A DOUBLE HEADER
Identify and correct the errors in the sentences below.
"During his cross-examination of Mlynek, Monroe questioned whether the two alleged home invasions, neither of which were reported to police at the time, had taken place."
Doug Schmidt, "Home invasion case tossed", The Windsor Star, Friday, February 8, 2008.
"None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been proven in court."
Doug Schmidt, "Police deny malice against dentist", The Windsor Star, Friday, February 8, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
Today's word is "ideological".
Define "ideological" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted on Sunday.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
SIMPLE MISUSE
LIKE/AS
What is the difference between "like" and "as"? What is the difference in usage of the two words? Create sentences that show the differences.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "mercurial".
Define "mercurial" and use it in a sentence.
THANK YOU!
Michael's English Usage has been voted Best Educational Blog 2007 by Canadian Blog Awards 2007.
Thanks to all who voted for my blog; thanks to the judges who gave this blog 1st place; but, most of all, thanks to you who want to improve English language usage.
I have no idea what winning means other than the vindication that the proper use of English is a never-ending challenge. I think of English usage with the same motivation that I have always given to the actors I have directed: "We can always do better!"
What is the difference between "like" and "as"? What is the difference in usage of the two words? Create sentences that show the differences.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "mercurial".
Define "mercurial" and use it in a sentence.
THANK YOU!
Michael's English Usage has been voted Best Educational Blog 2007 by Canadian Blog Awards 2007.
Thanks to all who voted for my blog; thanks to the judges who gave this blog 1st place; but, most of all, thanks to you who want to improve English language usage.
I have no idea what winning means other than the vindication that the proper use of English is a never-ending challenge. I think of English usage with the same motivation that I have always given to the actors I have directed: "We can always do better!"
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
PRONOUN PROBLEMS
MORE MISUSE
This is a continuation of Monday's word misuse.
Correct the errors in the sentences below and explain your efforts.
"Between her and myself there is a lot of knowledge."
"He gave an envious eye to her and I as we sped down the slopes."
"I and my girlfriend are really getting serious."
"You can talk to Harry and myself at any time that yous need some help."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "masticate".
Define "masticate" and use it in a sentence.
This is a continuation of Monday's word misuse.
Correct the errors in the sentences below and explain your efforts.
"Between her and myself there is a lot of knowledge."
"He gave an envious eye to her and I as we sped down the slopes."
"I and my girlfriend are really getting serious."
"You can talk to Harry and myself at any time that yous need some help."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "masticate".
Define "masticate" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
THOUGHT PROVOKING?
A TEAM EFFORT
Something seems odd or incorrect in each of the following. What is the problem in each? What are the solutions?
"Those calls went unreturned."
Jason Chapman, A-Channel News, Monday, February 4, 2008, 6:01 pm.
"[Benson students] put on a skit for fellow classmates."
Anna Vlachos, A-Channel News, Monday, February 4, 2008, 6:14 pm.
"...as we head further south..."
Julie Atchison, A-Channel weather, Monday, February 4, 2008, 6:14 pm.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "unconscionable".
Define "unconscionable" and use it in a sentence.
Something seems odd or incorrect in each of the following. What is the problem in each? What are the solutions?
"Those calls went unreturned."
Jason Chapman, A-Channel News, Monday, February 4, 2008, 6:01 pm.
"[Benson students] put on a skit for fellow classmates."
Anna Vlachos, A-Channel News, Monday, February 4, 2008, 6:14 pm.
"...as we head further south..."
Julie Atchison, A-Channel weather, Monday, February 4, 2008, 6:14 pm.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "unconscionable".
Define "unconscionable" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, February 4, 2008
TOO OFT MISUSED...
HIM/HER & HE/SHE
What is the correct use in sentences of each of the words: "he" or "she" and "him" or "her"?
Create sentences to illustrate your choices.
Examples
Explain the errors in each of the sentences below and correct them.
Him and her went to the store.
She and him went to the store.
He and her went to the store.
He and she went to the store.
They talked to her and I.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "misanthrope".
Define "misanthrope" and use it in a sentence.
What is the correct use in sentences of each of the words: "he" or "she" and "him" or "her"?
Create sentences to illustrate your choices.
Examples
Explain the errors in each of the sentences below and correct them.
Him and her went to the store.
She and him went to the store.
He and her went to the store.
He and she went to the store.
They talked to her and I.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "misanthrope".
Define "misanthrope" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - February 3, 2008
Below are the corrections and explanations for last week's postings.
Monday
THAN/THEN
"Than" is a conjunction of comparison; for example, this is larger than that.
"Then" is an adverb and refers to time; for example, I wrote and then I rested. ("Then" modifies rested because it answers the question "what" about the verb.)
The two words are pronounced differently and are not interchangeable.
TRY AND/TRY TO
"Try and" is non-standard and should not be used. Think of the logic of meaning: one does not "try" and then "do" something; one "tries to" accomplish together.
