Saturday, June 23, 2007

FRIDAY'S ABSENCE

FRIDAY'S NON-ENTRY

I apologize to all of you who were waiting breathlessly on Friday for the latest entry in my ongoing diatribe against the misuse of the English language . My server was doing some sort of upgrading and I could not post an entry.
I hope the entries below will suffice to assuage the pains.

SATURDAY CHALLENGE

Insert, or correct, punctuation, spelling and grammar in the following so that it makes sense.

Yesterday was fun I played golf, I played good and won a big shiny trophy I'll put in on the mantle so everybody can read the inscription; booby Prize Duffers Invitational 2007.

TODAY'S WORD

The words for today are "assuage" and "suffice".
Define the words and use them in sentences. You may not use the one above.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

PUNCTUATION AGAIN

PUNCTUATION, AGAIN?

Assume there are punctuation errors what are the errors correct them
Stan said, "I don't get it".
Hermione asked "Do you want to go with me?"

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "effete".
Define the word and use it in a sentence.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

PUNCTUATION, AGAIN!

ERROR?

What is wrong in the examples below? Why? Correct the sentences.

He told me that I had better leave, so that we could avoid a serious conflict.
To parasail, is exhilarating.

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "efficacy".
Define the word and use it in a sentence.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

PUNCTUATION, ANYONE?

MAKING SENSE

Punctuate the following so that they make sense:

Go get him surgeons
King Duncan in Macbeth

What is this thing called love
How many ways can this be punctuated?

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "ingratiate".
Define the word and use it in a sentence.

Monday, June 18, 2007

SIMILARITIES

MORE DIFFERENCES

What is the difference between "judicious" and "judicial"?

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "fallacious".
Define the word and use it in a sentence.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - June 17, 2007

Monday


IS THE EXAMPLE BELOW ACCEPTABLE?
"Amherstburg is a lovely small community. One of the oldest and, perhaps, the most historic in Ontario."
"Amherstburg is a lovely small community, one of the oldest and, perhaps, the most historic in Ontario."
“One of the oldest...in Ontario,” is an incomplete thought and cannot stand on its own.

Tuesday

What is the difference between "accuse" and "allege"?
“Accuse” means to blame or charge with wrong deeds.
“Allege” means to claim something that has not been proven to be true.
The shop owners accuse the boys of stealing candy.
The prosecutors, in court, allege that the boys committed a crime.

Wednesday

"Any plans for developing the land where a pair of bald eagles have built their nest are on hold for the foreseeable future, a Ministry of the Environment said Tuesday."
"Any plans for developing the land where a pair of bald eagles has built its nest are on hold for the foreseeable future, a Ministry of the Environment said Tuesday."
“Pair” is a singular collective noun and must have the singular verb “has”.

Thursday

"Lawson loaned the track $1 million and the other two each put in $500,000."
"Lawson lent the track $1 million and the other two each put in $500,000."
“Loan” is a noun and cannot be used as a verb. The past tense of “lend” is “lent” and must be used.

What is the difference between "sure" and "surely"?
“Sure” in an adjective.
“Surely” is an adverb.
I am sure that “surely” cannot be used to modify a noun because it is an adverb.
It is surely hot outside today.

THE WORDS

"Pretentious" (adj.) means ostentatious or making an outward show.
The pretentious actor pranced around the stage in a fit of pique.

"Spurious" (adj.) means counterfeit, not genuine or true.
The argument that the world is flat is spurious and completely out of date.

"Reprobate" (n., adj., v.) means an unprincipled or morally depraved or reprehensible person.
The reprobate knocked the old woman down and stole her purse.

"Axiomatic" means self-evident or aphoristic.
The right of free thought is axiomatic in a democratic society.


There was no posting last Friday.