How can you go from plain, boring messages in Whatsapp to spectacular ones? Keep listening. Learn how to impress all of your friends with these super-cool "writing tricks"! TRICK 1: BOLD MESSAGES To bold your message, place an asterisk on both sides of the text, like this: *text* TRICK 2: MESSAGES IN ITALICS To italicize your message, place an underscore on both sides of the text, like so: _text_ TRICK 3: HOW TO CROSS SOMETHING OUT To strikethrough your message, place a tilde on both sides of the text, like so: ~text~ TRICK 4: FORMATTING COMBINATION To blend different formatting styles, just use the previous tricks consistently: *_text_* TRICK 5: TO CHANGE THE FONT TO MONOSPACE To monospace your message, place three backticks on both sides of the text, like so: ```text``` ALTERNATIVELY: On Android: you can tap and hold the text you're typing > More > and choose among bold, italic, strikethrough and monospace. On iPhone: you can tap and hold the text you're typing > BIU > and choose ...
Are you writing too much? Well, don't! If you want to become a proud, consistent writer, just follow these two easy tricks… TRICK 1: Set the bar ultra-low Never set goals like, “I want to write 1000 words a day.” That’s too much, and you'll get disappointed with yourself as soon as you miss one day. Instead, your goal is to write only one true sentence. Just one. The beauty of that goal is that it’s really easy to accomplish. Then, if you can, keep going. That way, whatever else you write on that day is an extra. You are well above your aim. Easy, right? TRICK 2: Don’t just getstarted. Make it into a habit. Often, people give advice like, “just get started!” And there’s truth in that. Starting is important. Sure thing, everyone can write for a day — or two, or three. But there are very few people who write consistently for years. That's because they aimed too high and got burnt out! So, if you want to improve your writing, don't be too demanding. Set realistic goals that w...
What is a report? Why should I care? How do I go about it? Find out in today's epidode SAMPLE REPORT TASK: The international organization where you work has a sum of money available for making improvement to the work environment in your office to make it more productive. You have been asked to write a report for your manager in with you Outline the problems with your work environment Summarize the improvement you and your colleagues suggested Recommend two changes. Write your report. SAMPLE REPORT ANSWER: REPORT ON WORKPLACE IMPROVEMENTS Introduction The aim of this report is to outline the deficiencies in our present office environment and the suggestions which have been made for improvements, and to make recommendations for two changes. The office environment At present, the office suffers from a number of problems. Firstly, the air-conditioning system is antiquated and therefore noisy. This causes headaches and occasionally makes it difficult to hold telephone conversations. Also...
What on Earth is a proposal? Will I ever need to write one while I am in College? Well, there is an easy trick to help you with it. Here Is What You Should Do For Your PROPOSAL. Follow this sample one... SAMPLE TASK: “You are member of the Students’ Council at the college where you study. The principal of the college wants to make it easier for first year students from other countries to fit into college life and has invited you to send in a proposal with practical suggestions. You have been asked specifically to consider improving the range of social activities on offer and appointing students advisers to help new students.” Write your proposal. SAMPLE SUGGESTED ANSWER: PROPOSAL FOR INTEGRATING NEW STUDENTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES Introduction The purpose of this proposal is to suggest ways of facilitating overseas students’ integration into this college. Overseas students’ problems There are two difficulties which newly arrived students have. Firstly, they are unfamiliar with th...
What's the Single Most Important Thing You Need To Know About PROPOSALS? No, not that kind of proposal... Proposals in an academic setting. What Is a proposal, what is a report, and How Do they Work? Keep listening: here Is What You Should Do! THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know, or that it helped you looking at things from a different perspective. If you enjoyed it, you might consider leaving a positive review wherever you are listening. It might seem simple, but it really helps. If you know someone who is struggling with writing in English, you could also think about sharing this episode (or the whole podcast) with them. It might help them in their journey of becoming a better writer. Likewise, if you – or any of your friends – are taking official external exams, you will find valuable info and tricks for the writing part of your exams. You will find t...
