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Useful content calendar tools to advertise on social media

Created by - Skill Space

Useful content calendar tools to advertise on social media

Managing social media accounts for your business can be a daunting task. It can take a chunk of time from your daily schedule, leaving other important tasks unattended. Not only that but keeping up with the consistency with social media posts can be hectic and may not be reliable. So, the answer to this is? A useful Social Media Calendar Tool that works!What are Social Media Content Calendars?Do you know how we use calendars to plan our projects, vacations, and other activities? Yes, the concept is exactly the same.A social media calendar will allow you to plan or even queue your posts in advance. Once you are done queuing the posts for the week or the month, you can simply relax and shift your focus on other important tasks, like actually running your business and making a profit.It's simple, really! All you have to do is come up with a reliable social media strategy. So dedicate one day to your strategy; sit down, explore, and formulate your strategy. Understand what may work for your target audience, what has a good chance of generating a good ROI, and so on. There are many ways to do so and we highly recommend beginning from this Convince&Convert article if you wish to know more.Anyway, back to the topic! In this article, we will explain the three best social media content calendar tools in 2022 to make life convenient for you.Some useful Social Media Content Calendar ToolsBefore we explore the options below, please note that we have personally used these calendars before and they have been effective for our business.1. Zoho:Zoho Social was the first social media calendar and management tool that we have tried and our experience with it was amazing! With this tool, you can post on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google My Business, and more.It is really easy to use Zoho to schedule your posts on time—the learning curve is pretty novice-friendly. Zoho is also equipped with an analyser—analyse and generate insights about your social media, all in one place.The downside of Zoho is that it can be really expensive, especially for a group plan. That being said, it is still one of the best tools in the market that will make your social media convenient and easy to manage.2. Canva:Ah yes, Canva. This is our current and favourite social media management tool. Why? Because there is an inbuilt video and image editor along with a social media calendar. To use Canva's social media calendar, you will require Canva Pro.As someone who was new to social media management, my personal experience was a little hard around understanding Canva. But the learning curve isn't as steep as it seems. You can seamlessly publish your social media content through Canva.Compared to Zoho, it does miss a few features, certainly—like URL shortener. Also, as we have Google My Business, Canva was not the optimal choice for us. But the pros were just too good for us not to consider it.As the social media content calendar (that comes up with all important days noted on it, by the way) is a part of Canva Pro, that also means we get to use thousands of Canva Pro assets to further make our social media posts enticing. It is a really great combo if your social media needs aren't on an enterprise level. Canva is your friend for a small business!3. Google Drive:Regardless of the tools we use above, we personally believe that keeping a manual log of all your social media activities is important. And that's where Google Drive and Google Docs come to the rescue.We make use of our Google Spreadsheet to keep tabs on what we will be posting, what we have posted, and all the important South African days (since we are based in South Africa).Here's a link for our 2022 Social Media Master Calendar. You can use this to keep records of important South African holidays and your social media posts. Feel free to modify it as per your convenience.Bottom LineSocial media management for businesses can be really hectic. However, you can make your life easier with these useful social media content calendar tools in 2022 mentioned above. This will also help in making fewer errors in your strategy and also allow you to invest your time and energy in other important projects.

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Published - Fri, 28-Oct-2022

