Know means to have information about something : I know where you live. | I never knew you were such a good dancer.
!! Do not use know when you mean to get information about something that you want to know. Use find out instead : I went to the window to find out what was happening outside (NOT I went to the window to know what was happening outside).
Know also means to be familiar with someone or something : Do you know Sara well? | I don't really know London.
!! Do not use know when you mean become familiar with someone or something. Use get to know instead : I'd like to get to know her better (NOT I'd like to know her better). | The best way to get to know Venice is by boat (NOT The best way to know Venice is by boat.)

WORD CHOICE:lay, lie
The verb lay must have an object. It is a slightly literary way to say 'put something somewhere' : She lays a silk cloth over the table .
The verb lie does not have an object. It means 'be or get into a horizontal position somewhere' : Let's lie on the grass. | Lie down here for a while.
!! lay is also the past tense of lie : I lay on the couch and tried to relax. The past tense of lay is laid : He laid his hand on my shoulder.

WORD CHOICE: small, little
Small is a very general word for talking about the size of something : a small village |a small man | He had small brown eyes. | The envelope was too small. | Do you have this shirt in a smaller size?
Little is used, especially in spoken English, to show how you feel about someone or something small, for example to show that you like them, dislike them, or feel sorry for them : What lovely little cakes! | her horrid little dog
!! You can say 'smaller' or 'smallest', but do not say 'littler' or 'littlest' : Her feet are even smaller (NOT littler/more little) than mine.
!! You can use words like 'quite', 'very' and 'too' in front of small , but do not use them with little : a very small car (NOT very little car)

WORD CHOICE: position, place, location, where, there
Place is a very general word for talking about where something or someone is : the place where they live | Put this in a safe place.
Position can be used to talk about the place where something is in relation to other things or places : the position of the table in the room
Location is used mainly in formal or business English to talk about where a building is : a house in a central location | the location of the new headquarters
In ordinary spoken English, it is more usual to use words like where, there, somewhere, anywhere to talk about the place where something or someone is : This is where (NOT the place where) I live. | My shoes were in the hall but they're not there (NOT in that place) now. |Let's have lunch somewhere different (NOT in a different place) today.

WORD CHOICE: luck, lucky
!! Do not say that someone 'has luck'. Say they are lucky : I was lucky (NOT I had luck) and got to the airport just in time. | You're so lucky to live by the sea.
You can use 'have' with luck only when luck has something before it such as 'bad', 'good', 'much', 'any' 'a bit of' etc : He's had a lot of bad luck recently. | Did you have any luck finding your bag? | If we have a bit of luck, we'll see her before she leaves.
GRAMMAR
!! luck is an uncountable noun : Winning was mostly a matter of luck .
Do not say 'a luck'. To talk about one lucky event you can say a piece of luck , a bit of luck , or a stroke of luck : Seeing him at that moment was an amazing piece of luck (NOT an amazing luck).

WORD CHOICE:made from, made of, made by
When you are talking about the materials that are used to make something, you say that it is made of or made from those materials.
Use made from when the original materials have been completely changed and cannot be recognized : Paper is made from wood.
Use made of when the original materials have not been completely changed and you can still see them : a table made of wood
!! Do not use made by when you are talking about the materials something is made from : a small purse made of leather (NOT a small purse made by leather). Made by is used to talk about the person or company that made something : All the furniture in this room was made by my grandfather.

WORD CHOICE: none, neither
Use none to talk about a group of three or more things or people : None of my friends came.
To talk about two things or people, use neither : Neither of my parents wanted me to marry him.
GRAMMAR
none of can be followed by a plural noun or an uncountable noun : None of these diets worked. | None of the money was missing.
neither of is followed by a plural noun : Neither of the rooms was free.
After the plural noun, you can use a plural or singular verb. You should use a singular verb in formal writing : None of us care OR cares what happens to him. | None of us is able to escape the consequences of our actions.
!! Do not use another negative word (eg 'not') with none : We got 3 points and they got none (NOT they didn't get none). | I didn't want any of them (NOT I didn't want none of them).