So, you want to write addictive articles. What's the first step? The title. How do you write a “clickbait” one? Find out here... HOW TO WRITE ADDICTIVE TITLES - Write something shocking: “Computer games are way too soft; we want brutality!” - Leave your reader interested: “You'll never believe the kind of night life waiting for you in Madrid!” - Use mysterious explanations: “Madrid at night is like a jungle: here's why…” - Go for lists: “Top 5 places to see (and to be seen) in Madrid.” THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know, or that it helped you looking at things from a different perspective. If you enjoyed it, you might consider leaving a positive review wherever you are listening. It might seem simple, but it really helps. If you know someone who is struggling with writing in English, you could also think about sharing this episode (or the whole...
What are the top six steps that can turn your last article into a viral one? Is there anything you can do, or anything that you should avoid? Find out in today's episode OUTLINE: 6 EASY STEPS TO WRITE AMAZING ARTICLES AND BLOGPOSTS STEP 1. Select your topic. Narrow it down. STEP 2. Address your audience's needs. Pick three words to describe them. For example, professional, single, men. STEP 3 Get your ideas in one place: - Do your research. Find out statistics, quotes by well-known people, definitions, anecdotes, etc. - Gather it, compile it, reference it. - Play around with the things that you have found. Sift through your if, sprinkle it here and there STEP 4. Write your first draft. Retain a nice, conversational tone by directly addressing your audience. STEP 5. Go for a coffee. Come back to your first draft. Read it. Be brutal. Ask yourself, is it working? Is it too general? Unclear? Choppy? Remember, you want your reader to walk away knowing EXACTLY how to enjoy great discos in...
As we have covered in the previous episode, writing an article in an English exam context is just a way to show your examiners that you can write in a personal, direct, engaging way. What are the kind of things you will have to write about? Is there a sample article we could analyse? Can we have a glimpse of the features that will make it successful? Find out in today's episode. ARTICLES - SAMPLE EXAM TASK You see the following announcement on your college noticeboard. MY BEST FRIEND Tell us about your best friend for the college newspaper. We want to know: How you met this person Why he or she is so special to you. We will publish the most interesting articles next week. SAMPLE ANSWER: AN INSEPARABLE FRIEND Leah has been my best friend from that they when, aged seven, I climbed onto the school bus to go to my new primary School. I wandered nervously down the bus, which was full of noisy kids shouting and laughing excitedly, and found a place beside a quiet girl with fair hair and f...
What is an article? Or, at least, what do examiners mean by an article? What is the difference between an article and other academic genres? What are the top 5 things to bear in mind when writing one? Find out in today's epidode. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE Thank you for listening to this episode. I hope that it helped you discovering something about writing that you did not know, or that it helped you looking at things from a different perspective. If you enjoyed it, you might consider leaving a positive review wherever you are listening. It might seem simple, but it really helps. If you know someone who is struggling with writing in English, you could also think about sharing this episode (or the whole podcast) with them. It might help them in their journey of becoming a better writer. Likewise, if you – or any of your friends – are taking official external exams, you will find valuable info and tricks for the writing part of your exams. You will find this especially...
Let's have a look at a sample review of a restaurant. I hope it will inspire you to feel confident and to post something online! REVIEW THE LOTUS FLOWER I tried the Lotus flower for the first time this month with my family for my dad's birthday, and I realised that it was easily the best Chinese restaurant we've eaten in. The surroundings were very modern, yet it still felt airy and cosy. The waiters were very welcoming and helpful, and not too rushed, as is often the case in some popular restaurants. As I was eating with a group of six, we managed to try a good range of items on the menu; between us, we couldn't find single thing that wasn't satisfying and delicious. Every dish featured wonderful combinations of flavors. All the ingredients were clearly fresh and of the highest quality, and I thought the seafood was particularly tasty. My parents felt we were given very good value for money, because that meal came to about 10€ per person, which they thought was very reasonable. Al...