Friday, July 20, 2007

FRIDAY FUN

SARCASTIC/IRONIC

What is the difference between "sarcastic" and "ironic"?
Use each word in a compound sentence.

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "nefarious".
Define the3 word and use it in a sentence.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

FRIVOLITY

INCIDENCE/INCIDENTS/INSTANCES

Can you explain the differences among the words listed above?
Try putting each into an explanatory sentence.

TODAY'S WORD

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

DEAR ANONYMOUS

You missed an error in your corrections of "Some More Pro Work".

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

OH, MY GAWD!!!

HOW LOW CAN IT GO?

"Rash of cemetery thefts hurt families"
Chris Thompson, HEADLINE, p. 1, The Windsor Star, Tuesday, July 18, 2007.

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "idiot".

BONUS WORD

The bonus word for the day is "moron".

EXTRA-SPECIAL BONUS WORD

The extra-special bonus word of the day is "imbecile".

Define the words of the day and use them in sentences.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

TOO EASY

SUBJECTS AND VERBS MUST AGREE

The number of speeding charges on the Thames are on the rise."
Jim Crichton, A Channel News, Monday, July 16, 2007, 6:05 pm.

WEATHER/WHETHER/WETHER

What is the meaning of each of the words above?
I bet you can get only two of the three without cheating.

TODAY'S WORD

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

Monday, July 16, 2007

SOME MORE PRO WORK

A PROBLEM
My last two entries, for reasons that are beyond me, were posted in the archival section. Thus the corrections for last week's work seem to be hidden. Check the archival section for those posts. "Sorry 'bout that!"


"HERE WE GO AGAIN..."

RE: NASCAR RACE
"It wouldn't be him that finished first."
Brent Lale, A Channel Sports Report, Sunday, July 15, 2007, 11:24 pm.

RE: THE SCENE
"Here's the thing. I'm delicate. Delicate and lazy."
"Frankly it frightens me. Which is why I never should have boughta house."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Life, interrupted", The Windsor Star. Monday, July 16, 2007.

TODAY'S WORD
I like the sound and feel of this word.

The word for today is "putridity".
Define the word and use it, in any of its forms, in a sentence.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - July 15, 2007

Monday

"City authorities maintain $1.8 million loaned to the theatre in the mid-1990s give the city rights to the building following the recent bankruptcy."
"City authorities maintain $1.8 million lent to the theatre in the mid-1990s gives the city rights to the building following the recent bankruptcy."
“Loan” is a noun and cannot be used as a verb.
The subject is singular and must have a verb that is also singular.

"The bridge company is competing to build the next Windsor-Detroit border crossing against a government-backed bid to instead build a new bridge by 2013 in an area further downriver linking the communities of Sandwich and Delray."
"The bridge company is competing to build the next Windsor-Detroit border crossing against a government-backed bid to instead build a new bridge by 2013 in an area farther downriver linking the communities of Sandwich and Delray."
“Further” means “in addition to”. “Farther must be used because the reference in the sentence is to distance.

TUESDAY

PRESCRIBE/PROSCRIBE

“Prescribe” means to recommend something.
I prescribe the intense study of a book dealing with sentence structure to some writers.
“Proscribe” means to forbid the use of something.
I proscribe the use of tobacco as injurious to your health.

Wednesday

PREDOMINANT/PREDOMINATE

“Predominant” is an adjective.
The predominant colour on the faces of some writers should be red.

"Predominate" is a verb.
Lions predominate in the jungle because of their size.

Thursday

"Assuming the same proportion of Canadian guys are into shoulder furniture, each with a content value of $680, a staggering $7.1 billion worth of goods are being routinely carried about by men coast to coast."
"Assuming the same proportion of Canadian guys is into shoulder furniture, each with a content value of $680, a staggering $7.1 billion worth of goods is being routinely carried about by men coast to coast."
The subjects of the clauses are plural and demand plural verbs. DUH!

Friday

"Where did you get your supplies from?"
"Where did you get your supplies?"
“From” is dangling and redundant.

THE WORDS

“Atrocious" (adj.) means extremely wicked, cruel or heinous.
The Marquis de Sade was an atrocious person.

“Xenophobia" (n.) means the fear or hatred of foreigners.
Ignorance and xenophobia regarding recent immigrants often cause social unrest.

“Chivalrous" (adj.) means having high qualities such as courage, courtesy, generosity and loyalty.
Opening a door for another is still a chivalrous act.

“Nescience" (n.) means a lack of knowledge, ignorance or agnosticism.
Nescience is the root of all evil, especially when trying to write.

“Specious" (adj.) means superficially pleasing, pleasing to the eye but deceptive, apparently good but without real merit.
His argument about the superiority of man was specious and ignorant.