An avid blogger and a regular visitor to this blog recently asked the difference between “peek” and “peep“. I seriously don’t know why English has so many minimal pairs. Why can’t every word be spelt differently? I wonder if other languages have the same phenomenon.

• peek (v.) – to look briefly while trying to avoid being seen
  
• peep (v.) – to look through something, usually a hole

Examples:

1. Let’s take a peek at what’s happening next door but make sure they don’t see us.
2. “No peeking, please. This is a test; you should’ve already studied that chapter long ago.”
3. I heard a loud noise outside, so I peeked through the window and saw our neighbours arguing.
4. Shh! I think there’s someone inside. I’m going to peep through the keyhole to find out.
5. John peeped through the small opening in the fence when he heard a noise.

I’m going to take a peek to see if there are any peeping Toms in the vicinity.

Here comes another bummer.

How many times did you have to wonder if a word is spelt with an “-se” or a “-ce“? Many students and even adults are unsure if there is a difference between:

• “advice” and “advise“
• “practice” and “practise“

Yes, there is a difference but it has nothing to do with them being American English or British English.

• advice (n.) – an opinion that someone offers to you about what you should or should not do
• advise (v.) – the act of giving opinion to someone about what you should or should not do

Likewise,

• practice (n.) – regular action to improve your skill
• practise (v.) – the act of doing something regularly to improve your skill

Examples:

advice vs. advise

1. I gave him some advice ( = opinion ) before he left abroad.
2. Take my advice and get a doctor to look into your health problem.
3. Could you please advise ( = give opinion to ) your students on the importance of consultation hours?
4. Dad had advised me to stay away from bad hats, but I refused, so now I’m in deep trouble.

practice vs. practise

1. To do well in grammar, you need plenty of practice ( = regular action ).
2. The coach said there is a football practice this afternoon.
3. Practise ( = do regularly ) makes perfect, so keep practising until you can play the piano well.
4. You have to be serious when you practise, or else you’ll not improve.

So, good people, I’m advising you to practise using verbal and written English as much as you can because without practice, you’ll not be good at it. Take my advice

One minute here, the next minute there. Where am I heading eh? Isn’t “minutes” the plural for “minute“? Well, yes and no.

• minute (n.) - unit of time which equals to 60 seconds
• * minute (adj.) - very tiny
• ** minutes (n.) – a written record of what is said at a meeting

Take note:

• * minute (adj.) is pronounced as [mai-niut], not [mi-nit].
• ** minutes (n.) is always plural, so don’t forget the “-s“.

Examples:

1. I will be ready in five minutes [mi-nits], so please wait.
2. The bacteria is so minute [mai-niut] that it could not be seen with a naked eye.
3. The minutes of the meeting must be distributed within two weeks. (√)
   The minute of the meeting must be distributed within two weeks. (X)

Do you have a minute to help me read the minutes of the previous meeting? The secretary’s handwriting is so minute that I need a magnifying glass to read it!

Superlatives are words used for describing something or someone of the highest quality. Most superlatives end in the suffix “-est“; however, being  the ever-complex English language, there are exceptions. Other superlatives need to be preceded by “the most” or some other forms. I shall not elaborate on the rules (perhaps in a separate blog).

Well, let me make you more confused now. Do you know how these words are used? The words are oldest, eldest, latest?

• eldest (adj.) – oldest among three or more people
• oldest (adj.) – the biggest number in terms of age for people, animals and objects
• * latest (adj.) – the most recent, the most modern
  

Take Note:
* “Latest” does not mean “the most late“.

Examples:

1. Jimmy has five brothers and two sisters. He’s the eldest / oldest.
   Jimmy has a brother; Jimmy is the older (not the oldest) one.
2. My Volkswagon is antique. It’s the oldest car in town.
3. Peter has just bought the latest Nokia model at a special price.
4. Did you get the latest news about the political situation here?

The newest is not necessarily the latest, but the latest is the newest. You can buy something new, but it may not be the latest model, design or fashion.

The Malaysian English or Manglish is unique. We seem to make our own rules. We tend to modify the use of words that native speakers might find odd. Two such words are “wish” and “greet“. I’m sure your mom or dad has ticked you off by saying:

• “Why didn’t you wish me this morning? Where are your manners?“

Isn’t that familiar? Is there anything wrong there? Yes, the word “wish” should instead be replaced with “greet“. It is sufficient to say: “Why didn’t you greet me this morning? Where are your manners?“

• * wish (v.) – to express hope of success, happiness or pleasure on a certain occasion
• greet (v.) – to address s0meone with some form of salutation, to welcome

* Take note that the word “wish” has other meanings, too. For this post, let’s just focus on just one meaning.

Examples:

1. We wished every one a Happy New Year. ( = hope for every one’s happiness for the new year)
2. Let me wish you every success in your endeavours. ( = hope for your success )
3. I was greeted with a bow when I arrived at the door. ( = welcome by bowing )
4. It is polite to greet anyone we meet. ( = address that person by calling his name etc. when you meet him )

Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to say:

1. Did you wish your teacher today? (X)
   Did you greet your teacher today? (√)
2. I greet my parents good night every day. (X)
   I wish my parents good night every day. (√)

I wish to wish every one a Happy New Year. May this greeting bring cheer to every one’s face.