PERSUADE/CONVINCE
This is a good one.
Explain the difference between the words "persuade" and "convince".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "persuade" and "convince" in sentences that express their individual meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "non compos mentis".
This is a Latin phrase.
What does it mean?
Use "non compos mentis" in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted late on Sunday.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
LITTLE THINGS STILL COUNT
DEFUSE/DIFFUSE
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "defuse" and "diffuse".
Create sentences that clearly show the meanings of both words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "concomitant".
What part of speech is "concomitant"?
Define "concomitant" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "defuse" and "diffuse".
Create sentences that clearly show the meanings of both words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "concomitant".
What part of speech is "concomitant"?
Define "concomitant" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
HUMP DAY HUMPS
ANYWAY/ANY WAY/ANYWAYS
One of "anyway", "any way" and "anyways" is incorrect.
Which one is incorrect?
What part of speech is each?
What is the meaning of each?
Create sentences exhibiting the use of each.
A BIT OF CYNICISM
Who coined the following indictment?
“Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "quintessential".
What part of speech is "quintessential"?
Define "quintessential" and use it in a sentence.
One of "anyway", "any way" and "anyways" is incorrect.
Which one is incorrect?
What part of speech is each?
What is the meaning of each?
Create sentences exhibiting the use of each.
A BIT OF CYNICISM
Who coined the following indictment?
“Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "quintessential".
What part of speech is "quintessential"?
Define "quintessential" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
WORD NUANCES
FORCEFUL/FORCIBLE/FORCED
"Forceful", "forcible" and "forced" share the root "force".
Explain the difference in meaning among the three words.
Use "forceful", "forcible" and "forced" in sentences that reflect their individual meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "calamitous".
What part of speech is "calamitous"? What other part of speech can be created from the word?
Define "calamitous" and use it in a sentence.
"Forceful", "forcible" and "forced" share the root "force".
Explain the difference in meaning among the three words.
Use "forceful", "forcible" and "forced" in sentences that reflect their individual meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "calamitous".
What part of speech is "calamitous"? What other part of speech can be created from the word?
Define "calamitous" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, March 16, 2009
STYLE VS CORRECTNESS
JUSTIFIABLE?
Read the following entries and decide whether or not you think there are errors in them.
If you think there are errors, correct them and give your reasons.
If you think the errors are acceptable, explain why.
(How is that for a directed answer?)
"He is the weak link in the chain. The reason they might lose. The cause for concern."
Bob Duff, "Osgood supports Engelage", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 16, 2009.
"Especially since the numbers next to Engelage's name are so glowing."
Bob Duff, "Osgood supports Engelage", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 16, 2009.
"Osgood's advice to Engelage?"
Bob Duff, "Osgood supports Engelage", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 16, 2009.
"Sound words from a man who's been castigated by similar-sounding words many times before."
Bob Duff, "Osgood supports Engelage", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 16, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "interminable".
Define "interminable" and use it in a sentence.
Read the following entries and decide whether or not you think there are errors in them.
If you think there are errors, correct them and give your reasons.
If you think the errors are acceptable, explain why.
(How is that for a directed answer?)
"He is the weak link in the chain. The reason they might lose. The cause for concern."
Bob Duff, "Osgood supports Engelage", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 16, 2009.
"Especially since the numbers next to Engelage's name are so glowing."
Bob Duff, "Osgood supports Engelage", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 16, 2009.
"Osgood's advice to Engelage?"
Bob Duff, "Osgood supports Engelage", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 16, 2009.
"Sound words from a man who's been castigated by similar-sounding words many times before."
Bob Duff, "Osgood supports Engelage", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 16, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "interminable".
Define "interminable" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - March 15, 2009
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
VERBS TEST
Read the sentences and identify the following about each:
a) the verb itself
b) type of verb
c) tense of the verb
d) voice of the verb
1. Betsy is a wonderful mother.
The verb is “is”. It is a copula verb in the present tense. It is active.
2. The house was built by George.
The verb is “was built”. It is a compound verb. It is intransitive and in the past tense. It is passive.
3. He quickly ran to the front of the line.
The verb is “ran”. It is intransitive and in the past tense. It is active.
4. The operator was driving his bus when it ran out of gas.
The first verb is “was driving”. It is a compound verb in the past tense. It is active.
The second verb is “ran out”. It is a compound verb in the past tense. It is active.
5. The marathoner had run the race in 2005.
The verb is “had run”. It is a compound verb in the past perfect tense. It is active.
Tuesday
“Overnight Saturday, another vanderGaast penguin statue went missing, this time from the London School of Economics in England.”
Things and people do not “go missing”. This is a terrible phrase that is blatantly and inanely overused. It has to be replaced.
“Overnight Saturday, another vanderGaast penguin statue disappeared, this time from the London School of Economics in England.”
“A record number of Ross's geese seen at one time in Southern Ontario were spotted Monday at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area.”
The subject of “were spotted” is “number“, a collective singular noun, by context. The verb, therefore, has to be singular.
“A record number of Ross's geese seen at one time in Southern Ontario was spotted Monday at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area.”
“'I've the heard the last six month described as an economic tsunami,'“ he said.
