HISTORICAL/HISTORIC/HISTORICALLY
"Historical", "historic" and "historically" are often interchanged and often used incorrectly.
What part of speech is each word?
Explain the differences in meaning among the words "historical", "historic" and "historically".
Use "historical", "historic" and "historically" in sentences that demonstrate their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "colloquy".
What part of speech is "colloquy"?
Define "colloquy" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
SAME OLD...SAME OLD!
YESTERDAY...CONTINUED...
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
There are four; I bet you miss one.
Hint: I just gave you a hint.
"So as of this week, the Ontario Labour Relations Board has two bitter City of Windsor disputes in front of it: The bad-faith bargaining charges filed by CUPE during its summer strike, and the PETU dispute."
Chris Vander Doelen, "Timing bad for PETU", The Windsor Star, Thursday, December 17, 2009.
"Yes - the same benefits-for-life package that was at the heart of the CUPE strike."
Chris Vander Doelen, "Timing bad for PETU", The Windsor Star, Thursday, December 17, 2009.
"Maybe not the same thing, but close enough to keep everybody happy."
Chris Vander Doelen, "Timing bad for PETU", The Windsor Star, Thursday, December 17, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "conjecture".
What part of speech is "conjecture"?
Define "conjecture" and use it in a sentence.
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
There are four; I bet you miss one.
Hint: I just gave you a hint.
"So as of this week, the Ontario Labour Relations Board has two bitter City of Windsor disputes in front of it: The bad-faith bargaining charges filed by CUPE during its summer strike, and the PETU dispute."
Chris Vander Doelen, "Timing bad for PETU", The Windsor Star, Thursday, December 17, 2009.
"Yes - the same benefits-for-life package that was at the heart of the CUPE strike."
Chris Vander Doelen, "Timing bad for PETU", The Windsor Star, Thursday, December 17, 2009.
"Maybe not the same thing, but close enough to keep everybody happy."
Chris Vander Doelen, "Timing bad for PETU", The Windsor Star, Thursday, December 17, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "conjecture".
What part of speech is "conjecture"?
Define "conjecture" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
THE ART OF WRITING?
CONFUSING CONSTRUCTION
The following pieces are either confusing, inconsistent, incomplete, poorly punctuated or structurally incorrect. Read the following and determine the flaws in each. Be sure to correct what needs attention.
"Spencer and Brittany must read daily, practise their musical instruments and arrive at school prepared. Balance, without sacrificing responsibility."
Anne Jarvis, "Students' homework excessive", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, December 16, 2009.
"Assignments are effective only when they're engaging and meaningful, for example, deciding which strategy to use to solve a math problem, instead of rote repetition."
Anne Jarvis, "Students' homework excessive", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, December 16, 2009.
"The only conclusive way to improve academic success, studies show, is simple: Reading with or to kids every day."
Anne Jarvis, "Students' homework excessive", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, December 16, 2009.
"A subject of a previous court order forcing him to provide a blood sample for the police DNA databank, Blair's blood on the broken glass linked him to the crime."
Sarah Sacheli, "Violent offender set free on peace bond", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, December 16, 2009.
TAKE THIS TO HEART
Identify the author of the following aphorism.
“Ignorance never settles a question.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "tantamount".
What part of speech is "tantamount"?
Define "tantamount" and use it in a sentence.
The following pieces are either confusing, inconsistent, incomplete, poorly punctuated or structurally incorrect. Read the following and determine the flaws in each. Be sure to correct what needs attention.
"Spencer and Brittany must read daily, practise their musical instruments and arrive at school prepared. Balance, without sacrificing responsibility."
Anne Jarvis, "Students' homework excessive", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, December 16, 2009.
"Assignments are effective only when they're engaging and meaningful, for example, deciding which strategy to use to solve a math problem, instead of rote repetition."
Anne Jarvis, "Students' homework excessive", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, December 16, 2009.
"The only conclusive way to improve academic success, studies show, is simple: Reading with or to kids every day."
Anne Jarvis, "Students' homework excessive", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, December 16, 2009.
"A subject of a previous court order forcing him to provide a blood sample for the police DNA databank, Blair's blood on the broken glass linked him to the crime."
Sarah Sacheli, "Violent offender set free on peace bond", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, December 16, 2009.
TAKE THIS TO HEART
Identify the author of the following aphorism.
“Ignorance never settles a question.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "tantamount".
What part of speech is "tantamount"?
Define "tantamount" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
MORE SUBTLE WORDS
COMPLEMENT/COMPLIMENT
Explain the differences between the words "compliment" and "complement".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "compliment" and "complement" in sentences that show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "chronological".
What part of speech is "chronological"?
What other parts of speech can be made from this word?
Define "chronological" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the differences between the words "compliment" and "complement".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "compliment" and "complement" in sentences that show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "chronological".
What part of speech is "chronological"?
What other parts of speech can be made from this word?
Define "chronological" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, December 14, 2009
OFT MISUSED WORDS
TAUNT/TAUT/TOUT
Define "taunt", "taut" and "tout".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "taunt", "taut" and "tout" in sentences that show the meanings of the words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "gregarious".
What part of speech is "gregarious"?
Define "gregarious" and use it in a sentence.
Define "taunt", "taut" and "tout".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "taunt", "taut" and "tout" in sentences that show the meanings of the words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "gregarious".
What part of speech is "gregarious"?
Define "gregarious" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - December 13, 2009
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
LIGHTENING/LIGHTNING
“Lightening” is a verb meaning to make lighter in shade or tone, to make more cheerful or to make more pale.
“The inventor was always trying to find ways of lightening his teaching workload so he could devote more time to research.”
