Pollution at dangerous levels!

 The alarm bells are ringing! A grave situation for the next generation.

This isn't just any winter fog. This is smog (smoke + fog). This is the extent of the pollution in the capital of India. This is affecting brand India, big time!

This situation is not new for Delhiites, but what is appalling is that nothing major seems to be done over the years to bring about a positive change in the situation.

Let us begin by understanding what is AQI...

AQI stands for the Air Quality Index.  

These quality standards differ from region to region. In India, the NAMP (National Air Monitoring Programme) is operated by the Central Pollution Control Board. There are six AQI categories 

[Source: National Air Quality Index (cpcb.gov.in) ]

The schools shall remain closed for some days as a measure to reduce the impact of the pollution. The schools/educational institutions can conduct their classes online. 

The government of Delhi is also planning to implement its 'odd-even' policy, but the apex court - The Supreme Court has questioned whether this policy was effective in reality or just for the optics.

So this 'odd-even ' policy means that vehicles with licence plate numbers ending in even digits are allowed to operate on even dates, while those ending in odd digits can ply on odd dates.

The government may also consider a stay on the construction work in and around Delhi. 

How this is affecting India's image?

1. The players of the Cricket World Cup 2023 have gone on to cancel their practice sessions. Some of those have been seen practicing with their masks on. [In future the other sportspersons will follow suit]

[Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh - before their match in Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium]

2. According to studies the average life expectancy reduces by up to 10 years if you reside in a severely polluted area.

3. In the long run, this may affect the decisions of corporations and investors. 

Mumbai hasn't yet reached the low levels as Delhi, but the pollution levels are rising at a rapid pace.

Let us hope that the leaders are able to muster the courage to make the right decisions. After all, what is required is strong political willpower to transform the situation.

Let us hope for a positive change soon.

What measures can you suggest? 

'Where there is a will, there is a way!'

When an example proves the proverbial...!

Today let us salute the efforts of Sheetal Devi - the armless archer from India who has made us proud by winning a silver medal followed by two gold medals at the Asian Para Games 2022 in Hangzhou (China).

She was born in 2007 with a condition known as Phocomelia which results in the ill development of a limb. The journey of the hero begins when the others perceive it as a dead-end. 

Her talent was first brought to the world by the army.

The Indian Army's Rashtriya Rifles unit first spotted her talent, and after participating in an event organized by the army, coaches Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Wadhwan decided to train her.  

Unfortunately, the doctors ruled out the possibility of prosthetics, but that did not deter Sheetal Devi. 

Very similar to this is the case of an American archer Matthew Stutzman (Paralympics - Silver medalist 2012). 

Sheetal Devi was determined and with the guidance of her coaches made ALL her dreams come true.

One day after a ride in a car she put her feet on the steering at proclaimed that one day she too would drive a car....!

These are real-life heroes who have the power to motivate us all. As a wonderful gesture Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman (Mahindra Group), in his X account offered her any car of her choice that they would customise for Sheetal Devi.

She is just sixteen years old (DOB: Jan 10,2007), and this is just the start. 

Wish her all the very best, and hope that the readers will draw a lot of motivation from her example.

Cheers!

What is 'Breaking News'? Is it really 'Breaking'? Is every news 'Breaking' news?

What is 'Breaking news'? Is it really 'breaking'?

Is every news 'Breaking' news?

Well the words ‘Breaking news’ are important! But let us understand the word ‘Breaking’ that precedes the word ‘news’.

Breaking news is the news (or a part of it) reported about a significant event/incident as it unfolds, or is happening at that moment.

It is not ‘breaking’ to report something after an event has already happened, and it is over.

Some news channels, just to keep up the TRP, use the word ‘Breaking’ before every ‘news’!

(BTW, TRP stands for Television Rating Point)

Thus the word ‘Breaking’ has become a cliché.

Also the time factor is important. Normal standards in journalism state that the news should not be more than an hour old. Also what is 'breaking' changes from region to region.

So let us understand when should the word ‘Breaking’ actually follow the word ‘News’.

Suppose it is the World Cup Cricket final match at the Wankhede (Mumbai).

India is chasing a target to win the trophy, and become a World Champion.

Now, this event is unfolding, and is happening (in progress). So now if at a crucial stage India loses a wicket, and the news channels show it as a ‘Breaking News’ (more like a latest update!) it is acceptable.

