Here are the corrections for the past week's postings.
FYI: if you did not catch my spelling error in one of last week's entries, you are out of luck; it has been fixed. Too bad! so sad!
Monday
THE "SPOKEN" WORD
"Last year Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was in attendance. No invitation this time around."
The last unit has no verb, so is an incomplete thought.
"Last year Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was in attendance. No invitation was issued this time around."
Tuesday
Identify the errors in the following:
"Laprise, 54, was doing it behind his boss and longtime friend's back, court was told."
Do the boss and friend share a back?
“Long-time” is a hyphenated word.
"Laprise, 54, was doing it behind his boss and long-time friend's backs, court was told."
"White had already booked Tuesday off of work in anticipation of the hangover."
“Off of” consists of two prepositions that are never used together.
"White had already booked Tuesday off work in anticipation of the hangover."
Wednesday
Identify the errors in the following examples. Correct them.
"As I reflect back on my life I think only of the good times."
“Reflect back” is redundant.
"As I reflect on my life I think only of the good times."
"The other alternative is to think of the disasters but that would be real upsetting."
“Other alternative” is redundant.
"The alternative is to think of the disasters but that would be real upsetting."
Thursday
STYLE VS. STRUCTURE
"Because the most frightening thing about Woods is that he hasn't reached his apex yet."
This clause begins with the subordinate conjunction “because” and, therefore is an incomplete thought. Remove the conjunction.
"The most frightening thing about Woods is that he hasn't reached his apex yet."
"Athletes like him and stories like this come around once in a lifetime. If that. Enjoy. Magical Sundays can't last forever. Not even in Tiger's world."
This example has a series of incomplete thoughts.
"Athletes like him and stories like this come around once in a lifetime, if that. Enjoy. Magical Sundays can't last forever, not even in Tiger's world."
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Clamourous" (adj.) means offensively noisy, boisterous or loud.
“Unctuous" (adj.) means unpleasantly ingratiating, oily, smarmy or fawning.
“Cataclysmic" (adj.) means cruel, brutal or severely damaging.
“Felicitation" (n.) means congratulations or an expression of good wishes.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
MAKE A DECISION
STYLE VS. STRUCTURE
Read the following entries and identify the construction errors. Decide if you think the writing style justifies the structural flaws. Consider that the entries are "editorial opinion" rather than news stories.
"Because the most frightening thing about Woods is that he hasn't reached his apex yet."
Editorial Opinion, "Tiger Woods, Making putts and history", The Windsor Star, Thursday, March 20, 2008.
"Athletes like him and stories like this come around once in a lifetime. If that. Enjoy. Magical Sundays can't last forever. Not even in Tiger's world."
Editorial Opinion, "Tiger Woods, Making putts and history", The Windsor Star, Thursday, March 20, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "felicitation".
Define felicitation" and use it in your conversations today.
NOTICE
There will be no posting tomorrow, Friday, March 21, 2008.
Corrections and Explanations will be published some time on the weekend.
HAPPY EASTER
Read the following entries and identify the construction errors. Decide if you think the writing style justifies the structural flaws. Consider that the entries are "editorial opinion" rather than news stories.
"Because the most frightening thing about Woods is that he hasn't reached his apex yet."
Editorial Opinion, "Tiger Woods, Making putts and history", The Windsor Star, Thursday, March 20, 2008.
"Athletes like him and stories like this come around once in a lifetime. If that. Enjoy. Magical Sundays can't last forever. Not even in Tiger's world."
Editorial Opinion, "Tiger Woods, Making putts and history", The Windsor Star, Thursday, March 20, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "felicitation".
Define felicitation" and use it in your conversations today.
NOTICE
There will be no posting tomorrow, Friday, March 21, 2008.
Corrections and Explanations will be published some time on the weekend.
HAPPY EASTER
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
FUN-SENSE
CARELESS THINKING
Identify the errors in the following examples. Correct them.
(Hint: there are more than two.)
"As I reflect back on my life I think only of the good times."
"The other alternative is to think of the disasters but that would be real upsetting."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "cataclysmic".
Define "cataclysmic" and use it in a sentence.
Identify the errors in the following examples. Correct them.
(Hint: there are more than two.)
"As I reflect back on my life I think only of the good times."
"The other alternative is to think of the disasters but that would be real upsetting."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "cataclysmic".