WORD CHOICE: out, outside, outdoors, out of doors
If you are out , you are away from a building, especially the place where you live or spend a lot of time : Debbie's out. She'll be back later. | Why don't we go out for the day?
If you are outside a room or building, you are not in it but are close to it : Meet me outside the library. | I sat on a chair outside his office. |You'll have to wait outside in the corridor.
When outside is an adverb, it can also mean 'not inside any building' : It's cold outside.
Outdoors or out of doors always mean 'not inside any building' : We usually spend summers outdoors. | I like weddings that are held out of doors.
!! Do not confuse outdoors (with an -s) and outdoor (without an -s). Outdoors is an adverb : I like playing outdoors. Outdoor is an adjective that can only be used before a noun : outdoor activities such as fishing

WORD CHOICE: package, packet, packaging, packing, pack
!! Do not confuse these similar words.
A package is a parcel, usually sent by post : A package containing a bomb was delivered to her home.
In American English, a package is also a paper or plastic container that food etc is sold in : a package of cookies
In British English, a packet is a box, bag, or some other container that things are sold in : a packet of biscuits | a packet of crisps. A packet can also sometimes be called a pack : a pack of cigarettes. This meaning of pack is also used in American English.
In American English, a packet is a small flat paper or plastic container for something such as tomato ketchup or sugar. The British word for this is sachet .
Packaging is material that is put round things that are sold, to protect them or to encourage people to buy them : It's the same old stuff in better packaging.
Packing is material that is put around things to protect them, especially from getting damaged in the post : Carefully remove the computer from its foam packing.

WORD CHOICE:parking, parking space/place, car park, parking lot
!! Parking is an uncountable noun : Ample parking will be available. | a hotel with free parking Do not say 'a parking' or 'parkings'.
Use parking space or parking place when you mean 'a place in a street, car park etc where a vehicle can be left' : There's a parking space (NOT a parking) in front of that house.
Use car park in British English or parking lot in American English when you mean 'an area or building where vehicles can be left' : large car parks (NOT parkings) near train stations

WORD CHOICE: trouble, problem, troubles
!! Trouble is usually an uncountable noun. Never say 'a trouble' : He has caused me a lot of trouble (NOT troubles). | Are you having trouble (NOT a trouble) with your car?
A problem is a specific thing that causes worry or difficulty : My biggest problem is shyness. | There were a lot of problems with his work. | They're having problems in their marriage.
Your troubles are your worries : Sit down here and forget your troubles (OR problems) for a minute.

WORD CHOICE: produce (v), produce (n), product
The verb produce is pronounced /prE'dju:s -'du:s/ . The noun produce is pronounced /'prCdju:s 'proUdu:s/ and is used to mean 'food that has been grown to be sold' : We sell tinned goods and fresh produce (=fruit and vegetables).
The usual noun used to mean 'something that is produced to be sold' is product : Their latest product is a games console. | the packaging of food products

WORD CHOICE: student, schoolchild, pupil
In British English, a student usually means someone who has finished school and is studying at university : We met when we were students. | student accommodation
Children who go to school can be called schoolchildren , schoolboys or schoolgirls : A group of schoolchildren got on the bus.
The children at a particular school can be called its pupils : Pupils at the school were sent home early.
In American English, student is the usual word for anyone who is studying at school or college.
GRAMMAR
To say that someone is studying at a particular university, use at : She's a student at York University.
A student of literature, law etc studies that subject, but it is more usual to say 'a literature/law student'.

WORD CHOICE: raise, rise
When raise is a verb, it must have an object. It is a fairly formal way to say 'lift something up' or 'move something up' : Raise your right hand. | He raised the box above his head.
It is not formal when it means 'make something increase' : We will have to raise our fees.
When rise is a verb, it does not have an object. It is a fairly formal way to say 'move up' : Smoke rose into the sky. It is also a formal way to say 'get up' or 'stand up', used mainly in literary writing |He rose to greet me.
It is not formal when it means 'increase' : Prices are rising rapidly.
In British English, raise is never a noun. Use rise : He asked for a pay rise. | There has been a rise in unemployment.
In American English, a raise is an increase in pay : She offered me a raise.

