TRICKY ONES

SUMMARY/SUMMERY

Explain the difference between "summary" and "summery".
Use each word in a sentence that illustrates its meaning.


TODAY'S WORD

Today's word is "inextricably".
Define "inextricably" and use it in a sentence.


CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS

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

AN EASY DAY

CONNOTE/DENOTE

Define "connote" and "denote".
Identify the noun forms of each word.
Create sentences that clearly exhibit the meaning of each word.


TODAY'S WORD

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

LOTS OF THINGS

EMPATHY/SYMPATHY

Explain the difference in meaning between "empathy" and "sympathy".
Create sentences that display the meaning of each word.


DUMB CLICHÉS - Football Section

Need I say anything?

"They have to take care of the football."


A LITTLE CYNICISM

Identify the author of the following:

“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.”


TODAY'S WORD

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

MAKE MY DAY!

A VERITABLE CORNUCOPIA

The following are all from an article titled, "One in four mammals face threat of extinction", Margaret Munro, Canwest News Service, The Windsor Star, Tuesday, October 7, 2008, p. B8.
Find and correct all the mistakes. (Hint: I found eight.)

Headline, "One in four mammals face threat of extinction".

"The Earth is an increasingly bleak place for animals, according to a massive global study that concludes a quarter of the 5,487 wild mammal species on the planet are threatened with extinction."

"And one species - humans - are largely responsible for the crisis, according to the grim report released Monday at a World Conservation Congress in Spain."

"The researchers conclude that not only are one in four mammal species threatened with extinction, but more than half of all animal populations are declining."

"While 'depressing,' the researchers say the findings should be empowering."

"...noting that 79 percent of the monkeys and other primate species in the region are threatened with extinction."

"The scientists sum it up saying of the 4,651 species for which enough data is available, or 25 percent, are now threatened with extinction."


TODAY'S WORD

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

PERSONAL PRONOUN CONFUSION

I/ME/MYSELF

"I", "me" and "myself" are often and badly misused.

Read the following and decide if there are any errors in the use of "I", "me" and "myself".
Correct the errors and give reasons to support your corrections.

“Jim and me are going to look for jobs."

“Me and Joan are going to the pub tonight.”

“The punk shouted insults at my girlfriend and myself.”

“I am not particularly fond of rap music myself.”

"The ballplayer gave autographs to you and I".


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "cerebral".

Define "cerebral" and use it in a sentence.

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - October 5, 2008

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

Monday

THEN/THAN

“Then” is an adverb and it is used in reference to time.
I did my work. Then I went out to play.

“Than” is a conjunction. It is used to make comparisons.
His head is bigger than mine.


Tuesday

DID/DONE


EXERCISE

An auxiliary verb must be inserted in order to use “done” in any of the sentences.

1. I (did, done) all the chores before I went out to play.

I did all the chores before I went out to play.
I had done all the chores before I went out to play.

2. Grandmother (did, done) all her housework before she went to the casino.

Grandmother did all her housework before she went to the casino.
Grandmother had done all her housework before she went to the casino.

3. The boy told his mother that he (did, done) all his homework at school.

The boy told his mother that he did all his homework at school.
The boy told his mother that he had done all his homework at school.


Wednesday

EACH/EVERYBODY/SOMEBODY

The words "each", "everybody" and "somebody" are all indefinite pronouns.
They are all singular.

Each of us is able to do the job.

Everybody is ready to get started.

We are waiting to go because somebody is late.


Thursday

LEND/LOAN

“Lend” is a verb.
I will lend her the money.

“Loan” is a noun.
I gave her a loan so she could pay her bills.

They are not interchangeable.


Friday

GOOD/WELL

“Good” is an adjective and describes nouns and pronouns.

“Well” is normally an adverb that describes verbs and sometimes adjectives.
“Well”, when referring to health, acts as an adjective.

EXERCISE

1. He swims and dives(good, well).

An adverb is needed to describe the verbs “swims” and “dives”.

He swims and dives well.

2. The child does not feel (good, well)

An adjective is needed because the reference is to a state of health. “Well” is used in this case.

The child does not feel well.

3. The cake tastes (good, well).

A predicate adjective is needed to describe cake.

The cake tastes good.


4. He played (good, well).

An adverb is needed to describe the verb “played”. “Well” acts as an adverb in this case.

He played well.


THE WEEK'S THOUGHT

“Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”
Malcolm Forbes made this statement.


LAST WEEK’S WORDS

“venality” (n.) means the prostitution of talents or principles for money or reward. It means the selling of one’s services or influence unscrupulously.

“Alacrity” (n.) means eagerness, enthusiasm, quickness or speed.

“Recalcitrant” (adj.) means disobedient, wayward, headstrong or obstinate.

“Polemic” (n.) is a controversial argument or an argument against some opinion or doctrine.

“Polemics” (n.) is the art or practice of disputation or controversy, especially in theology.

“Poltergeist” (n.) is a ghost, an apparition, a spectre or a phantom.