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		<title>Taboo or innocent?</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:33:32 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>A word in one language may be quite innocent but in another language it has an offensive meaning or may even be a taboo word. It is not difficult to find such words in English and Swedish. They are usually about sexuality or body functions. Fart is such a word. Fart in English is what [&#8230;]</p>
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<p>A word in one language may be quite innocent but in another language it has an offensive meaning or may even be a taboo word. It is not difficult to find such words in English and Swedish. They are usually about sexuality or body functions. <strong>Fart</strong> is such a word.</p>



<p><strong>Fart</strong> in English is what you do when you<em> let out gas</em> through your anus or the sound of that action. A nicer way to express this is to say<em> break wind</em>, which is what Old English <strong>feortan</strong> meant. The corresponding Swedish verb is <strong>fisa</strong> or <strong>prutta</strong>.</p>



<p><strong>Fart</strong> in Swedish comes from Low German <strong>faren</strong>, <em>to travel</em>.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20230926__DSC4609.jpg" alt="Traffic sign with the image of a lorry and the Swedish word Infart (Entrance)." class="wp-image-2693" width="406" height="304" srcset="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20230926__DSC4609.jpg 900w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20230926__DSC4609-300x225.jpg 300w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20230926__DSC4609-768x576.jpg 768w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20230926__DSC4609-676x507.jpg 676w" sizes="(max-width: 406px) 100vw, 406px" /><figcaption>One type of fart</figcaption></figure></div>



<p>In Swedish, <strong>fart</strong> means <em>speed,</em> <em>velocity, </em>or<em> movement</em>. Not surprisingly, traffic signs including the word are popular objects for English-speaking tourists taking photos. <strong>Infart</strong> means <em>entrance</em> and <strong>utfart</strong> <em>exit</em> from property premises.  <strong>Farthållare</strong> is Swedish for <em>cruise control</em>, <strong>fartkamera</strong> is <em>speed camera</em>, and <strong>maxfart</strong> is<em> top speed</em>. If you are <strong>fartblind</strong>, <em>speed blind</em>, you don’t realize that you are driving too fast—you have got used to the high speed. Then you may be considered a <strong>fartdåre</strong>, <em>a speed maniac</em> or a <strong>fartsyndare</strong>, literally <em>‘a speed sinner’, a speeder</em>.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-medium is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20090515-_DSC4983-199x300.jpg" alt="Traffic sign with 'walking pace' in Swedish." class="wp-image-2694" width="324" height="488" srcset="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20090515-_DSC4983-199x300.jpg 199w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20090515-_DSC4983-680x1024.jpg 680w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20090515-_DSC4983-676x1018.jpg 676w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20090515-_DSC4983.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px" /><figcaption>Walking pace</figcaption></figure></div>



<p>Elevators in Denmark often have a sign saying <strong>I fart</strong> meaning <em>under way</em>. An anecdote says that, during a visit by Queen Elizabeth II, somebody realized just in time what the sign meant in English, and it was rapidly covered up.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-medium is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20191012-_DSC5681-300x200.jpg" alt="Traffic sign showing a snail and with the text 'at a snail's pace' in Swedish." class="wp-image-2695" width="418" height="279" srcset="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20191012-_DSC5681-300x200.jpg 300w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20191012-_DSC5681-768x512.jpg 768w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20191012-_DSC5681-676x451.jpg 676w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20191012-_DSC5681.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 418px) 100vw, 418px" /><figcaption>At a snail&#8217;s pace</figcaption></figure></div>



<p><strong>Fart</strong> is a typical example of a <strong>false friend</strong>. False friends are words in two languages that look and/or sound similar but whose meanings are completely or partially different. See some more English–Swedish false friends <a href="https://copyeditor.se/same-but-different/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> and examples from a few languages <a href="https://copyeditor.se/what-are-false-friends/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. You can read about more than 400 English–Swedish false friends in my book (<a href="http://copyeditor.se/books" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">copyeditor.se/books</a>).</p>



