The phrase “crash course” doesn’t mean something gets broken. It means something is intensive, like school or other types of training. For example, “I am taking a crash course in English.”, means the class is very intensive and probably is many hours per day for a short period of time like 1 month.

Popularity: 44%

Using if in sentences of comparison are easy, but non-native speakers often mistake the order of words. So let’s make this easy to understand. Look at this example:
If you make a reservation for a travel tour through a travel agency, it is cheaper than if you make a reservation for a travel tour by yourself.
First, look at the 3 parts of this sentence. They are:

1. If you make a reservation for a travel tour through a travel agency,
2. it is cheaper than
3. if you make a reservation for a travel tour by yourself.

Sentence fragment 1 contains the first comparison, which is a travel agency.
Sentence fragment 3 contains the second comparison, which is yourself.
Sentence 2 contains the comparitive word, which is cheaper.
Don’t forget that the comparative adjective uses the “~er” form followed by the word “than”. Like “…cheaper than, “.

Popularity: 66%

Using the word receptive can make your sentence sound more impressive. It means that their is interest in the idea but no acceptance.
In business, it can be used like this:

• Boss: So, how did the meeting with the client go?
• You: They’re receptive to the idea of allowing us to outsource our service to a third party.

In a business letter, you can use the word receptive to express your interest with no promise. For example,

We appreciate your time and effort in presenting your proposal to help us reduce manufacturing costs. The general concensus of the cost reduction team is receptive to continue our discussion about how to implement the program you suggested. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to schedule a time to hold this meeting.

Popularity: 46%

In today’s world, the word outlet brings thoughts of shopping, but it has two other meanings too. Here are all the meanings:

1. a place to plug in your electric applicance. It can also be anything you plug one thing into another. Example: Plug the computer into the wall receptacle.
2. a store or place where things are sold, or just a place to escape to. Example: Lets go to the outlet and enjoy a day of window shopping.
3. a way to relieve oneself such as an activity to release stress. Example: I practice Aikido to relieve my stress.

Popularity: 52%

This picture was taken on a Japan Railroad Chuo Line train. Unfortunately the company didn’t correctly use the word now with the word time. They display it as “Now Time” but they really meant “Current Time“. If they wanted to use the word now with the word time, they should have written “The time now is…”.

Popularity: 55%