dull
adjective
BAD: If I did the same thing every day, I would be dull.
GOOD: If I did the same thing every day, I would be bored.
DUBIOUS: It was such a dull job that I decided to leave.
GOOD: It was such a boring job that I decided to leave.
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When dull is used to describe a person, it means 'slow to learn or understand': 'He was one of the dullest students I'd ever taught.'
Both dull and boring can mean 'uninteresting' but in this sense dull usually describes a lecture, book, film etc: 'The lecture was so dull that some of the students got up and left.'
bored = tired and uninterested: 'bored students'
boring = causing someone to be tired and uninterested: 'a boring lesson'
till
preposition
BAD: I managed to drive the car till the nearest hospital.
GOOD: I managed to drive the car as far as the nearest hospital.
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See note at UNTIL 2
until
preposition
1
BAD: The new tunnel means that we can drive until London.
GOOD: The new tunnel means that we can drive (all the way) to London.
BAD: The magazine covers everything from politics until what's happening in Hollywood.
GOOD: The magazine covers everything from politics to what's happening in Hollywood.
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Until and till are usually used in connection with time: 'The shops are open until six o'clock on weekdays.'
When you are talking about distance, area, or scope, use to or as far as : 'Do you know which bus goes to Marble Arch?' 'I got a lift as far as Sheffield and then I took a train.' 'You can get anything from a sandwich to a three-course meal.'
2
BAD: Until now we have received over sixty applications.
GOOD: So far we have received over sixty applications.
BAD: I've only been here for two months until now.
GOOD: I've only been here for two months so far.
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When you are talking about a situation that is (probably) going to continue into the future, use so far or (in formal styles) to date : 'So far this week it's hardly stopped raining.' 'To date there have been ten attempts on the President's life.'
3
BAD: Her husband is alive until now.
GOOD: Her husband is still alive.
DUBIOUS: Until now their customs and beliefs remain unchanged.
GOOD: To this day their customs and beliefs remain unchanged.
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When you want to say that something is the same now as it was in the past, use still : 'I've read the first chapter three times and I still don't understand it.' 'Despite her doctor's advice, she still eats anything she likes.'
To give emphasis to this meaning, especially at the beginning of a sentence, use to this day ...(still) : 'To this day I still don't understand why they got divorced.'
4
BAD: The school caters for children until the age of eleven.
GOOD: The school caters for children up to the age of eleven.
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up to a particular age (NOT until ): 'The competition is open to all children up to the age of eleven.'
5
BAD: I will have finished this book until tomorrow.
GOOD: I will have finished this book by tomorrow.
BAD: Could you let us know your decision until the end of October.
GOOD: Could you let us know your decision by the end of October.
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Until is used for an action or state continuing up to a certain time: 'The shops are open until five thirty.' 'I'll wait here until you get back.'
By is used for an action which happens before or no later than a certain time: 'I have to submit my dissertation by the end of next year.'
6
BAD: The letter hasn't arrived until now.
GOOD: The letter hasn't arrived yet.
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When you mean that up to the moment of speaking something has not happened, use yet : 'Her plane hasn't landed yet.'
7
BAD: I'll wait here until you will return.
GOOD: I'll wait here until you return.
8
BAD: It's the best hotel that I've stayed at until now.
GOOD: It's the best hotel that I've ever stayed at.
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When you mean 'at any time (in the past) up to the moment of speaking', use ever : 'This is the worst earthquake that the country has ever experienced.'
understand
verb
1
BAD: People find it difficult to understand about the Japanese.
GOOD: People find it difficult to understand the Japanese.
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understand sb/sth (WITHOUT about ): 'After twenty years of marriage, we still don't understand each other.'
2
BAD: You have to know our culture in order to understand us deeply.
GOOD: You have to know our culture in order to understand us properly.
GOOD: You have to know our culture in order to really understand us.
BAD: Reading helps us to understand the world more deeply.
GOOD: Reading helps us to understand the world better.
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understand sb/sth properly/better; fully/really understand sb/sth (NOT deeply ): 'Make sure that you understand the instructions properly before you begin.' 'Nobody fully understands how the drug actually works.'
Note the alternative: 'Reading helps us to develop our understanding of the world.'
3
BAD: At first I wasn't understanding anything.
GOOD: At first I didn't understand anything.
under
preposition
BAD: Prices are not allowed to fall under this level.
GOOD: Prices are not allowed to fall below this level.
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See note at BELOW 1
below
preposition
1
BAD: Below the table there were some empty wine bottles.
GOOD: Under the table there were some empty wine bottles.
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below = at or to a lower level than something: 'My room is on the third floor, and John's is on the floor below.' 'Our helicopter hovered just below the summit so that we could film the rescue.
'under (or beneath/underneath ) = directly below something, and sometimes touching or covered by it: 'Come and stand under my umbrella.' 'I eventually found the letter under a pile of old newspapers.'
2
BAD: The below report describes my recent stay at the Hotel Grove.
GOOD: The report below describes my recent stay at the Hotel Grove.
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When below refers to the position of something on a page, it comes after the noun: 'Last month's sales figures are set out in the table below.'
Note that above can go before or after the noun: 'the table above', 'the above table'.
3
BAD: The room rates are much below average for hotels in this area.
GOOD: The room rates are far below average for hotels in this area.
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far below (NOT much ): 'The cost of the trip was far below what we had expected.'
Compare: 'The room rates were much/far lower than we had expected.'
barely
adverb
BAD: Although I am a member of the club, I barely go there.
GOOD: Although I am a member of the club, I rarely go there.
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barely = almost not; only just: 'His handwriting is barely legible.' (= you can only just read it) 'The fog was so bad that we barely made it to the motel.'
rarely/seldom/hardly ever = almost never: 'He rarely makes any serious mistakes.'
baggage
noun
BAD: All the passengers carried their own baggages.
GOOD: All the passengers carried their own baggage.
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Baggage is an uncountable noun: 'Baggage must not be left unattended in the terminal building.' 'How many pieces of baggage do you have?'
base
I
noun
BAD: Political stability provides the base for economic development.
GOOD: Political stability provides the basis for economic development.
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base = (1) the main part of something: 'Most of the paints we produce have an oil base.' (2) the lowest part of something: 'The base of the column is made of marble.'
basis = the very important thing from which something else develops or is made possible: 'The basis of a successful marriage is mutual respect.' 'Newton's discoveries provided the basis for future research.'
II
verb
BAD: The first role play base on a conversation at a hotel reception desk.
GOOD: The first role play was based on a conversation at a hotel reception desk.
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be based on/upon = be developed from: 'Republican policy is based on the idea that people should compete with each other.' 'The film is based on a popular Bengali novel.'
baby
noun
DUBIOUS: Sitting in the next seat was a young woman who was having a baby.
GOOD: Sitting in the next seat was a young woman who was expecting a baby.
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have a baby = give birth to a baby: 'She's worried about having the baby at home in case there are complications.'
be expecting a baby = be pregnant: 'Janet is expecting another baby.'
Note that be having a baby can be used to mean 'be pregnant' but this should be avoided when there is a danger of confusion.
