GOOD/WELL
Explain the difference between the words "good" and "well".
What part of speech is each word?
Create sentences that use "good" and "well" correctly.
EXERCISE
Use either "good" or "well" in the following sentences.
1. He swims and dives(good, well).
2. The child does not feel (good, well)>
3. The cake tastes (good, well).
4. He played (good, well).
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "poltergeist".
Define "poltergeist" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted on Sunday.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
BASIC PROBLEMS WEEK - PART 4
LEND/LOAN
This is a repeat but it is so often misused it bears repeating.
Explain the difference between "lend" and "loan".
Explain how the words are misused.
Create sentences using each word correctly.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "polemic".
Define "polemic" and use it in a sentence.
Bonus:
Define "polemics" and use it in a sentence.
FYI
I am glad that readers are paying attention to the quotes I periodically post. But the first name of the author of the last quote is "Malcolm" not "Malcom".
Those who do not know what this about have to do the research.
This is a repeat but it is so often misused it bears repeating.
Explain the difference between "lend" and "loan".
Explain how the words are misused.
Create sentences using each word correctly.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "polemic".
Define "polemic" and use it in a sentence.
Bonus:
Define "polemics" and use it in a sentence.
FYI
I am glad that readers are paying attention to the quotes I periodically post. But the first name of the author of the last quote is "Malcolm" not "Malcom".
Those who do not know what this about have to do the research.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
BASIC PROBLEMS WEEK - PART 3
EACH/EVERYBODY/SOMEBODY
Here is an interesting grammatical challenge.
The words "each", "everybody" and "somebody" are all pronouns. What type of pronoun is each?
What is the common property of "each", "everybody" and "somebody"?
Create a sentence for each word.
THIS WEEK'S THOUGHT
Identify the author of the following truism.
“Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "recalcitrant".
Define "recalcitrant" and use it in a sentence.
Here is an interesting grammatical challenge.
The words "each", "everybody" and "somebody" are all pronouns. What type of pronoun is each?
What is the common property of "each", "everybody" and "somebody"?
Create a sentence for each word.
THIS WEEK'S THOUGHT
Identify the author of the following truism.
“Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "recalcitrant".
Define "recalcitrant" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
BASIC PROBLEMS WEEK - PART 2
FYI
This is Post # 452.
The blog has presented 294 words for your perusal. There have been only 14 repeats.
The blog will have had 17,000 hits by the end of today. That is good, I think, for such an esoteric, and too often ignored, topic.
I am proud to have made my small contribution in the continuing battle for correct use of the English language.
I thank all who have visited and encourage everyone to continue to support this site.
Please tell others about this blog. The language will appreciate the support.
DID/DONE
Explain the difference in usage of "did" and "done".
What part of speech is "did"?
What part of speech is "done"?
EXERCISE
Use the correct form of "did" or "done" in the following sentences.
1. I (did, done) all the chores before I went out to play.
2. Grandmother (did, done) all her housework before she went to the casino.
3. The boy told his mother that he (did, done) all his homework at school.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "alacrity".
Define "alacrity" and use it in a sentence.
This is Post # 452.
The blog has presented 294 words for your perusal. There have been only 14 repeats.
The blog will have had 17,000 hits by the end of today. That is good, I think, for such an esoteric, and too often ignored, topic.
I am proud to have made my small contribution in the continuing battle for correct use of the English language.
I thank all who have visited and encourage everyone to continue to support this site.
Please tell others about this blog. The language will appreciate the support.
DID/DONE
Explain the difference in usage of "did" and "done".
What part of speech is "did"?
What part of speech is "done"?
EXERCISE
Use the correct form of "did" or "done" in the following sentences.
1. I (did, done) all the chores before I went out to play.
2. Grandmother (did, done) all her housework before she went to the casino.
3. The boy told his mother that he (did, done) all his homework at school.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "alacrity".
