WOMAN/WOMEN
Explain the difference between "woman" and "women".
What are the possessive forms of each word?
CHARACTER
Who penned the following philosophy?
“Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "macabre".
What part of speech is "macabre"?
Define "macabre" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted on Sunday.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
QUOTATION MARKS - LESSON 2
BACK TO BASICS
Find and fix the error in the following piece.
"None of the stores are being expanded but all are undergoing multi-million dollar renovations, reorganizations and facelifts."
Dave Hall, "Zehrs stores converted in face of stiff competition", The Windsor Star, Thursday, September 18, 2008.
QUOTATION MARKS
LESSON B - Special Punctuation
Rule 3a
A question mark can be found outside the quotation mark if the sentence is asking about a quotation, but the quotation itself is not a question.
Did Mark Antony say, "Friends, Romans, countrymen"?
Rule 3b
When the question is about a quotation ending in a question, the sentence ends with a single question mark before the quotation mark.
Who said, "Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle toward my hand?"
Exercise
Insert quotation marks, capitalizations and punctuation in the following. (I have purposely left out all punctuation and capitalizations.)
did Oscar Wilde say ambition is the last refuge of failure
For another view of quotation marks and punctuation, check the "Back to Basics" entry above.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "acerbic".
Define "acerbic" and use it in a sentence.
Find and fix the error in the following piece.
"None of the stores are being expanded but all are undergoing multi-million dollar renovations, reorganizations and facelifts."
Dave Hall, "Zehrs stores converted in face of stiff competition", The Windsor Star, Thursday, September 18, 2008.
QUOTATION MARKS
LESSON B - Special Punctuation
Rule 3a
A question mark can be found outside the quotation mark if the sentence is asking about a quotation, but the quotation itself is not a question.
Did Mark Antony say, "Friends, Romans, countrymen"?
Rule 3b
When the question is about a quotation ending in a question, the sentence ends with a single question mark before the quotation mark.
Who said, "Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle toward my hand?"
Exercise
Insert quotation marks, capitalizations and punctuation in the following. (I have purposely left out all punctuation and capitalizations.)
did Oscar Wilde say ambition is the last refuge of failure
For another view of quotation marks and punctuation, check the "Back to Basics" entry above.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "acerbic".
Define "acerbic" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
QUOTATION MARK CHALLENGES
QUOTATION MARKS
LESSON A - Quotations Marks in Direct Quotations
RULE 1a
When a person or work is quoted directly and word for word, the quotation is placed in quotation marks.
She trilled excitedly, "Look at that!"
RULE 1b
An indirect quotation in which the substance but not exact wording is used does not take quotations marks.
She said that it was really impressive.
RULE 2a
If a question or exclamation is quoted directly, the quotation contains the question mark or exclamation point.
She asked her girlfriend, "Did you see that?"
RULE 2b
If the question or exclamation is at the end of the quotation, the question mark or exclamation point comes before the closing quotation mark.
"Look at that!" the girlfriend exclaimed. "Can you believe that?"
EXERCISE
Insert quotation marks, capitalizations and punctuation in the following sentences. (I have purposely left out all punctuation and capitalizations.)
how are you he asked
did you know that your face is red
wow she lisped that is impressive
caesar said et tu brute and died
Lesson B will be posted tomorrow.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "implacable".
Define "implacable" and use it in a sentence.
LESSON A - Quotations Marks in Direct Quotations
RULE 1a
When a person or work is quoted directly and word for word, the quotation is placed in quotation marks.
She trilled excitedly, "Look at that!"
RULE 1b
An indirect quotation in which the substance but not exact wording is used does not take quotations marks.
She said that it was really impressive.
RULE 2a
If a question or exclamation is quoted directly, the quotation contains the question mark or exclamation point.
She asked her girlfriend, "Did you see that?"
RULE 2b
If the question or exclamation is at the end of the quotation, the question mark or exclamation point comes before the closing quotation mark.
"Look at that!" the girlfriend exclaimed. "Can you believe that?"
EXERCISE
Insert quotation marks, capitalizations and punctuation in the following sentences. (I have purposely left out all punctuation and capitalizations.)
how are you he asked
did you know that your face is red
wow she lisped that is impressive
caesar said et tu brute and died
Lesson B will be posted tomorrow.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "implacable".
Define "implacable" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
TUESDAY'S CHALLENGES
IGNORANT/STUPID
Explain the difference in meaning of the words "ignorant" and "stupid".
What part of speech is each word?
What is the noun form of each word?
