ANNOUNCEMENT - VACATION TIME
The next entry on this blog will be on Monday, August 20, 2007. I am taking a vacation break.
Michael
Monday
What is the error in the sentence below?
[It is] "...a time capsule of lost recordings that have been found."
The subject of the verb is “capsule” and it is singular, so the verb must also be singular.
Corrected version:
[It is] "...a time capsule of lost recordings that has been found."
Tuesday
"The body of a 29-year-old Chatham-Kent man who went missing Saturday was recovered from Lake St. Clair Monday."
People do not “go missing”. DUH!
Corrected version:
"The body of a 29-year-old Chatham-Kent man who disappeared Saturday was recovered from Lake St. Clair Monday."
Wednesday
THEM/THOSE
“Them” cannot be a replacement for “those”. “Them” cannot be used as an adjective.
“I like those girls. I would like to meet them”.
"I like them girls," is unacceptable.
“Applicable" should be pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable: “aPPLICable”.
Thursday
What is wrong with "between you and I"?
“Between” is a preposition. Prepositions take objects. “I” is subjective case and cannot be used as an object. “Me” is objective and so the phrase should be “between you and me”. And don’t forget to always put the other person first.
Friday
MORAL/MORALE
“Moral”, accent on first syllable, is a noun meaning "the lesson from a story" or “right conduct”. It is also an adjective meaning "virtuous” or “ethical” or “of high standards".
“He is a moral person who always tries to do things in a kind fashion.’
“Morale”, accent on second syllable, is a noun meaning "mental or emotional state".
“The morale of the troops is very low because of the frustrations of the ever changing battlefield.”
WORDS I LIKE
“Obtuse" means blunt in form, not sharp or acute, stupid.
“Farrago" (n.) means a confused mixture, a hodgepodge, a motley assortment.
“Feckless" (adj.) means ineffective, feeble, incompetent.
"Apotheosis" (n.) means the glorification of a person, the exaltation to the rank of a god, a model of perfection.
“Revulsion" (n.) means a sudden and violent change of feeling, a drawing back or away, an aversion.
WORDS/PHRASES I LOATHE - A CONTINUUM
“You know.”
"No problem"
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Friday, August 3, 2007
OLD & NEW - WHAT DO YOU LIKE?
MORAL/MORALE
Accent placement determines the pronunciation of the words above.
Define and use each of the words.
WORDS/PHRASES I LOATHE - Part 2
What is loathesome below?
Person 1: "Thank you for the good service."
Person 2: "No problem."
WORDS I LIKE
The word "farago" is an old one, but I like its mysterious sound?
Define the word. Use it if you want to sound pretentious.
DEAR ANONYMOUS 1
I am sorry but I accidentally deleted your comment that the emphasis should be apPLICable. You are correct.
DEAR ANONYMOUS 2
Read the long explanation to understand why "you and me" is correct after the preposition "between".
Accent placement determines the pronunciation of the words above.
Define and use each of the words.
WORDS/PHRASES I LOATHE - Part 2
What is loathesome below?
Person 1: "Thank you for the good service."
Person 2: "No problem."
WORDS I LIKE
The word "farago" is an old one, but I like its mysterious sound?
Define the word. Use it if you want to sound pretentious.
DEAR ANONYMOUS 1
I am sorry but I accidentally deleted your comment that the emphasis should be apPLICable. You are correct.
DEAR ANONYMOUS 2
Read the long explanation to understand why "you and me" is correct after the preposition "between".
Thursday, August 2, 2007
WORD PURISM
WORDS/PHRASES I LOATHE
This new section is a conduit to air my distaste for trite, repetitive and stupid word and phrase usage that is all too common. Most are noise used by speakers who cannot deal with silence.
First on the list is, "... you know... you know... you know...". You can fill in the blanks between the inanities.
What word or phrase could you add to the list? Click on "Comment" at the end of this entry and make a contribution.
A COMMON ERROR
"Between you and I" is often heard.
What is wrong with that phrase? Why? What is the correction?
WORDS I LIKE
Today's word is "revulsion".
Define the word and try to use it in conversation today.
This new section is a conduit to air my distaste for trite, repetitive and stupid word and phrase usage that is all too common. Most are noise used by speakers who cannot deal with silence.
First on the list is, "... you know... you know... you know...". You can fill in the blanks between the inanities.
What word or phrase could you add to the list? Click on "Comment" at the end of this entry and make a contribution.
A COMMON ERROR
"Between you and I" is often heard.
What is wrong with that phrase? Why? What is the correction?
WORDS I LIKE
Today's word is "revulsion".
Define the word and try to use it in conversation today.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
FUN WORD CHALLENGES
THEM/THOSE
Can you use the words "them" and "those" correctly? Can they be substituted for each other? Create sentences for each. Create sentences that misuse each.
WORDS I LIKE
"Apotheosis" is interesting because the root suggests the meaning. "Apotheosis" can be applicable with some politicians.
Define "apotheosis" and use it in your conversation today.
JUST BECAUSE...
Which syllable should be stressed in the word "applicable"?
Can you use the words "them" and "those" correctly? Can they be substituted for each other? Create sentences for each. Create sentences that misuse each.
WORDS I LIKE
"Apotheosis" is interesting because the root suggests the meaning. "Apotheosis" can be applicable with some politicians.
Define "apotheosis" and use it in your conversation today.
