Don't expect that there will be a posting every Saturday. I just couldn't resist this one.
PURTAN'S PEOPLE - WOMC-FM 104.3, Friday, September 21, 2007, 8:55 am [or so].
How many errors are in this sentence?
Dick Purtan: "I got three pair of tickets [to give away for the Comedy Castle Show tonight]."
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations of the week's entries will be posted tomorrow morning some time.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
SOME FUN
PEEK/PEAK/PIQUE
Do you know the differences in the words listed above? Explain yourself.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "penultimate".
Define "penultimate" and use it in a sentence.
Be careful; your first impression might be incorrect.
Do you know the differences in the words listed above? Explain yourself.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "penultimate".
Define "penultimate" and use it in a sentence.
Be careful; your first impression might be incorrect.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
AGAIN...AND AGAIN...AND AGAIN...
MORE PROFESSIONAL WRITING
Is there anything wrong with the group of words below? What? Are you able to correct it?
"Because his replacement for a system that favours Roman Catholicism to the exclusion of other religions has all the markings of an expensive and unwieldy education regime that will be all but impossible to oversee with any coherency."
Lead Editorial, "School debate", The Windsor Star, Thursday, September 20, 2007.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ludicrous".
Define "ludicrous" and use it in a sentence. Relating your example to writing skill is permissible.
Is there anything wrong with the group of words below? What? Are you able to correct it?
"Because his replacement for a system that favours Roman Catholicism to the exclusion of other religions has all the markings of an expensive and unwieldy education regime that will be all but impossible to oversee with any coherency."
Lead Editorial, "School debate", The Windsor Star, Thursday, September 20, 2007.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ludicrous".
Define "ludicrous" and use it in a sentence. Relating your example to writing skill is permissible.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
SOME TRIVIA
INQUIRY/ENQUIRY
What is the difference between "inquiry" and "enquiry"?
TODAY'S WORD
The word for the day is "rapacious".
Define "rapacious" and use it in a sentence.
What is the difference between "inquiry" and "enquiry"?
TODAY'S WORD
The word for the day is "rapacious".
Define "rapacious" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
A LITTLE THINKER
INSURE/ENSURE
Explain the difference, if there is one, in meaning between "insure" and "ensure"?
Use the words in speech or sentences to explain yourself.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "catharsis".
"Catharsis" is a noun. What is its adjectival form?
Define the word and put it into your vocabulary.
Explain the difference, if there is one, in meaning between "insure" and "ensure"?
Use the words in speech or sentences to explain yourself.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "catharsis".
"Catharsis" is a noun. What is its adjectival form?
Define the word and put it into your vocabulary.
Monday, September 17, 2007
WEEKEND WOBBLIES
TYPICAL MEDIA WRITING SKILL
Below are three error entries gleaned from weekend news shows and newspapers.
What are the errors?
Correct them.
"But human kinetics is more economical and the university already has plans to grow space for the program."
Monica Wolfson, "Fewer enrol at U of W", The Windsor Star, Saturday, September 15, 2007.
"Between them, GM, Ford and Chrysler estimate their future health care liabilities are about $114 billion, with GM facing most of the liabilities."
Chris Vander Doelen, GM talks go to the wire", The Windsor Star, Saturday, September 15, 2007.
"A group of homeless people in Edmonton are on the move."
CBC Newsworld, Saturday, September 15, 2007.
WORD OF THE DAY
Today's word is "genteel".
The world could use a bit more "genteelness".
Define the word in a manner which clearly expresses its meaning.
Below are three error entries gleaned from weekend news shows and newspapers.
What are the errors?
Correct them.
"But human kinetics is more economical and the university already has plans to grow space for the program."
Monica Wolfson, "Fewer enrol at U of W", The Windsor Star, Saturday, September 15, 2007.
"Between them, GM, Ford and Chrysler estimate their future health care liabilities are about $114 billion, with GM facing most of the liabilities."
Chris Vander Doelen, GM talks go to the wire", The Windsor Star, Saturday, September 15, 2007.
"A group of homeless people in Edmonton are on the move."
CBC Newsworld, Saturday, September 15, 2007.
WORD OF THE DAY
Today's word is "genteel".
The world could use a bit more "genteelness".
Define the word in a manner which clearly expresses its meaning.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - September 16, 2007
Below are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
TORTUOUS/TORTUROUS/TORTURED
“Tortuous” (adj.) means crooked, winding, convoluted or tricky.
“Torturous” (adj.) means agonizing, painful or harrowing.
“Tortured” (adj., past participial form of the verb torture) means receiving physical suffering, extreme mental distress or pained.
Tuesday
TV NEWS ITEMS
There are three errors in the following entries.
"As a first time candidate herself, Robinson admits it'll be a tough campaign but she's confident both her and the PCs will raise issues on the border and education."
There are two errors above: “her” should be changed to “she” because it is the subject of the verb “will raise”; “PCs” should precede “she” because the other person should always be mentioned first.
