ASOCIAL/ANTISOCIAL/SOCIAL
Explain the difference in meaning and connotation of the words "asocial", "antisocial" and "social".
Create sentences to display the meaning of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "parochial".
What part of speech is "parochial"?
Define "parochial" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted on Sunday.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
THURSDAY'S FARE
SURE/SURELY
Explain the difference between the words "sure" and "surely".
What part of speech is "sure"?
What part of speech is "surely"?
Use "sure" and "surely" in sentences that clearly show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The phrase for today is "prima facie".
Here is another Latin phrase that is heard or read but which is often indecipherable.
What does "prima facie" mean?
Explain its use.
Create a sentence using "prima facie".
Explain the difference between the words "sure" and "surely".
What part of speech is "sure"?
What part of speech is "surely"?
Use "sure" and "surely" in sentences that clearly show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The phrase for today is "prima facie".
Here is another Latin phrase that is heard or read but which is often indecipherable.
What does "prima facie" mean?
Explain its use.
Create a sentence using "prima facie".
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
PROOFREAD! PLEASE!
RAMPANT CARELESSNESS!
Read the following. Find and correct the mistakes.
"The Spitfires don't want to extend the series any longer than they need two for a couple of reasons."
Jim Parker, "Spitfires face hurdle", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, March 25, 2009.
"The diminutive, elderly man sat hunched over in the prisoner's dock in bail court, no outwardly visible signs of having been shot."
Star Staff, "Gunman freed on bail after family posts bond", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, March 25, 2009.
"Difficult, but necessary, the experts say, if Michigan and its kids are to have a future."
Jack Lessenberry, Wayne State University faculty, "Money trumps education", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, March 25, 2009.
TRY THIS ONE
Identify the author of the following quote.
If you don't know the author, at least pay attention to the message.
“Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "eponymous".
What part of speech is "eponymous"?
Define "eponymous" and use it in a sentence.
Read the following. Find and correct the mistakes.
"The Spitfires don't want to extend the series any longer than they need two for a couple of reasons."
Jim Parker, "Spitfires face hurdle", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, March 25, 2009.
"The diminutive, elderly man sat hunched over in the prisoner's dock in bail court, no outwardly visible signs of having been shot."
Star Staff, "Gunman freed on bail after family posts bond", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, March 25, 2009.
"Difficult, but necessary, the experts say, if Michigan and its kids are to have a future."
Jack Lessenberry, Wayne State University faculty, "Money trumps education", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, March 25, 2009.
TRY THIS ONE
Identify the author of the following quote.
If you don't know the author, at least pay attention to the message.
“Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "eponymous".
What part of speech is "eponymous"?
Define "eponymous" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
TRY THESE
RAISE/RISE
Explain the difference in definition and use of the words "raise" and "rise".
What part of speech is each word?
Create a sentence for each word that clearly shows its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "schism".
What part of speech is "schism"?
Define "schism" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference in definition and use of the words "raise" and "rise".
What part of speech is each word?
Create a sentence for each word that clearly shows its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "schism".
What part of speech is "schism"?
Define "schism" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, March 23, 2009
EDITING? WHAT EDITING?
WOW! GREAT CONSISTENCY!
The examples below are cited from Monday's Golf Roundup in the paper.
Which example has an error?
What is the error?
Correct and explain the error.
"The decisive hole proved to be the par-five 11th where Goosen sunk a 17-foot putt to eagle the hole."
Star News Services, "Goosen golden", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 23, 2009.
"Hurst sank a long putt on the 18th green at the tough BosqueReal Country Club to finish at 10-under 206."
Star News Services, "Hurst steals spotlight", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 23, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ethereal".
Define "ethereal" and use it in a sentence.
The examples below are cited from Monday's Golf Roundup in the paper.
Which example has an error?
What is the error?
Correct and explain the error.
"The decisive hole proved to be the par-five 11th where Goosen sunk a 17-foot putt to eagle the hole."
Star News Services, "Goosen golden", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 23, 2009.
"Hurst sank a long putt on the 18th green at the tough BosqueReal Country Club to finish at 10-under 206."
Star News Services, "Hurst steals spotlight", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 23, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ethereal".
Define "ethereal" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - March 22, 2009
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
Read the following entries and decide whether or not you think there are errors in them.
I do not accept that newspaper writing should be a series of words and clichés only. The writer has an obligation to be correct in his writing construction.
“He is the weak link in the chain. The reason they might lose. The cause for concern.”
The second and third units of words are not complete sentences.
“He is the weak link in the chain. He is the reason they might lose. He is the cause for concern.”
“Especially since the numbers next to Engelage's name are so glowing.”
This unit is not a complete thought.
“Engelage is not the weak line, especially since the numbers next to his name are so glowing.”
“Osgood's advice to Engelage?”
This is not a complete thought.
“What is Osgood's advice to Engelage?”
“Sound words from a man who's been castigated by similar-sounding words many times before.”
