Here are the corrections for last week's postings.
Monday
INCISIVE/DECISIVE
“Incisive” means cutting into, acute or sharp.
Decisive” means putting an end to or concluding something. It comes from the word “decide”.
Tuesday
WILL/SHALL
Explain the differences in meaning between the verbs "will" and "shall" in relation to person.
“Shall” is used to show the simple future tense in the first person.
“Will” is used to show the simple future tense in the second and third persons.
I shall go. We shall go.
You will go. You will go.
He will go. They will go.
To express promise or determination, the use of “shall” and “will” are reversed.
I will go. We will go.
You shall go. You shall go.
He shall go. They shall go.
The difference is in the intent of meaning.
Wednesday
A TEST
Choose the correct word in the following sentences.
1. The child does not feel (good, well).
The child does not feel well.
2. The cookies smell (good, well).
The cookies smell good.
3. He swims and dives (good, well).
He swims and dives well.
4. He does not write (plain, plainly).
He does not write plainly.
5. She sings (beautiful, beautifully).
She sings beautifully.
6. Drive (careful, carefully).
Drive carefully.
7. The taxi drivers sounded their horns (loud, loudly).
The taxi drivers sounded their horns loudly.
8. Dogs smell (keen, keenly).
Dogs smell keenly.
9. The general looked (close, closely) at the soldiers.
The general looked closely at the soldiers.
10. That man always looks (sad, sadly).
That man always looks sad.
Thursday
What is the error in the entry below?
"Those shocking details are among the mountains of evidence U.S. prosecutors have made public after Veillette hung himself in an Ohio jail."
“Hanged” means “executed by hanging”.
“Hung” means “suspended” and may not be used in the case of execution.
"Those shocking details are among the mountains of evidence U.S. prosecutors have made public after Veillette hanged himself in an Ohio jail."
Friday
A FRIDAY POSER
Is there an error in the sentence below? If there is, correct it and give your reasoning.
"That's where Helms uncertainty exists."
“Helms” should be possessive. Correctly, it should be spelled “Helms’s”, but modern usage would allow “Helms’”.
"That's where Helms’s uncertainty exists."
A GOOD PHILOSOPHY
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”
Abraham Lincoln said this.
THE WORDS
“Simulacrum” (n.) is an insubstantial or vague or unreal semblance or image.
“Simulacra” is the plural form.
“Simultaneous” has the same root.
“Draconian” (adj.) means severe or rigorous. It derives from the Greek Athenian statesman, Draco, whose code of law was extremely severe or harsh.
“Parsimonious” (adj.) means excessively unwilling to spend, uncharitable or mean.
“Extrapolate” (v.) means to generalize, to infer or to draw from specific cases for more general cases.
“Ingenuous” (adj.) means artless, unable to hide one’s feelings, free from reserve or innocent.
SPECIAL NOTE
I like to receive comments regarding the postings and I thank you for the responses. But sometimes your corrections are incorrect. Keep at it.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
A TRICKY ONE
A FRIDAY POSER
Is there an error in the sentence below? If there is, correct it and give your reasoning.
"That's where Helms uncertainty exists."
Bob Duff, "Rivalry adds new warriors", The Windsor Star, Friday, April 25, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ingenuous".
Define "ingenuous" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's postings will be published on Sunday.
Is there an error in the sentence below? If there is, correct it and give your reasoning.
"That's where Helms uncertainty exists."
Bob Duff, "Rivalry adds new warriors", The Windsor Star, Friday, April 25, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ingenuous".
Define "ingenuous" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's postings will be published on Sunday.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
THE RETURN OF THE PRO
A DIFFERENT ONE
What is the error in the entry below?
"Those shocking details are among the mountains of evidence U.S. prosecutors have made public after Veillette hung himself in an Ohio jail."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Affair led to killings", The Windsor Star, Thursday, April 24, 2008.
A GOOD PHILOSOPHY
Identify the author of the following:
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "extrapolate".
Define "extrapolate" and use it in a sentence.
What is the error in the entry below?
"Those shocking details are among the mountains of evidence U.S. prosecutors have made public after Veillette hung himself in an Ohio jail."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Affair led to killings", The Windsor Star, Thursday, April 24, 2008.
A GOOD PHILOSOPHY
Identify the author of the following:
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "extrapolate".
Define "extrapolate" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
SURPRISE!
