Jacob Said:

Could anyone consult me on how to write English numerals in scientific literature?

We Answered:

you are right, there is a rule about this which hopefully someone will come up with. In general, you would not use figures for number over 20, unless it is a phrase like "fewer than a hundred people...". Scientists probably find it easier if the figures are shown separately from the words. eg

The following temperature readings were obtained:
a. 7.0
b. 9.7
c. 15.3

Toni Said:

How is the applicant's ability to read and write English measured in becoming a U.S. citizen?

We Answered:

Not very demanding. Fairly easy questions, They ask you to read a paragraph and write a sentence, they are very nice to the immigrants.

Gabriel Said:

Does anyone in America know how to speak & write English properly?

We Answered:

What I'm not sure about is why you use a site such as Yahoo Answers to form an opinion about the entire population of America because many people in the United States actually do speak and write English properly.

People throughout the world misspell words and use improper sentence structure. More often than not, abbreviations and slang are employed when posting due to time constraints. These practices aren't just used solely by the American public.

Some people who ask questions and give answers, especially in YA are school children so their use of grammar, punctuation, spelling and composition should not be help up to the standards one could expect from an English major in college.

There are also people who suffer from learning disabilities. Their disability prevents them from being able to correctly spell or form a written sentence yet they have excellent advice or answers to pass along.

Some people live in countries where English isn't their primary language. These same people practice English by posting questions and answers in the American YA forum. While working at their newly learned skills, they also learn about Americans and "what makes them tick".

If you're expecting "Queen's English" to be used in a primarily American site, you're going to be sorely disappointed. May I suggest you use the United Kingdom's version of Yahoo Answers so you will feel more comfortable comprehending the questions and answers supplied? Another option would be to bypass the questions you don't understand and find others that don't cause you trouble.

There's an adage I grew up with that refers to "a pot calling a kettle black" (it's not a racist term - when the adage came into fruition, pots, kettles and other cookware were cast iron; therefore the metal was black). To define the phrase, it's one blaming another for the same thing they're guilty of. Let me give you an example, if I may, by quoting what you had written...

"Firstly because of the spelling, Secondly the grammer and lastly the phrasing".

The proper rules of English dictate:

Do not use "firstly, secondly, etc." If you must number your points, write "first, second, etc." .

The word you used "secondly" should not have been capitalized since it's not a proper name or the beginning word of a sentence.

The word "grammer" is actually spelled grammar (2 - a's, no e).

The word "because" isn't needed; although it would have worked nicely if you had added it to your first sentence.

Your sentence isn't a sentence, It's a phrase because it doesn't contain a subject.

A phrase should not have a period used for punctuation.

Your phrase contains a dangling participle, which is also a grammatical no-no because no subject was made known.


A proper sentence would have stated, "I find it extremely hard to comprehend some of the questions because of the improper spelling, grammar and phrasing".


I hope I was able to help you understand why some people have problems with syntax and what "the pot calling the kettle black" means.

Bryan Said:

can someone teach me how to write English by chat?

We Answered:

Actually, broadening/improving one's language skills is a very broad concept, it should be done in more than one ways at the same time which is highly recommended. One can NOT become better ONLY in one area e.g. chatting or writing, one MUST improve skills in ALL dimensions of the language!

Learning language well requires being as active as possible and making the learning as FUN for oneself as possible. Taking lessons is always important, but equally important are these:

1) Listen/watch: Keep listening to internet radio stations like BBC, watch TV shows in English (use only subtitles, NOT voice dubbing in case you are not a native English speaker!), etc.

2) Write/communicate: Try to find discussion forums from the web about things that you find interesting and FUN (music/various artists, hobbies, etc.) and start communicating there with other people using only English. Start using instant messaging systems in case you find some new friends or start emailing them.

3) Buy yourself a proper dictionary, and each time when you see a strange word that you do not understand, look it up. Putting words into their CONTEXT is one of the best ways to broaden one's vocabulary and grammar knowledge, the more you read and write the better. Memorising is NOT the best way to go with learning vocabulary, grammar or any other language areas!

The main point in ANY language learning is to make it as fun as possible for yourself. Try to find topics that INTEREST you, read online newspapers (Times, Guardian, Independent...), listen to BBC/NBC and other radio stations online, if you find a discussion forum for e.g. your favourite hobby or your idols in music do participate there, etc. The key word here is CONTEXT, which means that it is easier to learn new words and their usage as well as grammar when you use/see them in their real CONTEXT. The more you see and hear the new words in their context and the more you use them in your speech & writing, the easier it becomes to remember their meanings and correct spelling.

I'm sorry there is no easy way out with this, one really must develop language skills in ALL these language "levels" or dimensions in order to reach better language skills!!

Last but not least: NEVER EVER use ANY online translators, they are nothing but utter rubbish!! English is practically EVERYWHERE in the online world these days, you just have to use your imagination to find it! Learning pace is always personal, it takes the time it takes so there is no reason to hurry it up too much. If you do, you will not learn so well. Also, please learn the basics of the standard English first before advancing to finer details like dialects/accents.

Good luck!