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		<title>Minute also means very small</title>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2025 06:46:00 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>The English word minute is both a noun and an adjective. As a noun, minute is pronounced /ˈmɪnɪt/. A minute is a period of time, sixty seconds or one sixtieth of an hour.They were twenty minutes late. Minute can also refer to a distance, how far you can walk or drive in a minute.Our house [&#8230;]</p>
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<p>The English word <strong>minute</strong> is both a noun and an adjective.</p>



<p>As a noun, minute is pronounced <strong>/ˈmɪnɪt/</strong>.</p>



<p>A minute is a period of time, sixty seconds or one sixtieth of an hour.<br>They were twenty minutes late.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20100630-_DSC8637-Redigera.jpg" alt="A woman and her son in a railway station. A clock above them shows nine minutes past ten. The word minute is a measure of time, but it can also mean very small." class="wp-image-2609" width="401" height="634" srcset="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20100630-_DSC8637-Redigera.jpg 600w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20100630-_DSC8637-Redigera-190x300.jpg 190w" sizes="(max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /><figcaption>The train leaves in one minute.</figcaption></figure></div>



<p><strong>Minute</strong> can also refer to a distance, how far you can walk or drive in a minute.<br>Our house is just ten minutes from the bus stop.</p>



<p><strong>Minute</strong> also indicates a very short time.<br>Sit down, please; I’ll be with you in a minute.</p>



<p>In geometry, <strong>minute</strong> is a sixtieth of a degree of an angle.</p>



<p>The noun <strong>minute</strong> comes from Medieval Latin <strong>pars minuta prima</strong>, <em>first small part</em>, from <strong>minutus</strong>, <em>made small</em>. (Second comes from <strong>pars minuta secunda</strong>, <em>second small part.</em>) </p>



<p>The plural noun <strong>minutes</strong> refers to a record of the proceedings of a meeting. It comes via French <strong>minute</strong> from Latin <strong>scriptura minuta</strong>,<em> small writing</em>.<br>The secretary read the minutes from the last meeting.</p>



<p>The adjective <strong>minute</strong>, pronounced <strong>/mʌɪˈnjuːt/</strong>, means extremely small. Just like the noun, it comes from Latin <strong>minutus</strong>, <em>made small</em>.<br>With such a high resolution, minute details could be studied in the image.</p>
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		<title>Technique and technology</title>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:08:32 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>The words technique and technology are related to each other, but it is important to understand the difference between them. TECHNIQUE Technique refers to how you carry out a particular task, an efficient way of achieving something or the skill needed to do so. In order to swim fast, for example, you need a good [&#8230;]</p>
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<p>The words <strong>technique</strong> and <strong>technology</strong> are related to each other, but it is important to understand the difference between them.</p>



<p><strong>TECHNIQUE</strong></p>



<p><strong>Technique</strong> refers to how you carry out a particular task, an efficient way of achieving something or the skill needed to do so. In order to swim fast, for example, you need a good technique. The corresponding adjective is <strong>technical</strong>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="700" height="467" src="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20230809__DSC3718-Redigera-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2319" srcset="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20230809__DSC3718-Redigera-1.jpg 700w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20230809__DSC3718-Redigera-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20230809__DSC3718-Redigera-1-676x451.jpg 676w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption>Technique</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>TECHNOLOGY</strong></p>



<p><strong>Technology</strong> is applied science, the use of scientific knowledge and methods to accomplish a task. Technology is used to improve products and services. The corresponding adjective is <strong>technological</strong>.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20081001-_DSC0884-Redigera-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2317" width="289" height="432" srcset="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20081001-_DSC0884-Redigera-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20081001-_DSC0884-Redigera-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 289px) 100vw, 289px" /><figcaption>Technology</figcaption></figure></div>



