JUST FOR PRACTICE
Identify and correct the error in the following entry.
"The number of homicides in Canada went down last year from the year before, although an increasing number of slayings are related to gang warfare, Statistics Canada reported Thursday."
"Homicide rate in Canada goes down", Canwest News Service, Ottawa, The Windsor Star, Friday, October 24, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "tipple".
Define "tipple". Be aware that there are two distinct meanings for this word: one as a noun; one as a verb. Create sentences using "tipple" as a noun and as a verb.
MEDIA WATCH WEEK
Remember, next week is MEDIA WATCH (& LISTEN) WEEK!
All contributions of errors are welcome!
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
INTERESTING CHALLENGES
ACCEPT/EXCEPT
Explain the difference between "accept" and "except".
What part of speech is each word?
Which word can be used as more than one part of speech? Explain.
Create sentences to illustrate the various meanings of the two words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "morbid".
Define "morbid" and use it in a sentence.
MEDIA WATCH WEEK
Remember, next week is MEDIA WATCH WEEK!
All contributions are welcome!
Explain the difference between "accept" and "except".
What part of speech is each word?
Which word can be used as more than one part of speech? Explain.
Create sentences to illustrate the various meanings of the two words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "morbid".
Define "morbid" and use it in a sentence.
MEDIA WATCH WEEK
Remember, next week is MEDIA WATCH WEEK!
All contributions are welcome!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
A BIT TRICKY
DRAUGHT/DRAFT
Define and explain the difference between the words "draught" and "draft".
A GREAT LIFE APHORISM
Identify the author of the following.
“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "acquisitive".
Define "acquisitive" and use it in a sentence.
Define and explain the difference between the words "draught" and "draft".
A GREAT LIFE APHORISM
Identify the author of the following.
“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "acquisitive".
Define "acquisitive" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A BIG WORD DAY
PRONUNCIATION/ARTICULATION
Explain the difference between "pronunciation" and "articulation".
Identify as many synonyms as you can for each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "interlocutor".
Define "interlocutor" and use it in a sentence.
NEXT WEEK
I think it is about time that I devote some effort to highlighting the extremely sloppy use of the English language by radio and television readers, reporters and talk show hosts.
If anyone would like to draw attention to a particularly egregious error or media contributor, please let me know by clicking on COMMENT below.
Explain the difference between "pronunciation" and "articulation".
Identify as many synonyms as you can for each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "interlocutor".
Define "interlocutor" and use it in a sentence.
NEXT WEEK
I think it is about time that I devote some effort to highlighting the extremely sloppy use of the English language by radio and television readers, reporters and talk show hosts.
If anyone would like to draw attention to a particularly egregious error or media contributor, please let me know by clicking on COMMENT below.
Monday, October 20, 2008
MEDIA MISUSE
ALLEGED, ALLEGEDLY
Define "alleged" and "allegedly".
What part of speech is each term?
Explain how "alleged" and "allegedly" are misused and overused.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "recrimination".
Define "recrinination" and use it in a sentence.
Define "alleged" and "allegedly".
What part of speech is each term?
Explain how "alleged" and "allegedly" are misused and overused.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "recrimination".
Define "recrinination" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - October 19, 2008
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week’s entries.
Tuesday
JOINT POSSESSIVES
What are the rules governing joint possessives?
"John's and Jane’s home is on a hill."
When there is joint ownership, the last name has the apostrophe.
"John and Jane’s home is on a hill."
"Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is really good."
When there is joint ownership, the last name has the apostrophe.
"Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is really good."
"Bob's and Carol's and Ted's and Alice’s party was a sensation."
When there is joint ownership by many individuals, the last name has the apostrophe.
"Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice’s party was a sensation."
"John’s and Jane’s cars are in the garage."
When each owns his own vehicle, both names have an apostrophe.
"John’s and Jane’s cars are in the garage.
"She and his estate is very fancy."
This is too awkward and should be reworded.
"Their estate is very fancy."
Or
“The estate owned by Dick and Jane is very fancy.”
"His and her estate is in the Yukon."
This is too awkward and should be reworded.
"Both his and her estates are in the Yukon."
Wednesday
LITTLEST/LEAST
“Little” means small in size or amount.
When referring to size, the comparative form is “littler” or “more little“ and the superlative form is “littlest”.
When referring to amount, as in “a small amount of”, the comparative is “less” and the superlative is “least”.
Thursday
ADMINISTER/ADMINISTRATE
“Administer” means to run, to direct, to oversee, to govern or to control.
“Administer” is the verb form for the nouns “administration” or “administrator”.
“Administrate” is an incorrect form of the word “administer” and should not be used.
Friday
HOARD/HORDE
A “horde” is a mob, a gang or a large group of beings.
“A horde of rampaging beasts is frightening.
A “hoard” is a pile, a heap, a collection or a squirreled away treasure.
The miser jealously guarded his hoard of coins.
PONDER THIS
“Ill deeds are doubled with an evil word.”
William Shakespeare penned this quote.
DUMB HEADLINES
(No analysis is needed!)
"Lady's john site of attack"
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Forbearance” (n.) means patience, self-control, tolerance or restraint.
“Exemplar” (n.) means example, pattern, archetype or a model to be copied.
“Hypothetical” (adj.) means theoretical, imaginary or supposed. The noun form is hypothesis.
Tuesday
JOINT POSSESSIVES
What are the rules governing joint possessives?
"John's and Jane’s home is on a hill."
When there is joint ownership, the last name has the apostrophe.
"John and Jane’s home is on a hill."
"Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is really good."
When there is joint ownership, the last name has the apostrophe.
"Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is really good."
"Bob's and Carol's and Ted's and Alice’s party was a sensation."
When there is joint ownership by many individuals, the last name has the apostrophe.
"Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice’s party was a sensation."
"John’s and Jane’s cars are in the garage."
When each owns his own vehicle, both names have an apostrophe.
"John’s and Jane’s cars are in the garage.
"She and his estate is very fancy."
This is too awkward and should be reworded.
"Their estate is very fancy."
Or
“The estate owned by Dick and Jane is very fancy.”
"His and her estate is in the Yukon."
This is too awkward and should be reworded.
"Both his and her estates are in the Yukon."
Wednesday
LITTLEST/LEAST
“Little” means small in size or amount.
When referring to size, the comparative form is “littler” or “more little“ and the superlative form is “littlest”.
When referring to amount, as in “a small amount of”, the comparative is “less” and the superlative is “least”.
Thursday
ADMINISTER/ADMINISTRATE
“Administer” means to run, to direct, to oversee, to govern or to control.
“Administer” is the verb form for the nouns “administration” or “administrator”.
“Administrate” is an incorrect form of the word “administer” and should not be used.
Friday
HOARD/HORDE
A “horde” is a mob, a gang or a large group of beings.
“A horde of rampaging beasts is frightening.
A “hoard” is a pile, a heap, a collection or a squirreled away treasure.
The miser jealously guarded his hoard of coins.
PONDER THIS
“Ill deeds are doubled with an evil word.”
William Shakespeare penned this quote.
DUMB HEADLINES
(No analysis is needed!)
"Lady's john site of attack"
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Forbearance” (n.) means patience, self-control, tolerance or restraint.
“Exemplar” (n.) means example, pattern, archetype or a model to be copied.
“Hypothetical” (adj.) means theoretical, imaginary or supposed. The noun form is hypothesis.
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