INTERESTING CONCEPT
Identify and correct the error in the following piece. (This is not the first time this error has been cited.)
"A grizzly bear lays down in a stream Thursday at the St. Felicien Wildlife Zoo in St. Felicien, Que."
"Bathing Bear" photo explanation, The Windsor Star, Friday, September 26, 2008, p. C1.
DUMB CLICHÉ DEPARTMENT - ANOTHER ONE!
Not only is this a dumb overused cliché but it is a completely erroneous use of the word "grow". Explain why.
"Grow your business!"
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "vulpine".
Define "vulpine" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
A MIXED BAG
FOREGO/FORGO
Explain the difference between "forego" and "forgo".
Create sentences using "forego" and "forgo" that show the meanings of the words.
DUMB CLICHÉ DEPARTMENT - A CONTINUUM
Here is another overused "dumb cliché".
"What goes around comes around."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for the day is "feign".
Define "feign" and use it in a sentence.
FYI - THE PROCESS
Answers and explanations for the week's entries are posted every Sunday.
Explain the difference between "forego" and "forgo".
Create sentences using "forego" and "forgo" that show the meanings of the words.
DUMB CLICHÉ DEPARTMENT - A CONTINUUM
Here is another overused "dumb cliché".
"What goes around comes around."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for the day is "feign".
Define "feign" and use it in a sentence.
FYI - THE PROCESS
Answers and explanations for the week's entries are posted every Sunday.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
BE FAIRLY FAIR
WHO MADE THE MISTAKES?
Find and correct the error in the following entries. Be aware of who made the errors when you make your corrections.
"Windsor 'fairly unique"
The Windsor Star page 3 headline for the story "Assessed value of property takes dive", Wednesday, September 24, 2008.
"Of the 100 Ontario municipalities for which MPAC has so far released the new assessments, spokeswoman Annette Beaudoin said Windsor is 'fairly unique' in that it is one of the only municipalities where home values have decreased."
Annette Beaudoin, MPAC spokeswoman, "Assessed value of property takes dive" story, The Windsor Star, Wednesday, September 24, 2008.
PONDER THIS
Who coined the following?
“The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "vaunt".
Define "vaunt" and use it in a sentence. (The real meaning of this word will probably be surprising. The most common form of the word is "vaunted".)
Find and correct the error in the following entries. Be aware of who made the errors when you make your corrections.
"Windsor 'fairly unique"
The Windsor Star page 3 headline for the story "Assessed value of property takes dive", Wednesday, September 24, 2008.
"Of the 100 Ontario municipalities for which MPAC has so far released the new assessments, spokeswoman Annette Beaudoin said Windsor is 'fairly unique' in that it is one of the only municipalities where home values have decreased."
Annette Beaudoin, MPAC spokeswoman, "Assessed value of property takes dive" story, The Windsor Star, Wednesday, September 24, 2008.
PONDER THIS
Who coined the following?
“The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "vaunt".
Define "vaunt" and use it in a sentence. (The real meaning of this word will probably be surprising. The most common form of the word is "vaunted".)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
DON'T LOSE YOUR WAY
LOSE/LOOSE/LOSER/LOOSER
These words can easily confuse a reader.
Define "lose", "loose", "loser" and "looser".
Create sentences that depict the correct meaning for "lose", "loose", "loser" and "looser".
Pronounce each word. (If you would like to try a neat tongue twister, say all four words several times without stumbling.)
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "assignation".
Define "assignation" and use it in a sentence.
These words can easily confuse a reader.
Define "lose", "loose", "loser" and "looser".
Create sentences that depict the correct meaning for "lose", "loose", "loser" and "looser".
Pronounce each word. (If you would like to try a neat tongue twister, say all four words several times without stumbling.)
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "assignation".
Define "assignation" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, September 22, 2008
MORE QUOTATION MARKS RULES
QUOTATION MARKS - Lesson C
Rule 4
Punctuation Marks with Quotation Marks
Always place a comma or period before beginning or ending quotation marks.
"Harry," he requested, "please take this to your mother."
Rule 5a
Quotation Marks in Dialogue
Begin a new paragraph with every change of speaker.
"Hello, Tiffany," Peter stammered.
"Hi Peter. How are you?"
"Fine, I think. What have you been doing lately?"
Rule 5b
Quotation Marks in Continuing Paragraphs
For quotations longer than a single paragraph, put quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph but only at the end of the final quoted word.
Note that the first paragraph has no closing quotation marks. Quotation marks do open the next paragraph to show that the quotation continues.
EXERCISE
Punctuate the following sentences. (I have left out all punctuation and capitalizations to add to the challenge.)
mary he requested please take this to mr green
george claimed I have twenty points bill said i have only twelve
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ambience".
Define "ambience" and use it in a sentence.
Rule 4
Punctuation Marks with Quotation Marks
Always place a comma or period before beginning or ending quotation marks.
"Harry," he requested, "please take this to your mother."
