CONGRATULATIONS
I extend my heartiest congratulations to all the organizers of National Grammar Day that was celebrated yesterday. The next step is to try to convince people, especially professionals who are in the faces of the public on a daily basis, the importance of this movement.
TV ANCHORMEN AT WORK
Identify and correct the errors in the following excerpts from some local newscasts last night.
"...according to he and his attorney..."
Devin Scillian, WDIV Local 4 News, Detroit, Thursday, March 4, 2010, 6:04 pm.
"...one of the problems of the federal government is how to continue to grow employment opportunities..."
Jim Crichton, "A" News, Windsor, Thursday, March 4, 2010, 6:05 pm.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "obloquy".
What part of speech is "obloquy"?
Define "obloquy" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
A MIX OF ENGLISH USAGE CHALLENGES
CARELESS PROOFING
Identify and correct the error in the following piece.
" 'If the (bridge company) wishes to resubmit the application at some future date, there submission should demonstrate that sufficient legal authority to build the proposed bridge exists - which includes definitive proof of resolution of the property rights issue,' said Elgaaly."
Dave Battagello, "Plan for 2nd span takes big hit", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, March 3, 2010.
PRONOUNS
Read the following sentences and identify the errors in them.
Cite the applicable rule and correct the errors.
"Mary likes Joe and I."
"Us computer users consider ease of use when we buy our computer programmes.'
"The winner of the gold medal was her."
"Cathy and me like him."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "debacle".
What part of speech is "debacle"?
Define "debacle" and use it in a sentence.
Identify and correct the error in the following piece.
" 'If the (bridge company) wishes to resubmit the application at some future date, there submission should demonstrate that sufficient legal authority to build the proposed bridge exists - which includes definitive proof of resolution of the property rights issue,' said Elgaaly."
Dave Battagello, "Plan for 2nd span takes big hit", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, March 3, 2010.
PRONOUNS
Read the following sentences and identify the errors in them.
Cite the applicable rule and correct the errors.
"Mary likes Joe and I."
"Us computer users consider ease of use when we buy our computer programmes.'
"The winner of the gold medal was her."
"Cathy and me like him."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "debacle".
What part of speech is "debacle"?
Define "debacle" and use it in a sentence.
REMEMBER TOMORROW!
NATIONAL GRAMMAR DAY
March 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
GOOD THOUGHT CHALLENGES
NATIONAL GRAMMAR DAY
March 4, 2010
PRESUME/ASSUME
Explain the difference between the words "presume" and "assume".
Create sentences that show the meanings of the words "presume" and "assume".
A NOBLE CONCEPT
Identify the author of the following truism.
“All virtue is summed up in dealing justly.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "excoriate".
What part of speech is "excoriate"?
Define "excoriate" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
WRITING 01
NATIONAL GRAMMAR DAY
March 4, 2010
SOME BASICS
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces: there are two; some might argue there are three.
"Which is why, 10 minutes into the Canada-U.S. hockey game on Sunday, my wife - a hockey fan of the rabid French-Canadian variety - and I decided we had to watch the rest of the game in public somewhere."
Chris Vander Doelen, "What a game changer", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, March 2, 2010.
"And we sung the whole thing, no petering out in embarrassed silence halfway through like the old days."
Chris Vander Doelen, "What a game changer", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, March 2, 2010.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "winsome".
What part of speech is "winsome"?
Define "winsome" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, March 1, 2010
MARCH IN LIKE A LION
NATIONAL GRAMMAR DAY
March 4, 2010
BE PROUD AND ENTHUSIASTIC BUT...
Identify and correct the errors in the following examples.
"The other podium. The one the International Olympic Committee - and everyone on Earth other than North Americans - recognizes as the true measure of the sporting nations: gold medals, baby."
Cam Cole, "Gold-plated Games", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 1, 2010.
"Not the loose change the Americans have been scooping up at every turn. Not the, er, minor medals. Gold."
Cam Cole, "Gold-plated Games", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 1, 2010.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "valedictory".
What part of speech is "valedictory"?
Define "valedictory" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - February 28, 2010
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
DENOTATION/CONNOTATION
“Denotation” refers to the meaning of a term, its dictionary meaning or the class to which a term is applicable.
Connotation” refers to the implied or suggested or secondary meaning of a word.
The denotation of “man” is as the adult male of a species.
The denotation of “woman” is as the adult female of the species.
The connotation of “man” is one of strength, honour, skill and power.
The connotation of “woman” is one of motherliness, compassion, endurance and emotions.
“Now don’t get all bent out of shape about the imagery of men and women as presented in the examples because there are more connotations than I could ever posit.”
Tuesday
Find and correct the error in the following piece. Explain the applicable rule.
“Defence lawyer Frank Miller, who represents Billy pressed Hilborn on the amount of people who visited the apartment.”
I have cited this three or for times and some writers just don’t learn. So I will repeat.
Amount words relate to quantities of things that are measured in bulk.
Number words relate to things that can be counted.
“Defence lawyer Frank Miller, who represents Billy pressed Hilborn on the number of people who visited the apartment.”
Wednesday
UNDUE/UNDO
“Undue”, an adjective, is the opposite of “due”; it means unwarranted or improper.
“She resented his undue attention every time she went for a stroll.”
“Undo”, a verb, is the opposite of “do”; it means to cancel or to reverse.
“It is very easy to undo mistakes on a computer.”
Thursday
MOOT/MUTE
“Pronunciation’” is the stress or emphasis that is put on a word.
.
“Moot”, an adjective, means open to discussion, to argue or to debate. It is pronounced as in the word “boot”.
“Which hockey team, Canada or the United States, is better ought to be a moot point; after all, it is our game.”
“Mute”, an adjective, means refraining from speech, silence or soundless. It is pronounced as in the word “cute”; the “u” sounds like “you”.