English conversation for beginners

Created by - Skill Space

English conversation for beginners

English has rapidly become a global language during the last 70 years, despite not being the most spoken language. At least every global citizen manages to understand and speak English to some extent, which makes it necessary to know and understand this language.English Language and the AnxietyIt's natural to have anxiety when it comes to learning a new language, and English is no exception to that. Learning a new language can be overwhelming and it may seem tremendously difficult to grasp the ropes.However, with determination and consistency, you can definitely achieve mastery of the English language over time. In fact, English is not really one of the hardest languages out there. Also, there are plenty of resource materials available online to help you with the language; and the good news is that they are completely free.So, is it worth learning English?Of course it is! Look around you. You are surrounded by English. The smartphone you use, and the applications or websites you browse are almost all in English. Heck, even more than half of the local shops have their banners or labels in EnglishNot only that, but you must have been learning English ever since you started going to school, right? Besides, the education system in India has been heavily relying on the English language for 20 years or so now. We can confidently say that English has become one of the most compulsory subjects in India and worldwide.Learning English will most certainly open new employment opportunities for you within India and in western countries. What does it take to learn this language? Determination, consistency, and confidence.Yes, confidence is important. For example, I have studied the Japanese language for more than five years now. But due to my lack of confidence, I never developed any real speaking skills as I would always hesitate to speak Japanese. However, recently, when I mustered some confidence and managed to talk to a Japanese person, I realized that I was able to speak... At least somewhat. It was a start.Confidence in your language ability is what will help you grow!How to get confidence?The key to confidence is consistency and familiarity with the language. Make yourself familiar with the language and use it as much as you can. Once you understand how something works and if it's correct, then your confidence will definitely grow and the language will roll off your tongue more smoothly.To help you familiarise yourself with the language, we are posting some basic English conversations for you to practice. You can practice them all by yourself but for an optimal experience, you should practice with a partner.Conversation 1: Greetings and How are you?A: Hello!B: Hi there. How are you doing?A: I am fine, thank you. How about you?B: I am okay too. Thank you for asking.Conversation 2: ComplimentA: Hey, nice dress!B: Thank you. I just bought it on Amazon.A: Yes, it does look good on you. How expensive was it?B: Expensive? Not at all. I bought this for 799rs only.A: Wow, that's a really good dress for such a cheap price.Conversation 3: PermissionA: Hey boss.B: Oh hey, what's up?A: I am sorry but is it okay if I could go home early today?B: It's not a problem. But, is anything serious?A: No no, I just have to attend my friend's wedding today and I promised I would come.B: Well yes, you should keep your promise then. Sure, go on ahead.A: Thank you, boss!Conversation 4: Identifying ColoursA: What colour does an apple have?B: An apple is red in colour.A: That's correct. And what colour does a leaf have?B: A leaf has green colour. But sometimes, they can be red or yellow in colour too.A: Right answer!B: What is your favourite colour?A: My favourite colour is Red.B: Wow, so is mine!Bottom LineThese conversations are here for familiarisation purposes. The grammar may feel advanced for you in some conversations (especially Conversation 3), but I believe that the more you naturally immerse in the language from the beginning, the better.On a basic level, you are expected to introduce yourself, talk about your hobbies and needs, and can form basic questions such as 'what is this or that'. While the conversation above may feel a bit advanced, especially due to its wordiness, it is still within the boundaries of a beginner level.If you require any help with English lessons or any other lessons, feel free to check out great and convenient courses that are catered according to your needs.

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Published - Fri, 04-Nov-2022

Who should use LinkedIn for Advertisement?

Created by - Skill Space

Who should use LinkedIn for Advertisement?

LinkedIn is a B2B social media platform that revolves around the corporate world. The main target audience for LinkedIn is people working in the service sector. LinkedIn also observes various employees around the world sharing and celebrating their work achievements or certifications. So, who exactly is LinkedIn for and who should advertise on it?LinkedIn Target AudienceTo understand who should advertise on LinkedIn, it's necessary for us to understand the target audience of the platform itself. LinkedIn heavily relies on the idea of bringing professionals together on one social media platform, offering a unique professional-social environment. You will barely find any leisure or extra-curricular content on LinkedIn. The atmosphere on LinkedIn is "serious".And so are the users. People are not fooling around on LinkedIn at all.LinkedIn boasts serious professionalism and a formal attitude.So how could you distinguish your exact target audience from this pool of serious, professional faces? Segregate by countries, gender, profession, companies, you name it... LinkedIn features a well-sophisticated advertising platform for advertisers to advertise their content on LinkedIn without any hassle.So, Who should use LinkedIn for Advertisement?As we have established previously, LinkedIn is a B2B (Business to Business) social media platform made for professionals. Say, would you advertise a soap product to a bunch that are interested in finding a job or finding professional connections on a platform? Of course not. They are not there for leisurely purposes. These professionals are on a mission.So, if you are a soap product advertiser, then this platform is definitely not for you... or maybe not until you bring a revolutionary invention in soaps. People love to be awestruck by futuristic products no matter the platform. I'm not kidding—people really love to see good content.Anyway, to understand whether you can advertise on LinkedIn, consider the following.a. You run a B2B Business.What's a B2B business? A business that provides its products and/or services to another business is a b2b business. If your business is of this nature, then Linkedin might just prove ideal for you. You can advertise your services or products by targeting other companies or LinkedIn Profiles easily via the LinkedIn Ad platform. In some niches, LinkedIn can also be used in a B2C manner (Business to Customers). For example, selling professional courses.b. You want to be flexible.While being flexible here means trying out a new advertising platform or a different strategy, make sure your business follows the common sense of point a. It still does not mean advertising a soap product on LinkedIn. But, if you are a small business that believes it can do something for professionals or other corporate companies, LinkedIn can be a refreshing advertising platform for your business; and the one you would be consistently using.c. Your competitors primarily are on LinkedIn.And if that's true, you certainly do not want to ignore LinkedIn at any cost. You can always research what your competitors doing and what they are ignoring. You can use that to your advantage and form a specific target audience on LinkedIn to further expand or grow your business. d. LinkedIn has Lead Gen Forms.What does that mean? If you are an experienced social media advertiser, you know how hard it is to collect actual data from users that manage to click your ads. Many turn away from an advertisement when they are presented with a form, for whatever reasons.Well, LinkedIn presents a form too. But instead of making users fill it out themselves, LinkedIn collects data from their profile and auto-fills most of it. It's fast and convenient, and users still hold control over whether to 'submit' their information or not, so ultimately, their privacy is protected. This can help ramp up your conversion rate and ROI.Conclusion - Who should use LinkedIn for Advertisement?LinkedIn is a social media platform with a professional atmosphere. If you are looking for a change or a B2B business, LinkedIn can be a potential option for your business. It's not really difficult to run an advertisement on LinkedIn as the process is very self-explanatory and simple—as long as you have the required budget.If you require any professional help with LinkedIn, please do not hesitate to connect with us anytime!