Define "cataclysmic" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
POST GREEN BLUES
LITTLE ANNOYANCES
Identify the errors in the following:
"Laprise, 54, was doing it behind his boss and longtime friend's back, court was told."
Sarah Sacheli, "Transactions faked, court told", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
"White had already booked Tuesday off of work in anticipation of the hangover."
Barbara Simpson, "Revellers are Irish for a day", THe Windsor Star, Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
A CHALLENGE
Count the number of incomplete sentences in today's Windsor Star editorial, "The border".
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "unctuous".
Define "unctious" and use it in a sentence.
Identify the errors in the following:
"Laprise, 54, was doing it behind his boss and longtime friend's back, court was told."
Sarah Sacheli, "Transactions faked, court told", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
"White had already booked Tuesday off of work in anticipation of the hangover."
Barbara Simpson, "Revellers are Irish for a day", THe Windsor Star, Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
A CHALLENGE
Count the number of incomplete sentences in today's Windsor Star editorial, "The border".
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "unctuous".
Define "unctious" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, March 17, 2008
MONDAY MEANDERING
THE "SPOKEN" WORD
Re: State of the City Address
"Last year Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was in attendance. No invitation this time around."
Jim Crichton, A-Channel News, Friday, March 14, 2008, 11:05 pm.
LEND/LOAN USAGE (CONT'D)
Personally, I do not like the use of "loan" as a verb; I prefer to use "loan" exclusively as a noun and "lend" as the verb form.
I appreciate the comment and accept the criticism of this choice.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "clamourous".
Define "clamourous" and use it in a sentence.
Re: State of the City Address
"Last year Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was in attendance. No invitation this time around."
Jim Crichton, A-Channel News, Friday, March 14, 2008, 11:05 pm.
LEND/LOAN USAGE (CONT'D)
Personally, I do not like the use of "loan" as a verb; I prefer to use "loan" exclusively as a noun and "lend" as the verb form.
I appreciate the comment and accept the criticism of this choice.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "clamourous".
Define "clamourous" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - March 16, 2008
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's postings.
Monday
Correct the errors in the following piece.
"He's been gambling "heavy" for the last three years. Carey loaned a friend some money without the permission of his family. When the person that owed him money died before repaying him, Carey needed a way to get the cash back without his family finding out."
I do not like “he’s” in the context of “he has”, but usage seems to allow it. I would prefer no contractions.
“Loaned” is incorrect. The verb form of “loan” is “lend”. The past tense of “lend” is “lent”.
I will accept “heavy” as colloquial usage, but it should be “heavily”.
“That” should not be used to refer to people; the word should be “who”.
"He's been gambling "heavy" for the last three years. Carey lent a friend some money without the permission of his family. When the person who owed him money died before repaying him, Carey needed a way to get the cash back without his family finding out."
Tuesday
REGRETFULLY/REGRETTABLY
“Regretfully” may be used, only within the body of a sentence, to describe the manner in which someone does something, as in “He, regretfully, chickened out and ran home.”
“Regrettably” is an adverb used to introduce an expression of regret, as in “Regrettably, it rained on our parade.”
Wednesday
A TEST
There are ten (10) errors in the sentences below. Can you find and fix them?
There is a lot of differences between you and I. (2)
Correction
There are a lot of differences between you and me.
She said she could care less weather or not people liked her. (2)
Correction
She said she could not care less whether or not people liked her.
Lent is a religious season that lasts fourty days. (1)
Correction
Lent is a religious season that lasts forty days.
Mary did not have enough money to pay her rent so I loaned her some. (2)
Correction
Mary did not have enough money to pay her rent so I lent her some.
City Council and myself are in agreement about this new bylaw the mayor said.
Correction
City Council and I are in agreement about this new bylaw the mayor said. (1)
My feet were so cold I couldn't hardly feel them and I couldn't walk any further. (2)
Correction
My feet were so cold I could hardly feel them and I couldn't walk any farther.
Thursday
ANYONE/ANY ONE
“Anyone” is a compound pronoun and refers to “any person”.
“Any One” is a modified pronoun designating or emphasizing the “one” and is usually followed by a prepositional phrase starting with the word “of”, such as in the sentence, “Any one of the suspects could have done the crime.”
Friday
What are the errors in the following sentences? Correct them.
"As he does his retirement, really a year before it was necessary."