Use "ignorant" and "stupid" in sentences that depict their individual meanings.
QUOTATION MARKS - SPECIAL REQUEST
I have received a request to give some direction on the use of quotation marks so I will begin that tomorrow.
For a hint of the use of quotation marks, check the TODAY'S WORD entry below. Note the placement of the punctuation and try to posit the governing rules.
Check in tomorrow and I will explain some more.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "iniquitous".
Define "iniquitous" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference in meaning of the words "ignorant" and "stupid".
What part of speech is each word?
What is the noun form of each word?
Use "ignorant" and "stupid" in sentences that depict their individual meanings.
QUOTATION MARKS - SPECIAL REQUEST
I have received a request to give some direction on the use of quotation marks so I will begin that tomorrow.
For a hint of the use of quotation marks, check the TODAY'S WORD entry below. Note the placement of the punctuation and try to posit the governing rules.
Check in tomorrow and I will explain some more.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "iniquitous".
Define "iniquitous" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, September 15, 2008
LOTS OF IDEAS
REDUNDANCIES - FYI
I would like to start a list of reduncies, the stupider the better.
I offer the following as my first contributions:
"Other alternative"
"Past history".
Send me some suggestions by clicking on COMMENT below, and I will post them.
COMPARE TO/COMPARE WITH
Explain the correct use of the terms "compare to" and "compare with".
Create sentences to illustrate your choices.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "colloquy".
Define "colloquy" and use it in a sentence.
I would like to start a list of reduncies, the stupider the better.
I offer the following as my first contributions:
"Other alternative"
"Past history".
Send me some suggestions by clicking on COMMENT below, and I will post them.
COMPARE TO/COMPARE WITH
Explain the correct use of the terms "compare to" and "compare with".
Create sentences to illustrate your choices.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "colloquy".
Define "colloquy" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - September 14, 2008
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's postings.
Monday
ANONYMOUS COMMENT
The following comment was sent to this blog by ANONYMOUS. Determine the number of errors it contains. Correct the errors.
“I think you must hate Shakespeare. He spelled the same words differently and made up over 1700 words. This over a timespan of how many years? Funnily enough, the audiences of the day were able to understand what he was saying, apparently unimpeded. Perhaps you are just dense!!”
"This over a timespan of how many years?" This is an incomplete thought; it has no verb.
“Time span is two words, not one.
One exclamation mark is considered sufficient in accepted, correct writing.
I will not even mention the use of three persons in one paragraph, which is a total violation of accepted writing practices.
“I think you must hate Shakespeare. He spelled the same words differently and made up over 1700 words. This occurred over a times pan of how many years? Funnily enough, the audiences of the day were able to understand what he was saying, apparently unimpeded. Perhaps you are just dense!”
Tuesday
A COMMON SLIP
Identify and correct the error in the following sentence.
“It is definitely not equal between all of the parties.”
“Between” is used with two units. “Among” is used when referring to three or more units.
“It is definitely not equal among all of the parties.”
Wednesday
PRECEDENCE/PRECEDENTS
“Precedence” means giving priority, preference or primacy to something as in the star being given the better table than the amateur hockey player at a restaurant.
“Precedents” is just the plural of precedent, as in models, guides or standards for good behaviour.
Thursday
MANIC/MANIAC/MANIACAL
“Manic” (adj.) refers, in psychology, to a clinical condition, usually of frenzy or overexcitement.
“Maniac” (n.) refers to a crazy person, usually a fanatical type.
“Maniacal” is the adjectival form of “maniac” and the stress is on the second syllable.
Friday
A LITTLE TEST
In each of the following sentences, choose the correct pronoun.
Give reasons for each choice.
1. Is he the friend of (who, whom) you speak?
Is he the friend of whom you speak? (Objective case)
2. Are they the relatives (who, whom) you visited?
Are they the relatives whom you visited? (Objective case)
3. I do not know the girls (who, whom) we passed.
I do not know the girls whom we passed. (Objective case)
4. He is a man for (who, whom) I have great respect.
He is a man for whom I have great respect. (Objective case)
5. He is a mechanic (who, whom) my father works with.
He is a mechanic whom my father works with. (Objective case)
6. She is the girl (who, that) sang so well.
She is the girl who sang so well. (Subjective case)
7. The teacher praised the students (whose, who's) desks were tidy.
The teacher praised the students whose desks were tidy. (“Whose” is possessive; “who’s” is a corruption of “who is”.)
