NEW CATEGORY
In the spirit of satirical thought provocation, I offer a new area of professional writing expertise which I will call "DUMB HEADLINES".
Sometimes I wonder what thinking is used in the creation of headlines. I hope it is meant to be humourous.
Feel free to offer your contributions to this effort.
I offer the following as my first contribution.
DUMB HEADLINES
"Lady's john site of attack"
The Windsor Star, Friday, October 17, 2008.
HOARD/HORDE
Explain the difference between "hoard" and "horde".
Create sentences that exhibit the difference in meaning of the words "hoard" and "horde".
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be published on Sunday.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
BE CAREFUL OR BE WRONG
ADMINISTER/ADMINISTRATE
Define "administer" and "administrate".
What part of speech is each word?
Use each word in a sentence that clearly shows its meaning.
Explain the misuse of one of these words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "hypothetical".
Define "hypothetical" and use it in a sentence.
Define "administer" and "administrate".
What part of speech is each word?
Use each word in a sentence that clearly shows its meaning.
Explain the misuse of one of these words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "hypothetical".
Define "hypothetical" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
LITTLEST/LEAST
What is the difference in meaning between "littlest" and "least"?
When should each word be used? When should each not be used?
PONDER THIS
Identify the source of the following quote.
“Ill deeds are doubled with an evil word.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "exemplar".
Define "exemplar" and use it in a sentence.
What is the difference in meaning between "littlest" and "least"?
When should each word be used? When should each not be used?
PONDER THIS
Identify the source of the following quote.
“Ill deeds are doubled with an evil word.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "exemplar".
Define "exemplar" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
DENOTING POSSESSION
JOINT POSSESSIVES
Read the following sentences and correct the errors regarding possession.
What are the rules governing joint possessives? (I am not smoking this one.)
"John's and Jane’s home is on a hill."
"Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is really good."
"Bob's and Carol's and Ted's and Alice’s party was a sensation."
"John’s and Jane’s cars are in the garage."
"She and his estate is very fancy."
"His and her estate is in the Yukon."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "forbearance".
Define "forbearance" and use it in a sentence.
Read the following sentences and correct the errors regarding possession.
What are the rules governing joint possessives? (I am not smoking this one.)
"John's and Jane’s home is on a hill."
"Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is really good."
"Bob's and Carol's and Ted's and Alice’s party was a sensation."
"John’s and Jane’s cars are in the garage."
"She and his estate is very fancy."
"His and her estate is in the Yukon."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "forbearance".
Define "forbearance" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - October 12, 2008
Here are the correctiond and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
I/ME/MYSELF
Correct the errors in the use of “I“, “me” and “myself“.
“Jim and me are going to look for jobs.”
“I” must be used in place of “me” because it is subjective.
“Jim and I are going to look for jobs.”
“Me and Joan are going to the pub tonight.”
“I” must be used in place of “me” because it is subjective. Also, the other person should be mentioned first.
“Joan and I are going to the pub tonight.”
“The punk shouted insults at my girlfriend and myself.”
“Me” must be used in place of “myself” because it is objective. “Myself” is a reflexive pronoun and can never be used in this context.
“The punk shouted insults at my girlfriend and me.”
“I am not particularly fond of rap music myself.”
“Myself” is a reflexive and cannot be used here. Besides, it is redundant.
“I am not particularly fond of rap music.”
“The ballplayer gave autographs to you and I”.
The objective pronoun “me” must be used here.
“The ballplayer gave autographs to you and me".
Tuesday
Find and correct all the mistakes. (Hint: I found eight.)
Headline: “One in four mammals face threat of extinction“.
A singular verb is needed for the singular subject “one”.
Headline, “One in four mammals faces 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.”
“A quarter” is a collective, singular noun and needs a singular verb.
“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 is 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.”
“Species” is singular and needs a singular verb.
“And one species - humans - is 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.”
“One” is singular and needs a singular verb.
“The researchers conclude that not only is 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.
The comma after “depressing” should be outside the quotation mark.
“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.”
“79 percent” is a singular unit and requires a singular verb.
“...noting that 79 percent of the monkeys and other primate species in the region is 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.”
“Data” is plural and requires a plural verb.
“The scientists sum it up saying of the 4,651 species for which enough data are available, or 25 percent, are now threatened with extinction.”
Wednesday
EMPATHY/SYMPATHY
“Empathy” (n.) means to be appreciative, perceptive or understanding. It has come to mean identifying with another’s feelings.