A TEST
Choose the correct word in the following sentences.
Be sure to know a reason for each choice.
Anything more than one mistake will be considered as failure.
1. The child does not feel (good, well).
2. The cookies smell (good, well).
3. He swims and dives (good, well).
4. He does not write (plain, plainly).
5. She sings (beautiful, beautifully).
6. Drive (careful, carefully).
7. The taxi drivers sounded their horns (loud, loudly).
8. Dogs smell (keen, keenly).
9. The general looked (close, closely) at the soldiers.
10. That man always looks (sad, sadly).
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "parsimonious".
Define "parsimonious" and use it in a sentence.
Choose the correct word in the following sentences.
Be sure to know a reason for each choice.
Anything more than one mistake will be considered as failure.
1. The child does not feel (good, well).
2. The cookies smell (good, well).
3. He swims and dives (good, well).
4. He does not write (plain, plainly).
5. She sings (beautiful, beautifully).
6. Drive (careful, carefully).
7. The taxi drivers sounded their horns (loud, loudly).
8. Dogs smell (keen, keenly).
9. The general looked (close, closely) at the soldiers.
10. That man always looks (sad, sadly).
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "parsimonious".
Define "parsimonious" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
VERB CHALLENGE
WILL/SHALL
Explain the differences in meaning between the verbs "will" and "shall" in relation to person.
What is the difference when a person says, "I will go" as opposed to, "I shall go"?
What is the difference when a person says, "You will go" as opposed to, "You shall go"?
What is the difference when a person says, "He will go" as opposed to, "He shall go"?
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today in "draconian".
Define "draconian" and explain its etymology.
Explain the differences in meaning between the verbs "will" and "shall" in relation to person.
What is the difference when a person says, "I will go" as opposed to, "I shall go"?
What is the difference when a person says, "You will go" as opposed to, "You shall go"?
What is the difference when a person says, "He will go" as opposed to, "He shall go"?
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today in "draconian".
Define "draconian" and explain its etymology.
Monday, April 21, 2008
MONDAY CHALLENGE
INCISIVE/DECISIVE
What is the difference in meaning and use between "incisive" and "decisive"?
Use "incisive" and "decisive" in sentences that clearly show the meaning of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "simulacrum".
This word has fallen out of use but it has a good ring to it. It reminds me of Poe.
Define "simulacrum" and use it in a sentence.
What is the plural of "simulacrum"?
What word do we use today whose root is the same as "simulacrum"?
What is the difference in meaning and use between "incisive" and "decisive"?
Use "incisive" and "decisive" in sentences that clearly show the meaning of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "simulacrum".
This word has fallen out of use but it has a good ring to it. It reminds me of Poe.
Define "simulacrum" and use it in a sentence.
What is the plural of "simulacrum"?
What word do we use today whose root is the same as "simulacrum"?
Sunday, April 20, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - April 20, 2008
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's posts.
Monday
WENT/GONE
“Gone” is the past participle of the verb “go”.
“Went” is the past tense of “go”.
“Went” and “gone” are not interchangeable.
I “went” to the store.
I “have gone” to the store in the past.
WRONG: I should “have went” to the store yesterday.
Tuesday
WRAPPED/RAPT/RAPPED - Part 1
“Wrapped” means to be enclosed, hidden or covered.
“Rapt” means to be deeply involved with something, to be deeply engrossed with something, to be carried away or awed by something.
“Rapped” is the past participle of the verb rap and means to hit or strike.
WRAPPER/RAPTOR/RAPPER - Part 2
A “wrapper” is someone who wraps or covers a present or object.
“A “raptor” is a carnivorous bird. “Raptor” has no real connection with “rapt” other than the concept of being carried away as a carnivorous bird might do with its prey..
“A “rapper” is someone who knocks on a door or someone who performs a genre of music.
Wednesday
DIFFUSE/DEFUSE
“Diffuse” means to spread out, to fan out or to permeate the air.
“Defuse” means to remove the trigger or the fuse, to disarm.
Thursday
Choose the correct form of the verb in each example below:
1. Occasionally I (lie, lay) on the couch.
Occasionally I lie on the couch.
2. Yesterday I (laid, lay) in the sun.
Yesterday I lay in the sun.
3. Usually I (lie, lay) on my right side.
Usually I lie on my right side.
