What the heck is a synecdoche? To use an old example, the word “hands” in “all hands on deck!” is a synecdoche; “a part of something substituted for the whole.”

And what’s an onomatopoeia? Words that imitate sounds, like “bang,” “splash,” or “thud”.

What’s a thrombin inhibitor? OK, that’s not a grammar term, but the Glossary of English Grammar Terms is gem of a resource for learners. It’s a small program - help file, actually - that explains all the scary grammar stuff in easy English. The definitions range from the basic terms to pretty advanced ones. Read more

 Subscribe in a reader