My talk this morning for ESL teachers in Mexico, for MEXTESOL, is about usage. It's a topic that is rarely covered in ESL contexts.

For most of us, "usage" is about warning people: you may be judged for using a certain word a certain way--and that may distract or undermine your message.

Sometimes, "usage" is semantic--words mean slightly different things.

Some words are similar in meaning, but rarely used in the same way.

We describe usage in the dictionary.

This is not to be confused with "grammar," which is a system rather than word choice.

Let's get back to the warnings.

Some words are not appropriate in a given context.

There are two kinds of facts presented in a good dictionary entry:

1) linguistic facts (spelling, pronunciation, meaning, etymology)

2) cultural facts (or "usage"): appropriateness for context, region, time period, offensiveness, etc.

Often, when discussing "usage," we are not discussing grammar.

We are discussing taste.