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Published - Thu, 17-Nov-2022

English Learning For Beginners

Created by - Skill Space

English Learning For Beginners

English has been a global language for a long while now. You could say that learning English has now become a necessity. With English, you certainly open a whole new world of opportunities. So, should you learn English? Of course, you should. In this article, we will include some English Learning tips that may prove useful for beginners.India and EnglishIndia is one of the countries where English is commonly found and spoken. In fact, did you know that India ranks 2nd in English Speaking Population? Yes, it's true! According to Wikipedia, we have around 125 million (12.5 Crores) English speakers in India.  Besides, English is one of the official languages in India.We have our business meetings in English, school and college education in English, and even the day-to-day business is also conducted in English, whether it is in written form or oral form.That being said, you must have learnt basic English in your school life before. Or if you are a school student, you must be learning English. However, not all schools are reliable or efficient when it comes to learning a language as they teach you mainly from an academic point of view. This is also why we seek English courses from English-specialised institutes.Are they really reliable?Yes or no, this opinion completely depends on you. Each English institution has a different approach and while that may prove effective for someone, doesn't mean it would be effective for you too. While we think about this, it's also important to understand your capacity for learning. Not everyone is a fast learner.However, that being said, it does not mean you cannot learn English at all. In fact, learning English or any other new language as a beginner can be scary. However, once you get into it, it's a breeze. So yes, whatever institution you enrol into, just know that your willingness and passion for learning the language are important!Tips for Learning the English Language for Beginners.Before we begin, we just want to clarify that not everyone learns a language the same way. While these tips may prove helpful for others, we do not guarantee that they may prove helpful to you. You and you only bear full responsibility for following these tips. Okay, let's begin!Immersion is the key to learning any language out there. Which means consuming media or books that are in your target language. When you are new to something, one of the best pieces of advice we can give is to observe and imitate. From my personal experience, I can say that it worked miracles for me.a. Read Children's booksNo matter the age, if you are learning a new language, you should always prefer reading children's books. Why? Because they are specifically catered for language learning. These books contain easy-to-follow, simplified language, pictures for immersion, and generalised vocabulary.Adding to this point, you can easily find plenty of children's stories on YouTube easily, like this one. Combining these two methods (reading and listening) can get you immersed in the language rather quickly.b. WriteWriting is another essential part if you want to get used to a language quicker. Writing helps reinforce your knowledge of a language. For example, if you were to learn the letter A by eyes only, you might not be able to remember it as quickly as you would via the writing method.Apart from that, we also encourage you to write down sentences or small, simple English essays to utilise your English knowledge practically. Practical use of the language is the key to learning a language effectively.c. ConversationsAs mentioned previously, using a language via practical means is your way to learning it well. And what else screams 'practicality' better than using the language in real-time situations? And this part is possibly the most difficult for a lot of learners. The reason is mainly the anxiety of speaking in another language and lack of confidence in your own language ability.However, a good environment or a good teacher will always encourage you to speak out, no matter the mistakes. Mistakes are how you learn the language.d. Take it easy!Learning a language is a process and hence we believe that it should be followed thoroughly and systematically. However, it is also okay to wander off the path and learn English in your own way sometimes, as long as you are confident it's working out for you.And as it is a process, it's possible you will face difficulties, and some of them would be too hard for you to overcome instantly. However, patience. You are going to do fine. Just don't lose your determination, okay?Bottom Line and OpinionAs a beginner, learning English can feel like a breeze and as you go to advanced levels, it can get confusing. However, a language learning experience is a pretty fun one. Don't worry too much about you needing a language to fulfil the criteria for a job or whatever.HAVE FUN! It is really an enjoyable experience if you allow it. Learn it as a hobby and watch your language grow, even without your realisation. That's all the advice we have as we conclude this article.

