'SEVERAL' Vs. 'A FEW'

Is there any difference between 'several' and 'a few'?
Both are used for countable nouns that are more than one, but not a lot.
In Malay, the meaning is similar to 'beberapa/sebilangan'.

Try to fill in these blanks with either 'several' or 'a few'
1)  Penny bought ___________ pairs of shoes.
2)  It took ____________ days for the flood in Kelantan to recede.

(*answer: (1) a few  (2) several)

So, what's the difference?
Even though they carry the same meaning, but from my understanding and knowledge, 'a few' is  'not a lot'. 'Several' is also 'not a lot' but 'quite a lot'.

Hope you understand what I mean. :)

'EVIDENT' Vs. 'EVIDENCE'

It is wrong to say; "I have an evident"
because 'evident' is an adjective.
So, 'evidence' (noun) should be used here.

However, it is wrong to say; "I have an evidence" too
because 'evidence' is an uncountable noun.

So, you should say;
"I have the evidence." or "I have a piece of evidence."

*Don't ever use "I have evidences" because you cannot add 's' to an uncountable noun!

'as follows' should always be 'as follows'...

and not 'as follow', whether the subject is singular or plural.

For example: (not "for examples")

The diagram is as follows: (CORRECT)
The diagrams are as follow: (WRONG)
The diagrams are as follows: (CORRECT)

Pronouncing 'POLICE' in English

Please be careful when pronouncing 'police'.

In English, it's pronounced as /pəˈlis/ not 'po-lis' (as in Malay language)

DATE FORMAT IN ESSAY WRITING

1) ...4 November 1982...
2) ...the 4^th of November, 1982...

3) November 4, 1982...

The following date formats are not acceptable in written essay.
4/11/1982
04-11-1982

to 'scrap off' or to 'scrap out' things??

Actually, it is 'scrap' without 'off' or 'out' as 'scrap' is a verb not a phrasal verb.

So, just scrap that understanding in your mind.

"NOT TO" or "TO NOT"?

reason not to...or reason to not?

I'd say that it supposed to be 'reason not to'

e.g. There must be a reason for them not to speak English.

Other similar example:
There must a reason for not doing it.

However, there is a slight change in meaning between 'not to' and 'to not'

1) They forced me not to do it

(I was going to do it but they forced me to give up the idea)

2) They forced me to not do it

(I was doing it but they stopped me forcibly)

P/S: But I have never come across any book or statement that explains about this. DO COMMENT IF YOU FIND ANY. THANKS.