Friday, July 18, 2008

ALWAYS THE SAME

NOT 1, BUT 2

Correct the errors in the following:

"The kitchen of the Columbia Court residence was clearly used to make crack cocaine, Cusinato found. Scales and a pot with cocaine residue in it was found there, and the 86.8 grams of crack cocaine was in plain view, he said."
Sarah Sacheli, "1 freed, 2 guilty of drug dealing", The Windsor Star, Friday, July 18, 2008.


TODAY'S WORD

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


CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS

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

Thursday, July 17, 2008

ANOTHER PURIST CHALLENGE

CONTINUAL/CONTINUOUS

Explain the difference in meaning between "continual" and "continuous".
Create sentences that illustrate the meanings of "continual" and "continuous".


JUST FOR PRACTICE

Are there any errors in the following?
If there are, fix them. (Do not discount the headline.)


"Two beat-up church vans carried 36 youth and eight adult supervisors from Hope, Ark., to Windsor in a bid to reach out to children in Olde Sandwich Towne."
Melissa Dunne, "U.S. church hosts camp", The Windsor Star, Thursday, July 17, 2008.


TODAY'S WORD

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

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

THIS & THAT

BROKE/BROKEN

Explain the correct use of the words "broke" and "broken".
To help, identify what part of speech each word is.
Create sentences using "broke" and "broken" correctly.


A GOOD LIFE PHILOSOPHY

Identify the author of the following:

“Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.”


TODAY'S WORD

Today's word is "incorrigible".
Use "incorrigible" in a sentence.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

TUESDAY TIDBITS

BREACH/BREECH

Explain the difference in meqning between "breach" and "breech".
Use each word in a sentence that clearly conveys its meaning.


TODAY'S WORD

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


A REQUEST

Yesterday, I posted a photo of a sign, with an obvious error, from a Dollarama store.
If you know of any other store signs with such errors, please let me know so I can extend the appropriate star treatment for the display.
Just click on COMMENT below, let me know the location of the sigh and I will do the rest.
And remember, you can remain completely anonymous.

Monday, July 14, 2008

THANK YOU DOLLARAMA

COLLABORATION/CORROBORATION/COOPERATION





Explain the differences in meaning of the words, "collaboration", "corroboration" and "cooperation".
Create a sentence for each word that illustrates its meaning.
(Read the bottom line.)
Photo submitted by Andrew at Internationalmetropolis.com Thank you.


TODAY'S WORD

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

Sunday, July 13, 2008

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - July 13, 2008

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

Monday

PRINCIPAL/PRINCIPLE

Principal” (n., adj.) refers to someone or something which is highest in rank or importance, as in the “principal of the school” or the “principle part of the loan”.

Principle” is only a noun, and has to do with law or doctrine, as in the “principle of fair play”.


Tuesday

PROVIDENCE/PROVIDENT/PROVINCIALITY

Providence” (n.) primarily means the care and guardianship of God over His creatures but has also come to mean fate, luck, chance or destiny.

Provident” (adj.)means sagacious, wise, far-seeing or showing foresight.

Provinciality” (n.) means having the character of some province or area and usually means rustic or rural.


Wednesday

PROSTRATE/PROSTATE/POSTULATE

Prostrate” (adj.) means lying face downward.

Prostate” (n.) is a gland surrounding the urethra in males.

Postulate” (v.) means to claim or assume the existence of truth or a basis of reasoning. As a noun it is a fundamental principle, prerequisite or necessary condition.


PRO PROBLEMS

Identify and correct the errors in the sentences below.

“In fact, it doesn't appear either have purchased anything since June 29. Koukousoulas, a regular at the casino, hasn't been there since last month. Both men are members of the local Greek community and none of their friends or associates have seen them since the date of their disappearance.
Police have followed every lead and tip they've been offered in the case, but are now at a dead end, Brown said.”

Sentence 1: “either” is a singular subject and needs a singular verb.
Sentence 3: “none” is a singular subject and needs a singular verb.
Sentence 4: the subject of each clause is the same so no comma is needed before “but”. If the subjects were different, a comma would be warranted.


“In fact, it doesn't appear either has purchased anything since June 29. Koukousoulas, a regular at the casino, hasn't been there since last month. Both men are members of the local Greek community and none of their friends or associates has seen them since the date of their disappearance.
Police have followed every lead and tip they've been offered in the case but are now at a dead end, Brown said.”


Thursday

PERSPECTIVE/PROSPECTIVE/PROSPECTUS

Perspective” (n.) means point of view, especially the ability to see the whole of something, as in, “The coach’s perspective includes the entire team roster”.

Prospective” (adj.) means "future or potential", as in, “Based on his training, his prospective earnings are enormous”.

Prospectus” (n.) is a statement which describes or advertises a forthcoming literary work, a new enterprise or the like, as in, “The prospectus for the new medical building is being revised”.


Friday

PSYCHOLOGIST/PSYCHIATRIST/PSYCHOTHERAPIST/PSYCHOANALYST

A “psychologist” is a person who has studied the mind and earned a Ph.D. or Psy.D.

A “psychiatrist” is an M.D. who can prescribe medicines and who specializes in the treatment of mental problems.

A “psychotherapist” is not a technical term, and may be used by anyone claiming to offer therapy for mental problems. No reference to qualifications is implied.

A “psychoanalyst” is a specific kind of psychotherapist: a licensed practitioner of the methods of Sigmund Freud.



QUOTES

“Perfection is a road not a destination. Every time I live, I get an education.”
Burk Hudson

“An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't.”
Anatole France

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”
Winston Churchill


THE WEEK’S WORDS

Provocateur” (n.) means an instigator or inciter.

“Paucity” (n.) means scarcity, dearth or smallness of quantity.

Preternatural” (adj.) means abnormal, supernatural or out of the ordinary course of nature.

Prosody” (n.) is the science or study of poetic meters and versifications.


SORRY!

There were only four words last week; I used one word twice because I was careless. Try the ones below.


Define “propensity” and “pervasive” and use them in sentences.