CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - June 8, 2008

Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's postings.

Monday

Correct the following:

“Plenty hard enough, if we're to believe the locker-room rhetoric being dished out Sunday.”

This is an incomplete thought. There is no principal clause.

“It is plenty hard enough, if we're to believe the locker-room rhetoric being dished out Sunday.”


“From white-knuckled novice to an adrenaline junkie craving more speed, all in the span of a half hour.”

There is no verb in this, so it is an incomplete thought.

“He went from a white-knuckled novice to an adrenaline junkie craving more speed, all in the span of a half hour.”


Tuesday

BACKWARD/BACKWARDS

Both “backward” and “backwards” can be used as an adverb.
He put his pants on backward.
He put his pants on backwards.

As an adjective, only “backward” can be used.
He lived a backward existence.


Wednesday

Correct, citing your reasons, what you consider error(s) in the following:

"The girls were students of Baggio's at Brennan Catholic high school."

See the corrections for Friday, below.


Thursday

ENVELOP/ENVELOPE

“Envelop” means to wrap something in a cover and the emphasis, or accent, is on the second syllable.

“Envelope” is the special wrapping put around a letter and the accent is on the first syllable.


Friday

Find and fix the errors in the examples below:

"The girls were students of Baggio's at F. J. Brannan Catholic high school.

“Of Baggio” indicates possession; therefore, the possessive form, Baggio’s” is redundant and incorrect.

The complete title of the school is “F. J. Brannan Catholic High School”; therefore “high school” must be capitalized.

"The girls were students of Baggio at F. J. Brannan Catholic High School.


"The girls were students of Baggio's at F. J. Brannan Catholic high school, where Baggio taught religion, was a guidance counsellor and coached volleyball and basketball."

“Of Baggio” indicates possession; therefore, the possessive form, Baggio’s” is redundant and incorrect.
The complete title of the school is “F. J. Brannan Catholic High School”; therefore “high school” must be capitalized.

"The girls were students of Baggio at F. J. Brannan Catholic High School, where Baggio taught religion, was a guidance counsellor and coached volleyball and basketball."


"The girls were students of Baggio's at F. J. Brannan Catholic high school, where Baggio taught religion, was a guidance counsellor and coached volleyball and basketball."

“Of Baggio” indicates possession; therefore, the possessive form, Baggio’s” is redundant and incorrect.
The complete title of the school is “F. J. Brannan Catholic High School”; therefore “high school” must be capitalized.

"The girls were students of Baggio at F. J. Brannan Catholic High School, where Baggio taught religion, was a guidance counsellor and coached volleyball and basketball."



A WONDERFUL METAPHOR

“I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true ‘The empty vessel makes the greatest sound.”
William Shakespeare penned this.


THE WEEK’S WORDS

“Superciliousness” (n.) means snootiness, arrogance, scorn or disdain.

“Metier” (n.) means trade, art, line of work or job.

“Prodigious” (adj.) means abnormal, extraordinary, unusual, remarkable or huge.

“Truculent” (adj.) means defiant, bad-tempered, hostile, aggressive or confrontational.

“Inexplicable” (adj.) means strange, perplexing, mystifying, curious or bizarre.