LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The following Letter to the Editor was published in The Windsor Star last Friday, September 5, 2008. It reflects the reason why I write this blog.
Re: letters to the editor from Dave Banwell and Krysten Grimes.
Because I have been writing a daily blog for the last year and a half that is highly critical of professional writers and newscasters, particularly those working for the local media who make grammar or punctuation mistakes, I cannot resist commenting on two “Letters to the Editor”.
I challenge the premise implied by Mr. Banwell that regionalism allows varying rules for grammar and spelling so there is no right or wrong in the use of language. To accept this is to say errors are acceptable. Regional usage does not alter correctness. Evolution of language must always better communication, not drag it down into some abyss of expediency.
We should strive to be correct at all times because communication is based on understanding. If communication is incorrect, understanding is impeded or non-existent. We should not accept the basest level of language usage as evolution because that notion panders to and promotes ignorance.
Ms. Grimes is absolutely correct when she says that if we accept commonly misspelled words as “variants” no one will ever learn to spell and use grammar properly. I applaud her for such a point of view.
I work on very simple premises: if a word is misspelled, I cannot understand the word; if grammar is incorrect, I cannot comprehend the sentence; if punctuation is incorrect, I might misinterpret the message.
I, as a reader or listener, should not be bombarded with a constancy of error and then be told that that is evolution or communication. I should not have to intuit the meaning being presented. It takes some effort and some pride to communicate correctly. I do not accept backsliding in the name of expediency or evolution.
We work at being the very best we can be in sports, in performing and when we are working. We should also work to the same ideal when we are communicating.
Michael Lyons
ANONYMOUS COMMENT
The following comment was sent to this blog on Friday by ANONYMOUS. Read it and determine the number of errors it contains. Correct the errors.
"I think you must hate Shakespeare. He spelled the same words differently and made up over 1700 words. This over a timespan of how many years? Funnily enough, the audiences of the day were able to understand what he was saying, apparently unimpeded. Perhaps you are just dense!!"
Anonymous, "Blog Comment", Friday, September 5, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
Today's word is "contemptuousness".
Define "contemptuousness" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - September 7, 2008
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's postings.
Tuesday
HIM, HER/HE, SHE
“He” and “she” are subjective pronouns. The plural of both words is “they”.
“Him” and “her” are objective pronouns. The plural of both words is “them”.
They are not interchangeable.
“He saw her at the mall and they went to Tim Hortons for a coffee.”
“She liked him and his dog and wanted to go for a walk with them.”
“Him and her went shopping,” is totally incorrect and unacceptable.
Wednesday
COMPLETE SENTENCES vs. POETIC LICENSE
Read the story, "Riverside haunts steeped in nostalgia", written by Marty Gervais in The Windsor Star on September 3, 2008. (canada.com/windsorstar/index.html)
Count the number of incomplete thoughts there are in the story.
I do not like incomplete sentences because they tend to lead to lazy writing habits. I know Dickens and Shakespeare, two of the greatest writers in the English language, violated every rule in the book and I accept the poetic license but I challenge all writers to get the effects they want with correct English usage.
There are no major errors other than incomplete sentences in the piece but I suggest looking at the following:
“I am talking about myself and Eugene Moser; or “Gene” as I knew him.”
The other person should always be mentioned first.
“I am talking about Eugene Moser or “Gene” as I knew him, and myself.”
Thursday
CAPITAL/CAPITOL
“Capital” as a noun can refer to the city which is the seat of government such as in Ottawa being the Capital of Canada.
“Capital” as a noun can also refer to the funds one has available as in having limited capital to invest.
“Capital” as an adjective means first-rate, principal or highly important as in winning a lottery being a capital idea.
“Capitol” is a noun which refers, almost exclusively, to buildings such as theatres.
Friday
Find and correct the error in the following excerpt.
“Under the terms of the tunnel proposal, Infrastructure Ontario would loan $75 million to the recently formed Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Corporation.”
