UNBELIEVABLE
I normally cite only professional writers for gross misuse of the English language, but this speaker is the Prime Minister, and I expect more from one who represents my country on the world stage.
Identify and correct the error in the following passage.
"'I agree with you, Premier, that five years is a long time,' replied Harper, who irritated Beijing by criticizing the Communist regime's human-rights record and meeting with the Dalai Lama, among other things. 'It's also been almost five years since we had yourself or President Hu in our country.'"
Stephen Harper, "Chinese, Canadian leaders exchange barbs", Canwest News Service, The Windsor Star, Friday, December 4, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "malodorous".
What part of speech is "malodorous"?
Define "malodorous" and use it in a sentence.
Bonus: get a gold star for associating "malodorous" with the rest of today's blog entries.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
WORD CHALLENGES
ALL TOGETHER/ALTOGETHER
Explain the difference in meaning between the terms "all together" and "altogether".
Use "all together" and "altogether" in sentences that show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "fetid".
What part of speech is "fetid"?
How many other parts of speech can you list for "fetid"?
Define "fetid" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference in meaning between the terms "all together" and "altogether".
Use "all together" and "altogether" in sentences that show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "fetid".
What part of speech is "fetid"?
How many other parts of speech can you list for "fetid"?
Define "fetid" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
PHILOSOPHY & FEELING
EMPATHY/SYMPATHY
Explain the difference between "empathy" and "sympathy".
What part of speech is each word?
What other parts of speech can you make of each word?
Create sentences for "empathy" and "sympathy" to show their meanings.
A GOOD CONCEPT
Identify the author of the following epithet.
“There is no calamity greater than lavish desires.
There is no greater guilt than discontentment.
And there is no greater disaster than greed.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "pique".
What part of speech is "pique"?
Define "pique" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference between "empathy" and "sympathy".
What part of speech is each word?
What other parts of speech can you make of each word?
Create sentences for "empathy" and "sympathy" to show their meanings.
A GOOD CONCEPT
Identify the author of the following epithet.
“There is no calamity greater than lavish desires.
There is no greater guilt than discontentment.
And there is no greater disaster than greed.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "pique".
What part of speech is "pique"?
Define "pique" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
COMPLETENESS REQUIRED
"EH?"
Identify and correct the errors in the following piece from a news story about turning in guns for cash.
"No questions asked and no questions as to the amount of guns turned in."
Jim Crichton, A News Monday, November 30, 2009, 6:26 pm.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "foment".
What part of speech is "foment"?
Define "foment" and use it in a sentence.
Identify the noun form of "foment".
Identify and correct the errors in the following piece from a news story about turning in guns for cash.
"No questions asked and no questions as to the amount of guns turned in."
Jim Crichton, A News Monday, November 30, 2009, 6:26 pm.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "foment".
What part of speech is "foment"?
Define "foment" and use it in a sentence.
Identify the noun form of "foment".
Monday, November 30, 2009
LET THERE BE LIGHT
MENTAL MEANDERINGS
Explain and correct the error in the following piece.
"She's so overcome when he breaks up with her that she collapses to the ground in the middle of a forest and lays there all night."
Anne Jarvis, "Portrayal of love twisted", The Windsor Star, Monday, November 30, 2009.
APPRAISE/APPRISE
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "appraise" and "apprise".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "appraise" and "apprise" in sentences that clearly show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "luciferous".
What part of speech is "luciferous"?
Define "luciferous" and use it in a sentence.
FYI: identify the root and the meaning should become clear.
Explain and correct the error in the following piece.
"She's so overcome when he breaks up with her that she collapses to the ground in the middle of a forest and lays there all night."
Anne Jarvis, "Portrayal of love twisted", The Windsor Star, Monday, November 30, 2009.
APPRAISE/APPRISE
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "appraise" and "apprise".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "appraise" and "apprise" in sentences that clearly show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "luciferous".
What part of speech is "luciferous"?
Define "luciferous" and use it in a sentence.
FYI: identify the root and the meaning should become clear.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - November 29, 2009
CAUTION
I received a comment which was written entirely in Chinese or Mandarin or some character form. I have rejected that comment because I have no idea what it says or if it might contain a virus.
I thank the person for sending me a comment, but if one wants a comment published, it must be written in English; after all, this is an correct English usage blog.
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
You get a GOLD STAR if you can identify the irony in the last entry. You must be sure to read the entire entry to find it.
You go to the head of the class if you can explain what is wrong with the word order of example three.
"Just as it would be for a CUPE insider to whisper the union's plans to management in the midst of a bitter stand-off."
This is not a complete thought; it is only a subordinate clause dependant upon the preceding sentence for its sense.
"It is a legal no-no, just as it would be for a CUPE insider to whisper the union's plans to management in the midst of a bitter stand-off."
"But my sense is Jones is going to need that lawyer; unfortunately for him."
The semi-colon is incorrect; it should be a comma.
"But my sense is Jones is going to need that lawyer, unfortunately for him."
"A group of homeowners on Windsor's west side have hired a lawyer and will approach city council tonight to push for demolition of dozens of unsightly homes on Indian Road owned by Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Maroun."
Dave Battagello, "Group pushes for demolitions", The Windsor Star, Monday, November 23, 2003.
“Group” is the subject and it is singular; its verb must also be singular.
The word order makes it appear as if Indian Road is owned by Matty Maroun whereas the intent is that Maroun owns the homes.
The irony is that the title of the articles has the subject/verb correctly structured but it is incorrect in the body of the article. Al least there could be some consistency, one would think.
"A group of homeowners on Windsor's west side has hired a lawyer and will approach city council tonight to push for demolition of dozens of unsightly homes on Indian Road owned by Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Maroun."
Tuesday
AFFLUENCE/EFFLUENCE
“Affluence” is abundant wealth or riches.
