CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - September 1, 2007

Monday

URBAN/URBANE

“Urban” (adj.) pertains to a city or town. It also can mean citified.
“Urbane” (adj.) means courteous, polite, refined or delicate.
Urban sprawl is considered by many to be a major blight.
The urbane lothario wooed the girl with wine and roses.

Tuesday

PRONUNCIATION DILEMMA

Should the indefinite article "a" be pronounced as in the word "hay" or should it be pronounced as in the word "flat"?
The correct pronunciation of “a” is as in “flat”. “A” as in “hay” is incorrect and regional and is avoided in refined speech.

Wednesday

GROW MISUSE

“You can grow your business exponentially if you have the right vision."

You do not “grow” your business; you develop or expand your business.
The farmer does not “grow” a crop; a crop “grows” by itself.

"These type of girls are to be avoided."
“Types” must be used; “type” is singular and incorrect because “these girls” is plural.

Thursday

COMPLEMENTARY/COMPLIMENTARY

One is “complimentary” when one pays another a compliment as an expression of praise.
“Complementary” means completing or making whole such as in complementary angles.

Friday

WHO/WHOM

“Who” is subjective and is used in referring to the doer of the action.
“Whom” is objective and is used in designating the receiver of the action.
“Who is going to correct all these errors? “Who” is subject of the verb “is going”.
"I shall choose whom I want to be on my team." “Whom” is object of the verb “want”.

WORDS OF THE DAY

“Reprehensible" (adj.) means blameworthy, unethical, unjust.

“Inscrutable" (adj.) means mystifying, impenetrable, incapable of being scrutinized.

“Exacerbate" (v.) means to aggravate, irritate or increase the bitterness of feeling.

"Circumspect" (adj.) means watchful, cautious or prudent.

"Voluptuous" (adj.) means full of luxurious or sensuous pleasure or enjoyment.

LABOUR DAY - Monday, September 3, 2007

There will be no blog entry on Labour Day.