CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - June 21, 2009

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

Monday

INTERMURAL/INTRAMURAL/EXTRAMURAL

“Intramural” literally means within the walls and refers to events taking place entirely within an institution.
“House league teams at universities are examples of “intramural” sports activities.”

“Extramural”, therefore, means outside the walls and means outside the institution.
“When the University of Windsor football Lancers travel to London to compete against the University of Western Ontario Mustangs they are playing an extramural competition.”

“Intermural” is a rare word meaning between the walls. It has fallen out of use and is most often mistaken for “intramural”.


Tuesday

EMINENT/IMMINENT/IMMANENT

“Eminent” (adj.) means prominent, famous or above others in character.
“Vasco da Gama was an eminent Portuguese explorer.”

“Imminent” (adj.) means expected to follow in the near future. It often has a negative connotation such as in “imminent disaster” but can also be positive as in “imminent promotion”. The key is that it will occur very soon.
“A brutal storm is imminent because the sky is so dark and the wind is so calm.”

“Immanent” (adj.) is a thought process meaning inherent, intrinsic or within the mind. It is a mental act occurring within the mind of a subject and having no effect outside of it. Philosophically it means “inherent” and by theologically it means “present throughout the universe” when referring to God.
“Being kind to others is an immanent philosophy throughout the religions of the world.”


Wednesday

EMULATE/IMITATE

“Imitate”, a verb, means to copy something or someone.

“Emulate”, also a verb, is purely positive and means to strive to equal or match someone or something.

“A child may “imitate” his peers when he throws stones at windows but he “emulates” a kind person when he tries to help someone in need.”


Thursday

HIS AND HER’S/HIS AND HERS

“His and hers” is correct one because “hers” is a possessive pronoun and does not take an apostrophe.
“The house was his and hers.”

BOY'S BALL/BOYS' BALL

“Boy’s ball” means that the ball belonged to one boy.

“Boys’ ball” means that the ball belonged to many boys.


Friday

CONNOTE/DENOTE

“Denote”, a verb, means to attest, to certify, to demonstrate. It is the direct meaning of a term.
“Denotation” is the noun form.
“Their nods denote a willingness to continue.”

“Connote”, a verb, means to express or state indirectly, to imply, to denote secondarily, to represent or to symbolize in addition to the primary meaning.
“Connotation” is the noun form.

I think of “denote” as what a word means and “connote” as what a word implies.

“I connote, from observing their restlessness when the police drive by, that they are planning something illegal.”


A GOOD THOUGHT

Identify the speaker of the following truism.

“Civilization is a method of living, an attitude of equal respect for all men.”
This was said by Jane Addams, US suffragist (1860 - 1935).


LAST WEEK’S WORDS

“Emeritus” (adj.) means retired or advanced, particularly from assigned duties, but retaining one’s title.

“Repugnant” (adj.) means abhorrent, obscene repulsive or detestable.

“Duplicitous” (adj.) means deceitful, double-dealing, two-faced or beguiling.

“Untenable” (adj.) means indefensible, mindless, reasonless or absurd.

“Anecdotal” (adj.) means relating to, or telling of, incidences or stories of an interesting nature.