CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - August 9, 2008

Here are the corrections and explanations for this week's entries.


Monday

NO POSTINGS


Tuesday

RAISE/RAZE

“Raise” means to lift or elevate something. It also means to make a higher bid such as in some card games.
“Raze” means to demolish a building or to take it, literally, to the ground.


Wednesday

Find and fix the error.

"The arrest and seizure of drugs and assets will have a significant affect on the ring's ability to continue operations."

“Affect” is a verb. The correct word is “effect”.

"The arrest and seizure of drugs and assets will have a significant effect on the ring's ability to continue operations."

DOES THIS SOUND RIGHT?

Fix it.

"Ryan Bourque, 24, of Windsor, is charged with break and enter, assault with a weapon, resist arrest, assault police, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police."

The word forms are incorrect for the context and should be made consistent.

"Ryan Bourque, 24, of Windsor, is charged with breaking and entering, assault with a weapon, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police."


Thursday

How many errors can you find and fix in the following piece?

"During our layover in Tokyo, I took the opportunity to sample some Suntory. For those who didn't see it -- or couldn't take their eyes off of Scarlet Johansson long enough to notice -- that was the beverage company that Bill Murray was pimping in those ads he was filming during the movie Lost in Translation. Suntory produces all sorts of drinks -- pop, beer and hard liquor. They even manufacture a beer dispenser that would be Homer Simpson's dream. It tilts the cup for you while it pours you a cold one. Got to see this in action and it was impressive."

“Off of” is a double preposition and is unacceptable.
“Dashes” are often used when the writer doesn’t know what punctuation to use. Commas would do. Rewording would do.
“Got to see this in action…” is an incomplete sentence and “got” should be avoided. Rewording is the best course of action.
What does a beer dispenser have to do with arriving in China or with the topic of the piece?

"During our layover in Tokyo, I took the opportunity to sample some Suntory. For those who didn't see it, or couldn't take their eyes off Scarlet Johansson long enough to notice, that was the beverage company that Bill Murray was pimping in those ads he was filming during the movie Lost in Translation. Suntory produces all sorts of drinks such as pop, beer and hard liquor. They even manufacture a beer dispenser that would be Homer Simpson's dream. It tilts the cup for you while it pours you a cold one. I saw this in action and it was impressive."


Friday

PREMIER/PREMIERE

“Premier”, as an adjective, means the best or the first of something.
“He is the premier scorer on the team.”

“Premier”, as a noun, means the principal or main person.
“She is the Premier of Canada.”

“Premiere”, as a noun means the first performance
“I saw the premiere performance of “Hamlet” at Stratford this year.

“Premiere”, as a verb refers to the opening of a play.
The play premiered on May fifteenth.


THE WEEK’S WORDS

“Iniquitous” (adj.) means sinful, evil, immoral or unjust.

Interpolate“ (v.) means to butt in, explain, interrupt or cut in.

“Malfeasance” (n.) means the wrongful performance of an act an actor has no right to do. It is, generally, a legal term.

“Visceral” (adj.) means instinctive, primeval, intuitive or primitive.