English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (GAB)
Let’s get them differently
Well done/Well-done
Well done is an exclamation used to express congratulations or approval: This is a good one; well done!
Well-done (with the hyphen) is an adjective which is used to express that a meal, especially meat, is well prepared: I enjoyed the well-done rump steaks.
May be/ Maybe
“May be” (written separately) is a verb phrase which expresses possibility or probability: GAB may be working on a grammar textbook.
“Maybe” (written together) is an adverb used to express lack of certainty: Maybe GAB is working on a grammar textbook.
Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (GAB)
Academic Advisor, Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan;
&
Doctoral Student of English, University of Ibadan.
