Friday, January 9, 2009

FRIDAY'S FUN

AURAL/ORAL

Explain the difference in meaning between "aural" and "oral".
Create sentences that clearly exhibit the meaning of each word.


TODAY'S WORD

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


ADDING YOUR COMMENTS

Your comments and corrections are always welcome and I will publish them unless you request that I not do so.
The comment that came in about Wednesday's posting did not catch the error in the first Windsor Star editorial cited. Feel free to try again.


CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS

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

Thursday, January 8, 2009

SUBTLETY OF MEANING

PRESUME/ASSUME

Explain the differences in meaning between the words "presume" and "assume".
Create sentences using "presume" and "assume" that clearly show the words' meanings.

TODAY'S WORD

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

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

SUBTLE, BUT STILL INCORRECT

COMMON USAGE DOES NOT MAKE CORRECTNESS

There are errors in the following pieces. Find, explain and correct them.
Hint: the quotation gives a clue to one of the errors.


"But it will surely slow things down, and that's not what we need. Not when more than 100,000 vehicles and $800 million crosses the border from Ontario to the U.S. on a daily basis."
Lead editorial, "The border", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, January 7, 2009.

"Instead of requiring the signature of a notary, a person with a valid passport can now act as a guarantor, providing they've know the applicant for at least two years."
Lead editorial, "The border", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, January 7, 2009.


A GOOD ONE

Identify the author of the following:

“Love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real.”


TODAY'S WORD

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

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE

I CAN'T RESIST THIS ONE!

This sign was spotted in a fast food restaurant window. Correct the errors in the text.





WORD OF THE DAY

Today's word is "commiserate".
Define "commiserate" and use it in a sentence.
Bonus: explain the correct usage of the word to receive a star for your forehead.


BONUS # 2

Identify the author of the title of today's blog and receive a gold star.

Monday, January 5, 2009

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

PAY ATTENTION!

"PROFESSIONAL WRITERS: LEARN TO WRITE!"


Good writing demands the following: correct spelling, complete sentences, proper grammar and appropriate punctuation. Anything else is unacceptable.

Check the following. Do these examples meet the criteria? Correct them if they do not.

"I like to think of myself as a nice guy. A reasonable guy. A positive, self-aware person who's pleasant to be around and makes the world a better place."
Dalson Chen, "2009 anti-resolutions", The Windsor Star, Monday, January 5, 2009.

"If someone's not a dumbass, I tolerate them."
Trevor Wilhelm, "2009 anti-resolutions", The Windsor Star, Monday, January 5, 2009.

"Which only goes to show that little guys like you and me are at as much risk as big banks."
Daphne Bramham, Internet blunders of 2008, "2009 anti-resolutions", The Windsor Star, Monday, January 5, 2009.


TODAY'S WORD

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