Practise or practice?

What is the correct spelling: practise or practice? It depends on which version of English you’re using: in British English usage, the noun is practice and the verb is practise. In American English usage, both the noun and the verb are spelled (or spelt, in British English) as practice. Sample sentences: Your coach phoned to say there will be a team practice in the gym tomorrow after school. He practised his...

British or English?

What is the difference between England and Britain (or Great Britain)? Three countries make up Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. So England is part of Great Britain, and a Scotsman (a person of Scottish origin) is British, too. A person born in Wales is Welsh, and they are British, too. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, or “the UK”. So the UK is made up of four countries: England,...

They’re, their or there?

These three words are often used incorrectly too, just like it’s and its, even by native speakers. Again, it’s not very difficult to remember which is correct when. They’re is the short form of they are: My parents have gone on holiday and they’re in France today. When students like a teacher, they’re more likely to do well in the subject he or she teaches. Their is a possessive word,...

It’s or its?

These two words are very often confused. A typical mistake is when somebody uses “its” instead of “it’s”, although the opposite often happens, too. Actually, it’s not very difficult to remember which is correct in a given situation: you can only use it’s if it is the short form of it is or it has (been). Here are some examples: When you go abroad, it’s a good idea to...