“Loan” is a noun and cannot be used as a verb.
“Under the terms of the tunnel proposal, Infrastructure Ontario would lend $75 million to the recently formed Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Corporation.”
AN EDUCATIONAL PEARL
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
This was created by Aristotle.
DUMB CLICHÉS - Next
"He hit that one right on the screws."
Does this make any sense whatsoever? It is a baseball cliché and there are no screws on a bat or a ball. The term should be reserved for old golfers who are still using persimmon clubs.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Circumlocution” (n.) means a roundabout way of speaking or the use of too many words in speaking or writing.
“Diaphanous” (adj.) means almost see-through, sheer or gossamer.
“Neophyte” (n.) originally meant a converted heathen or one newly baptized. It has come to mean a beginner, a learner or a trainee.
“Miscreant” (n.) means a troublemaker, a villain, a reprobate or a scoundrel.
Tuesday
HIM, HER/HE, SHE
“He” and “she” are subjective pronouns. The plural of both words is “they”.
“Him” and “her” are objective pronouns. The plural of both words is “them”.
They are not interchangeable.
“He saw her at the mall and they went to Tim Hortons for a coffee.”
“She liked him and his dog and wanted to go for a walk with them.”
“Him and her went shopping,” is totally incorrect and unacceptable.
Wednesday
COMPLETE SENTENCES vs. POETIC LICENSE
Read the story, "Riverside haunts steeped in nostalgia", written by Marty Gervais in The Windsor Star on September 3, 2008. (canada.com/windsorstar/index.html)
Count the number of incomplete thoughts there are in the story.
I do not like incomplete sentences because they tend to lead to lazy writing habits. I know Dickens and Shakespeare, two of the greatest writers in the English language, violated every rule in the book and I accept the poetic license but I challenge all writers to get the effects they want with correct English usage.
There are no major errors other than incomplete sentences in the piece but I suggest looking at the following:
“I am talking about myself and Eugene Moser; or “Gene” as I knew him.”
The other person should always be mentioned first.
“I am talking about Eugene Moser or “Gene” as I knew him, and myself.”
Thursday
CAPITAL/CAPITOL
“Capital” as a noun can refer to the city which is the seat of government such as in Ottawa being the Capital of Canada.
“Capital” as a noun can also refer to the funds one has available as in having limited capital to invest.
“Capital” as an adjective means first-rate, principal or highly important as in winning a lottery being a capital idea.
“Capitol” is a noun which refers, almost exclusively, to buildings such as theatres.
Friday
Find and correct the error in the following excerpt.
“Under the terms of the tunnel proposal, Infrastructure Ontario would loan $75 million to the recently formed Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Corporation.”
“Loan” is a noun and cannot be used as a verb.
“Under the terms of the tunnel proposal, Infrastructure Ontario would lend $75 million to the recently formed Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Corporation.”
AN EDUCATIONAL PEARL
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
This was created by Aristotle.
DUMB CLICHÉS - Next
"He hit that one right on the screws."
Does this make any sense whatsoever? It is a baseball cliché and there are no screws on a bat or a ball. The term should be reserved for old golfers who are still using persimmon clubs.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Circumlocution” (n.) means a roundabout way of speaking or the use of too many words in speaking or writing.
“Diaphanous” (adj.) means almost see-through, sheer or gossamer.
“Neophyte” (n.) originally meant a converted heathen or one newly baptized. It has come to mean a beginner, a learner or a trainee.
“Miscreant” (n.) means a troublemaker, a villain, a reprobate or a scoundrel.
Friday, September 5, 2008
THE GAUNTLET IS DOWN
EDITORIAL
In today's "Letters to the Editor" section of the Windsor Star, there is a letter written by me that decries today's careless and slipshod acceptance of incorrect English. I stand by the letter but I am disappointed and resent the obvious spelling error in paragraph seven. The error is not mine. I have the original e-mail and there is no error in it.