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Published - Thu, 17-Nov-2022

Wordpress hosting options

Created by - Skill Space

Wordpress hosting options

Having an online presence for small businesses in India is still a fairly new concept. While not many are considering the option, some of them have started realising how important it could be for their business. A part of that realisation is to have a website in India. And to have a website, you need a host. So, how and where can I find WordPress hosting solutions in India? Let's find out!What is WordPress?Right, the WordPress. In layman's terms, WordPress is basically a tool to make your website. And for FREE!! In old days, you would absolutely need a developer to make your website. WordPress sort of eliminates that option.Even if you do not have any technical background, you can still create a basic website with WordPress. It is an EMS tool that gives you all the necessary tools and a thousand of free templates to create a website within just a few hours. Awesome, is it not? WordPress does make it fairly easy to create a website.However, you may still have to hire a developer if you want to create a unique-looking website for your business.What is a WordPress host?Even though you can freely create a website with WordPress at no cost, hosting is a completely different domain. The 'host' is basically a server that keeps your website live on the internet and makes it available to the public. To get a unique website address (domain name) for your website, you will need a host.Technically, do you absolutely need a host? No. You can simply create a website on WordPress and publish it with the ".wordpress.com" domain. However, this does not give your business the unique identity it deserves. Furthermore, it is not optimal for attracting customers or handling heavy-duty traffic on your website.So, while hosting costs, it certainly has some upsides. First and foremost, you can choose a unique domain name that creates a unique identity for your business. Secondly, even though hosting costs, it does not have to be expensive. You can pay less than what you pay for your monthly mobile data pack, and still get a quality host for your website. And third, it can handle heavy-duty traffic loads and ensures that your website stays up all the time.Also, this may be optional, but depending on your hosting package, you may also get a website maintenance service from your host provider.What determines the price of a hosting service in India?When it comes to prices, there are many determiners. While you may find a hosting option as cheap as paying 50-150rs per month, you may have to consider some options first.There are two types of WordPress hosting. One that uses a shared hosting server to host your website. This means your website will be hosted on a server other websites are hosted on. Think of this as renting an apartment with other tenants. The other one is dedicated hosting, where you get to keep the server and its resources for your website only. Of course, this is a relatively more expensive option than shared hosting.Secondly, the operating system. Hosts tend to use Windows or Linux as their operating system. Since Windows is paid software, hosting on a Windows OS server tends to get a bit more expensive. However, many experts in the industry proclaim that using Linux may be more viable for your website than Windows itself as it is open-source, free, and flexible.And third, the hardware itself. The cheaper hosting options will get you less storage space for your website, and less website performance value—which may not be optimal if you wish to publish your website globally. More expensive packages tend to give better storage space and hardware resources allocated for your website.So, it is important to remember these factors before you consider a hosting package.What are the WordPress Hosting Solutions in India?WordPress hosting solutions can cost as little as ₹59 per month. Cheaper than you expected? But, it is also essential to get a quality host for your website, right?1. HostingerHostinger is a Lithuanian-based WordPress hosting solution that is popular in India. They have the best deals for all sorts of website hosting solutions in India, starting as cheap as ₹69. The least you can get from Hostinger is 50GB SSD storage space, a free domain name for 1 year, 100GB bandwidth, 2 databases, and 1 email account—all for one website.For more information, please consider visiting the website linked above.2. BigRockBigRock is an Indian-owned hosting company that provides world-class hosting solutions to Indian websites. With plans as cheap as ₹59/month, BigRock provides quite a lucrative hosting solution.  With dedicated and shared hosting options powered by Windows or Linux OS and top-of-the-line hardware resources, your website will run like butter in no time.Find more details regarding their hosting plans on their website.3. BlueHostBlueHost is another well-known hosting solutions brand across the world that is also well-known in India. With their data centres located in India itself, BlueHost actually makes an optimal high-quality hosting solution for Indian websites. With their shared hosting options starting from ₹169/month, BlueHost allocates high-quality hardware resources and technical support for their websites, even for the cheapest plan.For more details, please visit their website.ConclusionThere are a tremendous amount of WordPress hosts in India. In this article, we have chosen the top three options for WordPress hosting solutions in India. This is our personal opinion and has not been affected by any affiliation or sponsorship by any of the hosts mentioned above. We hope that you find this information useful.If you have any other suggestions to make on this article, feel free to connect with us.

