Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries. Be patient. There is a lot to digest.
Monday
PHRASES
What is a phrase and what are its components?
A phrase is a group of words made up of a preposition and its object.
A preposition is a word such as “in”, “on”, “upon”, “for”, “into” or “of”.
An object can be a noun or a pronoun and, in this case, answers the question “what” after a preposition.
How can a phrase be used in a sentence?
A phrase can be used as, or can function as an adjective.
The boy in the car is Tom.
“In the car” describes “boy” so it is an adjective phrase modifying “boy”.
A phrase can be used as, or can function as an adverb.
The cat sat on the mat.
“On the mat” answers the question “where” about the verb so is an adverb phrase modifying “sat”.
A phrase can be used as, or can function as a noun.
Into the woods is where the boy went.
“Into the Woods” is the subject of the copula verb “is” because it is what “is”.
Tuesday
The following were gleaned from one article and all are incomplete thoughts.
Does the fact that it is an opinion piece allow some form of poetic license to the author?
The clipped style of terse and incomplete street jargon for newspaper writing, be it opinion or straight reporting, is unacceptable and incorrect. Professional writers have an obligation to the public to write correctly. Anything other than that is slipshod and sends the wrong message to the readers; as an example, when this type of writing is read in the classroom, students are misguided and the mistakes are perpetuated and compounded.
“Not if you count the expropriation mess, legal fees, lost tax assessment, management time, and the opportunity costs.”
This is an incomplete thought; there is no principal clause.
“Windsor still hasn’t finished paying for the last scheme yet, not if you count the expropriation mess, legal fees, lost tax assessment, management time, and the opportunity costs.”
“A canal to nowhere, as it were.”
This is not a complete thought; there is no principal clause.
“The new downtown canal would be a canal to nowhere, as it were.”
“Bobbing litter and stagnant water when the pumps break down, as they always do in Coventry Gardens.”
This is not a complete thought; there is no principal clause.
“At worst it would become a canal of bobbing litter and stagnant water when the pumps break down, as they always do in Coventry Gardens.”
Wednesday
BUILD OFF OF
One builds “on” one’s foundation.
Additionally, “off of” puts two prepositions together and that is incorrect.
“I have achieved some success and I am going to build on that.”
Thursday
Find, identify and correct the error in the following unit.
“Revenues the city gets from Caesars Windsor, which was the city's single largest taxpayer, combined with ths local heavy industry sector, adds up to the same amount as a decade ago, said Colucci.”
The subject, revenues, and verb, adds, do not agree. Subject and verb must agree.
“Revenues the city gets from Caesars Windsor, which was the city's single largest taxpayer, combined with ths local heavy industry sector, add up to the same amount as a decade ago, said Colucci.”
Friday
Find, identify and correct the errors in the following entry.
FYI - WOW!
This is a record for the blog: there are nine errors in the original fourteen word entry.
“Sheila McCabe - well know instructor, she has impacted many students lives over the years”
This is a run-on sentence. Actually, it is not a sentence at all.
The dash should not be used.
“Well know” should be “well-known”, a hyphenated word.
“A” should be inserted before “well known”.
“She” should be eliminated.
“Impact” is a noun and cannot be used as a verb.
“Students” should be the plural possessive form.
There is no period at the end.
“Sheila McCabe, a well-known instructor, has had an impact on many students’ lives over the years.”
A GOOD THOUGHT
“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese American artist & poet, created this epithet.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Tempestuous” (adj.) means furious, angry, raging or wild.
“Feral” (adj.) means ferocious, savage, wild or fierce.
“Mortification” (n.) refers to humiliation, embarrassment or shame for one’s deeds.
“Mort” is the root of the word and that means death. “Mortify” is the verb form.
“Virtuosity” (n.) refers to the technical skill, proficiency or expertise of a virtuoso. It also refers to the love of the elegant arts collectively. The root is “virtu” from which “virtue” is derived.
“Simper” (v.) means to smile affectedly, derisively or to look suggestively. It also means to smile in a silly, self-conscious way.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
FRIDAY'S CHALLENGES
DOES ANYBODY PROOFREAD?
Find, identify and correct the errors in the following entry. (Note the "s" on the end of "errors".)
"Sheila McCabe - well know instructor, she has impacted many students lives over the years"
Susan Lewis, Photo tagline in article, "Honour Guard honours colleagues", The Windsor Star, Friday, May 8, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "simper".
Define "simper". Be careful; you might be surprised.
What part of speech is "simper"?