WORD CHOICE: shake, wobble, rattle, vibrate, tremble, shiver
Shake is a fairly general word. It can be used to talk about objects moving : There was a loud bang and the building shook.
It can also be used to talk about people's bodies moving because of cold, strong emotion, or illness : Mary shook with rage.
If something wobbles , it moves from side to side because it is not steady or balanced : The desk wobbles when you put anything on it.
If something hard rattles , it shakes and makes a quick series of short sounds : The wind blew and the windows rattled.
If something vibrates , it makes small quick regular movements that you can hear or feel : The engine began to vibrate.
If someone trembles , their body shakes with very small movements, especially because they are angry, afraid, or excited : Trembling, she approached him.
If someone shivers , their body shakes with small movements, especially because they are cold or frightened : We sat shivering under a blanket.

WORD CHOICE: regret, be sorry
Regret is very formal when it is used to apologize : I deeply regret causing you offence.
It is more usual to say you are sorry : I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.
If you regret doing something, you wish you had not done it : Do you regret resigning from your job? | I asked him to join us, then regretted it.
You can say you are sorry about something that you wish you had not done, or something that is not your fault : I was sorry that she decided not to come back.
You can say that you are sorry to say something or regret to say something before giving bad news : I am sorry to tell you that you failed the test. |We regret to inform you that no trains will run today.

WORD CHOICE: remember, remind
You remember someone or something from a time in the past : I remember playing there when I was little. |Hello, do you remember me?
You also remember information or things that you must do : I can't remember what time he's arriving. | We must remember to close that window.
You remind someone about something when you tell them to remember it : Remind me to call Kim tomorrow. | Thomas reminded us that Dad was still waiting.
If something or someone reminds you of a person or thing, they make you think of them because they are similar : Being on the farm reminded me of my childhood. | She reminds me of my first girlfriend.
!! You can remind yourself of something, but you cannot remember yourself of something : I reminded myself of my promise. |He remembered his promise (NOT He remembered him/himself (of) his promise).

WORD CHOICE: destroy, ruin, spoil
Destroy means to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or people can no longer use it : The earthquake destroyed even the tallest buildings. | The rainforests are being destroyed at a frightening rate.
If you ruin or spoil something, it still exists, but it has lost all its good qualities or features. Ruin is stronger than spoil : The rain ruined my hair. | I don't want to spoil your day.

WORD CHOICE: see, watch, look at
See means to notice something with your eyes, either deliberately or accidentally : I saw a great film last week. | A few people saw him take the bag.
Watch means to deliberately pay attention to something for quite a long time : They were all watching the game on TV. |He watched her leave.
When you look at something, you deliberately turn your eyes towards it in order to see it : There was a loud noise and everyone looked at the screen.
!! You can see something on television or watch television, but do not say 'see television' : After I finish my homework I usually watch television.

WORD CHOICE:shadow, shade
A shadow is a dark shape made by something that blocks the sun or a light : She saw his shadow on the wall.
Shadow is an area of darkness made like this : The side of the valley was in shadow.
Shade is a cool dark area where the sun does not reach, made by the shadow of something such as a tree or wall : Let's eat our lunch in the shade. | He sat under the shade of a tree.

WORD CHOICE: shop, store
In British English, shop is the usual word and store is sometimes used to mean a very large shop where many different kinds of things are sold, for example a large supermarket or department store : They live opposite a row of shops. |This item is available in our London store .
In American English, store is the usual word and shop is sometimes used to mean a small store that sells one type of goods : Will you go to the store for me? | a card shop
In British English, you can talk about the shops : I'm going to the shops - do you want anything? But speakers of American English never say 'the stores'.

WORD CHOICE: sit, sit down, sit in/on, seat
You usually use sit down rather than sit to say that someone moves into a sitting position : Everyone sat down to listen.
You use sit when you mention where someone sits down : She sat next to me. | Where shall I sit?
!! You sit on or sit in a chair, depending on whether it is flat and simple or soft and comfortable : We sat on barstools. | He sat in his favourite armchair. You sit on flat things such as a bench, the floor, or the grass. You sit in a room, a corner, long grass, a tree, or a seat in a car : I get travel sick when I sit in the back.
!! To tell someone to sit down, say 'Sit down' , 'Have a seat' , or in very formal situations, 'Be seated' . You usually only say 'Sit!' to a dog.