“Lightning” is a noun referring to an electrical discharge from cloud to cloud, from cloud to earth or a flash of light accompanying an electrical discharge.”
“The lightning flash in the western sky was awesome.”
Tuesday
LITTLE
“Little” can mean small in size or small in amount.
“He was a little boy.”
“There is very little sugar left in the tin.”
In the comparative and superlative forms, little has two different forms.
If “little” means small in size, the comparative is littler or more little and the superlative is littlest.
“That puppy is littler than his sister.”
“Dopey was the littlest dwarf in the movie, Snow White.”
If “little” means small amount of, the comparative is less and the superlative is least.
“There is less milk in that carton on the counter than in this one by the sink.”
“The lazy boy will do the least he can get to get by.”
Wednesday
DEFINITE/DEFINITIVE
“Definite”, an adjective, means clear, precise or known with exactness.
“Her turning her back on the drunk was a definite rejection of his lewd advances.”
“Definitive”, an adjective, means explicit, sharply defined, conclusive or putting an end to debate or questioning.
“His description of minute details of the murder scene was so definitive that there was no question as to his guilt.”
Thursday
FLAGRANT/BLATANT
“Flagrant” means openly scandalous or notorious, conspicuously bad or reprehensible.
“The teacher’s flagrant behaviour led to his dismissal.”
“Blatant”, an adjective, means offensively noisy, without any attempt at concealment and it usually refers to something that is done obtrusively and noticeably.
“The blatant disrespect by the mob for the politician resulted in the deployment of a large number of police to protect him.”
Friday
OFFICIAL/OFFICIOUS
“Official” as an adjective means authorized or sanctioned.
“Official as a noun means a person with authority to make decisions or to decide things.
“There are always French and English official transcriptions of parliamentary procedures.”
“The fire official authorized the deployment of the various trucks around the conflagration.”
“Officious”, an adjective, means meddling in affairs that are not one’s business or concern.
“The officious old crone was always busily attending to other people’s business.”
THINK ABOUT THIS ONE
“Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.”
Andre Gide, French critic, essayist, & novelist (1869 - 1951) wrote this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Repartee” (n.) refers to adroitness and cleverness in replying, quick and witty answering or skill in making replies.
“Histrionics” (n.) refers to a theatrical performance, a public presentation or artificial behaviour for effect.
“Pillory” (n.) refers to a wooden instrument on a post for holes for the neck and hands where offenders were locked in for public scorn.
“Pillory” (v.) means to expose to public scorn or to punish by putting in a pillory.
“Idiosyncrasy” (n.) refers to an attribute, a peculiarity or a character trait related to an individual.
“Libidinous” (adj.) means lewd, lustful, autoerotic or given to lascivious desires.
The root is the Latin “libido” meaning pleasure or longing.
Monday
LIGHTENING/LIGHTNING
“Lightening” is a verb meaning to make lighter in shade or tone, to make more cheerful or to make more pale.
“The inventor was always trying to find ways of lightening his teaching workload so he could devote more time to research.”
“Lightning” is a noun referring to an electrical discharge from cloud to cloud, from cloud to earth or a flash of light accompanying an electrical discharge.”
“The lightning flash in the western sky was awesome.”
Tuesday
LITTLE
“Little” can mean small in size or small in amount.
“He was a little boy.”
“There is very little sugar left in the tin.”
In the comparative and superlative forms, little has two different forms.
If “little” means small in size, the comparative is littler or more little and the superlative is littlest.
“That puppy is littler than his sister.”
“Dopey was the littlest dwarf in the movie, Snow White.”
If “little” means small amount of, the comparative is less and the superlative is least.
“There is less milk in that carton on the counter than in this one by the sink.”
“The lazy boy will do the least he can get to get by.”
Wednesday
DEFINITE/DEFINITIVE
“Definite”, an adjective, means clear, precise or known with exactness.
“Her turning her back on the drunk was a definite rejection of his lewd advances.”
“Definitive”, an adjective, means explicit, sharply defined, conclusive or putting an end to debate or questioning.
“His description of minute details of the murder scene was so definitive that there was no question as to his guilt.”
Thursday
FLAGRANT/BLATANT
“Flagrant” means openly scandalous or notorious, conspicuously bad or reprehensible.
“The teacher’s flagrant behaviour led to his dismissal.”
“Blatant”, an adjective, means offensively noisy, without any attempt at concealment and it usually refers to something that is done obtrusively and noticeably.
“The blatant disrespect by the mob for the politician resulted in the deployment of a large number of police to protect him.”
Friday
OFFICIAL/OFFICIOUS
“Official” as an adjective means authorized or sanctioned.
“Official as a noun means a person with authority to make decisions or to decide things.
“There are always French and English official transcriptions of parliamentary procedures.”
“The fire official authorized the deployment of the various trucks around the conflagration.”
“Officious”, an adjective, means meddling in affairs that are not one’s business or concern.
“The officious old crone was always busily attending to other people’s business.”
THINK ABOUT THIS ONE
“Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.”
Andre Gide, French critic, essayist, & novelist (1869 - 1951) wrote this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Repartee” (n.) refers to adroitness and cleverness in replying, quick and witty answering or skill in making replies.
“Histrionics” (n.) refers to a theatrical performance, a public presentation or artificial behaviour for effect.
“Pillory” (n.) refers to a wooden instrument on a post for holes for the neck and hands where offenders were locked in for public scorn.
“Pillory” (v.) means to expose to public scorn or to punish by putting in a pillory.
“Idiosyncrasy” (n.) refers to an attribute, a peculiarity or a character trait related to an individual.
“Libidinous” (adj.) means lewd, lustful, autoerotic or given to lascivious desires.
The root is the Latin “libido” meaning pleasure or longing.
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