OFFICIAL/OFFICIOUS
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "official" and "officious".
Create sentences for each word that show you understand the meanings of the words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "libidinous".
What part of speech is "libidinous"?
Define "libidinous" and use it in a sentence.
What is the root word of "libidinous"?
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be published Sunday.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
THURSDAY'S FARE
FYI
In case you are new to this blog, the set-up is simple: each day of the week I post a challenge in the use and knowledge of the English Language, be it grammar, sentence structure, understanding subtle differences between words or anything else that suits my fancy. I also list a word which is usually familiar but not often well-known and ask you to work with it.
Then, on the weekend following the posts, I publish the corrections and explanations for the week's entries.
The purpose is simple: to elevate and to improve the use of the English language.
FLAGRANT/BLATANT
Explain the differences between the words "flagrant" and "blatant".
What part of speech is each word?
Identify other parts of speech for each word.
Use "flagrant" and "blatant" in sentences that show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "idiosyncrasy".
What part of speech is "idiosyncrasy"?
Define "idiosyncrasy" and use it in a sentence.
In case you are new to this blog, the set-up is simple: each day of the week I post a challenge in the use and knowledge of the English Language, be it grammar, sentence structure, understanding subtle differences between words or anything else that suits my fancy. I also list a word which is usually familiar but not often well-known and ask you to work with it.
Then, on the weekend following the posts, I publish the corrections and explanations for the week's entries.
The purpose is simple: to elevate and to improve the use of the English language.
FLAGRANT/BLATANT
Explain the differences between the words "flagrant" and "blatant".
What part of speech is each word?
Identify other parts of speech for each word.
Use "flagrant" and "blatant" in sentences that show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "idiosyncrasy".
What part of speech is "idiosyncrasy"?
Define "idiosyncrasy" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A VARIETY OF CHALLENGES
DEFINITE/DEFINITIVE
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "definite" and "definitive".
Create sentences for "definite" and "definitive" that reflect the meanings of the words.
THINK ABOUT THIS ONE
Identify the author of the following philosophy.
“Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "pillory".
What two parts of speech can "pillory" be?
Define "pillory" and create two sentences, one for each part of speech you identified.
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "definite" and "definitive".
Create sentences for "definite" and "definitive" that reflect the meanings of the words.
THINK ABOUT THIS ONE
Identify the author of the following philosophy.
“Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "pillory".
What two parts of speech can "pillory" be?
Define "pillory" and create two sentences, one for each part of speech you identified.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
"LITTLE" CHALLENGES
GET A GRAMMAR FIX
If you need a grammar fix or just want to review a wide variety of grammar, sentence structure, punctuation use or correct word usage, check the archives listed on the right side of this page.
There are over 700 entries available for perusal. And there are tons of descriptive words to add to your vocabulary.
LITTLE
Define the word "little".
What are the comparative and superlative forms of "little"?
Hint # 1: there are two different forms depending on use.
Hint # 2: you are behind the eight ball if you do not know the terms comparative and superlative. Be sure you know what these terms mean.
Hint # 3: this is trickier than you might, at first, think. Good luck.
Create sentences using the comparative and superlative forms of "little" in all its forms.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "histrionics".
What part of speech is "histrionics"?
Define "histrionics" and use it in a sentence.
If you need a grammar fix or just want to review a wide variety of grammar, sentence structure, punctuation use or correct word usage, check the archives listed on the right side of this page.
There are over 700 entries available for perusal. And there are tons of descriptive words to add to your vocabulary.
LITTLE
Define the word "little".
What are the comparative and superlative forms of "little"?
Hint # 1: there are two different forms depending on use.
Hint # 2: you are behind the eight ball if you do not know the terms comparative and superlative. Be sure you know what these terms mean.
Hint # 3: this is trickier than you might, at first, think. Good luck.
Create sentences using the comparative and superlative forms of "little" in all its forms.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "histrionics".
What part of speech is "histrionics"?
Define "histrionics" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, December 7, 2009
LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT
LIGHTENING/LIGHTNING
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "lightening" and "lightning".
