Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 150
618. What is the difference between `murder' and `manslaughter'?
In both cases, you perform an illegal act; you end up taking someone's life! When you `murder' someone, the act of killing the individual is deliberate or intentional. Usually, it is planned, and is carried out in a cold-blooded manner. It is for this reason that the punishment for murder is very severe. In the case of manslaughter, the act of killing may or may not be intentional. You could end up killing someone quite accidentally. If your kill your aunt or uncle because you want their property, then it is murder. If you run over a pedestrian, it is manslaughter. When you kill someone in self-defence, it is manslaughter, and not murder. *The murders in Noida have upset many people in our country.
618. What is the difference between `murder' and `manslaughter'?
In both cases, you perform an illegal act; you end up taking someone's life! When you `murder' someone, the act of killing the individual is deliberate or intentional. Usually, it is planned, and is carried out in a cold-blooded manner. It is for this reason that the punishment for murder is very severe. In the case of manslaughter, the act of killing may or may not be intentional. You could end up killing someone quite accidentally. If your kill your aunt or uncle because you want their property, then it is murder. If you run over a pedestrian, it is manslaughter. When you kill someone in self-defence, it is manslaughter, and not murder. *The murders in Noida have upset many people in our country.
619. Is it correct to say, `come to here'?
No, it isn't. You generally say, `Come here', and not `come to here'. There are a number of common words in English, such as `here', `there', `home', `up', `down', `upstairs', and `downstairs' which are not preceded by the word `to'. *The children ran upstairs/downstairs. (Not `ran to upstairs/downstairs') *The CEO asked us to come here. (Not `come to here')
620. What is the meaning of the word `affability'?
First, let's deal with the pronunciation. The first `a' is pronounced like the `a' in `cat', `bat', and `hat'. The `a' in the second syllable is like the `a' in `china'; and the final `bility' is like the `bility' in `ability', `capability', and `stability'. The main stress is on the third syllable `bi'. A person who is `affable' is very pleasant and friendly. Such a person is usually very courteous whenever he talks to someone. *Many students find the new teacher's affability very irritating. "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire P.R. officers." — Daniel J. Boorstin
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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