Rule 5a
Quotation Marks in Dialogue
Begin a new paragraph with every change of speaker.
"Hello, Tiffany," Peter stammered.
"Hi Peter. How are you?"
"Fine, I think. What have you been doing lately?"
Rule 5b
Quotation Marks in Continuing Paragraphs
For quotations longer than a single paragraph, put quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph but only at the end of the final quoted word.
Note that the first paragraph has no closing quotation marks. Quotation marks do open the next paragraph to show that the quotation continues.
EXERCISE
Punctuate the following sentences. (I have left out all punctuation and capitalizations to add to the challenge.)
mary he requested please take this to mr green
george claimed I have twenty points bill said i have only twelve
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ambience".
Define "ambience" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - September 21, 2008
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week’s entries.
I apologize for the sloppy end-of-week postings. I was having difficulty with my server. All entry corrections are posted in the proper order below.
Monday
REDUNDANCIES
"Other alternative"
"Past history"
Send me some more examples.
COMPARE TO/COMPARE WITH
When stressing similarities between things, use “compare to”.
When speaking of similarities and differences, use “compare with”.
Tuesday
IGNORANT/STUPID
A person is “ignorant” when he is unaware of certain knowledge, facts or ideas.
A person who is stupid is incapable of learning because of a basic mental deficiency.
‘Ignorant” does not mean “stupid” and only an ignorant person would mistake the meanings of the words.
“Ignorant” is an adjective. The noun form is “ignorance”.
“Ignoramus” is another noun form.
“Stupid” is an adjective. The noun form is “stupidity”.
Wednesday & Thursday
QUOTATION MARKS
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?"
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?"
EXERCISES
did Oscar Wilde say ambition is the last refuge of failure
Did Oscar Wilde say, “Ambition is the last refuge of failure”?
how are you he asked
“How are you?” he asked.
did you know that your face is red
“Did you know that your face is red?”
wow she lisped that is impressive
“Wow!” she lisped. “That is impressive.”
caesar said et tu brute and died
Caesar said, “Et tu, Brute?” and died.
I will post more quotation rules next week.
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."
“None” is singular and requires a singular verb.
“None of the stores is being expanded but all are undergoing multi-million dollar renovations, reorganizations and facelifts.”
Friday
WOMAN/WOMEN
“Woman” (n.) is a singular word. The possessive form is "woman’s".
“Women” (n.) is a plural word. The possessive form is "women’s".
CHARACTER
“Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.”
Solon, a Greek politician, coined this phrase.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Colloquy” (n.) means a conference, dialogue, symposium or seminar.
“Iniquitous” (adj.) means evil, sinful immoral or unjust.
“Implacable” (adj.) means pitiless, merciless, relentless or cruel.
“Acerbic” (adj.) means sharp, cutting, bitter or sour.
“Macabre” (adj.) means ghoulish, ghastly, chilling or horrid.
I apologize for the sloppy end-of-week postings. I was having difficulty with my server. All entry corrections are posted in the proper order below.
Monday
REDUNDANCIES
"Other alternative"
"Past history"
Send me some more examples.
COMPARE TO/COMPARE WITH
When stressing similarities between things, use “compare to”.
When speaking of similarities and differences, use “compare with”.
Tuesday
IGNORANT/STUPID
A person is “ignorant” when he is unaware of certain knowledge, facts or ideas.
A person who is stupid is incapable of learning because of a basic mental deficiency.
‘Ignorant” does not mean “stupid” and only an ignorant person would mistake the meanings of the words.
“Ignorant” is an adjective. The noun form is “ignorance”.
“Ignoramus” is another noun form.
“Stupid” is an adjective. The noun form is “stupidity”.
Wednesday & Thursday
QUOTATION MARKS
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?"
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?"
EXERCISES
did Oscar Wilde say ambition is the last refuge of failure
Did Oscar Wilde say, “Ambition is the last refuge of failure”?
how are you he asked
“How are you?” he asked.
did you know that your face is red
“Did you know that your face is red?”
wow she lisped that is impressive
“Wow!” she lisped. “That is impressive.”
caesar said et tu brute and died
Caesar said, “Et tu, Brute?” and died.
I will post more quotation rules next week.
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."
“None” is singular and requires a singular verb.
“None of the stores is being expanded but all are undergoing multi-million dollar renovations, reorganizations and facelifts.”
Friday
WOMAN/WOMEN
“Woman” (n.) is a singular word. The possessive form is "woman’s".
“Women” (n.) is a plural word. The possessive form is "women’s".
CHARACTER
“Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.”
Solon, a Greek politician, coined this phrase.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Colloquy” (n.) means a conference, dialogue, symposium or seminar.
“Iniquitous” (adj.) means evil, sinful immoral or unjust.
“Implacable” (adj.) means pitiless, merciless, relentless or cruel.
“Acerbic” (adj.) means sharp, cutting, bitter or sour.
“Macabre” (adj.) means ghoulish, ghastly, chilling or horrid.
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