Use "lightening" and "lightning" in sentences that clearly show the meanings of the words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "repartee".
What part of speech is "repartee"?
Define "repartee" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "lightening" and "lightning".
Use "lightening" and "lightning" in sentences that clearly show the meanings of the words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "repartee".
What part of speech is "repartee"?
Define "repartee" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - December 6, 2009
TAKE NOTE
I have received some comments that I would like to publish but will not because they are written in Chinese or Mandarin characters. Since I do not understand Chinese or Mandarin, I will not publish them.
ALL COMMENTS MUST BE IN ENGLISH OR I WILL NOT PUBLISH THEM. After all, this blog is about English usage.
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
Explain and correct the error in the following piece.
“She's so overcome when he breaks up with her that she collapses to the ground in the middle of a forest and lays there all night.”
“Lays” is incorrect; it should be “lies”. “Lays” requires an object. “Lays” in place of “lies” creates some very interesting connotations which I will leave to your imaginations.
“She's so overcome when he breaks up with her that she collapses to the ground in the middle of a forest and lies there all night.”
APPRAISE/APPRISE
“Appraise”, a verb, means to assess the value of something, to rate or to consider the worth of an idea or thing.
“I will appraise your Royal dalton collection of figurines and I assure you it is worth thousands.”
“Apprise”, a verb, means to advise, to notify, to send word or to inform people of a situation.
“When you apprise me of the jury’s verdict, I will immediately publish it.”
Tuesday
Identify and correct the errors in the following piece from a news story about turning in guns for cash.
“No questions asked and no questions as to the amount of guns turned in.”
This is not a complete thought; there is no principal verb.
“Amount” is incorrect; “amount” cannot be used in referring to things that can be counted; it can only be used for quantities that can be counted in bulk.
“There were no questions asked and no questions as to the number of guns turned in.”
Wednesday
EMPATHY/SYMPATHY
“Empathy”, a noun, refers to feeling like or understanding another person.
“Empathize” is the verb form.
“Empathic” is the adjective form.
“Empathetically” is the adverb form.
“Sympathy”, also a noun, means feeling sorry for another.
“Sympathize” is the verb form.
“Sympathetic” is the adjective form.
“Sympathetically” is the adverb form.
Thursday
ALL TOGETHER/ALTOGETHER
“All together” is a phrase meaning in a group.
“All together, the team raised a wonderful cheer.”
“Altogether” is an adverb meaning completely or entirely.
“The jury ruled that the defendant was altogether sane and could stand trial.”
Friday
Identify and correct the error in the following passage.
“ ‘I agree with you, Premier, that five years is a long time,’ replied Harper, who irritated Beijing by criticizing the Communist regime's human-rights record and meeting with the Dalai Lama, among other things. ‘It’s also been almost five years since we had yourself or President Hu in our country.’ ”
“Yourself” is incorrect. “Yourself” is a reflexive pronoun meaning that it cannot refer to another but must refer back only to itself. The correct word to use is “you”.
“ ‘I agree with you, Premier, that five years is a long time,’ replied Harper, who irritated Beijing by criticizing the Communist regime's human-rights record and meeting with the Dalai Lama, among other things. ‘It’s also been almost five years since we had you or President Hu in our country.’ ”
A GOOD CONCEPT
“There is no calamity greater than lavish desires.
There is no greater guilt than discontentment.
And there is no greater disaster than greed.”
This line was created by Lao-tzu, a Chinese philosopher who lived from 604 BC to 531 BC.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Luciferous” (adj.) means bringing or giving light. It is from the Latin “lux, lucis”. The word “Lucifer” is derived from this word.
“Foment” (v.) means to stir up, to agitate or to shake up, particularly public feeling.
“Fomentation”, meaning instigation, is the noun form.
“Pique” (v.) means to cause resentment, to goad or to needle.
“Pique” (n.) refers to a sudden outburst of anger.
“Fetid” (adj.) means a putrid smell, foul or stinking.
“Fetidity” is the noun form.
“Fetidly” is the adverb form.
