CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - September 21, 2008

Here are the corrections and explanations for last week’s entries.

I apologize for the sloppy end-of-week postings. I was having difficulty with my server. All entry corrections are posted in the proper order below.


Monday

REDUNDANCIES

"Other alternative"

"Past history"

Send me some more examples.


COMPARE TO/COMPARE WITH

When stressing similarities between things, use “compare to”.

When speaking of similarities and differences, use “compare with”.


Tuesday

IGNORANT/STUPID

A person is “ignorant” when he is unaware of certain knowledge, facts or ideas.

A person who is stupid is incapable of learning because of a basic mental deficiency.

‘Ignorant” does not mean “stupid” and only an ignorant person would mistake the meanings of the words.

“Ignorant” is an adjective. The noun form is “ignorance”.

“Ignoramus” is another noun form.

“Stupid” is an adjective. The noun form is “stupidity”.


Wednesday & Thursday

QUOTATION MARKS

Quotations Marks in Direct Quotations

RULE 1a

When a person or work is quoted directly and word for word, the quotation is placed in quotation marks.
She trilled excitedly, "Look at that!"

RULE 1b

An indirect quotation in which the substance but not exact wording is used does not take quotations marks.
She said that it was really impressive.

RULE 2a

If a question or exclamation is quoted directly, the quotation contains the question mark or exclamation point.
She asked her girlfriend, "Did you see that?"

RULE 2b

If the question or exclamation is at the end of the quotation, the question mark or exclamation point comes before the closing quotation mark.
"Look at that!" the girlfriend exclaimed. "Can you believe that?"

Rule 3a

A question mark can be found outside the quotation mark if the sentence is asking about a quotation, but the quotation itself is not a question.
Did Mark Antony say, "Friends, Romans, countrymen"?

Rule 3b

When the question is about a quotation ending in a question, the sentence ends with a single question mark before the quotation mark.
Who said, "Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle toward my hand?"

EXERCISES

did Oscar Wilde say ambition is the last refuge of failure
Did Oscar Wilde say, “Ambition is the last refuge of failure”?

how are you he asked
“How are you?” he asked.

did you know that your face is red
“Did you know that your face is red?”

wow she lisped that is impressive
“Wow!” she lisped. “That is impressive.”

caesar said et tu brute and died
Caesar said, “Et tu, Brute?” and died.

I will post more quotation rules next week.


BACK TO BASICS

Find and fix the error in the following piece.

"None of the stores are being expanded but all are undergoing multi-million dollar renovations, reorganizations and facelifts."

“None” is singular and requires a singular verb.

“None of the stores is being expanded but all are undergoing multi-million dollar renovations, reorganizations and facelifts.”


Friday

WOMAN/WOMEN

“Woman” (n.) is a singular word. The possessive form is "woman’s".

“Women” (n.) is a plural word. The possessive form is "women’s".


CHARACTER

“Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.”
Solon, a Greek politician, coined this phrase.



LAST WEEK’S WORDS

“Colloquy” (n.) means a conference, dialogue, symposium or seminar.

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

“Implacable” (adj.) means pitiless, merciless, relentless or cruel.

“Acerbic” (adj.) means sharp, cutting, bitter or sour.

“Macabre” (adj.) means ghoulish, ghastly, chilling or horrid.