Friday, March 6, 2009

CHOICES

BETTER LATE THAT NEVER

My server was down so this entry is late. Sorry. I hope it was not life-threatening to wait so long.



ARBITER/ARBITRATOR

Explain the difference between the words "arbiter" and "arbitrator".
What part of speech is each word?
When and where should each word be used?


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "disconsolate".
What part of speech is "disconsolate"?
Use "disconsolate" in a sentence.


CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS

Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Define "disconsolate" and use it in a sentence.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

OFT-MISUSED WORDS

I/ME/MYSELF

"I", "me" and "myself" are all pronouns.
What type of pronoun is each word?
What is the correct use of each word in a sentence?
What are the most common errors made when using "I", "me" and "myself"?
Create a sentence using each word correctly.


TODAY'S WORD

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

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

THIS & THAT

NATIONAL GRAMMAR DAY

Today is National Grammar Day

"Let us strive to be perfect, grammatically, all day."



HYPOCRITICAL/HYPERCRITICAL

Define "hypocritical" and use it in a sentence.

Define "hypercritical" and use it in a sentence.

What part of speech is each word?

Create sentences for the words "hypocritical" and "hypercritical". Be sure these sentences exhibit the meanings of the words.


A GOOD OBSERVATION

Identify the author of the following quote.

“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.”


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "quibbler".
What part of speech is "quibbler"?
Define "quibbler" and use it in a sentence.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

A WORD DAY

DISBURSE/DISPERSE

Explain the difference between "disburse" and "disperse".
What part of speech is each word?
Create sentences using "disburse" and "disperse".


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "adduce".
Define "adduce".
What part of speech is "adduce"?
Use the word in a sentence that clearly displays its meaning.

Monday, March 2, 2009

PROFESSIONAL (?) PROSE!

THEY CAN DO BETTER

Find and correct the errors in the following pieces.

"Each of these factors alone are demonstrated to negatively effect a student's scores but most students fall into more than one of those groups, Connelly said."
Brian Gray, Don Peat, "Mind the Gap", Toronto Saturday Sun, February 28, 2009.

"As NHL boss John Shannon told me, anytime there's a chance to reach a market of a billion people, he's so there."
Joe Warmington, Toronto Saturday Sun, February 28, 2009.

"The good thing is the warden and myself were installed today and we now have a plan to move forward."
Windsor Mayor, Eddie Francis, "Francis, Santos installed to WEDC board of directors", Dave Battegello, The Windsor Star, Monday, March 2, 2009.


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "paucity".
What part of speech is "paucity"?
Define "paucity" and use it in a sentence.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - March 1, 2009

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


Monday

GONE/WENT

Explain the difference between the words "gone" and "went".
Gone" is the past participle of the verb “to go”. “Gone must have an auxiliary verb attached.
Went” is the past tense of the verb “to go”.

“He went to the store yesterday.”
“He has gone to the store in the past.”


Tuesday

Fix the errors in the following. Be sure to be able to explain each.

“It was a night beyond friends and family and his fellow officials, went mostly unnoticed among the hockey world, but Pare recognizes that's when an official is at their best.
When nobody remembers who they are.”

The first group of words is a run-on sentence because of the misuse of punctuation.
“An official” is singular but the relative pronoun following it is plural. Consistency must be established
The second group of words is an incomplete thought and, therefore, not a sentence. A principal clause is needed.


“It was a night beyond friends and family and his fellow officials. It went mostly unnoticed among the hockey world, but Pare recognizes that's when officials are at their best.
“[Officials are at their best] when nobody remembers who they are.”


Wednesday

WHENEVER/WHEN

Whenever” is a conjunction meaning at whatever time or any time. It can refer to repeated events or to events of indefinite time or date.
“He gives to the poor whenever he is able to do so.”

When” is an adverb or a subordinate adverb conjunction. It usually refers to a specific singular event.
“When it is possible, I will do the deed.”


Thursday

APPRAISE/APPRISE

Appraise” means to rate or estimate the value of something.
“I will appraise the value of that old chair for a fee.”

Apprise” means to inform, to acquaint or to pass on information to some one.
“I will apprise him of his options when he is formally charged with a crime.”


Friday

Identify and correct the errors in the entries below.

“Too much offence, too much defence, too much power on the serve.”

This is an incomplete thought because there is no verb.

“[Amherstburg had] too much offence, too much defence and too much power on the serve.”


“They play good defence, they can hit.”

The error here is usually referred to as a comma splice. A semi-colon, a conjunction or two sentences could be used in correcting the error.

“They play good defence; they can hit.”
“They play good defence and they can hit.”
“They play good defence. They can hit.”


BLOG RATIONALE

“Stupid is forever, ignorance can be fixed.”
Don Wood, author, created this sardonic saying.


LAST WEEK’S WORDS

Poignant” (adj.) means moving, emotional touching, heart-rending or sad.
Poignancy” is the noun form of the word.

Extricable” (adj.) means being able to be disengaged, disentangled, freed or liberated.

Flaccid” (adj.) means flabby, drooping, saggy or lifeless.

Cadaverous” (adj.) means ghostly, pale, pallid or ashen.

Cognition” (n.) means perception, awareness or the act or power of knowing.