Even within the context, this is an incomplete thought; it should be reworded.“He retired a year before it was really necessary.”
"It was a bit of a weird move but it worked out really, really well," she said, although she said they still miss Tim Hortons, Kraft Dinner and Triscuits. Not to mention their families.
The last group of words is an incomplete thought and should be connected with the main thought with the correct punctuation, a comma; it also should be reworded to be included as part of the quote.
"It was a bit of a weird move but it worked out really, really well, although they still miss Tim Hortons, Kraft Dinner and Triscuits, not to mention their families,” she said.
A GOOD THOUGHT
Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge.
Mark Twain authored this quote.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Apostasy" (n.) means a rejection or renunciation of one’s religious beliefs.
“Succubus" (n.) means an evil spirit or demon. It is taken from the Latin “succuba” which was a female demon that had sex with sleeping men.
“Oblivious" (adj.) means blind to, unaware or ignorant of something.
“Destitution" (n.) means to be without friends, prospects or money.
“Veracity" (n.) means truthfulness, legitimacy or genuineness.
Monday
Correct the errors in the following piece.
"He's been gambling "heavy" for the last three years. Carey loaned a friend some money without the permission of his family. When the person that owed him money died before repaying him, Carey needed a way to get the cash back without his family finding out."
I do not like “he’s” in the context of “he has”, but usage seems to allow it. I would prefer no contractions.
“Loaned” is incorrect. The verb form of “loan” is “lend”. The past tense of “lend” is “lent”.
I will accept “heavy” as colloquial usage, but it should be “heavily”.
“That” should not be used to refer to people; the word should be “who”.
"He's been gambling "heavy" for the last three years. Carey lent a friend some money without the permission of his family. When the person who owed him money died before repaying him, Carey needed a way to get the cash back without his family finding out."
Tuesday
REGRETFULLY/REGRETTABLY
“Regretfully” may be used, only within the body of a sentence, to describe the manner in which someone does something, as in “He, regretfully, chickened out and ran home.”
“Regrettably” is an adverb used to introduce an expression of regret, as in “Regrettably, it rained on our parade.”
Wednesday
A TEST
There are ten (10) errors in the sentences below. Can you find and fix them?
There is a lot of differences between you and I. (2)
Correction
There are a lot of differences between you and me.
She said she could care less weather or not people liked her. (2)
Correction
She said she could not care less whether or not people liked her.
Lent is a religious season that lasts fourty days. (1)
Correction
Lent is a religious season that lasts forty days.
Mary did not have enough money to pay her rent so I loaned her some. (2)
Correction
Mary did not have enough money to pay her rent so I lent her some.
City Council and myself are in agreement about this new bylaw the mayor said.
Correction
City Council and I are in agreement about this new bylaw the mayor said. (1)
My feet were so cold I couldn't hardly feel them and I couldn't walk any further. (2)
Correction
My feet were so cold I could hardly feel them and I couldn't walk any farther.
Thursday
ANYONE/ANY ONE
“Anyone” is a compound pronoun and refers to “any person”.
“Any One” is a modified pronoun designating or emphasizing the “one” and is usually followed by a prepositional phrase starting with the word “of”, such as in the sentence, “Any one of the suspects could have done the crime.”
Friday
What are the errors in the following sentences? Correct them.
"As he does his retirement, really a year before it was necessary."
Even within the context, this is an incomplete thought; it should be reworded.“He retired a year before it was really necessary.”
"It was a bit of a weird move but it worked out really, really well," she said, although she said they still miss Tim Hortons, Kraft Dinner and Triscuits. Not to mention their families.
The last group of words is an incomplete thought and should be connected with the main thought with the correct punctuation, a comma; it also should be reworded to be included as part of the quote.
"It was a bit of a weird move but it worked out really, really well, although they still miss Tim Hortons, Kraft Dinner and Triscuits, not to mention their families,” she said.
A GOOD THOUGHT
Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge.
Mark Twain authored this quote.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Apostasy" (n.) means a rejection or renunciation of one’s religious beliefs.
“Succubus" (n.) means an evil spirit or demon. It is taken from the Latin “succuba” which was a female demon that had sex with sleeping men.
“Oblivious" (adj.) means blind to, unaware or ignorant of something.
“Destitution" (n.) means to be without friends, prospects or money.
“Veracity" (n.) means truthfulness, legitimacy or genuineness.
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