Use "simper" in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Find, identify and correct the errors in the following entry. (Note the "s" on the end of "errors".)
"Sheila McCabe - well know instructor, she has impacted many students lives over the years"
Susan Lewis, Photo tagline in article, "Honour Guard honours colleagues", The Windsor Star, Friday, May 8, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "simper".
Define "simper". Be careful; you might be surprised.
What part of speech is "simper"?
Use "simper" in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
EASY STUFF
FIND THE ERROR
Find, identify and correct the error in the following unit.
"Revenues the city gets from Caesars Windsor, which was the city's single largest taxpayer, combined with ths local heavy industry sector, adds up to the same amount as a decade ago, said Colucci."
Doug Schmidt, "$450,000 FOR AGW FROM CITY, The Windsor Star, Thursday, May 7, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "virtuosity".
Define "virtuosity" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "virtuosity"?
How many words can you identify as having the same root as "virtuosity"?
INVITATION
Don't forget to join my English Purists Club. Check to box along the right margin. Help stamp out ignorance and carelessness in the use of our language.
Find, identify and correct the error in the following unit.
"Revenues the city gets from Caesars Windsor, which was the city's single largest taxpayer, combined with ths local heavy industry sector, adds up to the same amount as a decade ago, said Colucci."
Doug Schmidt, "$450,000 FOR AGW FROM CITY, The Windsor Star, Thursday, May 7, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "virtuosity".
Define "virtuosity" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "virtuosity"?
How many words can you identify as having the same root as "virtuosity"?
INVITATION
Don't forget to join my English Purists Club. Check to box along the right margin. Help stamp out ignorance and carelessness in the use of our language.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
VARIED CHALLENGES
BUILD OFF OF
'Build off of' sounds incorrect and is often used, as in, "They build off of their past performances and good workmanship to maintain their clients base."
What is incorrect with "build off of"?
What is the correct expression to use in place of "build off of"?
Create a sentence using the correct expression.
A GOOD THOUGHT
Identify the author of the following.
“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "mortification".
Define "mortification" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "mortification"?
What other forms of "mortification" can be listed?
'Build off of' sounds incorrect and is often used, as in, "They build off of their past performances and good workmanship to maintain their clients base."
What is incorrect with "build off of"?
What is the correct expression to use in place of "build off of"?
Create a sentence using the correct expression.
A GOOD THOUGHT
Identify the author of the following.
“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "mortification".
Define "mortification" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "mortification"?
What other forms of "mortification" can be listed?
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
MAKE A CALL
POETIC LICENSE?
The following are taken from an opinion piece published today.
Are there errors in the entries?
What are the errors? Correct them.
Does the fact that it is an opinion piece allow some form of poetic license to the author?
"Not if you count the expropriation mess, legal fees, lost tax assessment, management time, and the opportunity costs."
"A canal to nowhere, as it were."
"Bobbing litter and stagnant water when the pumps break down, as they always do in Coventry Gardens."
Chris Vander Doelen, Opinion, "A costly canal to nowhere", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, May 5, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "feral".
Define "feral" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "feral"?
The following are taken from an opinion piece published today.
Are there errors in the entries?
What are the errors? Correct them.
Does the fact that it is an opinion piece allow some form of poetic license to the author?
"Not if you count the expropriation mess, legal fees, lost tax assessment, management time, and the opportunity costs."
"A canal to nowhere, as it were."
"Bobbing litter and stagnant water when the pumps break down, as they always do in Coventry Gardens."
Chris Vander Doelen, Opinion, "A costly canal to nowhere", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, May 5, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "feral".
Define "feral" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "feral"?
Monday, May 4, 2009
SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION
PART 1 - PHRASES
Many people have no idea of the components of a sentence, much less the ways in which those components function.
This unit is meant to help create an understanding of some of the structure and variety of our complex language.
Give it a try.
What is a phrase?
What are the components of a phrase?
How can a phrase be used in a sentence?
Create a sentence with a phrase in it and explain the connection of the phrase to the rest of the sentence.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "tempestuous".
What part of speech is "tempestuous"?
Define "tempestuous" and use it in a sentence.
Many people have no idea of the components of a sentence, much less the ways in which those components function.
This unit is meant to help create an understanding of some of the structure and variety of our complex language.
Give it a try.
What is a phrase?
What are the components of a phrase?
How can a phrase be used in a sentence?
Create a sentence with a phrase in it and explain the connection of the phrase to the rest of the sentence.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "tempestuous".
What part of speech is "tempestuous"?
Define "tempestuous" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - May 3, 2009
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
Find, explain and correct the error in the following piece.
