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If elephants could write down their memories, they'd use their trunks. The Trunk is a collection of articles with advice on learning languages, writing, and communicating better in English.

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When someone has a problem or worry, how can you politely give the person some advice?

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Category: Common English ConfusionsHealthcare EnglishLanguage Learning Tips

What do health professionals say about writing in English when it’s not their first language?

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Category: Healthcare EnglishLanguage Learning TipsWriting in English

When you’re sick, all you want is an efficient way to get an effective cure.

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Category: Common English ConfusionsHealthcare English

Did you know there’s a rule in English that’s always true?

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

Is it Congratulations FOR your new job or Congratulations ON your new job?

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

Is it possible?

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Category: Writing in English

The different forms of "used to" can be confusing. They can cover the past or now or a change.

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Category: Common English Confusions

Are you dilly-dallying?

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

Tell me whether this sounds familiar …

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Category: Language Learning Tips

People often trip up when it comes to using “as” versus “like”, so here are a couple of tips for you.

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Category: Common English Confusions

Are you curious about the quickest way to improve your English writing skills?

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

Still thinking about trying flash cards, but not keen on making paper cards?

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Category: Language Learning Tips

Do you find picking up new words and phrases is easy but remembering them is hard?

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Category: Language Learning Tips

Has this happened to you, too?

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Category: Language Learning Tips

Finally finished writing your email and checked that it all makes sense? Don’t hit send before you’ve proofread it.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

You’ve psyched yourself up to write that blog post or email in English.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

Pronouncing individual sounds correctly is important when speaking, right?

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

Here’s some more insight into what people say about writing in English when it’s not their first language.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

We get so many emails every day that we usually just skim them, which makes it crucial to write emails that are easy to read.

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Category: Writing in English

Another common confusion is when to use the “ed” ending of an adjective (confused) versus the “ing” ending (confusing).

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Category: Common English Confusions