The corrected version reads:
"As a first time candidate herself, Robinson admits it'll be a tough campaign but she's confident both the PCs and she will raise issues on the border and education."
"Tomorrow, we'll profile the ridings of Windsor West, also Essex."
“Also” cannot be used in place of “and” in this sentence. “Ridings” is plural and demands a coordinate conjunction to complete the sense correctly.
The corrected version reads:
"Tomorrow, we'll profile the ridings of Windsor West and Essex."
Wednesday
PRONUNCIATION/ENUNCIATION
“Pronunciation" is the stress or emphasis put on a syllable when speaking; for example, “finance” should be spoken with the emphasis on the second syllable. (You can argue this if you are from the United States.)
“Enunciation" is the clarity with which words are spoken.
When enunciating correctly, the “t” is clearly not a “d”. “Wadder” is not correct enunciation.
Thursday
COPYWRITE/COPYRIGHT
There is no such word as "copywrite".
“Copyright" refers to the securing of the “right” to use a song or play or some other writing.
There are writers, though, who work with copy, meaning manuscripts.
Friday
PERVERSE/PERVERTED
“Perverse" means deviant behaviour, stubborn or contrary.
The narrator in Poe’s The Black Cat was perverse in his abuse of his pet cat due to alcohol.
“Perverted" means unnatural, abnormal or turned from what is right.
Spanking children, as punishment, is considered by many to be perverted behaviour.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Libidinous" (adj.) means full of lust, lascivious or lewdness.
“Libidinous” (“Libido”) is Latin meaning pleasure or longing.
The libidinous felon was designated as a habitual offender.
“Miscreant" (adj.) means depraved, villainous or base.
“Miscreant” (n.) means a vile, wretched villain.
The miscreant boy was punished severely for his abuse of his pet.
“Obviate" (v.) means to meet and dispose of, to do away with or prevent, to eliminate.
We will obviate any confrontation with the opposition by leaving the building.
“Expiate" (v.) means to make amends, to atone, or to make reparations.
He tried to expiate his guilt by giving more generously to the poor.
“Germane" (adj.) means closely related or relevant.
Al Gore’s movie is considered by many to be the most germane exposure of climate abuse ever made.
Monday
TORTUOUS/TORTUROUS/TORTURED
“Tortuous” (adj.) means crooked, winding, convoluted or tricky.
“Torturous” (adj.) means agonizing, painful or harrowing.
“Tortured” (adj., past participial form of the verb torture) means receiving physical suffering, extreme mental distress or pained.
Tuesday
TV NEWS ITEMS
There are three errors in the following entries.
"As a first time candidate herself, Robinson admits it'll be a tough campaign but she's confident both her and the PCs will raise issues on the border and education."
There are two errors above: “her” should be changed to “she” because it is the subject of the verb “will raise”; “PCs” should precede “she” because the other person should always be mentioned first.
The corrected version reads:
"As a first time candidate herself, Robinson admits it'll be a tough campaign but she's confident both the PCs and she will raise issues on the border and education."
"Tomorrow, we'll profile the ridings of Windsor West, also Essex."
“Also” cannot be used in place of “and” in this sentence. “Ridings” is plural and demands a coordinate conjunction to complete the sense correctly.
The corrected version reads:
"Tomorrow, we'll profile the ridings of Windsor West and Essex."
Wednesday
PRONUNCIATION/ENUNCIATION
“Pronunciation" is the stress or emphasis put on a syllable when speaking; for example, “finance” should be spoken with the emphasis on the second syllable. (You can argue this if you are from the United States.)
“Enunciation" is the clarity with which words are spoken.
When enunciating correctly, the “t” is clearly not a “d”. “Wadder” is not correct enunciation.
Thursday
COPYWRITE/COPYRIGHT
There is no such word as "copywrite".
“Copyright" refers to the securing of the “right” to use a song or play or some other writing.
There are writers, though, who work with copy, meaning manuscripts.
Friday
PERVERSE/PERVERTED
“Perverse" means deviant behaviour, stubborn or contrary.
The narrator in Poe’s The Black Cat was perverse in his abuse of his pet cat due to alcohol.
“Perverted" means unnatural, abnormal or turned from what is right.
Spanking children, as punishment, is considered by many to be perverted behaviour.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Libidinous" (adj.) means full of lust, lascivious or lewdness.
“Libidinous” (“Libido”) is Latin meaning pleasure or longing.
The libidinous felon was designated as a habitual offender.
“Miscreant" (adj.) means depraved, villainous or base.
“Miscreant” (n.) means a vile, wretched villain.
The miscreant boy was punished severely for his abuse of his pet.
“Obviate" (v.) means to meet and dispose of, to do away with or prevent, to eliminate.
We will obviate any confrontation with the opposition by leaving the building.
“Expiate" (v.) means to make amends, to atone, or to make reparations.
He tried to expiate his guilt by giving more generously to the poor.
“Germane" (adj.) means closely related or relevant.
Al Gore’s movie is considered by many to be the most germane exposure of climate abuse ever made.
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