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Published - Fri, 03-Feb-2023

English grammar for beginners

Created by - Skill Space

English grammar for beginners

What is the first thing that pops up in your mind when you talk about the English Language in India? The English Grammar...!English Grammar? What is it?We Indians love technicality when it comes to studying the English language. Past tense, present tense, future tense... Even though you may not be studying English, we guarantee that you must have heard these terms many times before. They are not really unfamiliar to you.But what is Grammar, exactly? Grammar is basically a conventional set of rules to construct and use a language effectively--in a way that would make sense. While grammar is not absolute, it is necessary to understand and speak a language as fluently as a native.So, in this article, we will cover the three basic tenses. Apart from that, you should be aware of the English pronouns to understand the language more effectively.English PronounsWe all are aware of what nouns are, right? Nouns are basically names for things, places, persons, and other living beings (e.g. flower, leg, John, pumpkin, table, furniture, computer). Well, when we are speaking English, if we consecutively use the same nouns in different sentences, it would sound awkward and weird. Hence, we have pronouns to make up for that.What are pronouns? Pronouns are noun substitute that streamlines speaking and understanding a language. There are three categories of pronouns and each category is further divided into two categories.1. First Person Pronounsa) SingularThe first-person singular pronoun is used for referring to yourself. This pronoun is 'I/me'.For example, I am an engineer.Remember, the 'I' is always written in capital letters.b) PluralThe first-person plural pronoun is used for referring to a group of yourselves. This pronoun is 'we/us'.For example, 'We are the future!'2. Second Person PronounsThere is only one second-person pronoun in the English language, which is 'You' or 'Your'. It is used to refer to your direct listener. There is no singular or plural version of the second-person pronoun. However, the word 'you' may be followed by the word 'all', denoting that it is being used in a plural manner. Take a look at these two examples."You are a man.""You all are sailors."3. Third Person Pronounsa) SingularWhen it comes to third-person singular pronouns, we have to consider gender as a factor. Different genders have different pronouns. Take a look at this list below.He - third person singular male pronoun.He is a boy.She - third person singular female pronoun.She is a girl.It - third person singular non-gendered pronoun used for other living beings apart from humans and inanimate objects.It is a box.b) PluralThere's only one third-person plural pronoun in English and it is 'They'. This pronoun is not affected by gender, unlike singular pronouns. Also, this pronoun is not to be mistaken as an honorary pronoun to show respect to elders. There are no honorary pronouns in English.They are playing on the ground.English Grammar TensesEnglish Grammar is, of course, way more than just tenses. However, tenses affect how grammar functions the most. Hence, it is necessary for us to understand how the tenses work on the basic level. Let's see them in more detail.Like most Indian languages, English also has three basic tenses, that are further subdivided into four different categories. These tenses are Past, Present, and Future. Let's see the basic six tenses everyone should know if they are planning to learn the language.a. Simple Present TenseThe simple present tense denotes a simple statement that describes an event of the present. Simple tenses, unlike continuous tenses, are often used to deliver factual information, rather than an action that is happening in the present. The basic sentence structure follows the following formula:S + V1 + Object/ComplementFor example, Aury eats a mango. Here, 'Aury' is the subject; 'eats' is the verb; and 'mango' is the object.>Quick lesson!<S stands for Subject. The subject of the sentence is the one that does the action and is preceded by the verb (unless it is a passive construction—where the subject comes at the end, or does not come at all).V stands for the Verb in a sentence. A verb is basically an action that our subject does. In this formula, the V1 is the present form of the verb.The Object is the part of the sentence upon which the action happens. However, not all sentences have an object. Sometimes, they just bring full meaning to the sentence by providing more information about the subject. In this case, it's called a complement, or more precisely, a subject complement.b. Simple Past TenseSimple past tense talks about an event that has happened in the past. Like simple present tense, simple past tense, too, is used for delivering factual information rather than an event that was happening in the past. Let's see the syntax.Subject + V2 + Object/ComplementHere, V2 stands for the past form of the verb.For example, He was a sailor.Can you identify the subject, verb, and complement in this sentence? (There's no object here).c. Simple Future TenseThe simple future tense talks about things or facts that may occur in the future. That's all there is to it. Let's see the syntax.Subject + will/shall + V1 + Object/ComplementFor example, 'they will take the class.' Here, 'they' is the subject, 'will take' together makes the verb part of the sentence, and 'class' is the object.ConclusionIn this article, we have barely scratched the surface of English grammar basics. However, it is a good start. Understanding pronouns and the nature of tenses is what you need to understand when you begin learning English. Hopefully, this article has piqued your interest in the language. English grammar is simple to understand, yet so irregular.If you are interested in learning the language, we also invite you to take our Basic English Course for an in-depth understanding of English grammar. Please feel free to connect with us for more information!

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Published - Fri, 03-Feb-2023

Oxford Commas and Why are they so important?

Created by - Skill Space

Oxford Commas and Why are they so important?

