CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations will be posted Sunday after 4 pm.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
FRIDAY FOLLIES
TODAY'S COLLECTION
Identify and correct the errors in the following:
"A 48-year-old Chilliwack, B.C. man driving a Ford Explorer apparently failed to see the flares or the police cruiser and did not change to the furthest lane from the stopped cruiser as required under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act."
Star Staff, "B.C. DRIVER FACES STIFF FINE", The Windsor Star, Friday, February 1, 2008.
"For example, young people and high school students are computer savvy and, while they may feel intimidated about calling a phone number, they may be more at ease using a computer."
Don Lajoie, "Snitching on crooks a mouse click away", The Windsor Star, Friday, February 1, 2008.
"Police remind drivers that they are required to go to the furthest lane from a stopped emergence vehicle, provided it is safe to do so."
Star Staff, "B.C. DRIVER FACES STIFF FINE", The Windsor Star, Friday, February 1, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "garrulous".
Define "garrulous" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted on Sunday.
Identify and correct the errors in the following:
"A 48-year-old Chilliwack, B.C. man driving a Ford Explorer apparently failed to see the flares or the police cruiser and did not change to the furthest lane from the stopped cruiser as required under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act."
Star Staff, "B.C. DRIVER FACES STIFF FINE", The Windsor Star, Friday, February 1, 2008.
"For example, young people and high school students are computer savvy and, while they may feel intimidated about calling a phone number, they may be more at ease using a computer."
Don Lajoie, "Snitching on crooks a mouse click away", The Windsor Star, Friday, February 1, 2008.
"Police remind drivers that they are required to go to the furthest lane from a stopped emergence vehicle, provided it is safe to do so."
Star Staff, "B.C. DRIVER FACES STIFF FINE", The Windsor Star, Friday, February 1, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "garrulous".
Define "garrulous" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted on Sunday.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
MANDATE FULFILLMENT
TSK! TSK!
Find and correct the errors in the entries below. Justify your choices.
"It appeared, however, the players in the Toronto sweaters still had visions
of laying on a beach in the sunny south."
Tim Wharmsby, Globe and Mail, Wednesday, January 30, 2008, Section S, page S1.
"For instance, Tsunami's glass bowls can be used as back-lit wall pieces."
Dave Hall, "Glassworks garnering international respect", The Windsor Star, Thursday, January 31, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "bacchanalianism".
Define "bacchanalianism" and use it in a sentence. Explain the root of the word.
Find and correct the errors in the entries below. Justify your choices.
"It appeared, however, the players in the Toronto sweaters still had visions
of laying on a beach in the sunny south."
Tim Wharmsby, Globe and Mail, Wednesday, January 30, 2008, Section S, page S1.
"For instance, Tsunami's glass bowls can be used as back-lit wall pieces."
Dave Hall, "Glassworks garnering international respect", The Windsor Star, Thursday, January 31, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "bacchanalianism".
Define "bacchanalianism" and use it in a sentence. Explain the root of the word.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
A MIXED BAG
PREJUDICE/PREJUDICED
What is the difference between "prejudice" and "prejudiced"? Put these words into sentences to demonstrate the differences.
REALITY CHECK
(My all-time favourite)
Identify the author, work and speaker of the following; explain the philosophy put forth:
"Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "loquacious".
Define "loquacious" and use it in your speech today.
What is the difference between "prejudice" and "prejudiced"? Put these words into sentences to demonstrate the differences.
REALITY CHECK
(My all-time favourite)
Identify the author, work and speaker of the following; explain the philosophy put forth:
"Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "loquacious".
Define "loquacious" and use it in your speech today.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
SMALL DIFFERENCES
ENVIOUS/JEALOUS
The words "envious" and "jealous" do not mean the same thing. Explain the difference of meaning and use the words in sentences.
WORD OF THE DAY
The word for today is "visceral".
Define "visceral" and use it in a sentence.
PLEASE VOTE - CANADIAN BLOG AWARDS
Voting in Round 2 of the Canadian Blog Awards 2007 closes this week.
Please vote for Michael's English Usage in the Best Education Blog category.
Click on:
http://cdnba.wordpress.com/vote/round-2/
I appreciate your support.
The words "envious" and "jealous" do not mean the same thing. Explain the difference of meaning and use the words in sentences.
WORD OF THE DAY
The word for today is "visceral".
Define "visceral" and use it in a sentence.
PLEASE VOTE - CANADIAN BLOG AWARDS
Voting in Round 2 of the Canadian Blog Awards 2007 closes this week.
Please vote for Michael's English Usage in the Best Education Blog category.
Click on:
http://cdnba.wordpress.com/vote/round-2/
I appreciate your support.
Monday, January 28, 2008
MONDAY VARIETY
THAN/THEN
Identify the part of speech of "than" and "then" and explain, with examples, the difference in the use of each.
TRY AND/TRY TO
Which is acceptable: "try and" or "try to"?
Explain your choice.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "hirsute".
Define "hirsute" and use it in a sentence.
Identify the part of speech of "than" and "then" and explain, with examples, the difference in the use of each.
TRY AND/TRY TO
Which is acceptable: "try and" or "try to"?
Explain your choice.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "hirsute".
Define "hirsute" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - January 27, 2008
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's postings.
Monday
PRONUNCIATION
“Pronunciation" is the stress or accent put on a syllable.
“Film" is a one-syllable word, so “filum" is incorrect. Say “fillm”.
“A" is not pronounced as in “hay”. It should be said as in “flat”.
“Coupon" is not pronounced as in “queue”. It should be said as in “chicken coop”, “coup d’etat” or “scoop”.
