Friday, December 5, 2008

WRITERS! LEARN YOUR CRAFT!

UNBELIEVABLE!

Find and correct the errors in the following entries.

"Almost three-quarters of Canadians say they are 'truly scared' for the future of the country and a solid majority say they would prefer another election to having the minority conservative government replaced by a coalition led by Stephan Dion, a new Ipsos-Reid poll says."
Norma Greenaway, "Poll finds Tory surge during crisis", The Windsor Star, Friday, December 5, 2008.

"As the last of the knapsacks were packed at the McDougall Avenue residence, there were still boxes of supplies left over that will be used next year."
Star Staff, "Volunteers fill backpacks for area's homeless", The Windsor Star, Friday, December 5, 2008.

"A number of Facebook groups have popped up, including one boasting more than 144,000 members."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Limits on teenage drivers backed by study", The Windsor Star, Friday, December 5, 2008.


FROM SOME WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER

Find and correct the errors in the following pieces.

"'Younger drivers should carry less passengers on highways particularly.'"
Chris Lee, University of Windsor researcher, "Limits on teenage drivers backed by study", Trevor Wilhelm, The Windsor Star, Friday, December 5, 2008.

"'Any measures that are aimed at protecting and improving drivers is welcomed,' said Staff Sgt. Ed McNorton."
Ed McNorton, Windsor Police, "Limits on teenage drivers backed by study", Trevor Wilhelm, The Windsor Star, Friday, December 5, 2008.


TODAY'S WORD

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


CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS

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

Thursday, December 4, 2008

SUBJECTS & VERBS

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT, PLEASE

Find and correct the errors in the following entries.

So far, only $110,197, 950 worth of permits have been issued, compared to $173,549,505 a year ago.
Star Staff, "Building permit values continue to slide", The Windsor Star, Thursday, December 4, 2008.

"One third of new recruits are female."
Gary Rennie, "Better pay lures MDs from United States, county council told", The Windsor Star, Thursday, December 4, 2008.

"Still about one in four local residents don't have a family doctor - a higher rate than the provincial average of one in five."
Gary Rennie, "Better pay lures MDs from United States, county council told", The Windsor Star, Thursday, December 4, 2008.


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "patronize".
Give two completely different definitions for the word "patronize".
Create sentences that clearly exhibit each definition.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

TRICKY STUFF

EXALT/EXULT

Explain the difference in meaning between the words "exalt" and "exult".
Use each word in a sentence to clearly express its meaning.


GREATNESS

Identify the author of the following quote.

“To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.”


TODAY'S WORD

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

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

CHALLENGING WORDS

BENEFACTOR/BENEFICIARY

Explain the difference between the words "benefactor" and "beneficiary".
Use "benefactor" and "beneficiary" in sentences that clearly show the meanings of the words.


TODAY'S WORD

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

Monday, December 1, 2008

AN INTERESTING START

NAUSEATED/NAUSEOUS

Define "nauseated" and "nauseous".
Explain the subtle differences between "nauseated" and "nauseous".
Create sentences for each word that correctly display the words' different meanings.


THE USUAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Identify and correct the errors in the following entry.

"Winona Ryder was loaned a bracelet...and it has now gone missing."
Mitch O'Connor, Mix 96.7 Radio Show, Monday, December 1, 2008, 8:25 am.


Find and correct the error in the following piece.

"Especially when your version of green will be the envy of Canada."
Craig Pearson, "Few blue about future of green Suzuki school", The Windsor Star, Monday, December 1, 2008.


TODAY'S WORD

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

Sunday, November 30, 2008

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - November 30, 2008

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

Monday

AVENGE/REVENGE

Avenge” is a verb meaning to get even with or to punish. The noun form is “vengeance“.

Revenge” is a noun meaning retribution or vengeance.
The two words cannot be interchanged.


Tuesday

There are two errors in the following unit. Find and correct them.

“The office and myself are much better known to the public," said Fraser: "I think more attention is paid generally to our reports than may have been the case in the past.”

“Myself” is a reflexive pronoun and cannot be used in this context. Replace it with subjective pronoun “I”.
The colon after “Fraser” is incorrect; it should be a period.


“The office and I are much better known to the public," said Fraser. "I think more attention is paid generally to our reports than may have been the case in the past.”


Wednesday

Fix the errors in the following pieces.

[The clouds], “...they continue their lingerment…”.

There is no such word as “lingerment”.

[The clouds], “...continue lingering [in the area]…”.


“I supported the motion even though I do not think that OTF (Ontario Teachers Federation) had no other choice but to accept a deal that did include conditional inflation protection as part of the valuation.”

There is a double negative with “…I do not think…” and “…no other choice…”.

“I supported the motion even though I do not think that OTF (Ontario Teachers Federation) had any other choice but to accept a deal that did include conditional inflation protection as part of the valuation.”



Thursday

Correct the errors in the following.

“You don't drive like her, and you shouldn't pay the same insurance premiums as her.”

The implied meaning dictates the word choice and the objective “her” is incorrect.

“You don't drive like she does, and you shouldn't pay the same insurance premiums as she (does).”


“Neither mother nor daughter have any previous retailing experience.”

The verb should be singular because there is one choice or one other choice, not two choices.

“Neither mother nor daughter has any previous retailing experience.”


Friday

Identify and correct the error in the following sentence.

“That wraps it up for you and I.”

“For” is a preposition which begins a phrase and takes an object. “I” is subjective and cannot be used.

“That wraps it up for you and me.”


CONTINUOUS/CONTIGUOUS

Continuous” is an adjective meaning non-stop, constant or unbroken.
The cat’s continuous caterwauling, as she sat on the fence, kept the entire neighbourhood awake.

Contiguous” is an adjective meaning nearby, close, adjacent or neighbouring.

The Canadian provinces and territories are contiguous except for Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.


QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The true civilization is where every man gives to every other every right that he claims for himself.”
Robert Ingersoll, U.S. orator and lawyer, coined this phrase.


LAST WEEK’S WORDS

Machination” (n.) means a crafty scheme, plot, plan or device.
The “ch” is hard and is pronounced “k”.

Extolment” (n.) means high praise, glorification or eulogizing. The verb form is “extol”.

Extemporaneous” (adj.) means impromptu, “off-the-cuff or without preparation.

Abjure” (v.) means to renounce, to disavow, to renounce or to reject. The noun form is “abjuration”.

Bacchanal” (n.) is a drunken reveler or an occasion of drunken revelry.
The word is the adjectival form of Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry in Roman mythology. The Greek word for god of wine was Dionysius.