Friday, July 6, 2007

FRIDAY FUN

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

BACKWARD/BACKWARDS

What is the difference between the words "backward" and "backwards"?

IS ANYTHING WRONG IN THE SENTENCE BELOW?

She used all kind of objects in her juggling act.

TODAY'S WORD

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

Thursday, July 5, 2007

POETIC LICENSE OR POOR WRITING SKILLS?

Because the city's hired gun on border issues has apparently been muzzled by city politicians and prevented from speaking to thecity residents who pay his salary.
Lead Editorial, "Border file", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, July 4, 2007.

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "exculpatory".
Define the word and use it in a sentence.
You get a pat on the back if you can name the roots of the word and use them to help in your definition. (Hint: think Latin)

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

APOLOGIES

YESTERDAY

I apologize to the thousands of you who were eagerly anticipating yesterday's new entry. Unfortunately, my server was out of commission until the early evening. I think they blew a big fuse.

INTERESTING TEASERS

What is the difference between "sensuous" and "sensual"?
What is the difference between "median" and "medium"?
What is the difference between "parameters" and "perimeters"?

Of course, you should try to use each of the above examples in sentences.

TODAY'S WORD

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

BONUS WORD

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

Monday, July 2, 2007

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT

WHICH IS CORRECT?

There are three sentences below. One is correct. Which? Why?
Correct the other two and explain your choices.

The climate in both places are mild.
A group of senators were calling for an investigation.
Neither her brothers nor Mary knows what happened.

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "complement".
Define the word and use it in a sentence.
Be careful; the word is spelled correctly.

Sunday, July 1, 2007

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - July 1, 2007

Monday

"Allusive" (adj.) means having reference to something, referring to something.
The old man’s allusive memories of past days frustrated the teenager.
"Elusive" (adj.) means hard to express or define, evasive.
The butterfly’s elusive flying fascinated the child.
"Illusive" (adj.) means deceptive, unreal or false.
The drug was sopowerful that it caused illusive images to swirl in the girl’s mind.

Tuesday

“Perspective" (n.) means the relationship of parts to one another and to the whole, a vista.
The boy’s naive perspective of the punishment was one of unfairness.
“Prospective" (adj.) means expected, or in the future, in prospect.
He was disappointed that his prospective raise did not materialize.

Wednesday

"None of these titles are available in DVD legally yet. In all, police identified 525 titles."
CORRECTION
"None of these titles is available in DVD legally yet. In all, police identified 525 titles."
“None” is the subject of the verb and is singular so the verb must also be singular.

Thursday

"Once we get more information from the contractor will be giving notice to everyone on lane closures and detours."
CORRECTION
"Once we get more information from the contractor notice will be giving to everyone on lane closures and detours."
The author did not proof his work and created confusion be misplacing a word.

Friday
“Incisive"(
adj.) means penetrating, sharp, keen or biting.
The psychiatrist’s incisive comments enabled the jurors to have a better understanding of the motives of the murderer.
“Decisive" (adj.) means resolute or having the power to render a decision.
The judge’s decisive ruling silenced the unruly lawyer.

THE WORDS

“Redress" (n., v.) means the setting right of what is wrong; to set, repair or remedy wrongs.
The victim sought redress for his injuries by suing the attacker.

“Rapacious" (adj.) means given to seizing for plunder or the satisfaction of greed.
Enron executives’ rapacious appetite for money resulted in the destruction of many small pension holders.

“Penultimate" (adj.) means next to the last or the last but one.
The pitcher’s penultimate achievement of a one-hit game was surpassed the next year by a no-hit game.

“Obfuscation" (n.) means a confusing, an obscuring or a stupefying.
The politician’s continual obfuscation and double talk confused his constituents.

“Turpitude" (n.) means shameful depravity, a shameful, base act.
The crime of rape is one of the vilest examples of cowardly turpitude known to mankind.