“The affluence of the neighbourhood was evident in the size of the houses.
“Effluence” is sewage.
“The effluence back-washed into his basement and created a terribly foul smell.”
Wednesday
GRAMMAR REVIEW - ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
“Active voice” refers the subject doing the action.
“He kicked the door so hard that it broke off its hinges.”
“Passive voice” means that the subject receives the action.
“The cruel trained was kicked by the wild horse.”
Thursday
VERACIOUS/VORACIOUS
“Veracious” (adj.) means conforming with truth, actual or genuine. It comes from the word Latin veritas.
“The Benedictine monk was a veracious witness in the trial.”
“Voracious” (adj.) means excessively greedy and grasping, devouring or craving food.
“The lion pup had a voracious appetite for something so young.”
BONUS
“Validation” is a noun referring to the finding or testing of the truth of something.
“Valid” is the adjective form.
“Validate” is the verb form.
“Validity” is a noun form referring to the soundness of an argument.
Friday
BREAK/BROKE/BROKEN
“Break”, as a verb, means to slow down.
“Broke” is the past tense of the verb “break”.
“Broken” is the past participle of the verb break.
The misuse occurs when “broke” is used when “broken” should be used.
“Broke” and “broken” are not interchangeable.
“His car is broke.” Wrong.
“His car is broken.” Correct.
WORTH REMEMBERING
“There is no remedy for love but to love more.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862) wrote this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Paroxysm” (n.) refers to an attack, a convulsion, an explosion or a fit.
“Gregarious” (adj.) means social or friendly or wanting to be with others.
“Remonstrate” (v.) means to argue in opposition to or in protest against or to plead in protest.
“Remonstrance” is the noun form.
“Vainglorious” (adj.) means boastful, bragging, arrogant or overbearing.
“Fatalism” (n.) is a philosophy that says that all events are subject to fate or are predetermined or inevitable. It is the acceptance that all things are inevitable.
“Fate”, “fatality” and “fatal” share the root of this word.
I received a comment which was written entirely in Chinese or Mandarin or some character form. I have rejected that comment because I have no idea what it says or if it might contain a virus.
I thank the person for sending me a comment, but if one wants a comment published, it must be written in English; after all, this is an correct English usage blog.
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
You get a GOLD STAR if you can identify the irony in the last entry. You must be sure to read the entire entry to find it.
You go to the head of the class if you can explain what is wrong with the word order of example three.
"Just as it would be for a CUPE insider to whisper the union's plans to management in the midst of a bitter stand-off."
This is not a complete thought; it is only a subordinate clause dependant upon the preceding sentence for its sense.
"It is a legal no-no, just as it would be for a CUPE insider to whisper the union's plans to management in the midst of a bitter stand-off."
"But my sense is Jones is going to need that lawyer; unfortunately for him."
The semi-colon is incorrect; it should be a comma.
"But my sense is Jones is going to need that lawyer, unfortunately for him."
"A group of homeowners on Windsor's west side have hired a lawyer and will approach city council tonight to push for demolition of dozens of unsightly homes on Indian Road owned by Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Maroun."
Dave Battagello, "Group pushes for demolitions", The Windsor Star, Monday, November 23, 2003.
“Group” is the subject and it is singular; its verb must also be singular.
The word order makes it appear as if Indian Road is owned by Matty Maroun whereas the intent is that Maroun owns the homes.
The irony is that the title of the articles has the subject/verb correctly structured but it is incorrect in the body of the article. Al least there could be some consistency, one would think.
"A group of homeowners on Windsor's west side has hired a lawyer and will approach city council tonight to push for demolition of dozens of unsightly homes on Indian Road owned by Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Maroun."
Tuesday
AFFLUENCE/EFFLUENCE
“Affluence” is abundant wealth or riches.
“The affluence of the neighbourhood was evident in the size of the houses.
“Effluence” is sewage.
“The effluence back-washed into his basement and created a terribly foul smell.”
Wednesday
GRAMMAR REVIEW - ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
“Active voice” refers the subject doing the action.
“He kicked the door so hard that it broke off its hinges.”
“Passive voice” means that the subject receives the action.
“The cruel trained was kicked by the wild horse.”
Thursday
VERACIOUS/VORACIOUS
“Veracious” (adj.) means conforming with truth, actual or genuine. It comes from the word Latin veritas.
“The Benedictine monk was a veracious witness in the trial.”
“Voracious” (adj.) means excessively greedy and grasping, devouring or craving food.
“The lion pup had a voracious appetite for something so young.”
BONUS
“Validation” is a noun referring to the finding or testing of the truth of something.
“Valid” is the adjective form.
“Validate” is the verb form.
“Validity” is a noun form referring to the soundness of an argument.
Friday
BREAK/BROKE/BROKEN
“Break”, as a verb, means to slow down.
“Broke” is the past tense of the verb “break”.
“Broken” is the past participle of the verb break.
The misuse occurs when “broke” is used when “broken” should be used.
“Broke” and “broken” are not interchangeable.
“His car is broke.” Wrong.
“His car is broken.” Correct.
WORTH REMEMBERING
“There is no remedy for love but to love more.”
Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862) wrote this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Paroxysm” (n.) refers to an attack, a convulsion, an explosion or a fit.
“Gregarious” (adj.) means social or friendly or wanting to be with others.
“Remonstrate” (v.) means to argue in opposition to or in protest against or to plead in protest.
“Remonstrance” is the noun form.
“Vainglorious” (adj.) means boastful, bragging, arrogant or overbearing.
“Fatalism” (n.) is a philosophy that says that all events are subject to fate or are predetermined or inevitable. It is the acceptance that all things are inevitable.
“Fate”, “fatality” and “fatal” share the root of this word.
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