ORDINANCE/ORDNANCE
Define and explain the difference in meaning between the words "ordinance" and "ordnance".
What part of speech is each word?
Create sentences using "ordinance" and "ordnance".
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ululate".
What part of speech is "ululate"?
Create a sentence that clearly shows the meaning of "ululate".
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be published Sunday.
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
Join my English Purists Club. Check the box in the right column and help to enforce correct English use at all levels of communication.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
"D" AS IN "DODO" DAY
DYEING/DYING
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "dyeing" and "dying".
What part of speech is each word?
Create sentences using "dyeing" and "dying".
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "disconsolate".
Define "disconsolate" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "disconsolate"?
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "dyeing" and "dying".
What part of speech is each word?
Create sentences using "dyeing" and "dying".
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "disconsolate".
Define "disconsolate" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "disconsolate"?
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
GOOD LITTLE CHALLENGES
AMBIVALENT/INDIFFERENT
Explain the difference between the words "ambivolent" and "indifferent".
What part of speech is each word?
Create sentences using "ambivolent" and "indifferent".
Create sentences using each word as a different part of speech.
SO TRUE!
Identify the author of the following.
“The price of greatness is responsibility.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "omnipotence".
Define "omnipotence" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "omnipotence"?
Explain the difference between the words "ambivolent" and "indifferent".
What part of speech is each word?
Create sentences using "ambivolent" and "indifferent".
Create sentences using each word as a different part of speech.
SO TRUE!
Identify the author of the following.
“The price of greatness is responsibility.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "omnipotence".
Define "omnipotence" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "omnipotence"?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
I WILL NOT GIVE IN OR GIVE UP!
WHAT IS INCORRECT?
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
"An attack that left a Windsor cab driver with 15 stab wounds, slashes to both arms and lacerations to the top of his head after being beaten with a hammer."
Don Lajoie, "'I would give you a big hug'", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
"Willistead Park is bordered by black metal fencing, not the green chain-linked fencing the wire pieces are believed to have originated from."
Frances Willick, "CUPE denies sabotage claims", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "capitulate".
Define "capitulate" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "capitulate"?
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
"An attack that left a Windsor cab driver with 15 stab wounds, slashes to both arms and lacerations to the top of his head after being beaten with a hammer."
Don Lajoie, "'I would give you a big hug'", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
"Willistead Park is bordered by black metal fencing, not the green chain-linked fencing the wire pieces are believed to have originated from."
Frances Willick, "CUPE denies sabotage claims", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "capitulate".
Define "capitulate" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "capitulate"?
Monday, May 25, 2009
WORD CHALLENGES
LONELY/LONESOME
Are there differences in meaning between the words "lonely" and "lonesome"?
Explain the differences.
Use "lonely" and "lonesome" in sentences that clearly show the meaning of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "nexus".
Define "nexus" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "nexus"?
Are there differences in meaning between the words "lonely" and "lonesome"?
Explain the differences.
Use "lonely" and "lonesome" in sentences that clearly show the meaning of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "nexus".
Define "nexus" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "nexus"?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - May 24, 2009
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Tuesday
There are three errors in the examples below.
Find and correct the errors. Be sure to have reasons for your selections.
“Bias against obesity getting worse”
This is a headline so no period is required.
“Bias” is wrong. “Bias” shows favour or slant toward something. The word should be “prejudice” which shows leanings against something or someone.
Remember: bias is toward; prejudice is against.
“Prejudice against obesity getting worse”
“One that his team's have been schooled in many times before.”
This is not a sentence; it is a subordinate clause and cannot stand by itself.
“Team’s” is possessive and should not be. The simple plural of “team is required.
“This is one idea that his teams have been schooled in many times before.”
Wednesday
Correct the errors in the following examples.
NOT ONE OF THE ENTRIES BELOW IS A COMPLETE THOUGHT.
How on earth can a city newspaper advertise it should be used as an instructional source in a classroom when its own lead editorial writers and main sports writer cannot formulate complete thoughts?
Each incomplete thought is given with a correct version below it.
Editorial Opinion Examples
“Clandestine meetings in hotel rooms.”
“There were clandestine meetings in hotel rooms.”
“Envelopes stuffed with cash.”
“There were envelopes stuffed with cash.”
“The money put not in banks, but in safe deposit boxes.”
“The money was put not in banks, but in safe deposit boxes.”
Sports Story Examples
“And how unwisely so how other teams spend theirs.”
“And how unwisely so how other teams spend theirs.”
“The anchor of their defence.”
“Lidstrom is the anchor of their defence.”
“Flaws that were capitalized on by two guys Detroit rescued from the NHL scrap heap.”