“The man was mute in front of the judge when confronted with an extensive list of his crimes.”
Friday
"THEIR" - PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK
“Every person must have their passport to cross the border.”
“Every person” is singular. “Their” is plural and must be changed to match the subject. If you don’t like “his”, use “her”.
“Every person must have his passport to cross the border.”
BARELY, HARDLY, SCARCELY
“Barely”, “hardly” and “scarcely” are negatives; to couple them with a negative verb is incorrect since two negatives make a positive.
“He was so proud he couldn't hardly speak.” (wrong)
“He was so proud he could hardly speak.”
“We weren't scarcely able to do the job because of the cold.” (wrong)
“We were scarcely able to do the job because of the cold.”
“I don't barely know her but I would like to.” (wrong)
“I barely know her but I would like to meet her.”
The Bonus star is for not ending the preceding sentence with a preposition. Read it again to see the correction.
A GOOD PHILOSOPHY
“Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.”
Henry Miller, a US author who lived from 1891 to 1980, said this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Myopic” (adj.) means not being able to focus on near objects; it is a vision impairment called short-sightedness.
The connotation of “myopic” refers to a personality trait wherein a person is short-sighted and cannot see beyond the moment.
“Exigent” (adj.) means demanding immediate notice or attention, urgent, precise accuracy and much effort.
“Exigency” is the noun form.
“Exigence” is another noun form.
“Titillation” (n.) is an aroused excitement or exhilaration.
“Twitter” (v.) means to utter a succession of small, tremulous sounds, as a bird, to tremble with excitement.
A “twitterer” is a bird that twitters.
“Twittery” (adj.) means tremulous, bird-like excitement.
“Twit” (v.) means to jibe at, to reproach or upbraid.
“Twit”, as a noun, connotes one who has a brain the size of a bird. Might this definition apply to a certain form of communication popular of the internet?
“Diffidence” (n.) refers to a lack of self-confidence, self-distrust, self-doubt or reticence.
Monday
DENOTATION/CONNOTATION
“Denotation” refers to the meaning of a term, its dictionary meaning or the class to which a term is applicable.
Connotation” refers to the implied or suggested or secondary meaning of a word.
The denotation of “man” is as the adult male of a species.
The denotation of “woman” is as the adult female of the species.
The connotation of “man” is one of strength, honour, skill and power.
The connotation of “woman” is one of motherliness, compassion, endurance and emotions.
“Now don’t get all bent out of shape about the imagery of men and women as presented in the examples because there are more connotations than I could ever posit.”
Tuesday
Find and correct the error in the following piece. Explain the applicable rule.
“Defence lawyer Frank Miller, who represents Billy pressed Hilborn on the amount of people who visited the apartment.”
I have cited this three or for times and some writers just don’t learn. So I will repeat.
Amount words relate to quantities of things that are measured in bulk.
Number words relate to things that can be counted.
“Defence lawyer Frank Miller, who represents Billy pressed Hilborn on the number of people who visited the apartment.”
Wednesday
UNDUE/UNDO
“Undue”, an adjective, is the opposite of “due”; it means unwarranted or improper.
“She resented his undue attention every time she went for a stroll.”
“Undo”, a verb, is the opposite of “do”; it means to cancel or to reverse.
“It is very easy to undo mistakes on a computer.”
Thursday
MOOT/MUTE
“Pronunciation’” is the stress or emphasis that is put on a word.
.
“Moot”, an adjective, means open to discussion, to argue or to debate. It is pronounced as in the word “boot”.
“Which hockey team, Canada or the United States, is better ought to be a moot point; after all, it is our game.”
“Mute”, an adjective, means refraining from speech, silence or soundless. It is pronounced as in the word “cute”; the “u” sounds like “you”.
“The man was mute in front of the judge when confronted with an extensive list of his crimes.”
Friday
"THEIR" - PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK
“Every person must have their passport to cross the border.”
“Every person” is singular. “Their” is plural and must be changed to match the subject. If you don’t like “his”, use “her”.
“Every person must have his passport to cross the border.”
BARELY, HARDLY, SCARCELY
“Barely”, “hardly” and “scarcely” are negatives; to couple them with a negative verb is incorrect since two negatives make a positive.
“He was so proud he couldn't hardly speak.” (wrong)
“He was so proud he could hardly speak.”
“We weren't scarcely able to do the job because of the cold.” (wrong)
“We were scarcely able to do the job because of the cold.”
“I don't barely know her but I would like to.” (wrong)
“I barely know her but I would like to meet her.”
The Bonus star is for not ending the preceding sentence with a preposition. Read it again to see the correction.
A GOOD PHILOSOPHY
“Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.”
Henry Miller, a US author who lived from 1891 to 1980, said this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Myopic” (adj.) means not being able to focus on near objects; it is a vision impairment called short-sightedness.
The connotation of “myopic” refers to a personality trait wherein a person is short-sighted and cannot see beyond the moment.
“Exigent” (adj.) means demanding immediate notice or attention, urgent, precise accuracy and much effort.
“Exigency” is the noun form.
“Exigence” is another noun form.
“Titillation” (n.) is an aroused excitement or exhilaration.
“Twitter” (v.) means to utter a succession of small, tremulous sounds, as a bird, to tremble with excitement.
A “twitterer” is a bird that twitters.
“Twittery” (adj.) means tremulous, bird-like excitement.
“Twit” (v.) means to jibe at, to reproach or upbraid.
“Twit”, as a noun, connotes one who has a brain the size of a bird. Might this definition apply to a certain form of communication popular of the internet?
“Diffidence” (n.) refers to a lack of self-confidence, self-distrust, self-doubt or reticence.
NATIONAL GRAMMAR DAY
March 4, 2010
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