JUST BECAUSE...
Which syllable should be stressed in the word "applicable"?
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
WORD MISUSE
ALWAYS THE SAME ERRORS!
What is incorrect in the sentence below?
"The body of a 29-year-old Chatham-Kent man who went missing Saturday was recovered from Lake St. Clair Monday."
Stat Staff, The Windsor Star, Tuesday, July 31, 2007.
WORDS I LIKE
(My new title for this section)
I like the sound of the word "feckless".
Define it.
Try to use it in your conversation today.
What is incorrect in the sentence below?
"The body of a 29-year-old Chatham-Kent man who went missing Saturday was recovered from Lake St. Clair Monday."
Stat Staff, The Windsor Star, Tuesday, July 31, 2007.
WORDS I LIKE
(My new title for this section)
I like the sound of the word "feckless".
Define it.
Try to use it in your conversation today.
Monday, July 30, 2007
EVEN THE MIGHTY...
A BIG ONE
What is the error in the sentence below?
[It is] "...a time capsule of lost recordings that have been found."
Lester Holt, NBC Sunday night News, July 29, 2007, 6:43pm
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "obtuse".
Define the word and use it in a sentence.
What is the error in the sentence below?
[It is] "...a time capsule of lost recordings that have been found."
Lester Holt, NBC Sunday night News, July 29, 2007, 6:43pm
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "obtuse".
Define the word and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - July 29, 2007
Monday
REMUNERATION/RENUMERATION
“Remuneration” simply means payment. It does not mean repayment.
“Enumeration" means counting again or recounting.
Tuesday
POSSESSED OF/BY/WITH
If you own something, you are possessed of it.
If your person has been taken over by a demon, you are possessed by it.
If you are very determined to get ahead, you are possessed with the drive to succeed.
Wednesday
WHAT IS WRONG HERE?
"Mark, an accomplished football player, introduced her to weight training when both were still in high school, him at Centennial and her at Assumption."The use of the objective form of the pronouns “him” and “her” is incorrect. The subjective forms must be used.
Corrected version:
Mark, an accomplished football player, introduced her to weight training when both were still in high school, he at Centennial and she at Assumption.
Thursday
THERE'S, THEIRS, THEIR'S
“There’s” is the short form of “there is”.
There is a time to sit and wait.
“Theirs" is a possessive plural pronoun.
The kingdom is theirs if they so desire.
“Their’s” is a misuse of the apostrophy and does not exist.
Friday
STATIONARY/STATIONERY
“Stationary” means standing still.
The soldier stood in a stationary position for an hour.
“Stationery” is the paper upon which you write.
Her stationery had a floral design at the top.
THE WORDS
“Fulsome" (adj.) means offensive to good taste, excessive, disgusting or gross.
His comments about the girl’s weight were fulsome and resented.
“Scrupulous" (adj.) means having a strict regard for what is right, precise or correct.
She was scrupulous in her treatment of all her students with complete fairness.
“Perorate" (v.) means to speak at length or to bring a speech to a conclusion.
The windy politician would perorate at any available opportunity.
“Conundrum" (n.) means a riddle the answer to which involves a pun or play on words or anything that puzzles.
Agatha Christie, in her play “And Then There Were None”, presented a conundrum for each of the characters who died.
“Nebulous" means hazy, vague, indistinct or confused.
His motive for abusing his neighbour was nebulous and hurtful.
REMUNERATION/RENUMERATION
“Remuneration” simply means payment. It does not mean repayment.
“Enumeration" means counting again or recounting.
Tuesday
POSSESSED OF/BY/WITH
If you own something, you are possessed of it.
If your person has been taken over by a demon, you are possessed by it.
If you are very determined to get ahead, you are possessed with the drive to succeed.
Wednesday
WHAT IS WRONG HERE?
"Mark, an accomplished football player, introduced her to weight training when both were still in high school, him at Centennial and her at Assumption."The use of the objective form of the pronouns “him” and “her” is incorrect. The subjective forms must be used.
Corrected version:
Mark, an accomplished football player, introduced her to weight training when both were still in high school, he at Centennial and she at Assumption.
Thursday
THERE'S, THEIRS, THEIR'S
“There’s” is the short form of “there is”.
There is a time to sit and wait.
“Theirs" is a possessive plural pronoun.
The kingdom is theirs if they so desire.
“Their’s” is a misuse of the apostrophy and does not exist.
Friday
STATIONARY/STATIONERY
“Stationary” means standing still.
The soldier stood in a stationary position for an hour.
“Stationery” is the paper upon which you write.
Her stationery had a floral design at the top.
THE WORDS
“Fulsome" (adj.) means offensive to good taste, excessive, disgusting or gross.
His comments about the girl’s weight were fulsome and resented.
“Scrupulous" (adj.) means having a strict regard for what is right, precise or correct.
She was scrupulous in her treatment of all her students with complete fairness.
“Perorate" (v.) means to speak at length or to bring a speech to a conclusion.
The windy politician would perorate at any available opportunity.
“Conundrum" (n.) means a riddle the answer to which involves a pun or play on words or anything that puzzles.
Agatha Christie, in her play “And Then There Were None”, presented a conundrum for each of the characters who died.
“Nebulous" means hazy, vague, indistinct or confused.
His motive for abusing his neighbour was nebulous and hurtful.
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