CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - March 22, 2009

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

Monday

Read the following entries and decide whether or not you think there are errors in them.
I do not accept that newspaper writing should be a series of words and clichés only. The writer has an obligation to be correct in his writing construction.


“He is the weak link in the chain. The reason they might lose. The cause for concern.”

The second and third units of words are not complete sentences.

“He is the weak link in the chain. He is the reason they might lose. He is the cause for concern.”


“Especially since the numbers next to Engelage's name are so glowing.”

This unit is not a complete thought.

“Engelage is not the weak line, especially since the numbers next to his name are so glowing.”


“Osgood's advice to Engelage?”

This is not a complete thought.

“What is Osgood's advice to Engelage?”


“Sound words from a man who's been castigated by similar-sounding words many times before.”

This is not a complete thought.

“These are sound words from a man who's been castigated by similar-sounding words many times before.”


Tuesday

FORCEFUL/FORCIBLE/FORCED

“Forceful” (adj.) means powerful, vigorous or dynamic.

“Forcible” (adj.) must be used to describe the use of force.

“Forced” (participle) should be used to describe something that is done or decided upon as a result of outside causes without necessarily being violent, such as “a forced retreat”, “a forced smile” or “forced labour.”



Wednesday

ANYWAY/ANY WAY/ANYWAYS

“Anyway” is an adverb meaning besides nonetheless, in any case.
“My mother said I couldn’t go out. I am going out anyway and will take the consequences.

“Any way” is a pair of words consisting of an adjective and the noun it modifies meaning in any manner or way of doing something.

“He will do the job any way possible to be able to say it is done.”
One of "anyway", "any way" and "anyways" is incorrect.

“Anyways” is an incorrect form of the word “anyway”.


Thursday

DEFUSE/DIFFUSE

“Defuse” literally means "to remove a fuse." It also means, generally, "to disarm" or "pacify."


“Diffuse” as an adjective means "spread out", "extended" or "verbose."
The emphasis is on the first syllable.

“Diffuse” as a verb means "to spread out in all directions."
The emphasis is on the second syllable.


Friday

PERSUADE/CONVINCE

“Convince” (v.) is used when a person is convinced or moved by evidence or argument made to the intellect.

“Persuade” (v.) is used when a person is persuaded or moved by appeals made to the will, moral sense, or emotions.


A BIT OF CYNICISM

“Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.”
Bill Watterson, the cartoonist of "Calvin and Hobbes" coined this phrase.


LAST WEEK’S WORDS

“Interminable” (adj.) means endless, ceaseless, perpetual or lasting.

“Calamitous” (adj.) means disastrous, tragic, ruinous or dire.

“Quintessential” (adj.) means ideal, model or exemplary.

“Concomitant” (adj.) means simultaneous, connected, affiliated or related to.

“Non compos mentis” means not or sound mind or mentally incapable. It is principally used in a legal context.