PONDER THIS
We got it for free.
Is it correct? Why? Why not?
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is gratuitous.
Define it. Use it in a sentence. How many other forms of the word can you identify?
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Friday, May 4, 2007
FRIDAY FOLLIES
FROM A PROFESSIONAL(?) WRITER
Padraig Harrington...wasn't satisfied with hardly anything but his score."
"Harrington leads Wachovia", Windsor Star News Services, Friday, May 4, 2007.
FROM A BLOG CRITIC
"Don't be alarmed, I only know where you are because I'm one of ******'s friends...Mel, I was her roommate in her last year at U of W."
Anonymous Blog Critic, Sunday, April 29, 2007.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is perfunctory.
Define the word. Use it in a sentence. Explain how this word applies to the examples above.
Padraig Harrington...wasn't satisfied with hardly anything but his score."
"Harrington leads Wachovia", Windsor Star News Services, Friday, May 4, 2007.
FROM A BLOG CRITIC
"Don't be alarmed, I only know where you are because I'm one of ******'s friends...Mel, I was her roommate in her last year at U of W."
Anonymous Blog Critic, Sunday, April 29, 2007.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is perfunctory.
Define the word. Use it in a sentence. Explain how this word applies to the examples above.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
WOW! (UN)BELIEVABLE!
CELEBRITY SLOP
"It ends right here where it started from."
Reba McEntire
"...irregardless of where it starts from..."
Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, May 2, 2007.
COMMERCIAL CRAP
"You don't drive like him and you shouldn't pay the same for insurance as him."
Grey Power Commercial
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is incredulity.
Define the word and use it in a sentence.
TO MY ANONYMOUS "MEL" CRITIC
The carmudgeon criticism is accepted and you are right. I will never make that mistake again.
Those of you who do not know the context must read the "Comment" at the end of last Sunday's Corrections and Explanations entry.
Guess whose sentence(?)is going to make a guest appearance tomorrow in the Sentence Structure Department.
"It ends right here where it started from."
Reba McEntire
"...irregardless of where it starts from..."
Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, May 2, 2007.
COMMERCIAL CRAP
"You don't drive like him and you shouldn't pay the same for insurance as him."
Grey Power Commercial
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is incredulity.
Define the word and use it in a sentence.
TO MY ANONYMOUS "MEL" CRITIC
The carmudgeon criticism is accepted and you are right. I will never make that mistake again.
Those of you who do not know the context must read the "Comment" at the end of last Sunday's Corrections and Explanations entry.
Guess whose sentence(?)is going to make a guest appearance tomorrow in the Sentence Structure Department.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Non-Standard Uses - Part 2
CORRECT WORD FORMS
Which word should be used in each of the examples listed below?
The convicted assassins were (hung/hanged).
He (hanged/hung) the sheets over the window because he had no curtains.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is acrimonious.
Define the word and use it in two forms. (adjective and noun)
Which word should be used in each of the examples listed below?
The convicted assassins were (hung/hanged).
He (hanged/hung) the sheets over the window because he had no curtains.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is acrimonious.
Define the word and use it in two forms. (adjective and noun)
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Non-Standard Uses - Part 1
TUESDAY TEASER
He longingly stared acrost the room at her.
Is there an error in the sentence above? What? WHY?
TODAY'S WORD
Today's word is enervate.
Define the word and use it in a sentence both as a noun and as a verb.
He longingly stared acrost the room at her.
Is there an error in the sentence above? What? WHY?
TODAY'S WORD
Today's word is enervate.
Define the word and use it in a sentence both as a noun and as a verb.
Monday, April 30, 2007
TWO GEMS FROM THE PROS
PROFESSIONAL WRITER # 1
"Rostropovich...was hospitalized in Paris in early February, and after he took a turn for the worst, his family arranged for him to be flown back to Russia, longtime manager Ron Wilford said."
Windsor Star News Services, Saturday, April 28, 2007.
PROFESSIONAL WRITER # 2
"Particularly, if you lose the opener in a playoff series as the Detroit Red Wings did against the San Jose Sharks."
Windsor Star News Services, Detroit, Saturday, April 28, 2007.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is miscarriage.
Define the word and use it in a sentence. Your example should not contain any reference to childbirth. Might it have something to do with the examples cited above?
"Rostropovich...was hospitalized in Paris in early February, and after he took a turn for the worst, his family arranged for him to be flown back to Russia, longtime manager Ron Wilford said."
Windsor Star News Services, Saturday, April 28, 2007.
PROFESSIONAL WRITER # 2
"Particularly, if you lose the opener in a playoff series as the Detroit Red Wings did against the San Jose Sharks."
Windsor Star News Services, Detroit, Saturday, April 28, 2007.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is miscarriage.
Define the word and use it in a sentence. Your example should not contain any reference to childbirth. Might it have something to do with the examples cited above?
Sunday, April 29, 2007
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.
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.
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