Rod Simas

18 Formal & Casual Ways to Say "Thank You for Your Kind Words"

Express gratitude with these polite and professional replies“Thank you for your kind words” is a common response when someone gives you a compliment or offers their condolences. It can sound a bit stiff at times, but...

150+ Sophisticated Words to Sound More Eloquent & Intelligent

Boost your academic & professional vocabulary with advanced wordsWords are the bricks used to build language, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and syllables. Some are short and sweet, like “yes,” while others feel...

How to

Expand Your Vocabulary

Learning is ceaseless. You can cultivate an erudite persona as an adolescent--or even as an octogenarian--by building your vocabulary. Creating habits to help you learn and use the most accurate words in your language wi...

180+ English Words That Are Pretty (& Have Pretty Meanings)

An ultimate list of unique and powerful words with lovely meaningsDo you ever just see or hear a word and go, “Woah, that’s beautiful”? Yeah, we do too. Language is truly a spectacular thing, and to feed your fasci...

How to

Use a Dictionary

Of the approximately 1 million words in the English language, the average English speaker knows 60,000 of those words. Besides helping with spelling and word meanings, being able to use a dictionary effectively and regu...

Examples & Exceptions to the “I Before E Except After C” Rule

English teacher Rod Simas explains what this common spelling rule meansYou probably learned “I before E except after C” in grade school...and you likely know that there are a ton of exceptions to this rule—so many ...

Is It "Clearer" or "More Clear"?

You’ve probably heard people say both “clearer” and “more clear”, but which is grammatically correct? When you hear both expressions so often, it can be hard to tell which to use if you don’t know the specifi...

Where to Place Periods with Parentheses: Rules & Examples

Get your point across with our guide to punctuation with parenthesesSome punctuation rules are just really tough to remember—like whether a period goes inside or outside parentheses in a sentence. It turns out this rul...

What Does "Word" Mean? How to Respond In Person & Over Text

Learn how to effortlessly use and respond to “word” You’re texting someone, and they reply back with a short, simple “Word.” Okay…. What does that mean? And what are you supposed to say? Luckily, “Word”...

How to

Improve English Communication Skills

English Teacher Rod Simas explains how to quickly become a better communicator in EnglishIn today's day and age, having solid English skills is a must. It's becoming the language of the world and all of us gotta keep up....

How to

Cite a Research Paper

When writing a paper for a research project, you may need to cite a research paper you used as a reference. The basic information included in your citation will be the same across all styles. However, the format in which...

How to Use “Respectively” in Your Writing: A Complete Guide

Everything you need to know about using “respectively” in a sentenceSo, you’re doing some writing when the word “respectively” pops into your mind. Bravo! That’s one awesome word! But how do you use it and wh...

What Does "Cut Off Your Nose to Spite Your Face" Mean?

The English language is full of unique expressions like "cut off your nose to spite your face" but what does that phrase mean? Chances are you were a little confused when you heard it used the first time, but don't worry...

What Does "Go Get Em" Mean?

If someone tells you "go get em" they probably sounded pretty enthusiastic, but what were they actually saying? The English language is full of common phrases like this—they aren't straightforward, but they're frequent...

How to

Teach Tenses

English Teacher Rod Simas explains how to teach tenses in a clear and accessible wayThe English language is challenging in many ways, and its large number of verb tenses can be particularly difficult to learn. Whether yo...

Homophones & Homographs: A Guide to These Confusing Words

English teacher Rod Simas teaches us about words that sound the same but are spelled differentlyWords that sound the same but have different meanings or spellings are called ''homophones'', and boy, can these words be tr...

How to

Teach Yourself a New Language

English teacher Rod Simas shares tips for teaching yourself another language Learning a new language just takes dedication and practice! If you're looking to teach yourself a foreign language, there are tons of resources...

How to

Improve English Pronunciation

The English language has 44 unique sound in it. No wonder it can take time to learn them all! Target difficult phonemes, like r, l, th, or v. Daily practice can improve your English pronunciation. Use flashcards to help ...

How to

Learn English Grammar

English teacher Rod Simas shares tips for studying English grammarWith all the rules and guidelines governing the use of English grammar, it's little wonder that so many people find the subject intimidating. Grammar is a...

How to

Practice Speaking English Alone

English Teacher Rod Simas explains how to practice English without a conversation partnerThere are plenty of ways that you can practice your English all by yourself! Here, we've gathered some of the best ways to work on ...