4. The town (lies, lays) in a pleasant valley.
The town lies in a pleasant valley.
5. The responsibility (lies, lays) with you.
The responsibility lies with you.
6. When school closed I (laid, layed) my books away.
When school closed I laid my books away.
7. He (laid, layed) claim to the insurance payment.
He laid claim to the insurance payment.
8. That book (has lain, has laid) on my desk for several days.
That book has lain on my desk for several days.
9. Shall I (lie, lay) your book on the desk?
Shall I lay your book on the desk?
10. You cannot (lie, lay) down to sleep but you can (lie, lay) down to sleep.
You cannot lay down to sleep but you can lie down to sleep.
Friday
BACKWARD/BACKWARDS
“Backward” is the only acceptable form when used as an adjective.
“He left the room without even a backward glance.”
“Backwards” or “backward” can be used as an adverb.
“She put her shirt on backwards.”
“He copied her and put his on backward.”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“A handful of patience is worth more that a bushel of brains.”
This was said by Cato the Elder.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Imperturbable” (adj.) means unshakably calm, collected, unemotional or cool.
“Hypothetical” (adj) means theoretical, abstract, notional or not based on fact.
“Imperturbable” (adj.) means cool, unexcitable, unflappable or giving no sign of feeling
“Stultify” (v.) means to cause to appear foolish, to show to be incompetent or irresponsible.
“Diffidence” (n.) means self-distrust, a lack of self-confidence a reticence or doubt.
Monday
WENT/GONE
“Gone” is the past participle of the verb “go”.
“Went” is the past tense of “go”.
“Went” and “gone” are not interchangeable.
I “went” to the store.
I “have gone” to the store in the past.
WRONG: I should “have went” to the store yesterday.
Tuesday
WRAPPED/RAPT/RAPPED - Part 1
“Wrapped” means to be enclosed, hidden or covered.
“Rapt” means to be deeply involved with something, to be deeply engrossed with something, to be carried away or awed by something.
“Rapped” is the past participle of the verb rap and means to hit or strike.
WRAPPER/RAPTOR/RAPPER - Part 2
A “wrapper” is someone who wraps or covers a present or object.
“A “raptor” is a carnivorous bird. “Raptor” has no real connection with “rapt” other than the concept of being carried away as a carnivorous bird might do with its prey..
“A “rapper” is someone who knocks on a door or someone who performs a genre of music.
Wednesday
DIFFUSE/DEFUSE
“Diffuse” means to spread out, to fan out or to permeate the air.
“Defuse” means to remove the trigger or the fuse, to disarm.
Thursday
Choose the correct form of the verb in each example below:
1. Occasionally I (lie, lay) on the couch.
Occasionally I lie on the couch.
2. Yesterday I (laid, lay) in the sun.
Yesterday I lay in the sun.
3. Usually I (lie, lay) on my right side.
Usually I lie on my right side.
4. The town (lies, lays) in a pleasant valley.
The town lies in a pleasant valley.
5. The responsibility (lies, lays) with you.
The responsibility lies with you.
6. When school closed I (laid, layed) my books away.
When school closed I laid my books away.
7. He (laid, layed) claim to the insurance payment.
He laid claim to the insurance payment.
8. That book (has lain, has laid) on my desk for several days.
That book has lain on my desk for several days.
9. Shall I (lie, lay) your book on the desk?
Shall I lay your book on the desk?
10. You cannot (lie, lay) down to sleep but you can (lie, lay) down to sleep.
You cannot lay down to sleep but you can lie down to sleep.
Friday
BACKWARD/BACKWARDS
“Backward” is the only acceptable form when used as an adjective.
“He left the room without even a backward glance.”
“Backwards” or “backward” can be used as an adverb.
“She put her shirt on backwards.”
“He copied her and put his on backward.”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“A handful of patience is worth more that a bushel of brains.”
This was said by Cato the Elder.
THIS WEEK’S WORDS
“Imperturbable” (adj.) means unshakably calm, collected, unemotional or cool.
“Hypothetical” (adj) means theoretical, abstract, notional or not based on fact.
“Imperturbable” (adj.) means cool, unexcitable, unflappable or giving no sign of feeling
“Stultify” (v.) means to cause to appear foolish, to show to be incompetent or irresponsible.
“Diffidence” (n.) means self-distrust, a lack of self-confidence a reticence or doubt.
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