DOES ANYBODY PROOFREAD?
Find, identify and correct the errors in the following entry. (Note the "s" on the end of "errors".)
"Sheila McCabe - well know instructor, she has impacted many students lives over the years"
Susan Lewis, Photo tagline in article, "Honour Guard honours colleagues", The Windsor Star, Friday, May 8, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "simper".
Define "simper". Be careful; you might be surprised.
What part of speech is "simper"?
Use "simper" in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
EASY STUFF
FIND THE ERROR
Find, identify and correct the error in the following unit.
"Revenues the city gets from Caesars Windsor, which was the city's single largest taxpayer, combined with ths local heavy industry sector, adds up to the same amount as a decade ago, said Colucci."
Doug Schmidt, "$450,000 FOR AGW FROM CITY, The Windsor Star, Thursday, May 7, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "virtuosity".
Define "virtuosity" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "virtuosity"?
How many words can you identify as having the same root as "virtuosity"?
INVITATION
Don't forget to join my English Purists Club. Check to box along the right margin. Help stamp out ignorance and carelessness in the use of our language.
Find, identify and correct the error in the following unit.
"Revenues the city gets from Caesars Windsor, which was the city's single largest taxpayer, combined with ths local heavy industry sector, adds up to the same amount as a decade ago, said Colucci."
Doug Schmidt, "$450,000 FOR AGW FROM CITY, The Windsor Star, Thursday, May 7, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "virtuosity".
Define "virtuosity" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "virtuosity"?
How many words can you identify as having the same root as "virtuosity"?
INVITATION
Don't forget to join my English Purists Club. Check to box along the right margin. Help stamp out ignorance and carelessness in the use of our language.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
VARIED CHALLENGES
BUILD OFF OF
'Build off of' sounds incorrect and is often used, as in, "They build off of their past performances and good workmanship to maintain their clients base."
What is incorrect with "build off of"?
What is the correct expression to use in place of "build off of"?
Create a sentence using the correct expression.
A GOOD THOUGHT
Identify the author of the following.
“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "mortification".
Define "mortification" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "mortification"?
What other forms of "mortification" can be listed?
'Build off of' sounds incorrect and is often used, as in, "They build off of their past performances and good workmanship to maintain their clients base."
What is incorrect with "build off of"?
What is the correct expression to use in place of "build off of"?
Create a sentence using the correct expression.
A GOOD THOUGHT
Identify the author of the following.
“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "mortification".
Define "mortification" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "mortification"?
What other forms of "mortification" can be listed?
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
MAKE A CALL
POETIC LICENSE?
The following are taken from an opinion piece published today.
Are there errors in the entries?
What are the errors? Correct them.
Does the fact that it is an opinion piece allow some form of poetic license to the author?
"Not if you count the expropriation mess, legal fees, lost tax assessment, management time, and the opportunity costs."
"A canal to nowhere, as it were."
"Bobbing litter and stagnant water when the pumps break down, as they always do in Coventry Gardens."
Chris Vander Doelen, Opinion, "A costly canal to nowhere", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, May 5, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "feral".
Define "feral" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "feral"?
The following are taken from an opinion piece published today.
Are there errors in the entries?
What are the errors? Correct them.
Does the fact that it is an opinion piece allow some form of poetic license to the author?
"Not if you count the expropriation mess, legal fees, lost tax assessment, management time, and the opportunity costs."
"A canal to nowhere, as it were."
"Bobbing litter and stagnant water when the pumps break down, as they always do in Coventry Gardens."
Chris Vander Doelen, Opinion, "A costly canal to nowhere", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, May 5, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "feral".
Define "feral" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "feral"?
Monday, May 4, 2009
SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION
PART 1 - PHRASES
Many people have no idea of the components of a sentence, much less the ways in which those components function.
This unit is meant to help create an understanding of some of the structure and variety of our complex language.
Give it a try.
What is a phrase?
What are the components of a phrase?
How can a phrase be used in a sentence?
Create a sentence with a phrase in it and explain the connection of the phrase to the rest of the sentence.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "tempestuous".
What part of speech is "tempestuous"?
Define "tempestuous" and use it in a sentence.
Many people have no idea of the components of a sentence, much less the ways in which those components function.
This unit is meant to help create an understanding of some of the structure and variety of our complex language.
Give it a try.
What is a phrase?
What are the components of a phrase?
How can a phrase be used in a sentence?
Create a sentence with a phrase in it and explain the connection of the phrase to the rest of the sentence.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "tempestuous".