Identify the irony in the piece.
“The point is: what are we doing to help kids succeed.”
There should be a question mark after a question.
“The point is: what are we doing to help kids succeed?”
The irony is that the story was about teachers and they should not be associated with such a simple mistake.
Tuesday
LIKE/AS
“Like” as a preposition, starts a phrase and it must have an object.
“She sings like a beautiful bird.”
“As” is a conjunction. It should be followed by a clause containing a subject and a verb.
“He runs as a gazelle does.”
Wednesday
DOESN'T/DON'T
“Doesn’t” or “does not” is used with third person singular words such as “he”, “she” or “it”.
“Don’t” is never used for the third person singular such as in “He don’t know very much about grammar”.
“Don’t” is used for subjects other than third person singular as in “I don’t want to make a mistake”.
Thursday
SINGLE/SINGULAR
“Single” (adj.) means one unit. It refers to a person as being unmarried.
“Single” (v.) means to call attention to someone or something, as in singling out a reprobate for punishment.
“Singular” (adj.) means unique or distinctive. It means odd or unique when referring to a person.
Friday
ASSURE/ENSURE/INSURE
“Assure” (v.) means to make a person confident or certain of something, to state positively or to make a promise or commitment.
The noun form is “assurance”.
“I assure you that you have the skills to do the job.”
“Ensure” (v.) means to make certain or guarantee something will occur.
There is no noun form for “ensure”.
“I assure you that the event will occur.”
“Insure” (v.) means to underwrite or cover something such as with an insurance policy.
The noun form is “insurance”.
“Before I drive, I must insure me car for liability.”
THIS WEEK'S APHORISM
Identify the author of the following.
“I never cease being dumbfounded by the unbelievable things people believe.”
Leo Rosten, a US author, created this line.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Demagogue” (n.) refers to an orator, an agitator or a fomenter who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his audience.
“Approbation” (n.) means official approval, acceptance or recognition
“Redundant” (adj.) means the use of more words than required, repetition of the same sense in different words.
“Rapturous” (adj.) means ecstatic, joyous elated or jubilant.
The words “rapt” and “rapture” share the same root.
“Redact” (v.) means to edit, revise, formulate in a particular style or language or to bring into presentable literary form.
Monday
Find, explain and correct the error in the following piece.
Identify the irony in the piece.
“The point is: what are we doing to help kids succeed.”
There should be a question mark after a question.
“The point is: what are we doing to help kids succeed?”
The irony is that the story was about teachers and they should not be associated with such a simple mistake.
Tuesday
LIKE/AS
“Like” as a preposition, starts a phrase and it must have an object.
“She sings like a beautiful bird.”
“As” is a conjunction. It should be followed by a clause containing a subject and a verb.
“He runs as a gazelle does.”
Wednesday
DOESN'T/DON'T
“Doesn’t” or “does not” is used with third person singular words such as “he”, “she” or “it”.
“Don’t” is never used for the third person singular such as in “He don’t know very much about grammar”.
“Don’t” is used for subjects other than third person singular as in “I don’t want to make a mistake”.
Thursday
SINGLE/SINGULAR
“Single” (adj.) means one unit. It refers to a person as being unmarried.
“Single” (v.) means to call attention to someone or something, as in singling out a reprobate for punishment.
“Singular” (adj.) means unique or distinctive. It means odd or unique when referring to a person.
Friday
ASSURE/ENSURE/INSURE
“Assure” (v.) means to make a person confident or certain of something, to state positively or to make a promise or commitment.
The noun form is “assurance”.
“I assure you that you have the skills to do the job.”
“Ensure” (v.) means to make certain or guarantee something will occur.
There is no noun form for “ensure”.
“I assure you that the event will occur.”
“Insure” (v.) means to underwrite or cover something such as with an insurance policy.
The noun form is “insurance”.
“Before I drive, I must insure me car for liability.”
THIS WEEK'S APHORISM
Identify the author of the following.
“I never cease being dumbfounded by the unbelievable things people believe.”
Leo Rosten, a US author, created this line.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Demagogue” (n.) refers to an orator, an agitator or a fomenter who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his audience.
“Approbation” (n.) means official approval, acceptance or recognition
“Redundant” (adj.) means the use of more words than required, repetition of the same sense in different words.
“Rapturous” (adj.) means ecstatic, joyous elated or jubilant.
The words “rapt” and “rapture” share the same root.
“Redact” (v.) means to edit, revise, formulate in a particular style or language or to bring into presentable literary form.
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