CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - May 11, 2008

Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.


Monday

VERACIOUS/VORACIOUS

“Veracious” means being truthful or honest as in the words “veracity” or “verify”.

“Voracious” means being extremely hungry or devouring food in huge quantities.


Tuesday

CONFLICTED/CONFLICTING

Feeling “conflicted” is jargon for feeling ambivalent. “Conflicted” should not be used when referring to feelings.

“Conflicting” means being at variance, at odds or clashing.


Wednesday

FORTUITOUS/FORTUNATE

“Fortuitous” refers to events that occur accidentally, by chance or are unexpected. They need not be fortunate.

“Fortunate” refers to good fortune, favourable results or luck.


Thursday

SHRUNK/SHRANK

The simple past tense of “shrink” is “shrank”.
The past participle of “shrink” is “shrunk”.
Disney’s movie should be “Honey, I Shrank the Kids,” NOT ”Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.”


Friday

GIBE/JIBE/JIVE

“Gibe” (v.) means to tease, or make fun of.

“Jibe” (v.) means to agree. It is also a term used in sailing meaning to “come about” in the wind or to shift from one side to the other.

“Jive” as a noun refers to a type of swing music. As a verb it slangily means to put someone on.

“Jibe” and “jive” DO NOT mean the same thing.


THIS WEEK'S APHORISM

"Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star."
Confucius wrote this thought.


THIS WEEK’S WORDS

“Vociferous” (adj.) means loud , raucous,noisy or strident.

“Mercurial” (adj.) means sprightly or volatile, flighty, fickle or changeable.

“Salubrious” (adj.) means healthy, respectable, decent or wholesome.

“Ineptitude” (n.) means ineffective, lacking in skill, useless, clumsy or incompetent.

“Reprehensible” (adj.) means guilty, in the wrong, blameworthy or at fault.