ASSURE/ENSURE/INSURE
Explain the differences in meaning among the words "assure", "ensure" and "insure".
What part of speech is each word?
What is the noun form of each word?
Create a sentence for each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "redact".
What part of speech is "redact"?
Define "redact" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
AN EASY DAY
SINGLE/SINGULAR
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "single" and "singular".
What part of speech is each word?
Cleate sentences that show the meaning of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "rapturous".
Define "rapturous" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "rapturous"?
Name other words that share the root of "rapturous".
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "single" and "singular".
What part of speech is each word?
Cleate sentences that show the meaning of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "rapturous".
Define "rapturous" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "rapturous"?
Name other words that share the root of "rapturous".
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
JOIN MY CLUB
INVITATION
ENGLISH PURISTS CLUB
Check out the column on the right of this page and accept my invitation to join the ENGLISH PURISTS CLUB.
The mandate is simple: to snuff out poor and incorrect use of the English language; to draw attention to the "professionals" who abuse the language; and to learn.
There are no dues.
There are no demands.
There are no privacy issues.
Feel free to make contributions and/or suggestions of material. All offers will be considered.
DOESN'T/DON'T
Explain the correct usage of the contractions "doesn't" and "don't".
What is the rule governing the use of these words?
What is the most common misuse of "doesn't" and "don't"?
Create correct sentences using each word.
THIS WEEK'S APHORISM
Identify the author of the following.
“I never cease being dumbfounded by the unbelievable things people believe.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "redundant".
What part of speech is "redundant"?
Define "redundant" and use it in a sentence.
ENGLISH PURISTS CLUB
Check out the column on the right of this page and accept my invitation to join the ENGLISH PURISTS CLUB.
The mandate is simple: to snuff out poor and incorrect use of the English language; to draw attention to the "professionals" who abuse the language; and to learn.
There are no dues.
There are no demands.
There are no privacy issues.
Feel free to make contributions and/or suggestions of material. All offers will be considered.
DOESN'T/DON'T
Explain the correct usage of the contractions "doesn't" and "don't".
What is the rule governing the use of these words?
What is the most common misuse of "doesn't" and "don't"?
Create correct sentences using each word.
THIS WEEK'S APHORISM
Identify the author of the following.
“I never cease being dumbfounded by the unbelievable things people believe.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "redundant".
What part of speech is "redundant"?
Define "redundant" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
TRICKY ONES
LIKE/AS
What are the meanings of the words "like" and "as"?
What are the correct uses of the words "like" and "as"?
Create sentences for each word that clearly show the correct use.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "approbation".
What part of speech is "approbation"?
Define "approbation" and use it in a sentence.
What are the meanings of the words "like" and "as"?
What are the correct uses of the words "like" and "as"?
Create sentences for each word that clearly show the correct use.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "approbation".
What part of speech is "approbation"?
Define "approbation" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, April 27, 2009
THOROUGHNESS REQUIRED
IRONY CONTINUED
Find, explain and correct the error in the following piece.
Identify the irony in the piece.
"The point is: what are we doing to help kids succeed."
Joanne Laucius, Canwest News Service, "Lack of 'leverage' stresses teachers", The Windsor Star, Monday, April 27, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "demagogue".
What part of speech is "demagogue"?
Define "demagogue" and use it in a sentence. Be precise and complete.
Find, explain and correct the error in the following piece.
Identify the irony in the piece.
"The point is: what are we doing to help kids succeed."
Joanne Laucius, Canwest News Service, "Lack of 'leverage' stresses teachers", The Windsor Star, Monday, April 27, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "demagogue".
What part of speech is "demagogue"?
Define "demagogue" and use it in a sentence. Be precise and complete.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - April 26, 2009
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
BEAUTIFUL IRONY
Identify and correct the error in the following example.
“Schools like Begley perform poorly on provincial tests, the number of low income and immigrant families are often used as excuses.”
This is an example of a comma splice, that is, using a comma where a period is needed.
The subject and verb of the second clause must agree. The subject is "number" and that word is singular so the verb must be singular.
"Excuse" should be singular; only one thing is being implied.
"Excuse" must be completed with a phrase, such as "for poor performance", so the sentence makes sense.
“Schools like Begley perform poorly on provincial tests. The number of low income and immigrant families is often used as an excuse.”
BONUS
The irony of the piece is that it is about education but is written in an uneducated fashion with four glaring errors.
BONUS # 2: FOUR TYPES OF IRONY
Irony is a literary device used by writers to enhance interest in their stories. Irony very easily translates into real life.
Simple Irony is a device whereby one thing is said but another thing is meant.
Dramatic Irony occurs when a character in a play or the audience knows something but another character does not.
Irony of Situation is an unexpected turn of events.
Irony of Fate occurs when a character, usually unwittingly, causes his own downfall.
Tuesday
What is the error in the following entry? Fix it.
“That despite the Spitfires carefully crafting a 4-1 lead after two periods.”
This is an incomplete thought; there is no verb.
“That [comeback] occurred despite the Spitfires carefully crafting a 4-1 lead after two periods.”
Wednesday
Find and fix the errors in the following pieces.
What are the applicable rules?