Conclusion:

Understand that ‘Breaking’ is bringing the latest about an incident which is currently (and that stage) developing or happening.

Cheers!

How to use the smileys? Are smileys/emoticons a part of the standard English punctuation? Why?

A very experienced Quora member (by the name Gopalkrishna) asked me this question:

Would you approve of symbols like the smiley “ :)” being accepted as standard English punctuation? What more can you suggest?

Here was my response to the intriguing question....

Hi Gopalkrishna!

Thanks for the request! Honoured to answer your query Sir!

This is an exhaustive topic. There are many dimensions to this. I will certainly present my view.

First of all, I believe that the purpose of any language is to establish communication. If the ideas/thoughts are not successfully communicated the existence of a language is futile.


As far as the English language is concerned, it has evolved over time, and has changed with the changing times. English has adopted words from almost all the languages.
The syntax also has adapted with the changing requirements.

Let me quote an example:
In my childhood there was a clear, distinct use of ‘will’ and ‘shall’.
I still recollect the expression on my teacher’s face if I ever messed up.
Today, things have changed. ‘Will’ is the dominant form in today’s world.

So what about the fast moving 21st century?

The generation of today wants to communicate fast, and communicate effectively. Let us also understand that during the 80s and the 90s the computer chatting was not so common. Social media wasn’t an ‘in’ thing!

Therefore we have to accept the fact that the needs have changed. The need for the ‘shortcut lingo’ arose when the SMS had limitations for the number of characters.
So, “I am fine. See you tonight.” became -

The word ‘cool’ which indicated a low temperature, acquired the new meaning ‘very good’.

However, smileys ARE NOT punctuation marks!


Altering the meaning, formal and informal language differences are alright, but to contemplate smileys and emoticons as standard English punctuation marks is too much!
No!


Not for the next five years. I know in 2025 I might have to write an entirely different article on this.
The SMS lingo I presented above, came into being due to the need to save money. Still it cannot be accepted as proper language in the exams.

I can hear some students protesting “Sir, but it saves time!”



I believe that the English language already provides a lot of scope for contractions.
I am - I’m
They have - They’ve etc.


Smileys and emoticons convey emotions, and if you have noticed they are added after the sentence has already ended.

Example 1:

Do bring a cake for me. :D

Here the sentence was over, and the smiley later just added to the sentiments.
So if that’s the case why not write/type…

Do bring a cake for me!
A single exclamatory mark did it!

Example 2:

What are you doing? >:-(

Instead why not write/type…

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
The use of capital letters for emphasis and the question mark at the end did it!



Anyway, if one is using the smileys, they are not writing anything formal.

Conclusion:

No. smileys are emotions. They are not to be considered as punctuation marks.
For casual chats, and to exchange trivial messages is one thing, but they do not have a place in the formal documentation. At least yet!


Hope I was able to satiate your thirst!

Cheers! 

Should the writers not use difficult words? Perspicuity! How to maintain the balance while writing?

Being perspicuous! Maintaining the balance!

The writing style - Using difficult words

I was asked this question on Quora.com

So, should the writers always stick to lucid language?
Here is my solution:


The purpose of any language is to communicate ideas, and exchange thoughts successfully. If that does not happen then the existence of a language becomes futile. That does not mean, not to use words that are fancy, or new for the receivers. It all comes down to what you are writing.



Let us consider the following situations:

1. You are writing a note for a friend, typing a chat line for your friend, or typing a text message-

In this case if you flaunt your vocabulary, your friends might lose interest (unless someone like me was your friend!). While casually chatting with friends, making a quick plan, be simple and straight. Use lucid language. End it fast!



2. You are writing a book -


In this situation, you have a good scope of using terms that might be new for your readers. Not a lot, but surely the readers will always welcome a new word from time to time. That is why they read, don’t they?



3. You are writing a script (Drama/Movie):


In this case you can use some high profile words, but again not too many. Imagine the plight of the audience, who cannot react to things because they cannot decipher the message!



4. You are writing a news report/article:


This one requires a very fine balance. You shouldn’t be too simple, and at the same time, not so much a ‘vocabulary-teacher’, that people don’t bother to continue reading.


Therefore you have to strike a balance-

Too easy (normal), and the report loses its spice.
Too complex, and the report is too spicy to digest!



For the writers - (to conclude)
Of course, the writers must realize that in a bid to make things very simple to comprehend at times, there must not be any compromise on using the required, authentic terminology.


