CORRECTIONS AND EXPLANATIONS

WORD OF THE DAY REVIEWED
Define and use the words in sentences.

The word for Saturday is execrate.
Execrate (v) means to abhor, to detest utterly.
I execrate writing exams.
Her execration (n) of her ex was beyond belief.
His cruel behaviour to his pet was execrable (adj.).

The word for Friday is erudition.
Erudition (n)means scholarliness or learning.
The professor’s erudition shone forth in his address to the students.
Her erudite (adj.) discussion of Beowulf was phenomenal.

The word for Thursday is dirge.
Dirge (n) means a funeral song or one expressing mourning.
The Dies Irae sung at the man’s funeral was one of the most forlorn pieces of music I had ever heard.

The word for Wednesday is licentious.
Licentious (adj.) means sensually unbridled or lewd.
His licentious comments about the girl’s body were vicious and unwelcome.

The word for Tuesday is sagacious.
Sagacious (adj.) means having acute mental awareness, being shrewd or wise.
The grandmother solved the crisis with her unerring knowledge of human relationships.
Solomon’s sagacity about human love saved two lives.

The word for Monday is ubiquitous.
Ubiquitous (adj.) means omnipresent or being everywhere at the same time.
The low voter turnout was reflected in the ubiquitous malaise of the electorate.

TERRIBLE TOP TEN REVIEWED
A List of Very Annoying Language Misuses

NUMBER 1
Hey yous guys, yesterday me and John seen that kid hit the old ball so hard that he knocked the cover off of it, irregardless, I couldn't hardly believe he still smashed it further than anybody else.
Yesterday, John and I saw that kid hit the old ball so hard that he knocked the cover off it; regardless, I could hardly believe he still smashed it farther than anybody else.
I abhor the term”Hey” almost as much as I detest “get” and “guys”.
“Yous” is not a word.
“John and I saw” must be used because “me” cannot be the subject and the other person is always mentioned first. “Seen” in this context, is an abomination.
“Off of” consists of two prepositions and cannot be used together.
The comma after “it” is incorrect punctuation which creates a run-on sentence.
“Irregardless” is not an acceptable word and must not be used.
“Could hardly believe” is a double negative and is unacceptable.
“Further” does not mean distance and cannot be used here.



NUMBER 2
"Thanks to Borders for inviting my mother and myself for a book signing."
"Thanks to Borders for inviting my mother and me for a book signing."
Myself is reflexive and cannot be used as the subject of a sentence.

NUMBER 3
"You will start to see less workers."
"You will start to see fewer workers."
Less is used to imply amount and is applied to material in bulk. Fewer is used only to number.

NUMBER 4
He practiced and learned to throw the javelin further and further.
He practiced and learned to throw the javelin farther and farther.
Farther means distance. Further means in addition to, or to move a work forward.

NUMBER 5
Usually, I lay on my right side.
Usually, I lie on my right side.
Lie is intransitive and does not take an object. I lay something down. I lie down to rest.

The following were corrected last week.
NUMBER 6
The child was not paying attention and fell off of the swing.
The child was not paying attention and fell off the swing.
NUMBER 7
"The fact that she's a young person makes it that much more unique."
"The fact that she's a young person makes it unique."
NUMBER 8
I am going to run across that busy street irregardless of the consequences.
I am going to run across that busy street regardless of the consequences.
NUMBER 9
I am extremely flattered; I don't hardly know what to say.
I am extremely flattered; I hardly know what to say.
NUMBER 10
Yous are going to think this is hilarious, but it is really pathetic.
You are going to think this is hilarious, but it is really pathetic.

BONUS - DISGUSTING CONSTRUCTION OF THE WEEK
"The little girl went missing last night and the police are seeking the public's help in finding her."
"The little girl disappeared last night and the police are seeking the public's help in finding her."
Things and people do not “go” missing; they disappear; they leave. People go to the store. Missing cannot be used in this context.