IDiction Explorer Academy

Answer: B - "I left my umbrella in the office." ✅

It's incorrect to say "I forgot my umbrella in the office." ❌

English loves to be sneaky like that, making a distinction between the action of the mind (forgetting) and the physical location of the object (leaving).

📌 Most English learners think it is correct to say "I forgot it at home" because they believe we can only use 'leave' for deliberate actions.

Example: We left the dog at home when we were travelling to Canada. (Deliberate action)

📌 In English, we also use 'leave' when we mention the place where something was forgotten.

Example:
✅ I left it at home.
✅ I left my umbrella in the office.

📝 Here is a quick way to think about it that usually helps it stick:

📌 "Forgetting" happens entirely in your mind; it means a memory is simply gone, with no trace of where it went.

Example 👇🏻
✅ I’ve forgotten my keys.

📌 "Leave" requires a specific location. If you just say, "Leave your keys," the listener is left wondering, "Where?" You have to complete the phrase by adding the destination: "Leave your keys on the table."

Example sentences 👇

❌ I forgot my homework at home.
✅ I left my homework at home.
✅ I forgot my homework.

❌ Mary forgot her keys on the desk.
✅ Mary left her keys on the desk.
✅ Mary forgot her keys.

❌ I’m always forgetting my phone in the car.
✅ I’m always leaving my phone in the car.
✅ I'm always forgetting my phone.

🤔 Did you know this before today?

To everyone who got the quiz right, here's your crown. 👑

Thank you all for engaging. 🥰

Stop scrolling! 🛑

Quick test! 🧠

Let’s settle a quick debate before you move on.
Look at the image below. It’s a classic English trap that catches so many smart professionals off guard.

Are you 100% confident in your choice?

Most people guess wrong on this one because the incorrect version is used so often in daily conversations.

Let’s test your diction and grammar skills.

👉 Drop A or B in the comments! Let's see who takes the crown today. 👑

Stop pronouncing 'flour' like 'floor' ❌

"Wait... did you just say 'floor'?" 🧐

Many English learners say 'floor' /flɔːr/, but the correct pronunciation of 'flour' is:
✅ 'flower' /flaʊə(r)/ 🌻

Yes! 🌸

'Flour' and 'flower' sound the same in English. They are homophones.

📌 Now read these sentences pronouncing 'flour' correctly 👇🏻

• I bought flour for baking.

• The baker stored the flour in large, airtight containers to keep it fresh.

Remember, flour = flower👌🏼

Different meanings… same pronunciation. 😉

Can you think of other English words that sound the same but have different meanings? 🤔

Stop saying: “What is the last price?” ❌

The expression "What is the last price?" is common in Nigeria, but it sounds unnatural in standard English. 👀

Instead, say: "What’s your best price?" ✅

"Best price" refers to the most favourable deal. For a buyer, that’s the lowest price; for a seller, it’s the highest offer.

Examples:

✔️ What’s your best price for these white sneakers?

✔️ I’ll sell the car to the buyer who offers the best price.

Other alternatives:

✔️ "What’s the lowest you can go?"

✔️ "Is the price negotiable?"

✔️ "What’s the lowest you’ll take?"

Small correction. Big difference. 😉

Can you fix this sentence? 👇🏻

"I asked him to tell me the last price for the blue dress."

✨ Many people confuse unaware and unawares.

These two words are NOT used the same way.

📌 Unaware = not knowing something.
(It’s an adjective)

Examples:

✔️ She was unaware of the meeting.
✔️ I was unaware that today is a public holiday.

📌 Unawares = by surprise/unexpectedly
(It’s an adverb)

Examples:

✔️ He was caught unawares by the question.
✔️ ️ The sudden downpour caught us unawares, and we were soaked within seconds.

Don't say: “She was caught unaware.” ❌

Say: "She was caught unawares.” ✅

🧠 Quick memory trick:

👉 Unaware = “does not know”

👉 Unawares = “by surprise”

YOUR TURN 👇🏻

[Fill in the blanks]

"The news of the company's merger took the employees _______.”

A. unaware

B. unawares

Stop Saying: "I will flash you."

If you’re in Nigeria, you probably mean: "I’ll give you a quick call and hang up so you can call me back."

But here’s the problem… 👇

💥 'Flash' in standard English does NOT mean that.

If you say you will flash someone, it means you want to show your se*x*ual organs to someone in public. 😅

Yikes! That sounds illegal, right? 😂

If you want to tell someone you’re going to call them and hang up quickly to get their attention without using their minutes or credit, here are the best ways to say it 👇🏻

✅ I’ll give you a missed call. (Most common internationally)

✅ I’ll call you briefly.

✅ I’ll ring you and hang up.

✅ I'll call and hang up so you have my number.

✅ I'll give you a quick ring.

✅ I’ll beep you or I'll buzz you. (slang)

Remember this as a smart communicator 👇🏻

Not every local expression travels well globally. If you’re speaking to an international audience, always go for clear, neutral English.

Now tell me, which of these alternatives would you prefer to use in your conversation? 🤔

Cast - Cast ✅
Burst - Burst ✅
Quit - Quit ✅
Split - ???

'SWORD' is one of the most commonly mispronounced words in English language.

Which of these is the correct pronunciation?

Choose A or B.

A. /sɔːd/

B. /swɔːd/

"She passed in flying colours." ❌

Stop saying this! It's not correct.

You should rather say: "She passed with flying colours." ✅

If you're going to use an idiom, use it right.

The expression 'with flying colours' is an idiom, and idioms don’t follow your usual grammar rules. You can’t tweak them however you like.

It means to succeed brilliantly or do something very well, especially in exams or challenges.

💡 Think of it this way:

You don’t pass inside success…
You pass with it. 😉

Example Sentences 👇🏻

✔️ She passed the test with flying colours.

✔️ He completed the interview with flying colours.

Good English isn’t about saying what probably sounds correct; it’s about being correct.

🔥 LET’S INTERACT

Be honest: Have you ever said 'in flying colours'? 😅
No judgment here!

Challenge:
Write this sentence correctly in the comments:

"They defended their project in flying colours."

Mind if I quiz you? 😀

Choose one word often used with all of these 👇

📌 a dazed ____

📌 an innocent ____

📌 somebody's facial ____

📌 a grim/stern ____

A. explosion B equipment C. expression

Drop your answer in the comments! 👇

I'll be checking in to see who is a grammar genius.

"If a child can read well, neat handwriting is NOT important." 🗣️

I saw this comment today and I had to take a deep breath. 😅

Is handwriting becoming a "lost art" in this digital age, or is it still a vital skill for brain development and discipline? 🧠✍️

I have my thoughts... but I want to hear yours first!

TEAM A: Neat handwriting is a MUST.

TEAM B: As long as it's legible, who cares?

Drop your team below! 👇