“Sympathy” (n.) means to feel sorry for or to pity another.
Thursday
CONNOTE/DENOTE
“Connote” (v.) means to denote secondarily or to signify in addition to the primary meaning. It means an associated meaning beyond the primary one.
The noun form is “connotation”.
“Denote” (v.) means to indicate or to be a mark or sign of something. It means to stand as a symbol for something.
The noun form is “denotation”.
Friday
SUMMARY/SUMMERY
“Summary” (n.) means a recap, a synopsis, an outline or a summing up.
“Summery” (adj.) is the warm, comfortable feeling of a summer day.
DUMB CLICHÉS - Football Section
Need I say anything?
“They have to take care of the football.”
A LITTLE CYNICISM
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.”
Albert Einstein uttered this observation.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Cerebral” (adj.) means intellectual, brainy, smart, clever or analytical.
“Probity” (n.) refers to the qualities of goodness, decency, honesty or integrity.
“Maven” (n.) refers to someone who is highly skilled or adept, a star, a virtuoso or a sensation.
“Expeditious” (adj.) means speedy, quick, prompt or swift.
“Inextricably” (adv.) means hopelessly intricate or involved or perplexing, unable to be undone or disentangled.
Monday
I/ME/MYSELF
Correct the errors in the use of “I“, “me” and “myself“.
“Jim and me are going to look for jobs.”
“I” must be used in place of “me” because it is subjective.
“Jim and I are going to look for jobs.”
“Me and Joan are going to the pub tonight.”
“I” must be used in place of “me” because it is subjective. Also, the other person should be mentioned first.
“Joan and I are going to the pub tonight.”
“The punk shouted insults at my girlfriend and myself.”
“Me” must be used in place of “myself” because it is objective. “Myself” is a reflexive pronoun and can never be used in this context.
“The punk shouted insults at my girlfriend and me.”
“I am not particularly fond of rap music myself.”
“Myself” is a reflexive and cannot be used here. Besides, it is redundant.
“I am not particularly fond of rap music.”
“The ballplayer gave autographs to you and I”.
The objective pronoun “me” must be used here.
“The ballplayer gave autographs to you and me".
Tuesday
Find and correct all the mistakes. (Hint: I found eight.)
Headline: “One in four mammals face threat of extinction“.
A singular verb is needed for the singular subject “one”.
Headline, “One in four mammals faces 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.”
“A quarter” is a collective, singular noun and needs a singular verb.
“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 is 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.”
“Species” is singular and needs a singular verb.
“And one species - humans - is 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.”
“One” is singular and needs a singular verb.
“The researchers conclude that not only is 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.
The comma after “depressing” should be outside the quotation mark.
“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.”
“79 percent” is a singular unit and requires a singular verb.
“...noting that 79 percent of the monkeys and other primate species in the region is 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.”
“Data” is plural and requires a plural verb.
“The scientists sum it up saying of the 4,651 species for which enough data are available, or 25 percent, are now threatened with extinction.”
Wednesday
EMPATHY/SYMPATHY
“Empathy” (n.) means to be appreciative, perceptive or understanding. It has come to mean identifying with another’s feelings.
“Sympathy” (n.) means to feel sorry for or to pity another.
Thursday
CONNOTE/DENOTE
“Connote” (v.) means to denote secondarily or to signify in addition to the primary meaning. It means an associated meaning beyond the primary one.
The noun form is “connotation”.
“Denote” (v.) means to indicate or to be a mark or sign of something. It means to stand as a symbol for something.
The noun form is “denotation”.
Friday
SUMMARY/SUMMERY
“Summary” (n.) means a recap, a synopsis, an outline or a summing up.
“Summery” (adj.) is the warm, comfortable feeling of a summer day.
DUMB CLICHÉS - Football Section
Need I say anything?
“They have to take care of the football.”
A LITTLE CYNICISM
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.”
Albert Einstein uttered this observation.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Cerebral” (adj.) means intellectual, brainy, smart, clever or analytical.
“Probity” (n.) refers to the qualities of goodness, decency, honesty or integrity.
“Maven” (n.) refers to someone who is highly skilled or adept, a star, a virtuoso or a sensation.
“Expeditious” (adj.) means speedy, quick, prompt or swift.
“Inextricably” (adv.) means hopelessly intricate or involved or perplexing, unable to be undone or disentangled.
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