WOW!
Find and correct the error in the following piece. Give reasons for your correction.
"About 15 minutes later, two men wearing ski masks busted through a side door."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Police probe west-side home invasions", The Windsor Star, Friday, January 22, 2010.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "vindictive".
What part of speech is "vindictive"?
Define "vindictive" and use it in a sentence.
List other forms of the word and explain the subtle differences between the meanings of those words and the meaning of "vindictive".
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
THINK DEEPLY TODAY
ENAMOURED BY/ENAMOURED OF/ENAMOURED WITH
"Enamoured by", "enamoured of" and "enamoured with" are three common expressions and often one is misused.
Carefully think about the meaning of each and then determine which one is misused. Give reasons for your choices.
Create sentences for each expression to help you in your determination.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "empirical".
What part of speech is "empirical"?
Define "empirical" and use it in a sentence.
What is the philosophy based on this word and what is the major theme of this philosophy?
"Enamoured by", "enamoured of" and "enamoured with" are three common expressions and often one is misused.
Carefully think about the meaning of each and then determine which one is misused. Give reasons for your choices.
Create sentences for each expression to help you in your determination.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "empirical".
What part of speech is "empirical"?
Define "empirical" and use it in a sentence.
What is the philosophy based on this word and what is the major theme of this philosophy?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
THESE SHOULD CHALLENGE
DEMUR/DEMURE
Explain the difference in meaning and use of the words "demur" and "demure".
What part of speech is each word?
Create sentences for each word that show their meanings.
HOW TRUE IS THIS?
Identify the author of the following.
“We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "depredation".
What part of speech is "depredation"?
Define "depredation" and use it in a sentence.
List other parts of speech for this word.
Explain the difference in meaning and use of the words "demur" and "demure".
What part of speech is each word?
Create sentences for each word that show their meanings.
HOW TRUE IS THIS?
Identify the author of the following.
“We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "depredation".
What part of speech is "depredation"?
Define "depredation" and use it in a sentence.
List other parts of speech for this word.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
"M" MUSINGS
MISLEAD/MISLED
There is some confusion with the use of the words "mislead" and "misled".
Explain the correct use of "mislead" and "misled". Be sure to take tense into account.
Create sentences correctly using "mislead" and "misled".
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "mythomania".
What part of speech is "mythomania"?
Define "mythomania" and use it in a sentence.
There is some confusion with the use of the words "mislead" and "misled".
Explain the correct use of "mislead" and "misled". Be sure to take tense into account.
Create sentences correctly using "mislead" and "misled".
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "mythomania".
What part of speech is "mythomania"?
Define "mythomania" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, January 18, 2010
PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAP
OPPRESSION/REPRESSION/SUPPRESSION
Explain the subtle differences in meaning of the words "oppression", "repression" and "suppression".
Use "oppression", "repression" and "suppression" in sentences that clearly show each word's meaning.
STYLE EXCUSE DOESN'T CUT IT
Identify and correct the error in the following piece.
"Especially when that player is being compared to himself."
Bob Duff, "Hall not the next Messier", The Windsor Star, Monday, January 18, 2010.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "debilitate".
What part of speech is "debilitate"?
Define "debilitate" and use it in a sentence.
List three other forms of the word and identify what part of speech they are.
Explain the subtle differences in meaning of the words "oppression", "repression" and "suppression".
Use "oppression", "repression" and "suppression" in sentences that clearly show each word's meaning.
STYLE EXCUSE DOESN'T CUT IT
Identify and correct the error in the following piece.
"Especially when that player is being compared to himself."
Bob Duff, "Hall not the next Messier", The Windsor Star, Monday, January 18, 2010.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "debilitate".
What part of speech is "debilitate"?
Define "debilitate" and use it in a sentence.
List three other forms of the word and identify what part of speech they are.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - January 17, 2010
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
IGNORANT/STUPID
“Ignorant” means being unaware of facts, ideas or knowledge.
“The young driver made a mistake at the intersection because he was ignorant of the correct place to stop.”
“Stupid” means incapable of learning because of a basic mental deficiency.
“The young man was unable to learn complicated algebraic calculations and was labelled stupid in his academic assessment.”
Tuesday
PARTAKE/PARTICIPATE
“Partake” means to consume, especially in relation to food.
“We are going to the wine festival next week and will partake of the generous variety of choice local wines and food.”
“Participate” means to take part in an activity.
“We love to play hockey and participate in any pick-up game we can.”
Wednesday
I suggest there are two errors in the following piece: one should be obvious; one is potentially debatable. Find and correct what you consider incorrect. Give reasons for your choices.
“Francis said other factors looked at include the 48 new daycare centres that have become established locally in the past five years, as well as the poor economy that has seen less parents needing daycare services because more are out of work.”
“Fewer” refers to things that can be counted.
“Less” refers to things measured in bulk.
Therefore, there should be “fewer” parents, not less “parents”.
The comma after “years” must be eliminated.
“Francis said other factors looked at include the 48 new daycare centres that have become established locally in the past five years as well as the poor economy that has seen fewer parents needing daycare services because more are out of work.”
