LITTLE NIGGLERS

UPTO/UP TO

Which is correct, "upto" or "up to"?

ALOT/A LOT

Which is correct, "alot" or "a lot"?


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "untoward".

Define "untoward" and use it in your speech today.


CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS

The "Corrections & Explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday morning.

CONTEXT DICTATES MEANING

IN/INTO

When you read the following sentences the meaning should be obvious. If you cannot detect the difference, try again. Do you make the same mistake, without thinking, in your normal speech?

He came in the room.
He came into the room.

What other examples of small word misuse can you list?


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "jejune".

Define "jejune". List the other forms of the word and use one of them in a sentence.

ONE EASY, ONE TOUGH

COMPLIMENT/COMPLEMENT

Explain the difference between "compliment" and "complement".
What are the adjectival forms of these words?


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "jejune".

Define "jejune" and use it in some fashion today.

TUESDAY TESTERS

CONTINUOUS/CONTINUAL

What is the difference between "continuous" and "continual" ?
Use the words in sentences that reflect their meanings.

WORD OF THE DAY

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

WOEFUL WEEKEND

WHAT IS INCORRECT BELOW?

"A frantic son has been searching for his troubled mother, who went missing earlier this week amid mounting personal problems."
"missing woman sought", The Windsor Star, Saturday, October 6, 2007.

"Stannard said he knows the situation will likely tarnish the police service's image, but hoped people would understand this is one officer out of hundreds facing charges in this situation."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Sting snares cop", The Windsor Star, Saturday, October 6, 2007.


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "disparate".

Define "disparate" and use it in some fashion today.

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - October 6, 2007

Monday

CITE/SITE/SIGHT

“Cite” (v.) means to make reference to or quote such as in quoting the Bible.

“Site” (n.) means location or a piece of land on which something is located.

“Sight” (n.) refers to anything perceived by the eyes or the faculty of vision.


Tuesday

INSIGHT/INCITE

“Insight” (n.) refers to the understanding of something, the perception into something or the grasping of the inner nature of something.

“Incite) (v.) means to cause to act as in inciting a riot , to set off.


Wednesday

STRAIGHT/STRAIT

“Straight” (adj.) means without bends or curves, moral or upright.

“Strait” (n) means a channel of the sea or a difficult situation such as, “He is in bad straits”.


Thursday

MISCHIEVIOUS/MISCHIEVOUS

"Mischievious" does not exist and anyone who uses it is in error.

“Mischievous" (adj.) Means teasing impishly, annoyingly playful or causing harm such as in “mischievous rumours”.


REGARDLESS/IRREGARDLESS

“Irregardless” though once used, is unacceptable and has no meaning today.

“Regardless” (adv.) means disregarding, heedless, unmindful, irrespective.


Friday

AISLE/I'LL/ISLE

“Aisle” (n.) is a passageway between seats.

“I’ll” is a contraction of “I will” and is not accepted in formal writing.

“Isle” (n.) is a small island.


THIS WEEK’S WORDS

“Scintilla" (n.) is a small amount, a scarcely detectable quantity.

“Profligacy" (n.) refers to reckless extravagance or shameless dissolution.

“Profligate” (n. or adj.) is one who is shamelessly immoral.

“Misogyny" (n.) is a hatred of women.

“Misogamy" (n.) is a hatred of marriage.

“Salacious" (adj.) means lustful, lecherous or suggestive of moral looseness.

“Salaciousness” is the noun form.