I wonder why an error was inserted?
The line has been marked in the sand.
The gloves are off.
ONCE AGAIN...
Find and correct the error in the following excerpt.
"Under the terms of the tunnel proposal, Infrastructure Ontario would loan $75 million to the recently formed Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Corporation."
Doug Williamson, "Border wait worries mayor", The Windsor Star, Friday, September 5, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "miscreant".
Define "miscreant" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
In today's "Letters to the Editor" section of the Windsor Star, there is a letter written by me that decries today's careless and slipshod acceptance of incorrect English. I stand by the letter but I am disappointed and resent the obvious spelling error in paragraph seven. The error is not mine. I have the original e-mail and there is no error in it.
I wonder why an error was inserted?
The line has been marked in the sand.
The gloves are off.
ONCE AGAIN...
Find and correct the error in the following excerpt.
"Under the terms of the tunnel proposal, Infrastructure Ontario would loan $75 million to the recently formed Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Corporation."
Doug Williamson, "Border wait worries mayor", The Windsor Star, Friday, September 5, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "miscreant".
Define "miscreant" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
FUN & THOUGHT
CAPITAL/CAPITOL
Explain the differences in meaning between the words "capitol" and "capital".
Create sentences that illustrate those differences.
DUMB CLICHÉS - Next
Does this make any sense whatsoever?
"He hit that one right on the screws."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "neophyte".
Define "neophyte" and use it in a sentence. (Be careful. You might be surprised at the true meaning.)
Explain the differences in meaning between the words "capitol" and "capital".
Create sentences that illustrate those differences.
DUMB CLICHÉS - Next
Does this make any sense whatsoever?
"He hit that one right on the screws."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "neophyte".
Define "neophyte" and use it in a sentence. (Be careful. You might be surprised at the true meaning.)
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
WRITING CHALLENGES
COMPLETE SENTENCES vs. POETIC LICENSE
Read the story, "Riverside haunts steeped in nostalgia", written by Marty Gervais in The Windsor Star, today, September 3, 2008.
Count the number of incomplete thoughts there are in the story.
Make a judgment call. Should the incomplete thoughts be made into complete sentences or should poetic license rule? Justify your decision.
Find and correct a major grammatical error in this piece.
If you don't have a newspaper the article can be found online at canada.com/windsorstar/index.html. Key in Marty Gervais and you will find the story.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "diaphanous".
Define "diaphanous" and use it in a sentence.
Read the story, "Riverside haunts steeped in nostalgia", written by Marty Gervais in The Windsor Star, today, September 3, 2008.
Count the number of incomplete thoughts there are in the story.
Make a judgment call. Should the incomplete thoughts be made into complete sentences or should poetic license rule? Justify your decision.
Find and correct a major grammatical error in this piece.
If you don't have a newspaper the article can be found online at canada.com/windsorstar/index.html. Key in Marty Gervais and you will find the story.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "diaphanous".
Define "diaphanous" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
AND THE BEAT GOES ON...
AN EDUCATIONAL PEARL
Who coined the following thought?
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
HIM, HER/HE, SHE
Explain the correct usage of the personal pronouns "him", "her", "he" and "she".
What are the rules that govern the use of these words?
Create sentences to illustrate your explanations.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for todqy is "circumlocution".
Define "circumlocution" and use it in a sentence.
Who coined the following thought?
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
HIM, HER/HE, SHE
Explain the correct usage of the personal pronouns "him", "her", "he" and "she".
What are the rules that govern the use of these words?
Create sentences to illustrate your explanations.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for todqy is "circumlocution".
Define "circumlocution" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, September 1, 2008
PREVIEW
STARTING SEPTEMBER 2, 2008
This is the new template.
I hope you like it and visit this site often.
I always welcome your comments, criticisms and feedback.
M
This is the new template.
I hope you like it and visit this site often.
I always welcome your comments, criticisms and feedback.
M
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