Saturday, February 16, 2008

SATURDAY SPECIAL

THANKS

I thank Ted Whipp from The Windsor Star for his story about all the awards Windsor bloggers have earned. Ted has drawn attention to Windsorites who have something to say and the exposure is appreciated.
I especially thank Ted on behalf of this blog, Michael's English Usage, particularly because his newspaper very often supplies me with my material.
In defence of The Windsor Star writers, I must say that I think there is a marked improvement in presentation. Bravo!
BUT, I will keep up my subscription.


TO KFJ

Comments must be relevant to the topic of the day to be posted.

Friday, February 15, 2008

MORE THINKING REQUIRED

MAJORITY - SINGULAR or PLURAL?

The examples below are a question of usage and intent, not a suggestion of error.
What is your opinion?

"Majority of cops don't want OPP."
"A majority of the members of the Essex Police Association have vorted against joining the OPP..."
"The majority of people don't welcome change..."
Gary Rennie, "Majority of cops don't want OPP", The Windsor Star, Friday, February 15, 2008.


ADAGE

I like this one. I admit I didn't know the writer when I read it.
Do you know who penned this? I will give you bragging rights for a day if you are able to identify the author.


"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge."


TODAY'S WORD

Today's word is "peripatetic".

Define "peripatetic" and use it in a sentence.


CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS

Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted on Sunday.

To those who think I need a comma in my line, "Purists, please relax," I have inserted one.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

SOME THOUGHT REQUIRED

RIGHT/RITE/WRITE/WRIGHT

All of the above words have the same pronunciation in common usage. (Purists, please relax.)
What is the meaning of each word?
Use each word in a sentence that illustrates its meaning.

A REALISTIC PHILOSOPHY

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings."

I am sure you can identify the author and source of the quote.

Who is the speaker?
What is the meaning?


TODAY'S WORD

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

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

THINKERS

A POSER

Under what circumstances could the following be considered correct?

"Windsor and Essex County is welcoming ambassadors from around the world this week."
Anna Vlachos, A-Channel News, Tuesday, February 12, 2008, 11:28 pm.


LIBEL/SLANDER

Explain the difference between "libel" and "slander".


TODAY'S WORD

You will probably never use this word, but it is wonderfully onomatopoetic.

Define the word "smarmy".

Use "smarmy" in a sentence. Try not to slander anyone.


BRAVO

Thank you, CD, for drawing my attention to the error. BUT, there was another, which I have fixed, that you missed.
To those who missed the errors...too bad! They have been fixed.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

FUN CHALLENGE

STAND/STANCE

Through definition and use, explain the differences between the words, "stand" and "stance".


TODAY'S WORD

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

Monday, February 11, 2008

WORDY MONDAY

WORDS WE SHOULD KNOW

DISSEMBLE/DISASSEMBLE

What is the difference between "dissemble" and "disassemble"?

EXORCISE/EXERCISE

What is the difference between "exorcise" and "exercise"?


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "excoriate".

Define "excoriate" and use it in a sentence.


MANDATE COMMENT

Someone sent a comment asking about the wording of my "Mandate" posted to the right. He asked about the use of "absolutely" in "...absolutely terrible misuse..." rather than "absolute".
"Absolutely" is used because it describes or modifies the adjective "terrible" and only an adverb can modify an adjective. I am emphasizing "terrible" as opposed to "misuse".



THANKS

I thank Tony Doucette and his The Early Shift Show on CBC Radio 1550 for the interview this morning. It was fun. Publicity for the blog is always welcome.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - February 10, 2008

Monday

HIM/HER & HE/SHE

"He" and "she", and their plural form, “they“, are personal pronouns that can only be used as subjects.

"Him" and "her", and their plural form, “them”, are personal pronouns that can only be used as objects.

BONUS

I” is a personal pronoun that can only be used as subject.
Me” is a personal pronoun that can only be used as object.

Examples

Him and her went to the store.
Correction
He and she went to the store.

She and him went to the store.
Correction
She and he went to the store.

He and her went to the store.
Correction
He and she went to the store.

He and she went to the store.
Correction
He and she went to the store.

They talked to her and I.
Correction
They talked to her and me.


Tuesday

Something seems odd or incorrect in each of the following. What is the problem in each? What are the solutions?

"Those calls went unreturned."
How can calls “go”? This is a cliché that does not make sense.
"Those calls were unreturned."

"[Benson students] put on a skit for fellow classmates."
Isn’t “fellow classmates” redundant? Am I being too picky?"
[Benson students] put on a skit for their classmates."

"...as we head further south..."
“Further” means “in addition to”. “Farther” indicates distance.
"...as we head farther south..."


Wednesday

"Between her and myself there is a lot of knowledge."
This is an awkward sounding sentence but the major error is the misuse of “myself” which is a reflexive pronoun and cannot be used as a subject.
"There is a lot of knowledge between her and me."
Even this sounds awkward.
She and I have a lot of knowledge.

"He gave an envious eye to her and I as we sped down the slopes."
“To her and I” is a phrase. A phrase has a preposition and its object(s). “I” cannot be used as object.
"He gave an envious eye to her and me as we sped down the slopes."

"I and my girlfriend are really getting serious."
When mentioning yourself with another person, the other person should always be cited first.
"My girlfriend and I are really getting serious."

"You can talk to Harry and myself at any time that yous need some help."
“Myself” is reflexive and cannot be used as an object.
THERE IS NO SUCH WORD AS “YOUS”! The plural of “you” is “you”.

"You can talk to Harry and me at any time that you need some help."


Thursday

LIKE/AS

Like” is a preposition. A preposition starts a phrase and takes an object. It cannot be used to start a clause.
‘He fights like a demon.”

As” is a conjunction. A conjunction starts a clause and is, therefore, followed by a subject and verb. It cannot be used to start a phrase.
“He fights as a demon would fight.


Friday

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."
“Neither” is singular and demands a singular verb.
"During his cross-examination of Mlynek, Monroe questioned whether the two alleged home invasions, neither of which was reported to police at the time, had taken place."

"None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been proven in court."
“None” is singular and demands a singular verb.
"None of the allegations in the lawsuit has been proven in court."


THE WEEK’S WORDS

Misanthrope" (n.) means a hater of man or mankind.

Unconscionable" (adj.) means without morals, villainous, unprincipled or exorbitant.

Masticate" (v.) means to chew or jaw.

Mercurial" (adj.) means shrewdness, quickness, changeability or erratic in behaviour.

Ideological" (adj.) refers to the science of ideas, the visionary quality of someone or of a group, or to the doctrine of a particular group.