I started reading The New Yorker again, but this time on themy laptop / the computer. I started reading The New Yorker again, but this time on my laptop / the computer.

"the laptop" sounds non-native

I started reading the New Yorker again, but this time on the laptop. I started reading the New Yorker again, but this time on the laptop.

I started reading The New Yorker again, but this time on the laptop. I started reading The New Yorker again, but this time on the laptop.

I started reading the New Yorker again, but this time on themy laptop. I started reading the New Yorker again, but this time on my laptop.

ChangingOccasionally switching up the ways of learning timely makehelps me focus. Occasionally switching up the ways of learning helps me focus.

Changing themy ways of learning timeperiodically makes me focus. Changing my way of learning periodically makes me focus.

"timely" doesn't have this meaning

Changing the ways of learning timely makehow I learn often helps me focus. Changing how I learn often helps me focus.

What did you mean by 'timely'? I'm assuming you mean 'often', but let me know if I've assumed incorrectly.

Changing the ways of learning timely makestime I study has helped me focus. Changing the time I study has helped me focus.

I took a guess on the meaning you were aiming for, so it might not be correct.

Here are the words and expressions I picked up from the passgaes, pages. Please help me check whether they are worth memorizing or not. Here are the words and expressions I picked up from the passages. Please help me check whether they are worth memorizing or not.

Here are the words and expressions I picked up from the passgaes, pages. Please help me check whether they are worth memorizing or not. Here are the words and expressions I picked up from the passages. Please help me check whether they are worth memorizing or not.

Here are the words and expressions I picked up from the passgaes, pages. Please help me check whether they are worth memorizing or not. Here are the words and expressions I picked up from the passages. Please help me check whether they are worth memorizing or not.

Here are the words and expressions I picked up from the passgaes,ages-- please help me check whether they're worth memorizing or not. Here are the words and expressions I picked up from the passages-- please help me check whether they're worth memorizing or not.

1. Every once in a while = sometimes 1. Every once in a while = sometimes

"sometimes" implies more regular than "every once in a while"

1. Every once in a while = sometimes 1. Every once in a while = sometimes

1. Every once in a while = sometimes 1. Every once in a while = sometimes

1. Every once in a while = sometimes 1. Every once in a while = sometimes

This phrase is common, so it's a good one to remember.

a blast of = a large number of a blast of = a large number of

probably something you read in context, I have not seen this used often

a blast of = a large numberamount of a blast of = a large amount of

"number of" refers to only countable things, while "amount of" can refer to countable or uncountable things

a blast of = a large number of a blast of = a large number of

I don't think I've heard of this phrase before... could you perhaps give me the sentence it was used in?

a blast of = a large number of a blast of = a large number of

The only context I could think of for this was "a blast of wind", which more means that the wind is strong, rather than that there is a lot of it. I searched online and saw it's been used in phrases like "a blast of winter weather". I don't think this phrase itself is worth memorising. Instead, you could just learn the verb "to blast" and noun "blast", and when you see any phrase containing them, you'll understand them.

unleash = set free unleash = set free

I can't form a natural sentence... I can't form a natural sentence...

His words unleashed violent anger within her.

I can't form a natural sentence... I can't form a natural sentence...

That's alright! It's not a very common word, so you should be fine without it. 'Unleash' means 'to release something violent', so you could say 'he unleashed his final attack', or 'the storm unleashed heavy rain on the city' or something like that.

I can't formthink of a natural sentence... I can't think of a natural sentence...

Here's a website with example sentences: https://www.merriam-webster.com/sentences/unleash I actually couldn't think of a sentence myself, either. I know this word but I think it's a bit dramatic, and it makes me think of fantasy stories. Like, "the wizard unleashed a thousand fireballs". Maybe instead of learning this word, learn the word "leash". This word is a lot more useful in daily life, and once you know it, when you see "unleash" you'll easily be able to guess the meaning.

4. chunky = having many large pieces 4. chunky = having many large pieces

The phatic expressions made your mail too chunky. The phatic expressions made your mail too chunky.

I didn't know the word "phatic." It's a very uncommon word in English but you used it correctly!

The phatic expressions made your mail too chunkyYour small talk made the letter too long. Your small talk made the letter too long.

