Do American people use the word "common" frequently?

what's the best way to say: It's only my new look or It's just my new look?

essay of opinion Some newspaper are not respectful towards the government INTRODUCTION Many people claim that some newspapers have total disrespect for the government. Do you think this is true or it is just a way to express their ideas? Different reasons to disagree with these people's comments will be developed below. REASONS: Freedom of expression is a right in Argentina The newspaper doesn't show an inappropriate vocabulary in their articles The information is abstracted from properly sources COUNTER ARGUMENT: Being against the government damage the country's reputation REFUTATION: But sometimes it helps people to be aware about the reality they are living CONCLUSION: Argentina is a democratic country, therefore inhabitants have the right to have their own opinions although they don't agree with the government's actions and thoughts. Freedom of expression, an appropiate vocabulary and properly sources in which they base on, don't mean that news will show their ideas in a disrespectful way.

summary of a story : beginner's luck... I'll appreciate your corrections! :) This story is about James Milner who lands a job in his uncle's bank in London. He has no experience in working in banks so his first day at work is terrible. He was very nervous because he doesn’t know what to do and can’t understand the orders that several men tell him through a telephone headset, or even less the things he has to do at the computer. However, he lies and pretends to know about it. His only job was in a fast food restaurant in London where the only instructions he heard through the telephone headset were about food orders. James had always been an average boy; he had always passed his exams and went to university where he studied economics and commerce. He comes from a wealthy family and he had always felt the pressure of his father expectations that had pushed him to have a great career and job as businessman, an entrepreneur, an accountant or a politician but he didn’t really care. As time passes, James learns how to use the computer and how to do his new job that mostly consists of buying and selling things. At work, he meets Davy Peterson, his colleague that says beginner´s luck to him because he starts to become a successful person. Then his boss buys a bottle of champagne to celebrate James’ great work on the Singapore bank. They drink all the champagne with Davy and then they go to a bar and carry on drinking some more. James and Davy come back to the office to keep on working but James is so happy and tired that he can’t see what he is doing and start typing anything in the computer. The next day he decides to take a holiday for a few days and to travel so he calls to his boss to get permission. He travels to Thailand and relax. Two days later, he goes to a bar into a small town and buy the newspaper to read an article about the bank where he work, he hears some people talking about that bank that collapsed because somebody had made lots of mistakes, then he realized that he was the guilty. Immediately, he goes to a cash machine to take all his money and come back to the bar to ask for job as a barman. He says he has experience because he worked in a fast food restaurant in London. The owner of the bar offers him the job. Finally James changes his name to Fernando not to be recognized.

Is it okay Is it okay if I say: they are very alike..?

SUMMARY OF A STORY Hi! I need some help please! correct me If I made any mistake Christmas in Prague The story began in the year 1957 in Czechoslovakia. It was Christmas night and it snowed. A woman, called Linka, who was holding a six-month baby boy tried to go across the border between Czechoslovakia and Austria, but people from that country were not free to go to Austria. She and her baby were wearing a white coat and a white hat not to be recognized by the border guards. She was given some instructions by his husband Josef; she had to cross some fields but when she tried to do it, she was shot by a border guard that was driving up and down the road. She died, but the baby didn’t. In the second chapter, the story begins in the year 1995 when Josef is 68 years old. He was born in Prague, but he left his home city when he was a young man. He is an old man now, and he would like to see Prague again before he dies. But he is afraid. He still remembers another Christmas in Prague, many long years ago. He lives with his son, Jan and his daughter in law, Carol, in England. Carol is a harpist and she receives a letter from an orchestra in Czech Republic, that was written about a concert for Christmas. They needed a harpist. Then Carol asks Jan about the concert, she want to go with him and his father but they have a one problem, Josef never wants to go there. Finally he decides to go to Prague. Carol travelled to Prague on her own to ther first concert on December 20th because Jan was working until December 24th. She practiced playing harp in Prague and left the rehearsal room with Alan, one of the first violinists. She decided to go shoping to buy some presents for her husband and Josef. She got a book for Jan and a picture for his father. While she was walking, she saw a man across the street. That man was her husband, Jan. Then she shouted across the street. But Jan didn't hear her. She tried to run across the street but she was hit by a bus. She was taken to a hospital in Prague. Mr Rinaldi, the conductor of the orchestra came to see her at hospital and she told him that she saw her husband the day before but actually, her husband was in Oxford.

if you say: Unfortunately, nobody is at home next weekend. the verb "is"is intensive and copulative? please help!! 2