“Police said a Leamington resident found an envelope in their mailbox and initially thought it was delivered by Canada Post.”
“Resident” is singular. “Their”, which refers to “resident”, is plural. That is not acceptable grammar.
“Police said a Leamington resident found an envelope in his mailbox and initially thought it was delivered by Canada Post.” Use “her” if you don’t like “him”.
“Which brings me to another point: Susan Boyle says she has never been kissed.”
This is an incomplete thought because of the subordinate conjunction at the start of the sentence. The conjunction must be changed.
“That brings me to another point: Susan Boyle says she has never been kissed.”
Thursday
TORTUROUS/TORTUOUS
“Torturous” (adj.) means painful, cruel or causing extreme agony.
“Tortuous” (adj.) means full of twists, turns, winding or crooked. It also means morally crooked.
BONUS
What is the easiest way to determine what part of speech a word is, if you are unsure?
Write a sentence using the word in question and determine the word’s function. This usually shows the type of word.
Friday
BRING/TAKE
“Bring” means to carry to a nearer place from a farther place.
“Take” means to carry from a nearer place to a farther place.
The past tense and past participle of “bring” is “brought”.
The past tense of “take” is “took”. The past participle is “taken”.
BONUS
What are the forms of the word "bring" that are very often misused?
“Brung” “brang” and “tooken” are unacceptable forms of the words.
PONDER THIS CAREFULLY
“I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.”
Gerry Spence, U.S. trial lawyer, wrote this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Irreconcilable” (adj.) means conflicting, incompatible, opposed or contradictory.
“Embodiment” (n.) denotes personification, quintessence or picture.
“Calamitous” (adj.) means disastrous, ruinous, cataclysmic or tragic.
“Larcenous” (adj.) means relating to the theft of another’s property.
“Comprehensive” (adj.) means complete, inclusive, full or wide-reaching.
Monday
BEAUTIFUL IRONY
Identify and correct the error in the following example.
“Schools like Begley perform poorly on provincial tests, the number of low income and immigrant families are often used as excuses.”
This is an example of a comma splice, that is, using a comma where a period is needed.
The subject and verb of the second clause must agree. The subject is "number" and that word is singular so the verb must be singular.
"Excuse" should be singular; only one thing is being implied.
"Excuse" must be completed with a phrase, such as "for poor performance", so the sentence makes sense.
“Schools like Begley perform poorly on provincial tests. The number of low income and immigrant families is often used as an excuse.”
BONUS
The irony of the piece is that it is about education but is written in an uneducated fashion with four glaring errors.
BONUS # 2: FOUR TYPES OF IRONY
Irony is a literary device used by writers to enhance interest in their stories. Irony very easily translates into real life.
Simple Irony is a device whereby one thing is said but another thing is meant.
Dramatic Irony occurs when a character in a play or the audience knows something but another character does not.
Irony of Situation is an unexpected turn of events.
Irony of Fate occurs when a character, usually unwittingly, causes his own downfall.
Tuesday
What is the error in the following entry? Fix it.
“That despite the Spitfires carefully crafting a 4-1 lead after two periods.”
This is an incomplete thought; there is no verb.
“That [comeback] occurred despite the Spitfires carefully crafting a 4-1 lead after two periods.”
Wednesday
Find and fix the errors in the following pieces.
What are the applicable rules?
“Police said a Leamington resident found an envelope in their mailbox and initially thought it was delivered by Canada Post.”
“Resident” is singular. “Their”, which refers to “resident”, is plural. That is not acceptable grammar.
“Police said a Leamington resident found an envelope in his mailbox and initially thought it was delivered by Canada Post.” Use “her” if you don’t like “him”.
“Which brings me to another point: Susan Boyle says she has never been kissed.”
This is an incomplete thought because of the subordinate conjunction at the start of the sentence. The conjunction must be changed.
“That brings me to another point: Susan Boyle says she has never been kissed.”
Thursday
TORTUROUS/TORTUOUS
“Torturous” (adj.) means painful, cruel or causing extreme agony.
“Tortuous” (adj.) means full of twists, turns, winding or crooked. It also means morally crooked.
BONUS
What is the easiest way to determine what part of speech a word is, if you are unsure?
Write a sentence using the word in question and determine the word’s function. This usually shows the type of word.
Friday
BRING/TAKE
“Bring” means to carry to a nearer place from a farther place.
“Take” means to carry from a nearer place to a farther place.
The past tense and past participle of “bring” is “brought”.
The past tense of “take” is “took”. The past participle is “taken”.
BONUS
What are the forms of the word "bring" that are very often misused?
“Brung” “brang” and “tooken” are unacceptable forms of the words.
PONDER THIS CAREFULLY
“I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.”
Gerry Spence, U.S. trial lawyer, wrote this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Irreconcilable” (adj.) means conflicting, incompatible, opposed or contradictory.
“Embodiment” (n.) denotes personification, quintessence or picture.
“Calamitous” (adj.) means disastrous, ruinous, cataclysmic or tragic.
“Larcenous” (adj.) means relating to the theft of another’s property.
“Comprehensive” (adj.) means complete, inclusive, full or wide-reaching.
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