Chunky is definitely a useful word, but the slang meaning of 'fat' only applies to people/animals. You're more likely to see it used literally, like 'chunky soup' meaning 'soup with chunks in it'. I like your sentence though! "Mail" is usually used to talk about a lot of mail, not individual bits of mail - we'd use 'message', 'letter', 'email', etc. depending on what's being sent. Also, the term 'phatic expression' is pretty rare outside of linguistics (most English speakers don't know what it means!), so I'd probably use 'filler' or 'small talk' instead.

The phatic expressions made your mail too chunky. The phatic expressions made your mail too chunky.

"Chunky" is a good word, but I was shocked by "phatic"! I've never seen this word before and I was so confused on what this sentence meant until I looked it up. I'll rewrite this sentence first with more common words: "You wrote so many pleasantries that your letter ended up too thick (for the envelope/mail slot)." Pleasantries = phatic expressions Now here's some sentences with "chunky": My cat keeps stealing his sister's food, and now he's a big chunky boy. I diced lots of vegetables and made a chunky stew. I took one sip of my milk and nearly vomited because it was sour and chunky. "Chunky" can be used to mean "fat", but like with most words for "fat", it's rude to call other people. Calling cats chunky is common, though. It's not really used to call objects like letters thick. But you can say stuff like "chunky jewellery" if the object looks like it's made of chunks.

Groups encompassing fifteen or lessfewer students willould be nice. Groups encompassing fifteen or fewer students would be nice.

Groups that encompass fifteen or lessfewer students willould be nice. Groups that encompass fifteen or fewer students would be nice.

"less" should only be used with uncountable quantities

Groups encompassof fifteen or less students willould be nice. Groups of fifteen or less students would be nice.

"To encompass" roughly means "to include", with a mental image of drawing a circle around something (a compass is a tool for drawing circles). So you could say for example, "The course encompassed all the different ways to write a book", or "London encompasses 32 boroughs".

Groups encompassing fifteen or less students will be niceor fewer would be best. Groups encompassing fifteen students or fewer would be best.

There's some technical rule that "few" is for countable objects and "less" is for uncountable (eg. water), but you can typically just say "less" for everything. I used "fewer" here because "encompassing" sounds formal, so it sounded better. "To encompass" is a pretty good word to learn. You probably won't hear it every week, but if you used it in a conversation, nobody would find it strange. I'll give you some example sentences for this too: "The president's speech encompassed a wide variety of issues affecting the nation." "The bounds of my property encompass the entire lake." "There was once a tall wall encompassing this city, to protect from invaders and pirates."

He got suspended by the team because of his rebelling against the rule. He got suspended by the team because of his rebelling against the rule.

He got suspended by the team because of his rebelling againsthe broke one of the rules. He got suspended by the team because he broke one of the rules.

This is a very common phrase in school settings.

He got suspended by the team because of hisfor rebelling against the rules. He got suspended by the team for rebelling against the rules.

Good word to learn, very common. Students get suspended from school, people can get suspended from their jobs, etc. In the literal definition, it means "to hang/be hanging". Eg. "A pinata hung suspended from the ceiling." "The bullies suspended his backpack from the school flagpole."

He is not thean outcast, he went out voluntarilywith the rest of us. He is not an outcast, he went out with the rest of us.

"outcast" specifically refers to the person in situations where they have been rejected by the current group

He is not thean outcast, he went ouleft voluntarily. He is not an outcast, he left voluntarily.

He is not thean outcast,: he went ouleft voluntarily. He is not an outcast: he left voluntarily.

This is a good word too.

give sb. a colder shoulder= treat sb. in a unfriendly way give sb. a colder shoulder= treat sb. in a unfriendly way

this is a common phrase

give sb. athe colder shoulder= treat sb. in an unfriendly way give sb. the cold shoulder= treat sb. in an unfriendly way

give sb. athe colder shoulder = treat sb. in a unfriendly way give sb. the cold shoulder = treat sb. in a unfriendly way

This is a good phrase, I just corrected the wording. Here's a sentence: "Ever since our argument, she's been giving me the cold shoulder."

I won't go home for the time being becauseFor the time being, I won't go home as so many issues are waiting to be solved. For the time being, I won't go home as so many issues are waiting to be solved.

also a common phrase

I won't go hom'll stay here for the time being, because so many issues are waiting to be solved. I'll stay here for the time being, because so many issues are waiting to be solved.

