In many countries, free speech is a fundamental or basic right. According to some people, this right is currently at risk. People are starting to believe that free speech is in danger.
Today I want to look in more depth at this topic. What is the biggest threat to free speech at the moment? Is it censorship? Or is it misinformation?
In order to talk about free speech, and many other topics, we need to understand and know how to use paired conjunctions.
Paired conjunctions are very useful. They allow us to connect words, phrases, or ideas together, and are always used in pairs.
Let’s practice using paired conjunctions and discuss free speech in today’s episode of Thinking in English Grammar!
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Grammar Lesson
Conjunctions are joining words that help us build more complex and interesting sentences. They join parts of sentences together.
This episode is looking at a type of conjunction known as paired conjunctions. Paired conjunctions (sometimes called correlative conjunctions) are two-part conjunctions that work together to connect words or ideas.
They are always used in pairs, and they help show the relationship between equal parts of a sentence (words, phrases, or clauses).
There are many different paired conjunctions in English. This episode will look at five of the most important, useful, and interesting.
- Both … and
- Either … or
- Neither … nor
- Not only … but also
- Whether … or
Let’s look at each of these closely with examples.
1. Both … and
Used to show that two things are true or included.
- She speaks both English and Spanish.
- Both Tom and Jerry are funny.
- We visited both Paris and Rome.
Grammar Tip: Use the same structure after both parts.
2. Either … or
Used to show a choice between two possibilities.
- You can either stay here or come with us.
- Either my brother or my sister will pick you up.
- I’ll have either tea or coffee.
If the two nouns are different (one singular, one plural), the verb agrees with the closest subject:
- Either the students or the teacher is responsible.
- Either the teacher or the students are responsible.
3. Neither … nor
Used to show that two things are not true or not included (negative form of “either…or”).
- Neither John nor his brother came to the party.
- She likes neither cats nor dogs.
- Neither the food nor the service was good.
This structure makes the whole sentence negative, so don’t add “not” again.
4. Not only … but also
Used to show surprise or emphasis; it adds something extra or unexpected.
- She is not only a great teacher but also a talented musician.
- They visited not only the museum but also the castle.
- Not only did he pass the exam, but he also got the highest score.
This is often used in formal or written English. In some cases, it causes inversion (the verb comes before the subject):
- Not only did she win the race, but she also broke the record.
5. Whether … or
Used to show two possibilities, especially when you’re unsure which one will happen or is true.
- I don’t know whether he’ll come or stay home.
- She’s going to the party, whether you like it or not.
- We’ll go hiking whether it rains or not.
Often used in more uncertain or conditional situations.
What is Free Speech?
[00:06:00] Free speech is the idea that people should be able to express their thoughts, opinions, and beliefs, both publicly and privately without fear of punishment.
It protects both popular views and unpopular or controversial ones,because a truly free society should allow space for disagreement and debate.
A strong system of free speech doesn’t mean you can sayeither anything you want or anywhere you want without consequences.
Instead, it means that the government usually cannot punish you for expressing your views so long as they don’t directly harm others.
Free speech also protects the listener. You have the right to either speak your mind or stay silent. And [00:07:00] others have the right to either agree or disagree with what you say.
However, free speech isn’t always unlimited. Neither hate speech nor direct encouragement of violence is protected in most legal systems. And neither spreading dangerous lies, nor encouraging illegal actions falls under the protection of free speech in most democratic countries.
Free speech is not only about protecting individual expression, but also about maintaining a healthy society. When people can share ideas openly, not only do we get more innovation, but also we might become better protected from extremism and misinformation.
Free speech exists to protect expression, whether it’s popular or [00:08:00] unpopular. Free speech allows people to challenge their leaders, share unpopular opinions and question authority.
Threats to Free Speech?
Yet in today’s world, this right faces serious threats.
These threats are not just from one direction, but from both censorship and misinformation. Although very different, both censorship and misinformation shape what we hear, see, and believe, and both can be dangerous if left unchecked.
“Censorship” is the control or suppression of speech information or ideas by governments, media companies, or other authorities. The reason is often to limit criticism or maintain power.
