Category: Books by Andrew D. Miles

Today I’m sharing a short version of “Speak & Write Better Business English”. It’s aimed at students who wish to improve their English. This preview has four chapters and lists several tips to help with your English: when to use question tags, techniques to improve your listening, how to simplify your conditional sentences, advice on…

Professional email communication is fundamental in business. Please consider the following guidelines: 1. Copy others Copy the tone of the people you are corresponding with.  For instance, if they use emojis, you can also do that. If you are in doubt, however, it’s always best to be formal rather than casual. 2. Make your point—and…

Record yourself reading your notes, going over main points or just repeating what you find hard to remember. Recording and listening to yourself helps you learn in two ways. Firstly, it makes you think about the pronunciation of a word or phrase before you say it; secondly, when you repeat something, it strengthens your memory. Recording…

Give English Time Learning English is a long process.  It can take up to six-hundred hours to reach the advanced stage. Therefore, embark on the journey only when you have enough time to cover at least one level.  There are no magical systems but if you study with a good method and teacher you will…

Better Business English: explain something is obligatory with “had better” Sentences with “had better” imply strong recommendations.  Use this structure when you want to sound forceful, or when something is almost mandatory. Examples “You had better finalise the project on time if you want to keep your job.” (Late finishing could lead to job loss.)…

Many listeners get lost when presentations are long, so it’s better to split your information into smaller, well-organised pieces. Imagine a guided tour that walks them through your ideas. To start with, decide on what you want your audience to remember. Those will become your main points. Then, plan how you will structure your speech:…

English is not difficult to learn if you try several approaches at the same time. In fact, different people learn in different ways so try several methods before you choose what suits you: watching TV shows; doing exercises in internet; speaking to foreign friends; playing online games; writing on social sites. Though not entirely chaotic,…

One way to make your English more professional (and clearer!) is to check whether you are using “for” and “of” too much. Scan your text for these prepositions and see if they can be replaced by more economical constructions. Examples This is a simple way to improve your writing, so apply it whenever you can!…

Watching the news is a great way to improve your listening. ✅ Clear accents: News anchors often have excellent diction, making it easier to understand spoken English. ✅ Easier to follow: We generally know the background on stories so can imagine what we don’t understand. ✅ Short & sweet: Most news are short, which allows…

We can suggest things with “should” (as in “You should paint your house green”) but what to do if we want to be stronger? “Ought to” is for obligations that are morally desirable or offer objective reasons. “Ought to” for moral obligations It transmits a moral duty, as when you refer to something that’s right…