“Malodorous” (adj.) means having a bad odor or unpleasant-smelling.
The association of “malodorous” is to the Prime Minister’s use of the English language. "Fetid" would also probably apply.
I have received some comments that I would like to publish but will not because they are written in Chinese or Mandarin characters. Since I do not understand Chinese or Mandarin, I will not publish them.
ALL COMMENTS MUST BE IN ENGLISH OR I WILL NOT PUBLISH THEM. After all, this blog is about English usage.
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
Explain and correct the error in the following piece.
“She's so overcome when he breaks up with her that she collapses to the ground in the middle of a forest and lays there all night.”
“Lays” is incorrect; it should be “lies”. “Lays” requires an object. “Lays” in place of “lies” creates some very interesting connotations which I will leave to your imaginations.
“She's so overcome when he breaks up with her that she collapses to the ground in the middle of a forest and lies there all night.”
APPRAISE/APPRISE
“Appraise”, a verb, means to assess the value of something, to rate or to consider the worth of an idea or thing.
“I will appraise your Royal dalton collection of figurines and I assure you it is worth thousands.”
“Apprise”, a verb, means to advise, to notify, to send word or to inform people of a situation.
“When you apprise me of the jury’s verdict, I will immediately publish it.”
Tuesday
Identify and correct the errors in the following piece from a news story about turning in guns for cash.
“No questions asked and no questions as to the amount of guns turned in.”
This is not a complete thought; there is no principal verb.
“Amount” is incorrect; “amount” cannot be used in referring to things that can be counted; it can only be used for quantities that can be counted in bulk.
“There were no questions asked and no questions as to the number of guns turned in.”
Wednesday
EMPATHY/SYMPATHY
“Empathy”, a noun, refers to feeling like or understanding another person.
“Empathize” is the verb form.
“Empathic” is the adjective form.
“Empathetically” is the adverb form.
“Sympathy”, also a noun, means feeling sorry for another.
“Sympathize” is the verb form.
“Sympathetic” is the adjective form.
“Sympathetically” is the adverb form.
Thursday
ALL TOGETHER/ALTOGETHER
“All together” is a phrase meaning in a group.
“All together, the team raised a wonderful cheer.”
“Altogether” is an adverb meaning completely or entirely.
“The jury ruled that the defendant was altogether sane and could stand trial.”
Friday
Identify and correct the error in the following passage.
“ ‘I agree with you, Premier, that five years is a long time,’ replied Harper, who irritated Beijing by criticizing the Communist regime's human-rights record and meeting with the Dalai Lama, among other things. ‘It’s also been almost five years since we had yourself or President Hu in our country.’ ”
“Yourself” is incorrect. “Yourself” is a reflexive pronoun meaning that it cannot refer to another but must refer back only to itself. The correct word to use is “you”.
“ ‘I agree with you, Premier, that five years is a long time,’ replied Harper, who irritated Beijing by criticizing the Communist regime's human-rights record and meeting with the Dalai Lama, among other things. ‘It’s also been almost five years since we had you or President Hu in our country.’ ”
A GOOD CONCEPT
“There is no calamity greater than lavish desires.
There is no greater guilt than discontentment.
And there is no greater disaster than greed.”
This line was created by Lao-tzu, a Chinese philosopher who lived from 604 BC to 531 BC.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Luciferous” (adj.) means bringing or giving light. It is from the Latin “lux, lucis”. The word “Lucifer” is derived from this word.
“Foment” (v.) means to stir up, to agitate or to shake up, particularly public feeling.
“Fomentation”, meaning instigation, is the noun form.
“Pique” (v.) means to cause resentment, to goad or to needle.
“Pique” (n.) refers to a sudden outburst of anger.
“Fetid” (adj.) means a putrid smell, foul or stinking.
“Fetidity” is the noun form.
“Fetidly” is the adverb form.
“Malodorous” (adj.) means having a bad odor or unpleasant-smelling.
The association of “malodorous” is to the Prime Minister’s use of the English language. "Fetid" would also probably apply.
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