Plain English

" About a year from now, Americans will go to the polls--and they're likely to get a rematch between sitting President Joe Biden and his immediate predecessor, Donald Trump. Though Biden won last time, he faces some serious challenges in his re-election effort. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be fou...

" Fernando Botero was Colombia's most famous artist--and his whimsical, rotund figures are famous around the world. By painting everything in exaggerated dimensions, he called attention to features and expressions. ""What I paint is volume,"" he said, in a nod to Italian and Greek artistic tradition. Botero died in September at age 91. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern wo...

" A bedbug infestation is spreading across Paris, even affecting the Métro, trains, hospitals and schools--according to social media. But many reported cases turn out not to be bedbugs at all. So what should a Parisian (or a traveler) think, as the Summer Olympics draw near? -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcri...

" ""Dynamic pricing"": it's when businesses constantly change the price of a product, based on the current demand. We're used to it when booking airline tickets, hotel rooms, or even Uber rides. But now an upscale chain of pubs in London will increase the price of a pint of beer by 20p, or 5%, when there's a surge of customers. Is that fair? -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the mod...

" It's time to take a look back and learn the latest on several topics we've talked about in Plain English recently, including ChatGPT, Netflix, Threads, Donald Trump's legal woes, and more. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/618 -- Learning English should be fun!...

" Diamond rings, bracelets, and earrings have a timeless beauty. They are in high demand, but they're expensive. But now a combination of forces may help bring prices down. The most surprising? New lab-grown diamonds can cost 80 percent less than a traditionally-mined stone. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcri...

" Scientists in Peru discovered fossils of an enormous whale, which lived about 37 million years ago. Based on the size and density of the fossils, they estimate that the whale weighed between 93 and 340 tons. But the surprising thing is that an animal that big existed when it did, and it's challenging our understanding of how whales evolved. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the mo...

" Child social media influencers--or 'kidfluencers'--can make big money online. But they do so in a legal grey area, where there are few or no rules about who get to keep the money. In addition, there are often no protections on how many hours child influencers work and whether they have any rights to privacy. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full Engli...

" The Spanish national team won the women's World Cup in Australia earlier this year. But the stunning victory was quickly overshadowed by a controversy. The head of the Spanish soccer federation kissed a player on the lips during the medal ceremony after the final game. And now the players are refusing to take the field until Spain makes changes. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for t...

" There are many similarities between Mexico and the U.S., but there are also some differences that become clear only after living in another place. Today, learn about some small differences in daily life between the two countries. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.co...

" The European Central Bank has identified seven possible design themes for the redesign of its paper bills. Now, European citizens have their say on which theme comes out on top. The themes include birds, rivers, values, hands, and portraits (among others), but all struggle to reflect the full diversity of Europe. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full...

" The euro paper currency is over 20 years old. Now, the European Central Bank has started the process of redesigning the banknotes. Many countries put monuments, famous leaders, or national symbols on their currency. But it's not easy to decide what to put on the money that serves 20 countries, each with its own history, monuments and culture. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the...

" ""Parmigiano Reggiano"" is a nutty, salty cheese with a 900-year history. Under European rules, only cheese made in a certain region in Italy, and only cheese made under strict rules, can call itself ""Parmigiano Reggiano."" But the cheese is easy to counterfeit. Now, Italian makers of Parmigiano Reggiano are fighting back, by implanting an edible tracking chip in the wheels of their products. -...

" Pedometers and health apps all recommend we take 10,000 steps a day. Most people fall far short of that number. But is there any magic to it? How many steps do you really need to stay healthy? New studies are providing more information, and busting the 10,000-step myth. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript,...

" Court cases often hinge on what words mean. But what happens when a dispute involves an emoji? To decide cases or rule on motions, judges often have to decide what a 👍 or a 💓 means. To make matters worse, there's no emoji dictionary and not everyone agrees on what each emoji means. 🤷 -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a...

" As the oil tanker FSO Safer deteriorated off the coast of Yemen, U.N. diplomats scrambled to get access to the vessel, and to raise the money for a rescue. Finally, a U.N. team completed the two-week transfer of oil from the rusting old tanker, averting a crisis. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be...

" The FSO Safer is an oil storage vessel, meant to store oil waiting to be shipped to the market. But when rebels took over the coast of Yemen, they held the ship hostage. That was in 2015. In the years since, nobody performed required maintenance and the ship has deteriorated, risking a spill or an explosion. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full Engli...

" Zoom, the teleconferencing company, promised a fully remote future. Employers (and especially employees) embraced the flexible, work-from-anywhere mindset. But a growing body of research suggests that remote work isn't as productive as office work. And employers (including Zoom) are starting to take notice. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full Englis...

" ""Fish and chips"" is the classic British comfort food: sold in to-go stands and fine dining restaurants alike, it's a combination of fried white fish and French fries (sprinkled with salt and lemon). It also works well in Jewish and Catholic diets. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: htt...

A "State Fair" is a huge statewide party featuring music, parties, food, games, rides, and more. What started as a way for farmers to show off their livestock and browse the latest farm technology has evolved into a statewide celebration of rural life. At the Iowa State Fair, a cow sculpture is made of butter. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full Engli...

" Minor league baseball is a staple of small-town American summers. They're the leagues just below the majors, where developing players try to prove themselves and make the major-league rosters. While there, they earn low wages, ride long bus rides, and play in front of small crowds. But the local residents get to sit up close and enjoy cheap family entertainment. -- At Plain English, we make Engl...

" We take a look at the flags of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Union Jack (Britain's flag) has heavy influence on the flags of Australia and New Zealand, and lends its colors to America's flag. But just wait until you hear the one we think is best. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English le...

" ""Barbie"" has grossed over $1 billion at the box office--not a bad debut for Mattel, a toymaker that had never made a feature film before. Now, Mattel has plans to release movies based on American Girl, Barney, Hot Wheels, and other well-known characters and brands (including Uno, the card game). -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson,...

" A thief drilled a hole into the roof of a California wine store and robbed hundreds of bottles of rare wines and liquors, in one of the biggest wine robberies in state history. The perpetrator, who was caught on camera but not identified, spent four hours in the shop before fleeing after an alarm went off. Plus, learn the English expression ""make off with."" -- At Plain English, we make English...

" Tony Bennett's career peaked before the age of rock-and-roll. When new stars burst onto the scene, it seemed like his style of music belonged to the past. But he reinvented his career and brought his authentic style to new generations. He became an ambassador of the older songs he grew up singing and formed a late-in-life artistic partnership with Lady Gaga. Plus, learn the English idiom ""fall...