<p>To sum up, <strong>technology</strong> gives us the tools and <strong>technique</strong> determines how the tools are used.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://copyeditor.se/technique-and-technology/">Technique and technology</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://copyeditor.se">copyeditor.se</a>.</p>
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		<title>Dictionaries of collocations</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 04 Feb 2019 11:22:15 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>A collocation is a combination of words that is natural to native speakers. In English the combination fast food is natural; *quick food does not sound right. In the same way, we say a quick meal and not *a fast meal (for the use of the asterisk, read at the end of this text). There are [&#8230;]</p>
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<p>A collocation is a combination of words that is natural to native speakers. In English the combination <strong>fast food</strong> is natural; *<strong>quick food</strong> does not sound right. In the same way, we say <strong>a quick mea</strong>l and not *<strong>a fast meal</strong> (for the use of the asterisk, read at the end of <a href="http://copyeditor.se/good-and-bad-english/">this text</a>).</p>



<p>There are many possible types of collocations, such as noun + verb, verb + noun, verb + adverb, adjective + noun etc.</p>



<p>Some examples:<br>
A broad overview (adjective + noun)<br>
Carefully examine (adverb + verb)<br>
A wedding reception (noun + noun)<br>
The companies merged (noun + verb)<br>
Fully aware (adverb + adjective)<br>
Whisper softly (verb + adverb)</p>



<p>Many collocations are combined with verbs:<br> We say <strong>make a mistake</strong> and <strong>do business</strong>, not *<strong>do a mistake</strong> and *<strong>make business</strong>.</p>



<p>Here are some examples of other collocations with verbs:</p>



<p>Take a look, take notes, take a seat<br>
Keep calm, keep in touch, keep a promise<br>
Get ready, get lost, get the message<br>
Come back, come into view, come to a decision<br>
Go swimming, go abroad, go bankrupt<br>
Catch a bus, catch a cold, catch fire<br>
Run a factory, run wild, run up a debt<br>
Set up an agency, set an example, set the table<br>
Launch a product, launch an offensive, launch into an attack<br>
Pay attention, pay tribute, pay a visit<br>
Break the ice, break into tears, break even<br>
Have lunch, have a rest, have a surprise</p>



<p>Some printed dictionaries of collocations:</p>



<p><em>Cambridge English Collocations in Use<br> Longman Collocations Dictionary and Thesaurus<br> LTP Dictionary of Selected Collocations<br> Macmillan Collocations Dictionary<br> Oxford Collocations Dictionary<br> The BBI Combinatory Dictionary of English</em></p>



<p>You can get these from your bookshop or, e.g., <a rel="no opener noopener noreferrer" href="http://amazon.com/" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a rel="no opener noopener noreferrer" href="http://bokus.com/" target="_blank">Bokus</a> or <a rel="no opener noopener noreferrer" href="http://adlibris.com/" target="_blank">Adlibris.</a> </p>



<p>Online you can find these:</p>



<p><a href="http://freecollocation.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">freecollocation.com</a><br><a href="http://ozdic.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ozdic.com</a><br><a href="http://wordreference.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wordreference.com</a><br><a href="http://sketchengine.eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sketchengine.eu</a></p>



<p>The following is an entry in <em>Oxford Collocations Dictionary.&nbsp;</em>It shows you what adjectives, verbs and nouns go with the word <strong>production</strong> and gives examples of phrases.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" width="500" height="608" src="http://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/production_Oxford-collocations.jpg" alt="The entry for the word production in Oxford Collocations Dictionary" class="wp-image-508" srcset="https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/production_Oxford-collocations.jpg 500w, https://copyeditor.se/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/production_Oxford-collocations-247x300.jpg 247w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /></figure></div>



<p>When you are not sure of which words go well together, check a collocations dictionary. It will help you write more accurate English and it will help you vary your language.</p>



<p>You can find a comparison between different types of dictionaries <a href="http://copyeditor.se/dictionaries-of-words-synonyms-and-collocations-a-comparison/">here</a>.</p>
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