Thursday
CROSS/ACROSS/ACROSSED
“Cross” is a verb or a noun.
“I always cross the street at the light.”
“A cross is the well-known symbol of Christianity.”
“Across” is a preposition which is a word that starts a phrase. Occasionally it can be used as an adverb or an adjective.
“He threw the ball across the field.”
“He ran across to greet his girlfriend.”
“They often worked at cross purposes.’
“Crossed” is the past participle or past tense of the verb “to cross”.
“He crossed the teacher and paid dearly for it.”
“Acrossed” is not a word: neither is “acrost”.
Friday
Find, explain and correct the errors.
“Daniel Carcillo could care less if Maple Leafs and their supporters don't like him.”
This begs the question: “How much less could he care?” It makes no sense. The correct term is “could not care less”.
“Daniel Carcillo could not care less if Maple Leafs and their supporters don't like him.”
“So jeer him if you want. He couldn't care.”
This, by implication because it is from the same article, is the same error as in the previous example. The correct meaning dictates choice of words.
“So jeer him if you want. He couldn't care less.”
THIS SAYS IT ALL!
“Where is there dignity unless there is honesty?”
Cicero, a Roman orator who lived from106 BC to 43 BC, penned this adage.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Aliterate” (n.) refers to a person who can read but is disinclined to take information from literary sources. It refers to an ignoramus or an uneducated person.
“Illiterate” is similar but refers to a person who is unable to read.
“Literate” refers to a person who can read and write.
“Expurgate” (v.) means to cut short, to shorten or to take away.
“Impeccable” (adj.) means faultless, perfect or clean.
“Ignominious” (adj.) means disgraceful, shameful degrading or dishonourable.
“Deprecate” (v.) means to express strong disapproval of, to find fault with, to cheapen or to degrade.
“Deprecative”, “deprecatory” and “deprecator” are other forms of the word.
Monday
IGNORANT/STUPID
“Ignorant” means being unaware of facts, ideas or knowledge.
“The young driver made a mistake at the intersection because he was ignorant of the correct place to stop.”
“Stupid” means incapable of learning because of a basic mental deficiency.
“The young man was unable to learn complicated algebraic calculations and was labelled stupid in his academic assessment.”
Tuesday
PARTAKE/PARTICIPATE
“Partake” means to consume, especially in relation to food.
“We are going to the wine festival next week and will partake of the generous variety of choice local wines and food.”
“Participate” means to take part in an activity.
“We love to play hockey and participate in any pick-up game we can.”
Wednesday
I suggest there are two errors in the following piece: one should be obvious; one is potentially debatable. Find and correct what you consider incorrect. Give reasons for your choices.
“Francis said other factors looked at include the 48 new daycare centres that have become established locally in the past five years, as well as the poor economy that has seen less parents needing daycare services because more are out of work.”
“Fewer” refers to things that can be counted.
“Less” refers to things measured in bulk.
Therefore, there should be “fewer” parents, not less “parents”.
The comma after “years” must be eliminated.
“Francis said other factors looked at include the 48 new daycare centres that have become established locally in the past five years as well as the poor economy that has seen fewer parents needing daycare services because more are out of work.”
Thursday
CROSS/ACROSS/ACROSSED
“Cross” is a verb or a noun.
“I always cross the street at the light.”
“A cross is the well-known symbol of Christianity.”
“Across” is a preposition which is a word that starts a phrase. Occasionally it can be used as an adverb or an adjective.
“He threw the ball across the field.”
“He ran across to greet his girlfriend.”
“They often worked at cross purposes.’
“Crossed” is the past participle or past tense of the verb “to cross”.
“He crossed the teacher and paid dearly for it.”
“Acrossed” is not a word: neither is “acrost”.
Friday
Find, explain and correct the errors.
“Daniel Carcillo could care less if Maple Leafs and their supporters don't like him.”
This begs the question: “How much less could he care?” It makes no sense. The correct term is “could not care less”.
“Daniel Carcillo could not care less if Maple Leafs and their supporters don't like him.”
“So jeer him if you want. He couldn't care.”
This, by implication because it is from the same article, is the same error as in the previous example. The correct meaning dictates choice of words.
“So jeer him if you want. He couldn't care less.”
THIS SAYS IT ALL!
“Where is there dignity unless there is honesty?”
Cicero, a Roman orator who lived from106 BC to 43 BC, penned this adage.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Aliterate” (n.) refers to a person who can read but is disinclined to take information from literary sources. It refers to an ignoramus or an uneducated person.
“Illiterate” is similar but refers to a person who is unable to read.
“Literate” refers to a person who can read and write.
“Expurgate” (v.) means to cut short, to shorten or to take away.
“Impeccable” (adj.) means faultless, perfect or clean.
“Ignominious” (adj.) means disgraceful, shameful degrading or dishonourable.
“Deprecate” (v.) means to express strong disapproval of, to find fault with, to cheapen or to degrade.
“Deprecative”, “deprecatory” and “deprecator” are other forms of the word.
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