MORE IMPORTANT/MORE IMPORTANTLY
Which is correct: "more importantly" or "more important"?
Explain the rationale for your choice.
Create a sentence to illustrate the meaning of your choice.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "condescension"
Define "condescension" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
JUST FOR FUN
INSTANTS/INSTANCES
Explain the differences between the words "instants" and "instances".
Create sentences that illustrate the meanings of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "phantasmagoria".
Define "phantasmagoria" and use it in a sentence. (This is not a common word but it has a wonderful sound.)
Explain the differences between the words "instants" and "instances".
Create sentences that illustrate the meanings of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "phantasmagoria".
Define "phantasmagoria" and use it in a sentence. (This is not a common word but it has a wonderful sound.)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
"SAME OLD...SAME OLD!"
WHEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN?
Fix any errors you find in the following:
"About 50 people worked at the plant. When the government announced a $950,000 grant to the operation in August 2007 - just months after loaning it $2 million - it said the plant was using the money to employ 134 people, growing to 250 employees within four years."
Sarah Sacheli, "$3 M in aid fails to keep plant open", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, November 5, 2008.
EASY QUOTE
Everyone know this quote. But, who coined it? And, did you know it verbatim?
“While there's life, there's hope.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ominous".
Define "ominous" and use it in a sentence.
Fix any errors you find in the following:
"About 50 people worked at the plant. When the government announced a $950,000 grant to the operation in August 2007 - just months after loaning it $2 million - it said the plant was using the money to employ 134 people, growing to 250 employees within four years."
Sarah Sacheli, "$3 M in aid fails to keep plant open", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, November 5, 2008.
EASY QUOTE
Everyone know this quote. But, who coined it? And, did you know it verbatim?
“While there's life, there's hope.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ominous".
Define "ominous" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
PROFESSIONALISM
ELEVATE THE LEVEL
I heard the following word usages last night during the Windsor A-Channel weather report at 6 pm. I suggest the weather person try to elevate her language to a more professional level.
Determine the problem for each and suggest an alternative. Do not be concerned with incomplete sentences; they are not the issue.
"Well, yeah, ya know..."
"You've got temperatures over there..."
"Yeah, ya know..."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "hermaphrodite".
Define "hermaphrodite" and use it in a sentence.
CLARIFICATION
To the person who commented on yesterday's entry about Sarah Palin: do not overthink the issue; the problem is a very simple one.
I heard the following word usages last night during the Windsor A-Channel weather report at 6 pm. I suggest the weather person try to elevate her language to a more professional level.
Determine the problem for each and suggest an alternative. Do not be concerned with incomplete sentences; they are not the issue.
"Well, yeah, ya know..."
"You've got temperatures over there..."
"Yeah, ya know..."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "hermaphrodite".
Define "hermaphrodite" and use it in a sentence.
CLARIFICATION
To the person who commented on yesterday's entry about Sarah Palin: do not overthink the issue; the problem is a very simple one.
Monday, November 3, 2008
PROUDLY PICKY PEDAGOGIC PURISM
FYI & CRITIQUE
I suggest there is an error in the unit below. Find it and correct it. Feel free to disagree with this one. Opinions are welcome.
"Palin , herself, isn't gaffe-proof. Her often rambling, incoherent answers...generated fodder for her critics and inspired the hilarious parody by Saturday Night Live alumnus Tina Fey."
Opinion, "Sarah Palin, A double standard at work", The Windsor Star, Monday, November 3, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "eponymous".
Define "eponymous" and use it in a sentence.
I suggest there is an error in the unit below. Find it and correct it. Feel free to disagree with this one. Opinions are welcome.
"Palin , herself, isn't gaffe-proof. Her often rambling, incoherent answers...generated fodder for her critics and inspired the hilarious parody by Saturday Night Live alumnus Tina Fey."
Opinion, "Sarah Palin, A double standard at work", The Windsor Star, Monday, November 3, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "eponymous".
Define "eponymous" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - November 2, 2008
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's postings.
Monday
[He expressed] “...the need for he to be at his grandmother's side…”.
“For” is a preposition which takes an objective pronoun; “he” is subjective and must be replaced .
[He expressed] “...the need for him to be at his grandmother's side…”.