Oxford commas have brought heated debates throughout modern English history, yet we have to reach absolution regarding whether the comma is correct. In this article, we are not going to say whether using the comma is right (or are we?). Instead, we're just going to see what the Oxford comma is all about.So, what exactly is the Oxford Comma?Oxford comma, or the serial comma, is a comma used after the second item in a list of three or more, before the word "and" or "or". This comma was first used by Oxford University Press, hence the name.Using the Oxford comma, however, is a matter of subjective preference. It depends on the region as well. For example, American English almost always recommends using it. However, English writing styles in Canada or the UK may advise against it.In my personal opinion, Oxford commas should be used in sentences that may create ambiguity.Let's see where we actually have to use the Oxford comma with some interesting examples.Oxford Comma and the AmbiguityWhat is ambiguity you may ask? Ambiguity represents that a word or a sentence may possess more than one meaning to it. Since the Oxford comma deals with the ambiguity related to the items listed in a series of three or more, let's take two such examples.1. The office hires software engineers, artists, and salesmen.Here, the comma between "artists" and "and salesmen" is the Oxford comma. However, if I remove it from this sentence, the meaning does not change at all. Look!The office hires software engineers, artists and salesmen. Since software engineers and artists are two completely different words, it does not create ambiguity. So, in this case, the Oxford comma is optional or redundant.Let's take another example!2. He gave his speech to the audience, cats, and dogs.You can already see the Oxford comma here, can't you? Good! Now, what if I remove it? The sentence will read like this.He gave his speech to the audience, cats and dogs.The removal of the Oxford comma creates a funny example of our speaker giving a speech solely to cats and dogs. Adding the comma there will separate the audience as its own element, stating the audience may consist of other people along with some cats and dogs.Of course, the sentence itself isn't as clear as the "audience" isn't properly defined. But hey! At least it's not cats and dogs only. See how the meaning changes?Let's see a few more examples where the comma would definitely be necessary to separate three or more items in a series clearly.a. Ms Sarita is working on two projects, designing the brochure, and preparing a speech.b. He went there with his parents, Rahul, and Anuja.Final ThoughtsThe universal agreement on the Oxford comma usage remains to be seen. However, objectively speaking, it is up to you to subjectively use the comma as you see fit. As you have seen above, the comma isn't distinguished and isn't necessary either.So what does that tell us about the Oxford comma? Use it wisely as you see fit in a sentence. If you personally think not using the comma would cause confusion, do use it. However, be aware of which language rules or writing styles you are following. Because as mentioned earlier, some writing style guides strictly forbid the use.However, writing is an individual task and a writing style has its own individuality. So, whether you should use the comma? I'll leave it to your best judgement.If you are looking for some useful courses to up your skills, feel free to browse our website or drop us a message for more information!

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Published - Mon, 06-Feb-2023

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Oxford Commas and Why are they so important?
Oxford Commas and Why are they so important?
Oxford commas have brought heated debates throughout modern English history, yet we have to reach absolution regarding whether the comma is correct. In this article, we are not going to say whether using the comma is right (or are we?). Instead, we're just going to see what the Oxford comma is all about.So, what exactly is the Oxford Comma?Oxford comma, or the serial comma, is a comma used after the second item in a list of three or more, before the word "and" or "or". This comma was first used by Oxford University Press, hence the name.Using the Oxford comma, however, is a matter of subjective preference. It depends on the region as well. For example, American English almost always recommends using it. However, English writing styles in Canada or the UK may advise against it.In my personal opinion, Oxford commas should be used in sentences that may create ambiguity.Let's see where we actually have to use the Oxford comma with some interesting examples.Oxford Comma and the AmbiguityWhat is ambiguity you may ask? Ambiguity represents that a word or a sentence may possess more than one meaning to it. Since the Oxford comma deals with the ambiguity related to the items listed in a series of three or more, let's take two such examples.1. The office hires software engineers, artists, and salesmen.Here, the comma between "artists" and "and salesmen" is the Oxford comma. However, if I remove it from this sentence, the meaning does not change at all. Look!The office hires software engineers, artists and salesmen. Since software engineers and artists are two completely different words, it does not create ambiguity. So, in this case, the Oxford comma is optional or redundant.Let's take another example!2. He gave his speech to the audience, cats, and dogs.You can already see the Oxford comma here, can't you? Good! Now, what if I remove it? The sentence will read like this.He gave his speech to the audience, cats and dogs.The removal of the Oxford comma creates a funny example of our speaker giving a speech solely to cats and dogs. Adding the comma there will separate the audience as its own element, stating the audience may consist of other people along with some cats and dogs.Of course, the sentence itself isn't as clear as the "audience" isn't properly defined. But hey! At least it's not cats and dogs only. See how the meaning changes?Let's see a few more examples where the comma would definitely be necessary to separate three or more items in a series clearly.a. Ms Sarita is working on two projects, designing the brochure, and preparing a speech.b. He went there with his parents, Rahul, and Anuja.Final ThoughtsThe universal agreement on the Oxford comma usage remains to be seen. However, objectively speaking, it is up to you to subjectively use the comma as you see fit. As you have seen above, the comma isn't distinguished and isn't necessary either.So what does that tell us about the Oxford comma? Use it wisely as you see fit in a sentence. If you personally think not using the comma would cause confusion, do use it. However, be aware of which language rules or writing styles you are following. Because as mentioned earlier, some writing style guides strictly forbid the use.However, writing is an individual task and a writing style has its own individuality. So, whether you should use the comma? I'll leave it to your best judgement.If you are looking for some useful courses to up your skills, feel free to browse our website or drop us a message for more information!