This is not a complete thought.
“These are sound words from a man who's been castigated by similar-sounding words many times before.”
Tuesday
FORCEFUL/FORCIBLE/FORCED
“Forceful” (adj.) means powerful, vigorous or dynamic.
“Forcible” (adj.) must be used to describe the use of force.
“Forced” (participle) should be used to describe something that is done or decided upon as a result of outside causes without necessarily being violent, such as “a forced retreat”, “a forced smile” or “forced labour.”
Wednesday
ANYWAY/ANY WAY/ANYWAYS
“Anyway” is an adverb meaning besides nonetheless, in any case.
“My mother said I couldn’t go out. I am going out anyway and will take the consequences.
“Any way” is a pair of words consisting of an adjective and the noun it modifies meaning in any manner or way of doing something.
“He will do the job any way possible to be able to say it is done.”
One of "anyway", "any way" and "anyways" is incorrect.
“Anyways” is an incorrect form of the word “anyway”.
Thursday
DEFUSE/DIFFUSE
“Defuse” literally means "to remove a fuse." It also means, generally, "to disarm" or "pacify."
“Diffuse” as an adjective means "spread out", "extended" or "verbose."
The emphasis is on the first syllable.
“Diffuse” as a verb means "to spread out in all directions."
The emphasis is on the second syllable.
Friday
PERSUADE/CONVINCE
“Convince” (v.) is used when a person is convinced or moved by evidence or argument made to the intellect.
“Persuade” (v.) is used when a person is persuaded or moved by appeals made to the will, moral sense, or emotions.
A BIT OF CYNICISM
“Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.”
Bill Watterson, the cartoonist of "Calvin and Hobbes" coined this phrase.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Interminable” (adj.) means endless, ceaseless, perpetual or lasting.
“Calamitous” (adj.) means disastrous, tragic, ruinous or dire.
“Quintessential” (adj.) means ideal, model or exemplary.
“Concomitant” (adj.) means simultaneous, connected, affiliated or related to.
“Non compos mentis” means not or sound mind or mentally incapable. It is principally used in a legal context.
Monday
Read the following entries and decide whether or not you think there are errors in them.
I do not accept that newspaper writing should be a series of words and clichés only. The writer has an obligation to be correct in his writing construction.
“He is the weak link in the chain. The reason they might lose. The cause for concern.”
The second and third units of words are not complete sentences.
“He is the weak link in the chain. He is the reason they might lose. He is the cause for concern.”
“Especially since the numbers next to Engelage's name are so glowing.”
This unit is not a complete thought.
“Engelage is not the weak line, especially since the numbers next to his name are so glowing.”
“Osgood's advice to Engelage?”
This is not a complete thought.
“What is Osgood's advice to Engelage?”
“Sound words from a man who's been castigated by similar-sounding words many times before.”
This is not a complete thought.
“These are sound words from a man who's been castigated by similar-sounding words many times before.”
Tuesday
FORCEFUL/FORCIBLE/FORCED
“Forceful” (adj.) means powerful, vigorous or dynamic.
“Forcible” (adj.) must be used to describe the use of force.
“Forced” (participle) should be used to describe something that is done or decided upon as a result of outside causes without necessarily being violent, such as “a forced retreat”, “a forced smile” or “forced labour.”
Wednesday
ANYWAY/ANY WAY/ANYWAYS
“Anyway” is an adverb meaning besides nonetheless, in any case.
“My mother said I couldn’t go out. I am going out anyway and will take the consequences.
“Any way” is a pair of words consisting of an adjective and the noun it modifies meaning in any manner or way of doing something.
“He will do the job any way possible to be able to say it is done.”
One of "anyway", "any way" and "anyways" is incorrect.
“Anyways” is an incorrect form of the word “anyway”.
Thursday
DEFUSE/DIFFUSE
“Defuse” literally means "to remove a fuse." It also means, generally, "to disarm" or "pacify."
“Diffuse” as an adjective means "spread out", "extended" or "verbose."
The emphasis is on the first syllable.
“Diffuse” as a verb means "to spread out in all directions."
The emphasis is on the second syllable.
Friday
PERSUADE/CONVINCE
“Convince” (v.) is used when a person is convinced or moved by evidence or argument made to the intellect.
“Persuade” (v.) is used when a person is persuaded or moved by appeals made to the will, moral sense, or emotions.
A BIT OF CYNICISM
“Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.”
Bill Watterson, the cartoonist of "Calvin and Hobbes" coined this phrase.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Interminable” (adj.) means endless, ceaseless, perpetual or lasting.
“Calamitous” (adj.) means disastrous, tragic, ruinous or dire.
“Quintessential” (adj.) means ideal, model or exemplary.
“Concomitant” (adj.) means simultaneous, connected, affiliated or related to.
“Non compos mentis” means not or sound mind or mentally incapable. It is principally used in a legal context.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