“The better choice, even with the disadvantage of having an inexperienced running mate in Sarah Palin, who doubtless spies every last Air Canada plane taking the northern route to Europe.”
This is an incomplete sentence because there is no verb. It is also confusing in meaning and should be reworded.
"The better choice, even with the disadvantage of having an inexperienced running mate, is Sarah Palin, who doubtless sees every last Air Canada plane taking the northern route to Europe.”
“One in five Britons find monogamy undesirable and nearly a third think it is unnatural, according to a sex survey out Sunday.”
The subject is “one”, not “five”, and it requires a singular verb, “finds”.
“One in five Britons finds monogamy undesirable and nearly a third think it is unnatural, according to a sex survey out Sunday.”
Tuesday
[He] “...shoulda went right to second base…”.
The sports caster should learn to articulate. Also, “went” is the past tense of “go” and cannot be used with the auxiliary verb “have”.
[He] “...should have gone right to second base...".
“I was doing good.”
“Good” is an adjective and an adverb is required to describe the verb “was doing”.
“I was doing well.”
Wednesday
"Is it true, do men get more romantic with age? The most romantic age 53? Do you agree? We are told he is wiser and will work for his partner, be more likely to make an effort. is it true? Is your man more romantic than ever? Would you choose an older man over a young man, anytime?"
There are so many errors here, I don’t have the inclination to list them. Check below for a better version. I have no idea how to incorporate “anytime” with any sort of connectivity, so I am leaving it out.
“Is it true that men get more romantic with age? Is the most romantic age 53? Do you agree? We are told that, at that age, he is wiser and will work for his partner and be more likely to make an effort. Is it true? Is your man more romantic than ever? Would you choose an older man over a young man?”
“Young, childless, and snipped. Men as young as 21 are seeking vasectomies. With one couple suing for $50,000 because his didn't take. Should they collect for an unplanned pregnancy?”
The first group of words is an incomplete thought. The third group is not either.
“Young, childless, and snipped, men as young as 21 are seeking vasectomies. One couple is suing for $50,000 because his didn't take. Should they collect for an unplanned pregnancy?”
Thursday
“Because it's stomach churning to think that those dear old grandparents, Bill and Helene Regier of Mount Carmel, aged 72 and 73, were killed in cold blood by someone who surely knew their deaths would be 'freebies' on his maxed-out crime account.”
This is an incomplete thought; the word “because” makes it a subordinate clause that cannot stand by itself.
“It's stomach churning to think that those dear old grandparents, Bill and Helene Regier of Mount Carmel, aged 72 and 73, were killed in cold blood by someone who surely knew their deaths would be 'freebies' on his maxed-out crime account.”
“Three for the price of one. A volume discount.”
Both groups of words are incomplete thoughts.
“He killed three for the price of one and will get a volume discount [at trial].”
“...says members are impacted for life…”
"Impact" is a noun. I do not like “impacted” being used as a verb, although it seems to be creeping into the language.
“...says there are impacts on members for life…”
Friday
“Jesse Imeson looks good in chains. What else to say about a man who killed three times in four days?”
The second group of words is poorly constructed and incomplete.
“Jesse Imeson looks good in chains. What else is there to say about a man who killed three times in four days?”
“Food and liquor are going missing, articles of clothing, fishing equipment.”
“Things do not “go missing”; that is an impossibility. The last part is a weak ad-on. It should be completely reworked.
“Food and liquor, articles of clothing and fishing equipment are disappearing."
“Because better people, in the end, always win.”
This is an incomplete thought. As printed, it is a subordinate clause only.“Better people, in the end, always win.”
AN INTERESTING PHILOSOPHY
“Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”
Oscar Wilde created this quote.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Pathetic” (adj.) means exciting pity or sympathy, wretched, dismal, sad, pitiable or weak. The noun form is “pathos”. “Pathology” is a derivation.
“Self-effacement” (n.) refers to humility or is the act of keeping oneself in the background.
“Euphemism” (n.) refers to the substitution of a mild, indirect or vague expression for a harsh or blunt one.
“Frivolity” (n.) means playfulness, merriment or giddiness.
“Languorous” (adj.) means lazy, sleepy, dreamy or languid.
Monday
[He expressed] “...the need for he to be at his grandmother's side…”.
“For” is a preposition which takes an objective pronoun; “he” is subjective and must be replaced .