Define "alacrity" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, September 29, 2008
BASIC PROBLEMS WEEK - PART 1
THEN/THAN
This is a repeat visit to a common error.
Explain the difference between "then" and "than".
What part of speech is "then"?
What part of speech is "than"?
Create sentences that depict the respective meanings of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "venality".
Define "venality" and use it in a sentence.
This is a repeat visit to a common error.
Explain the difference between "then" and "than".
What part of speech is "then"?
What part of speech is "than"?
Create sentences that depict the respective meanings of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "venality".
Define "venality" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - September 28, 2008
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's postings.
Monday
QUOTATION MARKS
Rule 4
Punctuation Marks with Quotation Marks
Always place a comma or period before beginning or ending quotation marks.
"Harry," he requested, "please take this to your mother."
Rule 5a
Quotation Marks in Dialogue
Begin a new paragraph with every change of speaker.
"Hello, Tiffany," Peter stammered.
"Hi Peter. How are you?"
"Fine, I think. What have you been doing lately?"
Rule 5b
Quotation Marks in Continuing Paragraphs
For quotations longer than a single paragraph, put quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph but only at the end of the final quoted word.
Note that the first paragraph has no closing quotation marks. Quotation marks do open the next paragraph to show that the quotation continues.
EXERCISE
Punctuate the following sentences.
mary he requested please take this to mr green
“Mary,” he requested, “please take this to Mr. Green.”
george claimed I have twenty points bill said i have only twelve
George claimed, “I have twenty points.”
Bill said, “I have only twelve.”
Tuesday
LOSE/LOOSE/LOSER/LOOSER
“Lose” is pronounced with a “z” sound.
“She often to lose her keys in the depths of her cavernous handbag.”
“Loose” is pronounced with an “s” sound.
“He lets his dog run loose and this upsets his neighbours.”
“Loser” means a person who is a failure. It is pronounced with the “z” sound.
He was a real loser and left the track with no money in his pocket.
“Looser” means less constricted or freer. This is pronounced with the “s” sound.
His pants were looser than they should have been and he embarrassed those behind him.
Wednesday
Correct the error in the following entries.
"Windsor 'fairly unique'" (headline)
“Unique” means the only one of a kind; “fairly” cannot be attached. This was a headline, so no verb is required.
"Windsor unique” is the only acceptable form.
"Of the 100 Ontario municipalities for which MPAC has so far released the new assessments, spokeswoman Annette Beaudoin said Windsor is 'fairly unique' in that it is one of the only municipalities where home values have decreased."
“Unique” means the only one of a kind; “fairly” cannot be attached.
"Of the 100 Ontario municipalities for which MPAC has so far released the new assessments, spokeswoman Annette Beaudoin said Windsor is 'unique' in that it is one of the only municipalities where home values have decreased."
QUOTATION
“The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education.”
Plutarch, a Greek philosopher and moralist said this.
Thursday
FOREGO/FORGO
“Forego” means to go before because “fore” means before.
“Forgo” means to do without or abstain from using.
DUMB CLICHÉ DEPARTMENT - A CONTINUUM
"What goes around comes around."
“Duh!”
Friday
Identify and correct the error in the following piece.
"A grizzly bear lays down in a stream Thursday at the St. Felicien Wildlife Zoo in St. Felicien, Que."
A person, or bear, “lies” down.
Someone “lays” down a book.
"A grizzly bear lies down in a stream Thursday at the St. Felicien Wildlife Zoo in St. Felicien, Que."
DUMB CLICHÉ DEPARTMENT - ANOTHER ONE!
"Grow your business!"
A crop grows by itself. One does not grow a crop.
A business becomes larger or increases in size or scope. One cannot grow a business; it is not a wart.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Ambience” (n.) means the feel, atmosphere or mood of a setting.
“Assignation” (n.) means a meeting, usually secret, a tryst or a get-together.
“Vaunt” (v.) means to speak vaingloriously or boastfully, to boast or brag. Thus, a “vaunted” character is a rooster crowing about himself rather than a person of high character.