WORD CHOICE: slide, slip, skid
Slide means to move smoothly across a surface. You can talk about people, objects, or liquids sliding : This floor's great for sliding on. | The door slid open (NOT slided open). |A tear slid down her cheek.
Slip means to accidentally slide a small distance, and usually then fall down : She slipped and hurt her wrist. | It's icy - mind you don't slip.
Skid means to move across a smooth surface in an uncontrolled way. You usually use it to talk about vehicles : Cars skidded on the snow. |Jason skidded around the corner on his bike.

WORD CHOICE: sleep, asleep
You usually use be asleep rather than 'be sleeping' : Her parents were already asleep (NOT already slept/were sleeping).
The verb sleep is used when you are giving more information, for example about how long someone sleeps or where they sleep : The baby sleeps for 12 hours. | He slept in the car.
You usually say fall asleep , not 'start sleeping' : Some students fall asleep (NOT start sleeping/start to sleep) at their desks.
!! Do not say 'feel asleep'.
You can also say someone goes to sleep , especially when they are in bed and want to sleep : I turned the light out and went to sleep.
You use get to sleep when someone has difficulty falling asleep : It took me hours to get to sleep.

WORD CHOICE: thin, slim, skinny, slender, lean, slight
Thin is a general word meaning that someone has little fat on their body. It is usually, but not always, disapproving : He's much too thin. | Teenage girls all seem to want to be thin.
Slim means thin in an attractive way : her lovely slim figure
Skinny is a fairly informal word meaning very thin, which is usually disapproving : ridiculously skinny models
Slender , lean , and slight are used mostly in written English.
Slender means thin in an attractive and graceful way : long slender legs
Lean means thin and looking strong and fit : a tall, lean athlete
Slight means thin and delicate-looking : Her brother was very slight and looked younger than he was.

WORD CHOICE: lawyer, attorney, solicitor, barrister, counsel
Lawyer is a general word for someone who has professional training in legal work or who is an expert in the law.
In American English, the word attorney is often used instead, especially in legal or official language and especially to refer to a lawyer who represents people in court.
In British English, there is a difference between a solicitor , who gives legal advice and prepares legal documents, and a barrister , who represents people in court.
In both American and British English, someone's counsel is the lawyer or group of lawyers who represent them in court.

WORD CHOICE: speak, talk
When one person is saying things, you can use talk or speak , but talk is more usual and speak slightly literary : She talked about her job. | He spoke longingly of his home country. | Don't interrupt me when I'm talking/speaking.
If people are having a conversation, always use talk : We talked about our relationship. |They talked for hours.
If you say that two people are not speaking , you mean they are not willing to talk to each other : They've had a row and they're not speaking.
Someone who can talk has learned to use language : She could talk before she was two.
If you can speak , you are able to say something on a particular occasion : I was too scared to speak.
!! When you mention what language someone uses, always use speak : She speaks(=knows how to use) French and Spanish. | We spoke in German at first, then English.
!! When you ask for someone on the telephone, use speak : Can I speak to Clare?
!! You can speak words . Do not use talk : I spoke the words as clearly as I could.
!! You can talk sense or talk nonsense . Do not use speak : I think she talks a lot of sense.

WORD CHOICE: unless, if ... not, in case, or (else)
Use unless to say that something will happen or be true if something else does not happen or is not true : Unless they get protection, they will not testify.
!! Do not use the future tense after unless : I won't go unless you go (NOT unless you will go).
!! Do not say 'unless if' : Don't call him unless it's urgent (NOT unless if it's urgent).
Use if ... not when you know that something did not or will not happen : If he had not tripped, he would have won (=but he didn't win). |: I would go out if it wasn't raining (=but it is raining, so I am not going out).
Use in case when talking about something that is or should be done because something might happen : Take a sweater in case you get cold (NOT unless you get cold).
Use or or or else to say what bad thing will definitely happen if something else does not happen : You'd better go, or else you'll miss the train (NOT unless you miss the train).

WORD CHOICE: yet, still, already
Yet is used to say that something has not happened or a situation has not started to exist, or to ask if something has happened : It isn't time to go yet. | Have you seen him yet?
Still is used to say that an earlier situation has not changed : My parents were still asleep (NOT yet asleep). | I still don't understand.
Already is used to emphasize that something has happened or a situation has started to exist : He had already published two novels. |They already knew one another.
It is also used in questions to show surprise that something has happened sooner than expected : Have you been there already?

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