Mon, 06-Feb-2023

English grammar for beginners
English grammar for beginners
What is the first thing that pops up in your mind when you talk about the English Language in India? The English Grammar...!English Grammar? What is it?We Indians love technicality when it comes to studying the English language. Past tense, present tense, future tense... Even though you may not be studying English, we guarantee that you must have heard these terms many times before. They are not really unfamiliar to you.But what is Grammar, exactly? Grammar is basically a conventional set of rules to construct and use a language effectively--in a way that would make sense. While grammar is not absolute, it is necessary to understand and speak a language as fluently as a native.So, in this article, we will cover the three basic tenses. Apart from that, you should be aware of the English pronouns to understand the language more effectively.English PronounsWe all are aware of what nouns are, right? Nouns are basically names for things, places, persons, and other living beings (e.g. flower, leg, John, pumpkin, table, furniture, computer). Well, when we are speaking English, if we consecutively use the same nouns in different sentences, it would sound awkward and weird. Hence, we have pronouns to make up for that.What are pronouns? Pronouns are noun substitute that streamlines speaking and understanding a language. There are three categories of pronouns and each category is further divided into two categories.1. First Person Pronounsa) SingularThe first-person singular pronoun is used for referring to yourself. This pronoun is 'I/me'.For example, I am an engineer.Remember, the 'I' is always written in capital letters.b) PluralThe first-person plural pronoun is used for referring to a group of yourselves. This pronoun is 'we/us'.For example, 'We are the future!'2. Second Person PronounsThere is only one second-person pronoun in the English language, which is 'You' or 'Your'. It is used to refer to your direct listener. There is no singular or plural version of the second-person pronoun. However, the word 'you' may be followed by the word 'all', denoting that it is being used in a plural manner. Take a look at these two examples."You are a man.""You all are sailors."3. Third Person Pronounsa) SingularWhen it comes to third-person singular pronouns, we have to consider gender as a factor. Different genders have different pronouns. Take a look at this list below.He - third person singular male pronoun.He is a boy.She - third person singular female pronoun.She is a girl.It - third person singular non-gendered pronoun used for other living beings apart from humans and inanimate objects.It is a box.b) PluralThere's only one third-person plural pronoun in English and it is 'They'. This pronoun is not affected by gender, unlike singular pronouns. Also, this pronoun is not to be mistaken as an honorary pronoun to show respect to elders. There are no honorary pronouns in English.They are playing on the ground.English Grammar TensesEnglish Grammar is, of course, way more than just tenses. However, tenses affect how grammar functions the most. Hence, it is necessary for us to understand how the tenses work on the basic level. Let's see them in more detail.Like most Indian languages, English also has three basic tenses, that are further subdivided into four different categories. These tenses are Past, Present, and Future. Let's see the basic six tenses everyone should know if they are planning to learn the language.a. Simple Present TenseThe simple present tense denotes a simple statement that describes an event of the present. Simple tenses, unlike continuous tenses, are often used to deliver factual information, rather than an action that is happening in the present. The basic sentence structure follows the following formula:S + V1 + Object/ComplementFor example, Aury eats a mango. Here, 'Aury' is the subject; 'eats' is the verb; and 'mango' is the object.>Quick lesson!<S stands for Subject. The subject of the sentence is the one that does the action and is preceded by the verb (unless it is a passive construction—where the subject comes at the end, or does not come at all).V stands for the Verb in a sentence. A verb is basically an action that our subject does. In this formula, the V1 is the present form of the verb.The Object is the part of the sentence upon which the action happens. However, not all sentences have an object. Sometimes, they just bring full meaning to the sentence by providing more information about the subject. In this case, it's called a complement, or more precisely, a subject complement.b. Simple Past TenseSimple past tense talks about an event that has happened in the past. Like simple present tense, simple past tense, too, is used for delivering factual information rather than an event that was happening in the past. Let's see the syntax.Subject + V2 + Object/ComplementHere, V2 stands for the past form of the verb.For example, He was a sailor.Can you identify the subject, verb, and complement in this sentence? (There's no object here).c. Simple Future TenseThe simple future tense talks about things or facts that may occur in the future. That's all there is to it. Let's see the syntax.Subject + will/shall + V1 + Object/ComplementFor example, 'they will take the class.' Here, 'they' is the subject, 'will take' together makes the verb part of the sentence, and 'class' is the object.ConclusionIn this article, we have barely scratched the surface of English grammar basics. However, it is a good start. Understanding pronouns and the nature of tenses is what you need to understand when you begin learning English. Hopefully, this article has piqued your interest in the language. English grammar is simple to understand, yet so irregular.If you are interested in learning the language, we also invite you to take our Basic English Course for an in-depth understanding of English grammar. Please feel free to connect with us for more information!