8. Anyone (who, whom) you choose may go with us.
Anyone whom you choose may go with us. (Objective case)
9. They are people (who, whom) we know well.
They are people whom we know well. (Objective case)
10. Find and correct the sentence above that needs to be rewritten.
(Sentence 5 should be rewritten because it ends in a preposition.)
“He is a mechanic with whom my father works.”
HOW TRUE
“Love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real.”
Iris Murdoch created this line.
DUMB CLICHÉS - Football Section
What on earth does this mean or imply?
Are they playing their first down?
Where is this point on the field?
How cool, really, is the dorf who said this?
"They're in four down territory."
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Contemptuousness” (n.) means scornfulness, distainfulness, condescension or sneering.
“Raconteur” (n.) refers to a narrator, a skilled storyteller or a conversationalist.
“Totalitarianism” (n.)refers to arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power, dictatorship, tyranny or absolutism.
“Phantasm” (n.) is a vision, illusion, mirage or delusion.
“Impassionate” (adj.) means free from passion or dispassionate.
Monday
ANONYMOUS COMMENT
The following comment was sent to this blog by ANONYMOUS. Determine the number of errors it contains. Correct the errors.
“I think you must hate Shakespeare. He spelled the same words differently and made up over 1700 words. This over a timespan of how many years? Funnily enough, the audiences of the day were able to understand what he was saying, apparently unimpeded. Perhaps you are just dense!!”
"This over a timespan of how many years?" This is an incomplete thought; it has no verb.
“Time span is two words, not one.
One exclamation mark is considered sufficient in accepted, correct writing.
I will not even mention the use of three persons in one paragraph, which is a total violation of accepted writing practices.
“I think you must hate Shakespeare. He spelled the same words differently and made up over 1700 words. This occurred over a times pan of how many years? Funnily enough, the audiences of the day were able to understand what he was saying, apparently unimpeded. Perhaps you are just dense!”
Tuesday
A COMMON SLIP
Identify and correct the error in the following sentence.
“It is definitely not equal between all of the parties.”
“Between” is used with two units. “Among” is used when referring to three or more units.
“It is definitely not equal among all of the parties.”
Wednesday
PRECEDENCE/PRECEDENTS
“Precedence” means giving priority, preference or primacy to something as in the star being given the better table than the amateur hockey player at a restaurant.
“Precedents” is just the plural of precedent, as in models, guides or standards for good behaviour.
Thursday
MANIC/MANIAC/MANIACAL
“Manic” (adj.) refers, in psychology, to a clinical condition, usually of frenzy or overexcitement.
“Maniac” (n.) refers to a crazy person, usually a fanatical type.
“Maniacal” is the adjectival form of “maniac” and the stress is on the second syllable.
Friday
A LITTLE TEST
In each of the following sentences, choose the correct pronoun.
Give reasons for each choice.
1. Is he the friend of (who, whom) you speak?
Is he the friend of whom you speak? (Objective case)
2. Are they the relatives (who, whom) you visited?
Are they the relatives whom you visited? (Objective case)
3. I do not know the girls (who, whom) we passed.
I do not know the girls whom we passed. (Objective case)
4. He is a man for (who, whom) I have great respect.
He is a man for whom I have great respect. (Objective case)
5. He is a mechanic (who, whom) my father works with.
He is a mechanic whom my father works with. (Objective case)
6. She is the girl (who, that) sang so well.
She is the girl who sang so well. (Subjective case)
7. The teacher praised the students (whose, who's) desks were tidy.
The teacher praised the students whose desks were tidy. (“Whose” is possessive; “who’s” is a corruption of “who is”.)
8. Anyone (who, whom) you choose may go with us.
Anyone whom you choose may go with us. (Objective case)
9. They are people (who, whom) we know well.
They are people whom we know well. (Objective case)
10. Find and correct the sentence above that needs to be rewritten.
(Sentence 5 should be rewritten because it ends in a preposition.)
“He is a mechanic with whom my father works.”
HOW TRUE
“Love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real.”
Iris Murdoch created this line.
DUMB CLICHÉS - Football Section
What on earth does this mean or imply?
Are they playing their first down?
Where is this point on the field?
How cool, really, is the dorf who said this?
"They're in four down territory."
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Contemptuousness” (n.) means scornfulness, distainfulness, condescension or sneering.
“Raconteur” (n.) refers to a narrator, a skilled storyteller or a conversationalist.
“Totalitarianism” (n.)refers to arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power, dictatorship, tyranny or absolutism.
“Phantasm” (n.) is a vision, illusion, mirage or delusion.
“Impassionate” (adj.) means free from passion or dispassionate.
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