Tuesday
DO THESE NEED FIXING?
"...these kind of things..."
“These” and “things” are plural. Therefore, “kind” must also be plural.
"...these kinds of things..."
"Nearly 30% of Canada's bee colonies were killed off last year."
The subject of the verb, “were killed” is 30%, which is a collective singular noun. Therefore the verb must be singular.
"Nearly 30% of Canada's bee colonies was killed off last year."
Wednesday
COLON/SEMICOLON
A "colon" is a unit of punctuation that connects what precedes it with what follows; it usually indicates a list is to follow. A semi-colon cannot be used in place of a colon.
“The sports I played as a youth were: football, baseball, table tennis and hockey.”
A colon” is also used after a salutation in a formal or a business letter. A comma is incorrect in these examples.
“Dear Mrs Robinson:”
A "semicolon" is a unit of punctuation used in place of a period when clauses are related. It also must be used with compound sentences where clauses have commas within.
“Betty Lou went to Nashville; Billy Joe, who adored her, followed a day later.”
ARE THERE ERRORS BELOW?
"One of the largest fears that all humans have is to be rejected. If you love someone, then you will want to spare them this pain."
There are two errors: the sentence starts in the third person with “one“ and “you” is the second person; it should be changed.
The second error is that the author is speaking of a single person and then switches to the plural with the word “them”; he must maintain the singular throughout.
"One of the largest fears that all humans have is to be rejected. If a person loves someone, then he will want to spare that person this pain."
Thursday
IS THIS ACCEPTABLE?
"This, despite the fact that the university is a public body funded with public money."
This is an incomplete thought; it needs a verb.
"This occurred, despite the fact that the university is a public body funded with public money."
Friday
FOREBODING/FORESHADOWING
“Foreboding" (n.) implies an ominous or an evil feeling or aura. In writing, it is considered to be a hint of something evil to come.
“Foreshadowing" (n.) usually is a hint of what is to come but it does not have to be evil or negative in nature.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Acuity" (n.) means keen, sharp or insightful.
“Intractable” (adj.) means stubborn, inflexible or obstinate.
“Ethereal" (adj.) means unearthly, delicate, waiflike or ghostly.
“Expiatory" (adj.) means being able to make atonement, reparation or payback. It comes from “expiate”.
“Deleterious" (adj.) means harmful, ruinous or damaging.
CANADIAN BLOG AWARDS 2007
Please vote for this blog as the Best Educational Blog in the Canadian Blog Awards 2007 contest.
Access for voting is provided below.
http://cdnba.wordpress.com/vote/round-2/
Thank you for your support.
Monday
PRONUNCIATION
“Pronunciation" is the stress or accent put on a syllable.
“Film" is a one-syllable word, so “filum" is incorrect. Say “fillm”.
“A" is not pronounced as in “hay”. It should be said as in “flat”.
“Coupon" is not pronounced as in “queue”. It should be said as in “chicken coop”, “coup d’etat” or “scoop”.
Tuesday
DO THESE NEED FIXING?
"...these kind of things..."
“These” and “things” are plural. Therefore, “kind” must also be plural.
"...these kinds of things..."
"Nearly 30% of Canada's bee colonies were killed off last year."
The subject of the verb, “were killed” is 30%, which is a collective singular noun. Therefore the verb must be singular.
"Nearly 30% of Canada's bee colonies was killed off last year."
Wednesday
COLON/SEMICOLON
A "colon" is a unit of punctuation that connects what precedes it with what follows; it usually indicates a list is to follow. A semi-colon cannot be used in place of a colon.
“The sports I played as a youth were: football, baseball, table tennis and hockey.”
A colon” is also used after a salutation in a formal or a business letter. A comma is incorrect in these examples.
“Dear Mrs Robinson:”
A "semicolon" is a unit of punctuation used in place of a period when clauses are related. It also must be used with compound sentences where clauses have commas within.
“Betty Lou went to Nashville; Billy Joe, who adored her, followed a day later.”
ARE THERE ERRORS BELOW?
"One of the largest fears that all humans have is to be rejected. If you love someone, then you will want to spare them this pain."
There are two errors: the sentence starts in the third person with “one“ and “you” is the second person; it should be changed.
The second error is that the author is speaking of a single person and then switches to the plural with the word “them”; he must maintain the singular throughout.
"One of the largest fears that all humans have is to be rejected. If a person loves someone, then he will want to spare that person this pain."
Thursday
IS THIS ACCEPTABLE?
"This, despite the fact that the university is a public body funded with public money."
This is an incomplete thought; it needs a verb.
"This occurred, despite the fact that the university is a public body funded with public money."
Friday
FOREBODING/FORESHADOWING
“Foreboding" (n.) implies an ominous or an evil feeling or aura. In writing, it is considered to be a hint of something evil to come.
“Foreshadowing" (n.) usually is a hint of what is to come but it does not have to be evil or negative in nature.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Acuity" (n.) means keen, sharp or insightful.
“Intractable” (adj.) means stubborn, inflexible or obstinate.
“Ethereal" (adj.) means unearthly, delicate, waiflike or ghostly.
“Expiatory" (adj.) means being able to make atonement, reparation or payback. It comes from “expiate”.
“Deleterious" (adj.) means harmful, ruinous or damaging.
CANADIAN BLOG AWARDS 2007
Please vote for this blog as the Best Educational Blog in the Canadian Blog Awards 2007 contest.
Access for voting is provided below.
http://cdnba.wordpress.com/vote/round-2/
Thank you for your support.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