The quotation marks are misplaced and “month” has to be plural.
“'I've the heard the last six months described as an economic tsunami,' he said.”
Wednesday
INTENSE/INTENSIVE
“Intense” (adj.) means putting forth a great or concerted effort. It also meand existing in a high or extreme degree.
“He put forth an intense effort at pumping iron in order to build his muscles.”
“Intensive” (adj.) means that the effort or intensity of effort comes from outside forces. It is the increasing of emphasis or forc.
“Through intensive agrarian efforts by the farmer, the crop yield tripled.
Thursday
MAJORITY ARE/MAJORITY IS
“Majority” can be either singular or plural.
When “majority” is used to describe a collection of individuals, then the word should be treated as plural.
“The majority of players on the team are under twenty.”
When “majority” is used to describe a collective group, then it has to be considered as singular.
“A fifty-one percent majority of listeners is a huge number of people.”
The rule is that if “majority” refers to the group, itself, it is singular; if it refers to individuals in the group, it is plural. Context creates the choice.
Friday
COMPLEMENTARY/COMPLIMENTARY
“Complementary” (adj.) means to harmonize, match or go with something else.
“The style and colour of the couple’s clothes were complementary.”
“Complimentary” (adj.) means praising, flattering or approving comments.
“The adjudicator’s remarks for the young pianist were very complimentary.”
TAKE THIS TO HEART
“There is no remedy for love but to love more."
Henry David Thoreau, author (1817 - 1862) penned this piece.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Perseverance” (n.) means diligence, doggedness or persistence.
“Strident” (adj.) means loud, clamorous, shrill or discordant.
“Trenchant” (adj.) means incisive, sharp, forceful, cutting or direct
“Anomaly” (n.) means an incongruity, an abnormality or a variance.
“Dubious” (adj.) means doubtful, uncertain, ambiguous or suspicious.
Monday
VERBS TEST
Read the sentences and identify the following about each:
a) the verb itself
b) type of verb
c) tense of the verb
d) voice of the verb
1. Betsy is a wonderful mother.
The verb is “is”. It is a copula verb in the present tense. It is active.
2. The house was built by George.
The verb is “was built”. It is a compound verb. It is intransitive and in the past tense. It is passive.
3. He quickly ran to the front of the line.
The verb is “ran”. It is intransitive and in the past tense. It is active.
4. The operator was driving his bus when it ran out of gas.
The first verb is “was driving”. It is a compound verb in the past tense. It is active.
The second verb is “ran out”. It is a compound verb in the past tense. It is active.
5. The marathoner had run the race in 2005.
The verb is “had run”. It is a compound verb in the past perfect tense. It is active.
Tuesday
“Overnight Saturday, another vanderGaast penguin statue went missing, this time from the London School of Economics in England.”
Things and people do not “go missing”. This is a terrible phrase that is blatantly and inanely overused. It has to be replaced.
“Overnight Saturday, another vanderGaast penguin statue disappeared, this time from the London School of Economics in England.”
“A record number of Ross's geese seen at one time in Southern Ontario were spotted Monday at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area.”
The subject of “were spotted” is “number“, a collective singular noun, by context. The verb, therefore, has to be singular.
“A record number of Ross's geese seen at one time in Southern Ontario was spotted Monday at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area.”
“'I've the heard the last six month described as an economic tsunami,'“ he said.
The quotation marks are misplaced and “month” has to be plural.
“'I've the heard the last six months described as an economic tsunami,' he said.”
Wednesday
INTENSE/INTENSIVE
“Intense” (adj.) means putting forth a great or concerted effort. It also meand existing in a high or extreme degree.
“He put forth an intense effort at pumping iron in order to build his muscles.”
“Intensive” (adj.) means that the effort or intensity of effort comes from outside forces. It is the increasing of emphasis or forc.
“Through intensive agrarian efforts by the farmer, the crop yield tripled.
Thursday
MAJORITY ARE/MAJORITY IS
“Majority” can be either singular or plural.
When “majority” is used to describe a collection of individuals, then the word should be treated as plural.
“The majority of players on the team are under twenty.”
When “majority” is used to describe a collective group, then it has to be considered as singular.
“A fifty-one percent majority of listeners is a huge number of people.”
The rule is that if “majority” refers to the group, itself, it is singular; if it refers to individuals in the group, it is plural. Context creates the choice.
Friday
COMPLEMENTARY/COMPLIMENTARY
“Complementary” (adj.) means to harmonize, match or go with something else.
“The style and colour of the couple’s clothes were complementary.”
“Complimentary” (adj.) means praising, flattering or approving comments.
“The adjudicator’s remarks for the young pianist were very complimentary.”
TAKE THIS TO HEART
“There is no remedy for love but to love more."
Henry David Thoreau, author (1817 - 1862) penned this piece.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Perseverance” (n.) means diligence, doggedness or persistence.
“Strident” (adj.) means loud, clamorous, shrill or discordant.
“Trenchant” (adj.) means incisive, sharp, forceful, cutting or direct
“Anomaly” (n.) means an incongruity, an abnormality or a variance.
“Dubious” (adj.) means doubtful, uncertain, ambiguous or suspicious.
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