Tuesday
ENVIOUS/JEALOUS
"Jealous" (adj.) means feeling resentful, often brutally so, of another's successes or possessions. It also means suspicious fears or intolerance of a rival, particularly in love affairs.
"Envious" means disliking or begrudgement of someone for what he has. It is often a hatred that another has something that one does not have.
Wednesday
PREJUDICE/PREJUDICED
"Prejudice" means a slanted view against someone or something; it is a non-objective view.
When using the verb form, one is "prejudiced against"; one is not "prejudice against".
Thursday
Find and correct the errors:
"It appeared, however, the players in the Toronto sweaters still had visions
of laying on a beach in the sunny south."
"Laying" is a transitive verb and takes an object. The correct verb is "Lying".
"It appeared, however, the players in the Toronto sweaters still had visions
of lying on a beach in the sunny south."
"For instance, Tsunami's glass bowls can be used as back-lit wall pieces."
This is an incomplete thought. "For instance" must connect, via a semi-colon, to the sentence or clause immediately prior to it.
"Tsunami's glass bowls can be used as back-lit wall pieces."
Friday
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."
There is no such word as "furthest". "Further" means "in addition to" and cannot be used to denote distance. "farthest" must be used."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 farthest lane from the stopped cruiser as required under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act."
"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."
This is an incomplete thought. See the note about "for instance" above.
"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."
"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."
This is the same mistake cited earlier. At least the writer was consistent.)
"Police remind drivers that they are required to go to the farthest lane from a stopped emergence vehicle, provided it is safe to do so."
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."
This is said by Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, in the play of the same name.
The basic philosophy is that we all perform our lives but eventually, no matter what we do, our bombast and strutting signify nothing and if we think otherwise, we are fools.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Hirsute” (adj.) means hairy, unshaven or shaggy.
“Visceral” (adj.) means instinctual, deep-seated, inward or emotional, as in a "visceral fear".
“Loquacious” (adj.) means talkative, communicative, chatty, gossipy or windy.
“Bacchanalianism” (n.) means given to revelry,lewd or orgiastic merriment. It derives from Roman mythology and the festival in honour of Bacchus, the God of Wine.
“Garrulous" (adj.) means verbose, voluble, expansive or loquacious.
Monday
THAN/THEN
"Than" is a conjunction of comparison; for example, this is larger than that.
"Then" is an adverb and refers to time; for example, I wrote and then I rested. ("Then" modifies rested because it answers the question "what" about the verb.)
The two words are pronounced differently and are not interchangeable.
TRY AND/TRY TO
"Try and" is non-standard and should not be used. Think of the logic of meaning: one does not "try" and then "do" something; one "tries to" accomplish together.
Tuesday
ENVIOUS/JEALOUS
"Jealous" (adj.) means feeling resentful, often brutally so, of another's successes or possessions. It also means suspicious fears or intolerance of a rival, particularly in love affairs.
"Envious" means disliking or begrudgement of someone for what he has. It is often a hatred that another has something that one does not have.
Wednesday
PREJUDICE/PREJUDICED
"Prejudice" means a slanted view against someone or something; it is a non-objective view.
When using the verb form, one is "prejudiced against"; one is not "prejudice against".
Thursday
Find and correct the errors:
"It appeared, however, the players in the Toronto sweaters still had visions
of laying on a beach in the sunny south."
"Laying" is a transitive verb and takes an object. The correct verb is "Lying".
"It appeared, however, the players in the Toronto sweaters still had visions
of lying on a beach in the sunny south."
"For instance, Tsunami's glass bowls can be used as back-lit wall pieces."
This is an incomplete thought. "For instance" must connect, via a semi-colon, to the sentence or clause immediately prior to it.
"Tsunami's glass bowls can be used as back-lit wall pieces."
Friday
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."
There is no such word as "furthest". "Further" means "in addition to" and cannot be used to denote distance. "farthest" must be used."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 farthest lane from the stopped cruiser as required under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act."
"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."
This is an incomplete thought. See the note about "for instance" above.
"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."
"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."
This is the same mistake cited earlier. At least the writer was consistent.)
"Police remind drivers that they are required to go to the farthest lane from a stopped emergence vehicle, provided it is safe to do so."
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."
This is said by Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, in the play of the same name.
The basic philosophy is that we all perform our lives but eventually, no matter what we do, our bombast and strutting signify nothing and if we think otherwise, we are fools.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Hirsute” (adj.) means hairy, unshaven or shaggy.
“Visceral” (adj.) means instinctual, deep-seated, inward or emotional, as in a "visceral fear".
“Loquacious” (adj.) means talkative, communicative, chatty, gossipy or windy.
“Bacchanalianism” (n.) means given to revelry,lewd or orgiastic merriment. It derives from Roman mythology and the festival in honour of Bacchus, the God of Wine.
“Garrulous" (adj.) means verbose, voluble, expansive or loquacious.
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