[He expressed] “...the need for him to be at his grandmother's side…”.
“The better choice, even with the disadvantage of having an inexperienced running mate in Sarah Palin, who doubtless spies every last Air Canada plane taking the northern route to Europe.”
This is an incomplete sentence because there is no verb. It is also confusing in meaning and should be reworded.
"The better choice, even with the disadvantage of having an inexperienced running mate, is Sarah Palin, who doubtless sees every last Air Canada plane taking the northern route to Europe.”
“One in five Britons find monogamy undesirable and nearly a third think it is unnatural, according to a sex survey out Sunday.”
The subject is “one”, not “five”, and it requires a singular verb, “finds”.
“One in five Britons finds monogamy undesirable and nearly a third think it is unnatural, according to a sex survey out Sunday.”
Tuesday
[He] “...shoulda went right to second base…”.
The sports caster should learn to articulate. Also, “went” is the past tense of “go” and cannot be used with the auxiliary verb “have”.
[He] “...should have gone right to second base...".
“I was doing good.”
“Good” is an adjective and an adverb is required to describe the verb “was doing”.
“I was doing well.”
Wednesday
"Is it true, do men get more romantic with age? The most romantic age 53? Do you agree? We are told he is wiser and will work for his partner, be more likely to make an effort. is it true? Is your man more romantic than ever? Would you choose an older man over a young man, anytime?"
There are so many errors here, I don’t have the inclination to list them. Check below for a better version. I have no idea how to incorporate “anytime” with any sort of connectivity, so I am leaving it out.
“Is it true that men get more romantic with age? Is the most romantic age 53? Do you agree? We are told that, at that age, he is wiser and will work for his partner and be more likely to make an effort. Is it true? Is your man more romantic than ever? Would you choose an older man over a young man?”
“Young, childless, and snipped. Men as young as 21 are seeking vasectomies. With one couple suing for $50,000 because his didn't take. Should they collect for an unplanned pregnancy?”
The first group of words is an incomplete thought. The third group is not either.
“Young, childless, and snipped, men as young as 21 are seeking vasectomies. One couple is suing for $50,000 because his didn't take. Should they collect for an unplanned pregnancy?”
Thursday
“Because it's stomach churning to think that those dear old grandparents, Bill and Helene Regier of Mount Carmel, aged 72 and 73, were killed in cold blood by someone who surely knew their deaths would be 'freebies' on his maxed-out crime account.”
This is an incomplete thought; the word “because” makes it a subordinate clause that cannot stand by itself.
“It's stomach churning to think that those dear old grandparents, Bill and Helene Regier of Mount Carmel, aged 72 and 73, were killed in cold blood by someone who surely knew their deaths would be 'freebies' on his maxed-out crime account.”
“Three for the price of one. A volume discount.”
Both groups of words are incomplete thoughts.
“He killed three for the price of one and will get a volume discount [at trial].”
“...says members are impacted for life…”
"Impact" is a noun. I do not like “impacted” being used as a verb, although it seems to be creeping into the language.
“...says there are impacts on members for life…”
Friday
“Jesse Imeson looks good in chains. What else to say about a man who killed three times in four days?”
The second group of words is poorly constructed and incomplete.
“Jesse Imeson looks good in chains. What else is there to say about a man who killed three times in four days?”
“Food and liquor are going missing, articles of clothing, fishing equipment.”
“Things do not “go missing”; that is an impossibility. The last part is a weak ad-on. It should be completely reworked.
“Food and liquor, articles of clothing and fishing equipment are disappearing."
“Because better people, in the end, always win.”
This is an incomplete thought. As printed, it is a subordinate clause only.“Better people, in the end, always win.”
AN INTERESTING PHILOSOPHY
“Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”
Oscar Wilde created this quote.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Pathetic” (adj.) means exciting pity or sympathy, wretched, dismal, sad, pitiable or weak. The noun form is “pathos”. “Pathology” is a derivation.
“Self-effacement” (n.) refers to humility or is the act of keeping oneself in the background.
“Euphemism” (n.) refers to the substitution of a mild, indirect or vague expression for a harsh or blunt one.
“Frivolity” (n.) means playfulness, merriment or giddiness.
“Languorous” (adj.) means lazy, sleepy, dreamy or languid.
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