LEARN SOMETHING NEW
house vs. home
A house is a building. Specifically, it's usually a single-family building. Apartment buildings aren't usually called houses. A house is still a house, whether there are people living there or it's empty.
Home is the place where a person lives, or where they feel that they belong. It has more emotional associations than the word house. Home can also mean the place where you grew up. Examples:
• I'm going home for the holidays.
How we use house and home. There's one important difference in how you use the words house and home. Examples:
• I'm going home now.
• I'm going to my house now.
Home acts similar to words like "here", "there", "in","out", "somewhere", etc. House does not. You can see the same thing in this example:
• It's so nice to be home (here, in, there, etc.).
Home carries more respect than house, so you can use it when you want to be polite to someone. For example, you can write a formal 'thank you' note to someone who let you stay at their home. Example:
• Thank you so much for inviting me to your lovely home.
When you're talking to other people about your own place, you usually use house instead of home. Example:
• Want to come over to my house this afternoon?
for me vs. to me
1. Identifying the person (people) or thing affected by or receiving something:
• You were terribly unkind to her.
• They donated US$400 to the hospice.
• I am deeply grateful to my parents.
• It makes no difference to me. (This suggests there is no effect on me materially, emotionally, financially ...etc. That is, nothing will happen to me.)
2. Identifying a particular relationship between one person and another:
• She is a good friend to me. (How special you are to me.)
• He is married to his cousin Emma.
• He's economic adviser to the president.
• My family is important to me. (You are saying that you hold your family close to your heart.)
"To" has more a sense of direction.
FOR
1. In support of or in favour of (a person or policy):
• Troops who had fought for Napoleon.
• They voted for independence in a referendum.
2. On behalf of or to the benefit of:
• I got a present for you.
• These parents aren't speaking for everyone.
• She was the friend I was looking for. (She is the special one for me.)
• It makes no difference for me. (This suggests that I have no strong opinion on this.)
My family is important for me. (You are implying that you somehow benefit from your family or your family connections.)
"For" is just a sense of purpose.
anyway vs. any way vs. any ways
ANYWAYS is the informal form of anyway. While less common in formal writing, anyways abounds in everyday speech or dialogue. It often signals a transition.
ANYWAY
Anyway, used as an adverb, suggests a disregard for factors that stand in the way of an argument or purpose. For example,
• “I felt tired, but decided to go to the party anyway.” (here, it’s clear that anyway appears in place of regardless or despite what came before.)
• It was snowing hard, but we drove to the play anyway.
ANY WAY
Any way (two words) has a subtly different meaning.
It means regardless of the path chosen or however possible. For example, if you were to say “I’d be happy to help you in any way I can,” it would mean you were offering to help someone however it was possible to do so. Conversely, “You can go any way you want,” means that a variety of physical paths are available for you to choose from.
• Finish the job any way you choose.
Fun tip: If the words in the can be substituted for any, the two-word any way is most likely what is called for (e.g., finish the job in the way you choose.)
ANYWAYS
The most common use of anyways is in colloquial speech or writing or informal dialogue. Anyway can be used in the same manner; anyways is considered more nonstandard. Anyways is often used to signal a transition to a new topic or to resume discussion of a topic after some tangent or interruption: “Anyways, as I was saying, we leave tomorrow at 10 a.m. sharp.”
Sometimes anyways can be sarcastic or dismissive, used to move on from some objectionable but ultimately unimportant remark or matter: “Anyways . . . ”
US National Anthem
Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
[written by John Stafford Smith in 1773.]
jet lag
• I’m suffering from jet lag but I’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.
jet-lagged (adjective)
Let's Pray!
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The 7 Meals of the Day
Do you know all the words for the meals that we eat during the day? Most people probably eat about three main meals every day, but here are seven words for main and other meals that we often use:
Breakfast (usually around 6 a.m. - 9 a.m.)
• The first meal of the day.
Brunch (informal)
• A meal eaten in the late morning, instead of breakfast and lunch.
Elevenses (around 11 a.m. (BrE, informal))
• A snack (for example, biscuits and coffee).
Lunch (usually around noon or 1 p.m.)
• A meal in the middle of the day.
Tea
• A light afternoon meal of sandwiches, cakes, etc., with a drink of tea, around 4 p.m. • It is also sometimes called afternoon tea (mainly BrE).
• The word tea can also refer to a cooked evening meal, around 6 p.m. (BrE).
Supper (around 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.)
• A light or informal evening meal.
Dinner
• The main meal of the day, eaten either in the middle of the day or in the evening. Usually when people say "dinner", they mean an evening meal, around 7 p.m - 9 p.m.
Synonyms of Thieves
The Best Ways to Respond to Any Kinds of “Thank You”
When someone says, ‘thank you’ in person, the most obvious way to respond is by saying, ‘you’re welcome’. But there are many ways you can respond without falling back on the standard ‘you’re welcome’, because returning the sentiment in the same way over and over again can often feel disingenuous.
So, if you find yourself searching for a better way to answer to 'thank you’ we’ve got some you might not even have thought of before!
Ways to respond to ‘thank you’, verbally:
“Anytime”
• This is a good response for someone with whom you are close, or have helped out in the past.
• It demonstrates that you were happy to assist with whatever was asked of you and that you would gladly come to the aid of your friend again, should the need arise.
