Not because you should use them, but because you’ll probably hear them.

📌 “Actions speak louder than words.”
👉 What you do matters more than what you say.
(Think leadership talks, feedback, teamwork.)

📌 “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
👉 Don’t make decisions based on appearances.
(Used for people, products or ideas.)

📌 “The early bird catches the worm.”
👉 Start early, succeed more often.
(Still popular in productivity chats.)

You don’t need to sprinkle proverbs into your English.
But knowing them means you won’t get lost when others do.

💬 Which English proverb have you heard most often?

Sometimes you need wisdom… and sometimes you just need a laugh.

😂 “Age is something that doesn’t matter, unless you are a cheese.” — Billie Burke
😂 “Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.” — Jim Carrey
😂 “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?” — Steven Wright
😂 “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” — Dalai Lama
😂 “A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” — Steve Martin

Life doesn’t have to be heavy to be meaningful. A little humour often makes the deepest truths stick.

💬 Which quote here made you smile the most?

Have you ever read phrases like “Let’s touch base” or “We should synergise our efforts”?

You’re not alone.

Corporate jargon pops up everywhere. It might sound polished, but it often complicates things. Especially if English isn’t your first language.

Plain English is clearer. Always.

❌ “Utilise resources” → ✅ “Use resources”
❌ “Synergise” → ✅ “Work together”
❌ “Circle back” → ✅ “Discuss later”
❌ “Touch base” → ✅ “Meet”
❌ “Finalise” → ✅ “Finish”
❌ “Facilitate” → ✅ “Help”

Clear words don’t make you less professional. They make you easier to understand, and that builds trust.

💬 What’s the most confusing piece of jargon you’ve seen lately?

Even the best writers trip over these three.
And yes, even with spellcheck, Grammarly and AI tools at our side.

I know the feeling. You re-read your email proudly… and then bam! A mistake jumps out like a trap-door spider. 🕷️

Here’s the truth: mistakes don’t mean you’re careless. They mean you’re human. Even professionals hit “send” or “publish” with a tiny typo hiding inside.

Confidence in English isn’t about never making errors. It’s about moving past them without losing your voice.

💬 Be honest — which of these three still sneaks into your writing: their, there or they’re?

Welcome to this week’s Sparks Plus — your quick, practical boost for clearer, more confident English.
Six short sections, all easy to read and use right away.

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1️⃣ Quick Win

Use fewer with countable things, less with uncountable things.

✔ Fewer emails, less stress.
✔ Fewer mistakes, less pressure.

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2️⃣ Real-World English in Action

Denglish rescue:
A client said: I’m living here since 2015.

In English, we say:
✔ I have lived here since 2015.

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3️⃣ Christine’s Pick

TED-Ed — short animated videos that explain ideas clearly, with subtitles and transcripts. Great for practising listening and learning something new at the same time.

Start with “Why is English so confusing“.

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4️⃣ Reader Question

Q: Can I say in the TV?
A: No — we say on TV.
✔ I saw her on TV last night.

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5️⃣ AI Prompt to Test

Want to try something different? Copy this into ChatGPT and see what comes back:

“Based on what you know about my life, values, and learning style, create 5 original motivational quotes that feel personal to me. Make them short, clear, and inspiring.”

I tried it and got this gem:
“Good enough English is strong enough to open doors.”

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6️⃣ Spotlight

Ever wondered about the differences between British and American punctuation?

My mini-guide UK vs US Punctuation shows you the key contrasts — clearly explained and easy to remember.
Get it here.

 

A phrasal verb is just a verb + a little extra word:
pick up, turn off, look after.

They’re everywhere in English, especially in informal conversations.

But here’s the tricky part: the meaning often isn’t clear from the words themselves.

❌ “Can you pick me up at 7?” → not “lift me into the air,” but “collect me by car.”

So what’s the trick?

If you’re not sure your listener will understand, use a one-word verb instead.
“Can you collect me at 7?”

Global English isn’t about showing off every phrasal verb you know. It’s about being clear.

💬 Which phrasal verb has confused you (or made you laugh) the most?

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