<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!-- generator="WordPress/2.9.2" -->
<rss version="0.92">
<channel>
	<title>English is weird!</title>
	<link>http://englishisweird.com</link>
	<description>Clever tricks to conquer the quirks of English</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:38:25 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<docs>http://backend.userland.com/rss092</docs>
	<language>en</language>
	
	<item>
		<title>Stealing from the French</title>
		<description><![CDATA[English has the annoying habit of taking words from other languages and twisting their meaning, usually in a subtle but drastic way. As a result, if you actually speak any of those languages, you can&#8217;t rely on this knowledge to make any assumptions about the English clone.
French is a frequent victim of this kind of [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://englishisweird.com/stealing-from-the-french/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>I before E, except in all these words</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In English, the spelling patterns ei and ie can both represent an &#34;ee&#34; sound. So how do you know which one to use? For decades, English teachers have repeated the adage, &#8216;When the sound is &#34;ee&#34;, it&#8217;s I before E, except after C.&#8217;
But oops, that&#8217;s not quite true. You also have to memorize the following [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://englishisweird.com/i-before-e-except-in-all-these-words/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Ed had edited it.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Say that ten times fast.  
Ed had edited it.  Ed had edited it. Ed had edited it&#8230;
]]></description>
		<link>http://englishisweird.com/ed-had-edited-it/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Alternatives to motherf*cking</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The late American comedian George Carlin ranked motherf*cker in the top 7 most obscene words of the English language. Along with its derivative, motherf*cking, it&#8217;s become a trademark for actors like Samuel L. Jackson who portray aggressive badasses.
Of course, when a TV edit comes out, interesting changes suddenly happen:

monkey-fighting, Monday-to-Friday
Snakes on a Plane:

The best part [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://englishisweird.com/alternatives-to-motherfucking/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Tricky twins 1</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Be careful. Some English words and phrases can mean the exact opposite of themselves!
anxious

worried, nervous, full of dread for &#8212; I&#8217;m so anxious about the economy!
eager, looking forward, full of excitement for &#8212; I&#8217;m so anxious for spring!


down with

get rid of, reject &#8212; Down with the king!
(slang) accepting of, in agreement with  &#8212; Wanna [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://englishisweird.com/words-that-mean-the-exact-opposite-of-themselves/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>‑ought or ‑aught?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For a long time, I&#8217;ve had trouble spelling English words that end in -ought and -aught.
So I made a big list. Most of these words are past participles.
-ought

buy &#62; bought
bring &#62; brought
fight &#62; fought
seek &#62; sought
think &#62; thought
work &#62; wrought&#8224;
     
-aught:

catch &#62; caught
distract &#62; distraught&#8224;
teach &#62; taught

Notice a pattern? 
&#8224;These past [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://englishisweird.com/how-to-spell-words-ending-in-ought-and-aught/</link>
			</item>
</channel>
</rss>
