SORRY, BUT...
As much as I like Mr. Gervais, I cannot let the following go.
Identify and correct the errors below.
"I have come to realize intimately how much one's job defines who you are. All your routines, biases and outlook on life."
Marty Gervais, "IT'S BEEN A SLICE - OF LIFE", The Windsor Star, Friday, August 22, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "diaphanous".
Define "diaphanous" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be published Sunday.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - VACATION
There will be no postings next week.
The fall series of postings will begin on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
LOTS OF STUFF
DUMB CLICHÉS - Volume 2
Sports Department
Example 1: Hockey
"He went upstairs."
(Is that where his seats were?)
Example 2: Baseball
"It went as straight as a string."
(Have you ever seen a straight string?)
REGRETFULLY/REGRETTABLY
Explain the difference between "regretfully" and "regretably".
Use each word in a sentence.
TODAY'S WORD
Today's word is "opulent".
Define "opulent" and use it in a sentence.
Sports Department
Example 1: Hockey
"He went upstairs."
(Is that where his seats were?)
Example 2: Baseball
"It went as straight as a string."
(Have you ever seen a straight string?)
REGRETFULLY/REGRETTABLY
Explain the difference between "regretfully" and "regretably".
Use each word in a sentence.
TODAY'S WORD
Today's word is "opulent".
Define "opulent" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A MIXED BAG
GRISLY/GRIZZLY
Explain the difference between the words "grisly" and "grizzly".
Use both words in the same sentence being sure that the meaning of each is obvious.
THINK ABOUT THIS
Identify the author of the following quote.
“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "rapacious".
Define "rapacious" and use it in a sentence.
CLICHÉS WANTED
Send your favourite DUMB CLICHÉ and I will post it.
Explain the difference between the words "grisly" and "grizzly".
Use both words in the same sentence being sure that the meaning of each is obvious.
THINK ABOUT THIS
Identify the author of the following quote.
“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "rapacious".
Define "rapacious" and use it in a sentence.
CLICHÉS WANTED
Send your favourite DUMB CLICHÉ and I will post it.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
SOMETHING NEW
DUMB CLICHÉS - A CONTINUUM
Today, I begin a new section which I call DUMB CLICHÉS.
Certain phrases are so trite, so childishly campy and so often used they need highlighting and will receive all the ridicule they deserve.
I ask you to participate and to send me your examples of dumb clichés.
I will add entries periodically and, hopefully, regularly.
TODAY'S DUMB CLICHÉ
Example 1 (Thanks, Jim)
"Throw under the bus!"
What on earth is that supposed to mean?
Example 2
"Think outside the envelope!"
How many times a day do you hear that piece of drivel?
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "hackneyed".
Define "hackneyed" and use it in a sentence.
Today, I begin a new section which I call DUMB CLICHÉS.
Certain phrases are so trite, so childishly campy and so often used they need highlighting and will receive all the ridicule they deserve.
I ask you to participate and to send me your examples of dumb clichés.
I will add entries periodically and, hopefully, regularly.
TODAY'S DUMB CLICHÉ
Example 1 (Thanks, Jim)
"Throw under the bus!"
What on earth is that supposed to mean?
Example 2
"Think outside the envelope!"
How many times a day do you hear that piece of drivel?
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "hackneyed".
Define "hackneyed" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, August 18, 2008
QUICK CHALLENGE
UNDO/UNDUE
Explain the difference between "undo" and "undue".
Use each word in a sentence that clearly reflects its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "diaphanous".
Define "diaphanous" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference between "undo" and "undue".
Use each word in a sentence that clearly reflects its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "diaphanous".
Define "diaphanous" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - August 17, 2008
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
MEANTIME/MEANWHILE
“Meantime”, a noun meaning interim, should be used in such phrases as “in the meantime”.
“Meanwhile”, an adverb indicating time, should be used when it stands alone at the beginning of a sentence.
Nouns and adverbs are, generally, not interchangeable.
Tuesday
TAKEN BACK/TAKEN ABACK
“Taken back” means that something has been returned.
“Taken aback” means to be startled or shocked .
Wednesday
FURL/FURROW
“"Furl"” means to lower a sail and wrap it.
“"Furrow"” means a rut or crease. You can have a furrow in your brow if you are perplexed. You can make a furrow in the ground with your plow.
Thursday
Find and correct the errors in the entries cited below. (A snob purist would say there are five; three should be obvious.)
“Just beyond the Windsor area fuel prices are about a nickel a litre cheaper. Go a bit further to Kingsville or Leamington, and the savings are almost a dime a litre.”