“Feign” (v.) means to pretend, to fake, to simulate or to put on. It is used mostly by Shakespeare.
“Vulpine” (adj.) means pertaining to, like or characteristic of a fox.
Monday
QUOTATION MARKS
Rule 4
Punctuation Marks with Quotation Marks
Always place a comma or period before beginning or ending quotation marks.
"Harry," he requested, "please take this to your mother."
Rule 5a
Quotation Marks in Dialogue
Begin a new paragraph with every change of speaker.
"Hello, Tiffany," Peter stammered.
"Hi Peter. How are you?"
"Fine, I think. What have you been doing lately?"
Rule 5b
Quotation Marks in Continuing Paragraphs
For quotations longer than a single paragraph, put quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph but only at the end of the final quoted word.
Note that the first paragraph has no closing quotation marks. Quotation marks do open the next paragraph to show that the quotation continues.
EXERCISE
Punctuate the following sentences.
mary he requested please take this to mr green
“Mary,” he requested, “please take this to Mr. Green.”
george claimed I have twenty points bill said i have only twelve
George claimed, “I have twenty points.”
Bill said, “I have only twelve.”
Tuesday
LOSE/LOOSE/LOSER/LOOSER
“Lose” is pronounced with a “z” sound.
“She often to lose her keys in the depths of her cavernous handbag.”
“Loose” is pronounced with an “s” sound.
“He lets his dog run loose and this upsets his neighbours.”
“Loser” means a person who is a failure. It is pronounced with the “z” sound.
He was a real loser and left the track with no money in his pocket.
“Looser” means less constricted or freer. This is pronounced with the “s” sound.
His pants were looser than they should have been and he embarrassed those behind him.
Wednesday
Correct the error in the following entries.
"Windsor 'fairly unique'" (headline)
“Unique” means the only one of a kind; “fairly” cannot be attached. This was a headline, so no verb is required.
"Windsor unique” is the only acceptable form.
"Of the 100 Ontario municipalities for which MPAC has so far released the new assessments, spokeswoman Annette Beaudoin said Windsor is 'fairly unique' in that it is one of the only municipalities where home values have decreased."
“Unique” means the only one of a kind; “fairly” cannot be attached.
"Of the 100 Ontario municipalities for which MPAC has so far released the new assessments, spokeswoman Annette Beaudoin said Windsor is 'unique' in that it is one of the only municipalities where home values have decreased."
QUOTATION
“The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education.”
Plutarch, a Greek philosopher and moralist said this.
Thursday
FOREGO/FORGO
“Forego” means to go before because “fore” means before.
“Forgo” means to do without or abstain from using.
DUMB CLICHÉ DEPARTMENT - A CONTINUUM
"What goes around comes around."
“Duh!”
Friday
Identify and correct the error in the following piece.
"A grizzly bear lays down in a stream Thursday at the St. Felicien Wildlife Zoo in St. Felicien, Que."
A person, or bear, “lies” down.
Someone “lays” down a book.
"A grizzly bear lies down in a stream Thursday at the St. Felicien Wildlife Zoo in St. Felicien, Que."
DUMB CLICHÉ DEPARTMENT - ANOTHER ONE!
"Grow your business!"
A crop grows by itself. One does not grow a crop.
A business becomes larger or increases in size or scope. One cannot grow a business; it is not a wart.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Ambience” (n.) means the feel, atmosphere or mood of a setting.
“Assignation” (n.) means a meeting, usually secret, a tryst or a get-together.
“Vaunt” (v.) means to speak vaingloriously or boastfully, to boast or brag. Thus, a “vaunted” character is a rooster crowing about himself rather than a person of high character.
“Feign” (v.) means to pretend, to fake, to simulate or to put on. It is used mostly by Shakespeare.
“Vulpine” (adj.) means pertaining to, like or characteristic of a fox.
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