This is a good phrase too. I changed it from a negative statement to a positive one because it just sounded more right to me, but I'm sure other people might think it's fine as is.

downside= disadvantage downside= disadvantage

common

downside = disadvantage downside = disadvantage

downside = disadvantage downside = disadvantage

Yeah this is a good word, as well as it's antonym, "upside". "This job pays well and isn't too hard-- the only downside is I have to work nightshift." "Whichever house you buy will have its upsides and downsides."

intimation intimation

I am a native speaker and write as a hobby, and I had to look up this word 😅

kind of... hint? kind of... hint?

Yep! It's a pretty formal way of saying 'hint' or 'suggestion'. It's a pretty rare word so I wouldn't worry about learning it now.

kind of... hint? kind of... hint?

I think this word is more obscure, and not worth memorising. I'm pretty sure I've seen it before but I haven't heard or used it in a long time, and you can get by fine with words like "hint" or "suggestion" instead. Even for native speakers, there are words so rare we forget them until we see them again, and we usually just use context and feelings to guess what the word means.

Competition for the position is acutintense. Competition for the position is intense.

'Acute' means both 'short' and 'intense', so it's often used for things like 'acute pain'. It can also mean 'sharp' or 'sensitive', like 'acute hearing' or 'acute vision'. It's a complicated and fairly rare word that confuses even native speakers though, so I wouldn't worry about memorising it.

Competition for the position is acutintense. Competition for the position is intense.

I'm not sure the word can be used like this. It doesn't sound right to me. Here's some sentences for you: Every winter brought acute food shortages, and hundreds would die of hunger. He was acutely aware of how loud his footsteps were as he snuck inside. She had an acute mind, and could solve any maths problem in 10 seconds flat. The rod was bent at an acute angle, around 30°.

Panic overtook me in a second, and my legs started trembling. Panic overtook me in a second, and my legs started trembling.

nice sentence! also a pretty common word

Panic overtook me infor a second, and my legs started trembling. Panic overtook me for a second, and my legs started trembling.

Panic overtook me in a second, and my legs started trembling. Panic overtook me in a second, and my legs started trembling.

Yep! "to overtake" is usually used to mean 'to move in front of another car', with 'to happen suddenly' being a rarer meaning.

Panic overtook me in a second, and my legs started trembling. Panic overtook me in a second, and my legs started trembling.

Useful word, and good sentence! It's most commonly used when driving. You overtake people on the road when you pass them.

evaluate? evaluate?

'Gauge' usually means 'to measure' or 'estimate'.

evaluate? evaluate?

Kind of, it's more like "approximate". Eg. "He gauged her reaction to the news." "The fuel gauge on my car is almost at empty."

hHere is the original sentence: Here is the original sentence:

"WhatsApp is the promise of something else,” she said. "WhatsApp is the promise of something else,” she said.

"WhatsApp is the promise of something else,” she said. "WhatsApp is the promise of something else,” she said.

'The promise of something else' isn't a set phrase - it's being used literally here. I read the full paragraph, and the idea is that she spends time with her family, and when she uses WhatsApp, she is 'promised' something else, besides her family.

"WhatsApp is the promise of something else,” she said. "WhatsApp is the promise of something else,” she said.

She can gauge how low she is feeling by how much she wants to find a warm message lying there, unread. She can gauge how low she is feeling by how much she wants to find a warm message lying there, unread.

She can gauge how low she is feeling by how much she wants to find a warm message lying there, unread. She can gauge how low she is feeling by how much she wants to find a warm message lying there, unread.

She can gauge how low she is feeling by how much she wants to find a warm message lying there, unread. She can gauge how low she is feeling by how much she wants to find a warm message lying there, unread.

She can gauge how low she is feeling by how much she wants to find a warm message lying there, unread. She can gauge how low she is feeling by how much she wants to find a warm message lying there, unread.

something like hint? something like hint?

which word are you trying to define here?

sSomething like hint? Something like hint?

Not sure what this means...

something like hint? something like hint?

Maybe my brain is just slow, but I'm kind of confused on what "the promise of something else" means too. Unless it's just literal. WhatsApp promises something new/extra. I don't think this is a common phrase, if it is a phrase at all.