What part of speech is "tempestuous"?
Define "tempestuous" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - May 3, 2009
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
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.”
There should be a question mark after a question.
“The point is: what are we doing to help kids succeed?”
The irony is that the story was about teachers and they should not be associated with such a simple mistake.
Tuesday
LIKE/AS
“Like” as a preposition, starts a phrase and it must have an object.
“She sings like a beautiful bird.”
“As” is a conjunction. It should be followed by a clause containing a subject and a verb.
“He runs as a gazelle does.”
Wednesday
DOESN'T/DON'T
“Doesn’t” or “does not” is used with third person singular words such as “he”, “she” or “it”.
“Don’t” is never used for the third person singular such as in “He don’t know very much about grammar”.
“Don’t” is used for subjects other than third person singular as in “I don’t want to make a mistake”.
Thursday
SINGLE/SINGULAR
“Single” (adj.) means one unit. It refers to a person as being unmarried.
“Single” (v.) means to call attention to someone or something, as in singling out a reprobate for punishment.
“Singular” (adj.) means unique or distinctive. It means odd or unique when referring to a person.
Friday
ASSURE/ENSURE/INSURE
“Assure” (v.) means to make a person confident or certain of something, to state positively or to make a promise or commitment.
The noun form is “assurance”.
“I assure you that you have the skills to do the job.”
“Ensure” (v.) means to make certain or guarantee something will occur.
There is no noun form for “ensure”.
“I assure you that the event will occur.”
“Insure” (v.) means to underwrite or cover something such as with an insurance policy.
The noun form is “insurance”.
“Before I drive, I must insure me car for liability.”
THIS WEEK'S APHORISM
Identify the author of the following.
“I never cease being dumbfounded by the unbelievable things people believe.”
Leo Rosten, a US author, created this line.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Demagogue” (n.) refers to an orator, an agitator or a fomenter who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his audience.
“Approbation” (n.) means official approval, acceptance or recognition
“Redundant” (adj.) means the use of more words than required, repetition of the same sense in different words.
“Rapturous” (adj.) means ecstatic, joyous elated or jubilant.
The words “rapt” and “rapture” share the same root.
“Redact” (v.) means to edit, revise, formulate in a particular style or language or to bring into presentable literary form.
Monday
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.”
There should be a question mark after a question.
“The point is: what are we doing to help kids succeed?”
The irony is that the story was about teachers and they should not be associated with such a simple mistake.
Tuesday
LIKE/AS
“Like” as a preposition, starts a phrase and it must have an object.
“She sings like a beautiful bird.”
“As” is a conjunction. It should be followed by a clause containing a subject and a verb.
“He runs as a gazelle does.”
Wednesday
DOESN'T/DON'T
“Doesn’t” or “does not” is used with third person singular words such as “he”, “she” or “it”.
“Don’t” is never used for the third person singular such as in “He don’t know very much about grammar”.
“Don’t” is used for subjects other than third person singular as in “I don’t want to make a mistake”.
Thursday
SINGLE/SINGULAR
“Single” (adj.) means one unit. It refers to a person as being unmarried.
“Single” (v.) means to call attention to someone or something, as in singling out a reprobate for punishment.
“Singular” (adj.) means unique or distinctive. It means odd or unique when referring to a person.
Friday
ASSURE/ENSURE/INSURE
“Assure” (v.) means to make a person confident or certain of something, to state positively or to make a promise or commitment.
The noun form is “assurance”.
“I assure you that you have the skills to do the job.”
“Ensure” (v.) means to make certain or guarantee something will occur.
There is no noun form for “ensure”.
“I assure you that the event will occur.”
“Insure” (v.) means to underwrite or cover something such as with an insurance policy.
The noun form is “insurance”.
“Before I drive, I must insure me car for liability.”
THIS WEEK'S APHORISM
Identify the author of the following.
“I never cease being dumbfounded by the unbelievable things people believe.”
Leo Rosten, a US author, created this line.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Demagogue” (n.) refers to an orator, an agitator or a fomenter who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his audience.
“Approbation” (n.) means official approval, acceptance or recognition
“Redundant” (adj.) means the use of more words than required, repetition of the same sense in different words.
“Rapturous” (adj.) means ecstatic, joyous elated or jubilant.
The words “rapt” and “rapture” share the same root.
“Redact” (v.) means to edit, revise, formulate in a particular style or language or to bring into presentable literary form.
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