“I’m always happy to help”
• A response like this can be great in both formal and casual settings. In a professional context, such as the workplace, it suggests that you are open and available for completing tasks.
• When used in a casual setting, it shows that you have done whatever deed for which you’re being recognized, from the kindness of your heart.
“It’s nothing”
• This comment is a perfect response to use when someone is overly thankful or appreciative.
• The dismissive nature of the phrase lets them know that more thanks aren’t necessary, and you were not at all disadvantaged by doing them a favor.
“Not a problem”
• An answer with a casual tone like this lets the person you’re thanking know that the help you offered was not a bother to you. It also communicates that he/she is invited to ask for another favor in the future.
“No worries”
• Use this option for how to respond to thank you if you feel like what you did was truly not a big deal. It conveys that you are humble and don’t feel that your efforts require further compensation.
“Sure”
• ‘Sure’ is a good response to use when you just want to get the moment over with. When there’s no need for a big show of gratitude, and it’s time to move on, this is the ideal phrasing.
“Think nothing of it”
• If you do something for a close friend, no matter how big or small, this is a great way to return their thanks.
• The simple but heartfelt statement implies that you acted for your friend without a second thought, and are not expecting anything in return.
“That’s okay”
• Use this phrase when someone is offering to repay you for your kindness. ‘That’s okay’ suggests that a verbal thank you is sufficient, and no further appreciation is required.
“Happy to oblige”
• When you do something because it makes you feel good, sometimes there’s no need for a thank you. This is a good choice of response because it suggests that you were just glad to be of assistance.
“The pleasure was all mine”
• This is a very polite way of saying you’re welcome.
• It’s an especially good option for how to respond to thank you, because it shifts the pressure of showing appreciation off the person you did a favor for, making the engagement less awkward for him/her.
“You’d do the same”
• If someone is a good friend to you, sometimes there’s no real need to say ‘you’re welcome’ because you know they would do the same for you in a heartbeat.
• You’d do the same’ is a perfect response to for a good friend, because it lets he/she know that that your confident in the foundation of your relationship.
“No, thank you”
• If someone has invited you to an event and is thanking you for coming, this is a great response to let your host(s) know that you enjoyed yourself and appreciated the invite.
• This comment can also work well when communicating with members of the service industry. When an employee thanks you for coming to a restaurant or hotel, this statement shows appreciation and a humble disposition.
“Absolutely!”
• This is a good response to let someone know that you were more than willing to do them a favor in the first place and that you would gladly do so again.
“It’s my duty”
• In an office setting where you have been presented with a task, this is a formal response to someone who thinks you have done them a favor.
• This is a good response to thank you because it tells them that you don’t consider the action a favor and were acting within the scope of your professional duties.
“De nada”
• This is Spanish and Brazilian-Portuguese for ‘you’re welcome’. It is a not-too-serious response and can be seen as playful. ‘De nada’ shows that you don’t think too much of what you did. It wasn’t a big deal.
Ways to respond to ‘thank you’ in a text:
• When someone says ‘thank you!’ through a text, your response can come in a variety of forms. Here are some different text-message-friendly ideas for how to respond to ‘thank you’.
“Emoji”
• When someone says ‘thank you’ in text, your response can be in the form of an emoji. A simple smiley face lets the person know that things between you two are good and that you appreciate their gratitude.
“It was no big deal, really”
• When someone sends you paragraphs upon paragraphs of thanks, this is a good way to let him/her know that the extra effort wasn’t really necessary.
“Oh, that’s alright!”
• When someone offers to do something for you or give you a token of appreciation via text, this response is a great way to let him/her know that the action isn’t necessary, and you already know that he/she is grateful.
“It’s all gravy”
• When talking to friends, you probably don’t want to be too formal about accepting a thank you. This is a great option for how to respond to ‘thank you’ because it demonstrates that you are comfortable with the exchange, and don’t wish to make a fuss over it.
“Of course”
• Offering this response shows that you had no problem doing the person a favor, and the effort expended was nothing to you.
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“I’d do it again!”
• This is a great answer to ‘thank you’ because it implies that you were in no way hassled by being asked to do the task and that it was a pleasure to come to the aid of a friend.
“Don’t mention it”
• When someone asks you for a favor, or you do something for them without even being asked, this is a good response that shows the aid didn’t take much out of you, so there is no real need for thanks.
• This phrase implies that you are not looking for praises and that you were just happy to help.
“No biggie!”
• This expression is commonly used among friends when they do each other small favors. This is a good statement because it shows that you are simply happy to help a friend out.
“It’s the least I can do for you”
• This is a good response to someone who has, at some point, helped you in the past. This phrasing demonstrates what you did was simply a way of repaying him/her.
• It’s also good for someone that you share a strong bond with and wish to help in any way you can.
“Don’t sweat it”
• If someone is going on and on in appreciation, this is a great way to encourage them to accept your assistance and move forward.
• ‘Don’t sweat it’ says that the favor took minimal effort, and the person you’re talking to doesn’t need to be overly thankful.
Conclusion:
As you can see, when someone says ‘thank you’, you don’t have to restrict your answer to ‘you’re welcome’. There are many other ways that you can acknowledge appreciation.
Understanding how to respond to ‘thank you’ can add depth to your relationships and make it easier to accept praise. After you read this list, you should be well prepared for any kind of ‘thank you’.
NEWSLETTER
