Is it ok to say “but then”?

Yes, it is. We use it all the time in speech and in informal styles of writing. It has the same meaning as “but”. For example, when we say, “Tendulkar is a gifted batsman, but then, so is Dravid”, what we mean is that both Dravid and Tendulkar are gifted batsmen. Tendulkar is a gifted batsman, but so is Dravid.

Here is another example. “I would like to help you, but then my wife wouldn’t like it.” What you mean here is that you would like to help the individual, but you are not in a position to because your wife wouldn’t like it. Maybe, she will get angry — and no husband wants to make his “better half” angry!

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, October 4, 2004

Is the word “unwell” used only with pregnant ladies?

When a lady becomes pregnant, I don’t think people refer to her as being “unwell” — those days are gone. As for your question, the word “unwell” can be used with anyone — not just pregnant ladies.

*Jai began to feel unwell after his stroll in the park.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 27, 2004

When do we use the expression “if only”?

 You normally use the expression “if only” when you wish things were different. You don’t like the way things are now. “If only” means the same as “I wish”, but it is considered to be much stronger.

*If only I were a few inches taller. *If only Sehwag would stop purring in ads and start roaring on the field.

 The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 27, 2004

“deal with” and “deal in”

When you “deal in” something you are in the business of buying and selling things.

*The new shop around the corner deals in stolen goods.

When you “deal someone in”, you are permitting the individual to take part in something.

*No way! I don’t think we should deal Laya in.

When a book or an article “deals with” something, it is about a particular subject.

*The book deals with the spread of AIDS.

The expression can also be used to mean, “to manage someone or something”.

*There must be a way to deal with this problem. *Bala finds it difficult to deal with Ganesh.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 27, 2004

“cope up with” or “cope with”?

In India a lot of people say, “cope up with”. It is wrong to do so. Avoid the use of “up” after cope.

*Kasturi was unable to cope with the pressure. *How Om manages to cope with all the problems is beyond me.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 20, 2004

“Day scholar”

 In India, an individual who goes to school/college during the daytime, and returns home in the evening is called a “day scholar”. He is a person who doesn’t stay in the hostel. 

Native speakers of English do not use the term “day scholar”. Instead of using the term “day scholar”, native speakers would probably say something like, “He lives off campus”.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 13, 2004

“approve” and “approve of”

When an individual in power approves a decision, he allows the decision to be acted on.

*The committee decided not to approve the project for various reasons. *The members of the Board approved the decision to hike the fees.

When a person in authority approves something like a building, what he is saying is that he is satisfied with it and is giving his permission for it to be used. People can move into the building. Similarly, when the Health Ministry approves a drug, what it is saying is that it is satisfied with the product and is allowing it to be sold in the market.

*The United Nations did not approve the Iraq invasion.  

When you “approve of” an individual or a film, what you are saying is that you like the person/film very much.

*The minister approved of the new candidate.

Similarly, when you “approve of” something that is going to happen, you are happy or pleased that it is going to take place.

*We approve of the event taking place on the 13th.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 13, 2004

Which is correct? “To keep the wolf from/off the door”?

If you manage “to keep the wolf from the door”, you are earning enough money to survive — you have enough to eat.

*What Indu makes is barely enough to keep the wolf from the door. *Oh, don’t worry. This cheque will keep the wolf from the door.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 13, 2004

Is it OK to say, “The subscriber you are calling is switched off”?

People will understand what it means. When an individual “switches off” he stops paying attention; he stops listening.

*The lecture was so boring that many people switched off after five minutes. *Whenever I am with my aunt, I tend to switch off.

Your example suggests that the “subscriber” is not picking up the phone because he is not paying attention. But that is not the case here, is it? He is not picking up the phone because he has switched off the phone; as a result, he cannot hear the phone ring. It is not the subscriber that is switched off, but the phone. A better way of saying the same thing would be, “The subscriber that you are calling has switched off the phone”, or “The number that you are calling has been switched off.”

 The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, September 06, 2004

Is it okay to say, “The convict would be hung tomorrow”?

No, it isn’t. Careful users of the language would prefer the use of “hanged” rather than “hung”. The word “hung” is usually used with objects and not with human beings.

Here are a few examples. *Sarita hung her new coat on the doorknob. *The outlaw who had killed 12 people was hanged at noon.

Will be /would be

Secondly, in your example, you should say, “will be hanged” rather than “would be hanged”. The use of “would” suggests that the event may not take place. For example, if you say, “I would help you”, it implies that you want to help me, but for some reason you are not in a position to. “I would help you if I could. But I can’t”. The use of “would” suggests a condition. “I would marry you,” for example, implies that you would consider marrying the person if certain other conditions were met — perhaps if he/she had more money, or had been more handsome/beautiful! These conditions are not going to be met; therefore, you are not going to marry the person! Your sentence should be “The convict will be hanged tomorrow.”

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, August 30, 2004