“Chicago had flaws that were capitalized on by two guys Detroit rescued from the NHL scrap heap.”
“Plays that Detroit made.”
“Plays that Chicago didn't.”
“Chicago was done in by plays that Detroit made and they did not.”
Thursday
OPPRESS/REPRESS
“Repress” (v.) simply means to keep under control or to hold in check as in repressing one’s anger at a bad call in a game.
The noun form is “repression”.
The adjective form is “repressive”.
“Oppress” (v.) is always bad and implies persecution. It means to put down, to give troubles to, to harass or to subjugate as in Idi Amin oppressed his people.
The noun form is “oppression”.
The adjective form is “oppressive”.
Friday
LUXURIANT/LUXURIOUS
“Luxuriant” (adj.) means abundant, teeming with or copious.
“The luxuriant forests of Northern Ontario are a wonderful sight and experience.”
“Luxurious” (adj.) means gilded, opulent, sumptuous or lavish.
“The luxurious meal was one fit for a king.”
THINK ABOUT THIS
Identify the author of the following.
“To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge it, requires brains.”
Mary Pettibone Poole wrote this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Dearth” (n.) means a severe shortage, a scarcity or severe shortfall.
“Spasmodic” (adj.) Means an involuntary muscular contraction, a convulsive or fitful motion.
“Mortify” (v.) means to lower in esteem, to hurt the pride of , to humiliate, abase or humble.
“Frump” (n.) refers to a disagreeable or unpleasant woman, a dowdy and sometimes cross woman.
“Frumpish” is the adjective form.
Tuesday
There are three errors in the examples below.
Find and correct the errors. Be sure to have reasons for your selections.
“Bias against obesity getting worse”
This is a headline so no period is required.
“Bias” is wrong. “Bias” shows favour or slant toward something. The word should be “prejudice” which shows leanings against something or someone.
Remember: bias is toward; prejudice is against.
“Prejudice against obesity getting worse”
“One that his team's have been schooled in many times before.”
This is not a sentence; it is a subordinate clause and cannot stand by itself.
“Team’s” is possessive and should not be. The simple plural of “team is required.
“This is one idea that his teams have been schooled in many times before.”
Wednesday
Correct the errors in the following examples.
NOT ONE OF THE ENTRIES BELOW IS A COMPLETE THOUGHT.
How on earth can a city newspaper advertise it should be used as an instructional source in a classroom when its own lead editorial writers and main sports writer cannot formulate complete thoughts?
Each incomplete thought is given with a correct version below it.
Editorial Opinion Examples
“Clandestine meetings in hotel rooms.”
“There were clandestine meetings in hotel rooms.”
“Envelopes stuffed with cash.”
“There were envelopes stuffed with cash.”
“The money put not in banks, but in safe deposit boxes.”
“The money was put not in banks, but in safe deposit boxes.”
Sports Story Examples
“And how unwisely so how other teams spend theirs.”
“And how unwisely so how other teams spend theirs.”
“The anchor of their defence.”
“Lidstrom is the anchor of their defence.”
“Flaws that were capitalized on by two guys Detroit rescued from the NHL scrap heap.”
“Chicago had flaws that were capitalized on by two guys Detroit rescued from the NHL scrap heap.”
“Plays that Detroit made.”
“Plays that Chicago didn't.”
“Chicago was done in by plays that Detroit made and they did not.”
Thursday
OPPRESS/REPRESS
“Repress” (v.) simply means to keep under control or to hold in check as in repressing one’s anger at a bad call in a game.
The noun form is “repression”.
The adjective form is “repressive”.
“Oppress” (v.) is always bad and implies persecution. It means to put down, to give troubles to, to harass or to subjugate as in Idi Amin oppressed his people.
The noun form is “oppression”.
The adjective form is “oppressive”.
Friday
LUXURIANT/LUXURIOUS
“Luxuriant” (adj.) means abundant, teeming with or copious.
“The luxuriant forests of Northern Ontario are a wonderful sight and experience.”
“Luxurious” (adj.) means gilded, opulent, sumptuous or lavish.
“The luxurious meal was one fit for a king.”
THINK ABOUT THIS
Identify the author of the following.
“To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge it, requires brains.”
Mary Pettibone Poole wrote this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Dearth” (n.) means a severe shortage, a scarcity or severe shortfall.
“Spasmodic” (adj.) Means an involuntary muscular contraction, a convulsive or fitful motion.
“Mortify” (v.) means to lower in esteem, to hurt the pride of , to humiliate, abase or humble.
“Frump” (n.) refers to a disagreeable or unpleasant woman, a dowdy and sometimes cross woman.
“Frumpish” is the adjective form.
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