Fri, 03-Feb-2023

Wordpress hosting options
Wordpress hosting options
Having an online presence for small businesses in India is still a fairly new concept. While not many are considering the option, some of them have started realising how important it could be for their business. A part of that realisation is to have a website in India. And to have a website, you need a host. So, how and where can I find WordPress hosting solutions in India? Let's find out!What is WordPress?Right, the WordPress. In layman's terms, WordPress is basically a tool to make your website. And for FREE!! In old days, you would absolutely need a developer to make your website. WordPress sort of eliminates that option.Even if you do not have any technical background, you can still create a basic website with WordPress. It is an EMS tool that gives you all the necessary tools and a thousand of free templates to create a website within just a few hours. Awesome, is it not? WordPress does make it fairly easy to create a website.However, you may still have to hire a developer if you want to create a unique-looking website for your business.What is a WordPress host?Even though you can freely create a website with WordPress at no cost, hosting is a completely different domain. The 'host' is basically a server that keeps your website live on the internet and makes it available to the public. To get a unique website address (domain name) for your website, you will need a host.Technically, do you absolutely need a host? No. You can simply create a website on WordPress and publish it with the ".wordpress.com" domain. However, this does not give your business the unique identity it deserves. Furthermore, it is not optimal for attracting customers or handling heavy-duty traffic on your website.So, while hosting costs, it certainly has some upsides. First and foremost, you can choose a unique domain name that creates a unique identity for your business. Secondly, even though hosting costs, it does not have to be expensive. You can pay less than what you pay for your monthly mobile data pack, and still get a quality host for your website. And third, it can handle heavy-duty traffic loads and ensures that your website stays up all the time.Also, this may be optional, but depending on your hosting package, you may also get a website maintenance service from your host provider.What determines the price of a hosting service in India?When it comes to prices, there are many determiners. While you may find a hosting option as cheap as paying 50-150rs per month, you may have to consider some options first.There are two types of WordPress hosting. One that uses a shared hosting server to host your website. This means your website will be hosted on a server other websites are hosted on. Think of this as renting an apartment with other tenants. The other one is dedicated hosting, where you get to keep the server and its resources for your website only. Of course, this is a relatively more expensive option than shared hosting.Secondly, the operating system. Hosts tend to use Windows or Linux as their operating system. Since Windows is paid software, hosting on a Windows OS server tends to get a bit more expensive. However, many experts in the industry proclaim that using Linux may be more viable for your website than Windows itself as it is open-source, free, and flexible.And third, the hardware itself. The cheaper hosting options will get you less storage space for your website, and less website performance value—which may not be optimal if you wish to publish your website globally. More expensive packages tend to give better storage space and hardware resources allocated for your website.So, it is important to remember these factors before you consider a hosting package.What are the WordPress Hosting Solutions in India?WordPress hosting solutions can cost as little as ₹59 per month. Cheaper than you expected? But, it is also essential to get a quality host for your website, right?1. HostingerHostinger is a Lithuanian-based WordPress hosting solution that is popular in India. They have the best deals for all sorts of website hosting solutions in India, starting as cheap as ₹69. The least you can get from Hostinger is 50GB SSD storage space, a free domain name for 1 year, 100GB bandwidth, 2 databases, and 1 email account—all for one website.For more information, please consider visiting the website linked above.2. BigRockBigRock is an Indian-owned hosting company that provides world-class hosting solutions to Indian websites. With plans as cheap as ₹59/month, BigRock provides quite a lucrative hosting solution.  With dedicated and shared hosting options powered by Windows or Linux OS and top-of-the-line hardware resources, your website will run like butter in no time.Find more details regarding their hosting plans on their website.3. BlueHostBlueHost is another well-known hosting solutions brand across the world that is also well-known in India. With their data centres located in India itself, BlueHost actually makes an optimal high-quality hosting solution for Indian websites. With their shared hosting options starting from ₹169/month, BlueHost allocates high-quality hardware resources and technical support for their websites, even for the cheapest plan.For more details, please visit their website.ConclusionThere are a tremendous amount of WordPress hosts in India. In this article, we have chosen the top three options for WordPress hosting solutions in India. This is our personal opinion and has not been affected by any affiliation or sponsorship by any of the hosts mentioned above. We hope that you find this information useful.If you have any other suggestions to make on this article, feel free to connect with us.

Fri, 03-Feb-2023

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