For instance: A dead body cannot and should not be anything other than a cadaver in the medical field.
Then the writer must not use ‘a dead body’ to make the readers understand. It is ‘a cadaver’. Simple!



A typical doubt: What if I use the words that I know, but the listener, or the reader doesn’t know about them?


NEVER be apprehensive about displaying your vocabulary just because you think the listener might not have heard about it! Just don’t be ostentatious.
It is as hilarious as you going to a restaurant and not ordering ‘a sandwich’ because you think the waiter might not have heard of it!
Well, as a writer, it is our duty to spread the knowledge, and we must do it albeit with subtlety.






The readers read due to the trust that they stand a good chance to enhance their understanding. They have a faith in the writer that there will be something new added to what they already knew. The writers must keep this trust intact.


Hope I was able to satiate your need.


Cheers!

English vocabulary question on Quora - Shashi Tharoor and me!

"Can you beat Shashi Tharoor in vocabulary?"

I was asked this question on Quora. Let me share my response to it with you...

Here is what I wrote to Om as my reply....(Enjoy!)


Hi Om!
Thanks for this very intriguing question!

Shashi Tharoor is the one man who makes you reach for the lexicon the most!
He is a language aficionado! He is very good at vocabulary, and is a very senior speaker. So I am sure he is much better than I.

1. He came into limelight with the word ‘farrago’ which then some dictionaries did not have! (Meaning: a confused mixture)

2. He also comes up with good Hinglish terms - a good one is webaqoof (Meaning: One who believes every claim on the social media)



However, there is one word that I had used in my lectures previously and that was -
floccinaucinihilipilification -

“Why on earth did I have to mention this word to innocent students you ask….”

The thing is we were studying vowels, and while on the topic, I mentioned that the most used letter in the English language is ‘E’. One of the students asked me about the longest word without a single ‘E’, and I had taught them this word then which is the longest word in the OED (Oxford English Dictionary)

Also then I revealed that there was an experiment conducted by the writer Ernest Wright where he successfully wrote a novel (imagine not a word, not a sentence, but a novel!) without using a single ‘e’ in the book. The name of the Novel is Gadsby. (Year - 1939)

To achieve this he had disabled the ‘E’ button on his typewriter so that he would not even type it accidentally.
What is ironic is that his name begins with ‘E’.



Anyway, I reckon Shashi Tharoor is definitely superior to me!



Let me end by sharing a 45 letter word -
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis -
 (it is respiratory disorder… I surmise the patient will die before the doctor pronounces the malady!)



Hope you enjoyed!
Cheers!

How to write a formal letter?

How to write a formal letter?

Want to write a good formal letter? What is the correct, latest format? 

Writing an effective formal letter is an art!

            

This post will cover the following very important details about writing a formal letter correctly (as per the latest format)

1. The latest format for a formal letter writing
2. Formal letter writing topics - two examples
3. Writing or written samples regarding formal letters
4. Types of formal letters
5. Letter to the Principal, authorities, editor of a newspaper (Times of India)
6. Formal letter writing latest format for schools
7. Formal letter writing examples - with exercises (interesting way!)
8. Where and how to leave proper lines and spaces
9. Best practices for an ideal formal letter writing
10. Perfect way to communicate in business or as a professional

There could be a lot of doubts in your mind especially about writing the date.

Example: 

 Should I write it as:

• 2/6/2020
• June 2nd, 2020
• 2nd June 2020
• June 2, 2020

 All such doubts will get clarified after watching my video!  👇

 

 So, I'm sure that you will like this lecture on - "How to write a formal letter?"

 The second part of the video will provide a very good practice for attempting/solving the Language Study questions. (They are for 10 marks at the SSC level)


Do leave your comments.

Cheers!

One minute English challenge! [Kitchen tools] [Part 5]

One minute English challenge! [Part # 4]

[Kitchen tools]

   

                            

                     

Leave your comments and feedback!

Hope you all enjoyed this One minute English challenge # 4


This video is on my YouTube channel - English grammar with Ameya Sir

One minute English challenge # 3

Hi all!

 Here is the Part - 3 of the 'One minute English challenge series'.

   

                       
   Attempt it and leave your score!

   Cheers!

One minute English challenge # 2

Hi guys!

This is the "One minute English challenge # 2"

Leave your score!

Cheers!

One minute English challenge # 1

Hi guys!

Here is a good one minute English challenge - Affect vs Effect

Cheers!