“Further” means in addition to. “Farther” refers to distance.
The comma after Leamington is unnecessary.
“Just beyond the Windsor area fuel prices are about a nickel a litre cheaper. Go a bit farther to Kingsville or Leamington and the savings are almost a dime a litre.”
“Burton went a step farther and argued that Canadian Pacific - which also had fatalities on its tracks - should be pressured to erect more fences along its line, which also passes through Lakeshore and Tecumseh.”
“Farther” refers to distance. “Further” means in addition to.
I am not a fan of using dashes in sentencing and recommend the use of commas. I will not consider dashes wrong but a real purist would.
“Burton went a step further and argued that Canadian Pacific, which also had fatalities on its tracks, should be pressured to erect more fences along its line, which also passes through Lakeshore and Tecumseh.”
“But twining the existing facility would cost more, -- $43 per household.”
“Twining” means twisting around. “Twinning” means doubling.
Read the note above regarding dashes.
“But twinning the existing facility would cost more, $43 per household.”
Friday
SO/VERY
“Very”, an adverb, is used to intensify a meaning as in “very tart”.
“So”, an adverb, means as a result, consequently, subsequently or therefore. “So” is not interchangeable with “very” because it puts a question into the mix: “She was so happy.” She was so happy as what…?”
A WONDERFUL ETHIC
“Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.”
William Shakespeare wrote this in Titus Andronicus.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Iniquitous” (adj.) means wicked, sinful, evil or immoral.
“Decadent” (adj.) means corrupt debauched, depraved or degenerate.
“Precocious” means prematurely intelligent, bright or gifted.
“Assimilation” (n.) means absorption, integration or digestion into the system.
“Minion” (n.) means a follower, an underling, a subordinate, a servile base favourite of a patron or prince.
“Minion” (adj.) means dainty, elegant, trim or pretty.
Monday
MEANTIME/MEANWHILE
“Meantime”, a noun meaning interim, should be used in such phrases as “in the meantime”.
“Meanwhile”, an adverb indicating time, should be used when it stands alone at the beginning of a sentence.
Nouns and adverbs are, generally, not interchangeable.
Tuesday
TAKEN BACK/TAKEN ABACK
“Taken back” means that something has been returned.
“Taken aback” means to be startled or shocked .
Wednesday
FURL/FURROW
“"Furl"” means to lower a sail and wrap it.
“"Furrow"” means a rut or crease. You can have a furrow in your brow if you are perplexed. You can make a furrow in the ground with your plow.
Thursday
Find and correct the errors in the entries cited below. (A snob purist would say there are five; three should be obvious.)
“Just beyond the Windsor area fuel prices are about a nickel a litre cheaper. Go a bit further to Kingsville or Leamington, and the savings are almost a dime a litre.”
“Further” means in addition to. “Farther” refers to distance.
The comma after Leamington is unnecessary.
“Just beyond the Windsor area fuel prices are about a nickel a litre cheaper. Go a bit farther to Kingsville or Leamington and the savings are almost a dime a litre.”
“Burton went a step farther and argued that Canadian Pacific - which also had fatalities on its tracks - should be pressured to erect more fences along its line, which also passes through Lakeshore and Tecumseh.”
“Farther” refers to distance. “Further” means in addition to.
I am not a fan of using dashes in sentencing and recommend the use of commas. I will not consider dashes wrong but a real purist would.
“Burton went a step further and argued that Canadian Pacific, which also had fatalities on its tracks, should be pressured to erect more fences along its line, which also passes through Lakeshore and Tecumseh.”
“But twining the existing facility would cost more, -- $43 per household.”
“Twining” means twisting around. “Twinning” means doubling.
Read the note above regarding dashes.
“But twinning the existing facility would cost more, $43 per household.”
Friday
SO/VERY
“Very”, an adverb, is used to intensify a meaning as in “very tart”.
“So”, an adverb, means as a result, consequently, subsequently or therefore. “So” is not interchangeable with “very” because it puts a question into the mix: “She was so happy.” She was so happy as what…?”
A WONDERFUL ETHIC
“Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.”
William Shakespeare wrote this in Titus Andronicus.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Iniquitous” (adj.) means wicked, sinful, evil or immoral.
“Decadent” (adj.) means corrupt debauched, depraved or degenerate.
“Precocious” means prematurely intelligent, bright or gifted.
“Assimilation” (n.) means absorption, integration or digestion into the system.
“Minion” (n.) means a follower, an underling, a subordinate, a servile base favourite of a patron or prince.
“Minion” (adj.) means dainty, elegant, trim or pretty.
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