English Language Articles

Articles about learning, using and teaching the English language, including advice, tutorials, opinions and lesson plans from various authors and contributors. Articles cover topics from English grammar, spelling and punctuation, through to language teaching, career development, specialisations, and ideas and suggestions for the classroom.

Latest Articles & Notes

Teacher Article

How to teach comparative and superlative adjectives New

Teaching ideas and stimulating practice activities for adjectives with more, most, -er and - est.
Teacher Article

Superlative Adjectives- Classroom Activities New

Intensive classroom practice activities of superlative adjectives and related language
Teacher Article

How to teach Latin abbreviations New

How to present and practise English abbreviations that come from Latin such as "e.g.", "i.e." and "PS"
Learner Article

How to teach abbreviations

Ways to present and practise short forms of words and expressions such as "info", "lab", "50p" and "PS".
Teacher Article

How to teach acronyms

How to present and practise the meaning and use of abbreviations like "ASAP", "IoT" and "VIP"
Teacher Article

The most effective error correction games

Error correction activities that aren't a waste of class time.
Teacher Article

Colloquial expressions for medical terms

Everyday English for medical jargon, to be used by patients, doctors, nurses and other people using or studying Medical English.
Teacher Article

How to teach colour word recognition

A complete guide to teaching students how to understand written colour words, including fun word recognition games.
Teacher Article

How to use Colouring-in in ESL Classes

How to usefully, efficiently and productively use colouring in to teach all kinds of language and skills
Teacher Article

Classroom activities for colour vocabulary

Fun classroom activities teaching students how to understand, read and write colour words from "orange" and "red" through "dark green" to "cream" and "metallic blue".
Learner Article

How to teach colour vocabulary in ESL classes

The nine stages of teaching colour vocab, from understanding what "red" means and being able to write "green" to discussing the psychological effects of different colours.
Teacher Article

The best picture books for ESL young learners, and what to do with them

The top children's books for practising typical EFL language points, with interactive classroom activities for each picture book.
Teacher Article

The bluffer's guide to level checking

A quick guide to putting someone in the right level, giving a good impression, and finding out other vital information as you do so.
Teacher Article

How to teach opposites

Tips on teaching adjective opposites, verbs with opposite meanings, etc.
Learner Article

Classroom activities for teaching opposites

Fun practice activities for adjective opposites, verbs with opposite meanings, etc.

The Editor's Blog

Richard Flynn (aka Tdol) is an English teacher and the Site Editor here at UsingEnglish.com. Here, he talks about English usage that catches his eye or ear, and looks at language issues that interest or puzzle him.

Browse The Editor's Blog

Formal Letter Writing - Help with formal and business letter writing. A summary of writing rules including outlines for cover letters and letters of enquiry, and abbreviations used in letters.

Speaking Out - A collection of thoughts, comments and articles regarding some of the issues and discussion points that have been raised in our ESL Forum.

More English Articles

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