CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - August 24, 2008

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


Monday

UNDO/UNDUE

“Undo” means to cancel out, unfasten or disengage, as in, “undo your shoes”.

“Undue” means unwarranted or improper, as in, “undue influence”.


Tuesday

DUMB CLICHÉS - A CONTINUUM

Just read them and draw your own conclusions. Do the same with Thursday’s entries below.

Example 1 (Thanks, Jim)

"Throw under the bus!"

What on earth is that supposed to mean?

Example 2

"Think outside the envelope!"

How many times a day do you hear that piece of drivel?


Wednesday

GRISLY/GRIZZLY

“Grisly” means horrible, hideous or macabre.

A “grizzly” is a bear.

"The torn flesh and broken bones were a grisly reminder of the grizzly’s vicious attack."


Thursday

DUMB CLICHÉS - Volume 2

Sports Department

Example 1: Hockey

"He went upstairs."

(Is that where his seats were?)

Example 2: Baseball

"It went as straight as a string."

(Have you ever seen a straight string?)


REGRETFULLY/REGRETTABLY

“Regretfully” (adv.) means disappointedly or apologetically and may only be used to describe the manner in which someone does something.
Regretfully, he had to decline the invitation to the game.

Regrettably”, (adv.) means unfortunately, deplorably or lamentably.
Regrettably, it rained on the Olympic races.


Friday

Identify and correct the errors below.

“I have come to realize intimately how much one's job defines who you are. All your routines, biases and outlook on life.”

There are three persons presented in this. There should be only one. I will accept two, but the second person should be changed.
“All your routines, biases and outlook on life,” is not a complete thought.

“I have come to realize intimately how much one's job defines who one is. It affects all one’s routines, biases and outlook on life.”

Is that too pretentious? Try the next one.

“I have come to realize intimately how much my job defines who I am; it affects all my routines, biases and outlook on life.”


THINK ABOUT THIS

Identify the author of the following quote.

“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”
Benjamin Franklin said this.


LAST WEEK’S WORDS

“Diaphanous” (adj.) means see-through, gossamer or sheer.

“Opulent” (adj.) means wealthy, lavish, luxurious or rich.

“Hackneyed” (participle) means tired, worn-out, trite or stale.

“Rapacious” (adj.) means greedy, predatory, voracious or grasping.


IMPORTANT NOTICE - VACATION

There will be no postings next week.

The fall series of postings will begin on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.