“Misinformation” is false or misleading information that [00:09:00] is spread, often causing confusion, misunderstanding or harm.
Censorship is often criticized by free speech supporters.
Many governments argue that some form of censorship, for example limiting harmful or false information, is necessary for public safety. They claim that either we regulate speech online or we risk chaos and confusion.
Some governments even propose laws to remove fake news and hate speech from social media, while others push for tighter control over what can be published.
But when these rules are vague or overly broad, they often silence critical voices. Not only do they target dangerous lies, but also critical journalism, satire and [00:10:00] dissent.
This is why critics warn that censorship is often a slippery slope. In English, a slippery slope is a course of action likely to lead to something bad.
In authoritarian states with full censorship, neither honest opinions nor independent media are tolerated.
News is often filtered. Political opponents are silenced, and even mild criticism can result in arrest. In such environments, citizens cannot make informed decisions because they are denied access to the full truth.
They’re forced to accept what the government allows them to hear, whether it’s honest or not.
However, it would be naive to suggest that censorship is the only threat. In open democracies, not only are people allowed to speak [00:11:00] freely, but also false information spreads more easily than ever before.
Social media platforms have created an environment where either anyone can be a source of truth or anyone can be a source of lies.
The same tools and platforms that help activists organize protests can also be used to spread conspiracy theories, manipulate elections, and undermine science.
The challenge is that both censorship and misinformation can lead to the same result. A public that lacks trust facts and the ability to reason clearly.
Whether the truth is hidden by force or by lies, the consequences are similar. Confusion, anger, and fear.
People begin to live in separate worlds. In these worlds, which are based on your social media [00:12:00] use or a newspaper you read, neither shared facts, nor common values exist.
When governments censor certain topics, they create an information vacuum. An information vacuum is where there is no official information about a topic. In that vacuum misinformation thrives.
People no longer trust official sources, so they turn to anonymous accounts, fringe websites, or influencers who may either have no expertise or no intention to tell the truth. Not only does this weaken public debate, but also it damages faith in democracy itself.
Take for example, the COVID-19 pandemic. During the crisis, both governments and private companies struggled to control the flow [00:13:00] of information. Some leaders downplayed the danger, others silenced whistleblowers.
Meanwhile, misinformation about vaccines, treatments, and the origins of the virus spread rapidly. Many people were caught between conflicting and different messages, unsure of whether to trust science or speculation.
In this confusion, neither public health efforts nor personal freedoms were well protected.
How to Protect Free Speech?
So, how do we defend free speech? Should we prioritize open conversations, even if it allows lies to spread? Or should we regulate speech to protect truth, even if it limits freedom?
I don’t think the answer is simple.
Not only do we need clear laws, but also better education. [00:14:00] This is so people can recognize manipulation when they see it. We must build a culture where both critical thinking and empathy are important.
It is not a matter of either protecting people or protecting speech. I’m sure we can do both. It shouldn’t be a debate over whether to regulate platforms or let them do what they want. We need smart policies that recognize the challenges of the digital age. Neither extreme censorship nor complete inaction will work.
At the same time, tech companies must accept their role. Platforms like Facebook or X and YouTube are no longer neutral spaces.
Their algorithms decide not only what we see, but also what we believe is true. If they allow [00:15:00] harmful content to flourish, they have some responsibility, whether they admit it or not.
Giving too much power to these corporations risks a form of private censorship that is neither democratic nor accountable.
Defending free speech today means understanding its enemies. It means recognizing that both censorship and misinformation weaken society.
Free speech doesn’t guarantee a perfect world. People will still lie or disagree,but without it, neither justice nor progress is possible.
Final Thought
So here is today’s final thought. Today I’ve introduced you all to some important paired conjunctions in English: Both … and; Either … or; Neither … nor; Not only … but also; Whether … or.
After explaining how to use these paired conjunctions, I tried to demonstrate the grammar through a discussion of free speech, censorship, and misinformation.
Now, you have listened to this episode and this grammar lesson. Let’s practice your English.
Why not answer the following questions in the comments on Spotify or on my blog or on YouTube? Use the grammar you’ve learned today.
“Both censorship and misinformation are threats to free speech.” Do you agree?
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