A CROWD OF THREE
Find and correct the three errors in the following entries.
Explain your error choices.
"There were a total of 168 passengers on the plane."
Jennifer Ward, CTV News Channel, Monday, August 3, 2009.
"'I use to live in Amherstburg and get to see a lot of people I've not seen in a long time.'"
Dave Battagello, "Variety at A'burg car show attracts thousands of fans", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, August 4, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "prescience".
What part of speech is "prescience"?
Define "prescience" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - August 2, 2009
Here are the corrections for last week’s entries.
Monday
PURPOSELY/PURPOSEFULLY
“Purposely” (adv.) means to do something not by accident or with planning.
“Purposefully” (adv.) means acting or doing with a specific purpose in mind.
Tuesday
FAINT/FEINT
“Faint” (adj.) means very soft, muffled, muted, weak or lacking in courage.
“Feint” (n.) refers to a daring move, a trick or a distracting manoeuver, particularly on the battlefield.
Wednesday
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
(The pun is free. Identify it and you get a bonus star for your forehead.)
The Bonus Star is awarded to anyone who connected the title of today's posting, "Here We Go Again", with the example below about the overactive bladder. If that has to be further explained, you have to reread every blog entry that I have posted since I started.
“Council voted Monday to reconsider the issue. Why? Because the people spoke.”
“Because the people spoke,” is not a complete thought. “Because” is a subordinate conjunction.
“Council voted Monday to reconsider the issue. Why? They will reconsider because the people spoke.”
“ 1 in 6 adults have overactive bladder.”
“1" is singular and is the subject of the sentence. It needs a singular verb.
“In 6" is an adjective clause modifying “1".
Both numbers should be written out.
“Overactive bladder” is a moronic advertising cliché which should be preceded by the indefinite article “an”.
“ One in six adults has an overactive bladder.”
“Chicagoans Maggie and John Anderson have dedicated themselves to living off of only black-owned businesses in an effort called The Empowerment Experiment.”
“Off of” is incorrect for two reasons: two prepositions such as “off” and “of” cannot be used together; notwithstanding that, the meaning of the sentence precludes the use of “off of” and another phrase should be used.
“Chicagoans Maggie and John Anderson have dedicated themselves to living and buying from only black-owned businesses in an effort called The Empowerment Experiment.”
Thursday
FORTUITOUS/FORTUNATE
“Fortuitous” (adj.) refers to events that have no apparent cause or by chance. They are random but usually positive.
“Fortunate” (adj.) means of unexpectedly good fortune, lucky or favourable.
Friday
REPEL/REPULSE
“Repel” (v.) means to force back, fight off or reject.
“Repellence” is the noun form of the word.
“Repulse” (v.) also means to fight off , drive back or rebuff.
“Repulsion” is the noun form of the word.
The difference is that if you are disgusted with someone, you are repelled, not repulsed, by that person.
GENEROSITY
Identify the author of the following concept.
“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese artist and poet, wrote these words.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Magnanimous” (adj.) means great-hearted, ennobling, generous, understanding and tolerant.
“Munificence” (n.) refers to largesse, openhandedness, philanthropy or liberality of giving.
“Vicarious” (adj.) means alternate or experienced secondhand.
“Mastication” (n.) refers to biting or chewing of food in the mouth.
“Nebulous” (adj.) means lacking distinctness or definiteness of content.
Monday
PURPOSELY/PURPOSEFULLY
“Purposely” (adv.) means to do something not by accident or with planning.
“Purposefully” (adv.) means acting or doing with a specific purpose in mind.
Tuesday
FAINT/FEINT
“Faint” (adj.) means very soft, muffled, muted, weak or lacking in courage.
“Feint” (n.) refers to a daring move, a trick or a distracting manoeuver, particularly on the battlefield.
Wednesday
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
(The pun is free. Identify it and you get a bonus star for your forehead.)
The Bonus Star is awarded to anyone who connected the title of today's posting, "Here We Go Again", with the example below about the overactive bladder. If that has to be further explained, you have to reread every blog entry that I have posted since I started.
“Council voted Monday to reconsider the issue. Why? Because the people spoke.”
“Because the people spoke,” is not a complete thought. “Because” is a subordinate conjunction.
“Council voted Monday to reconsider the issue. Why? They will reconsider because the people spoke.”
“ 1 in 6 adults have overactive bladder.”
“1" is singular and is the subject of the sentence. It needs a singular verb.
“In 6" is an adjective clause modifying “1".
Both numbers should be written out.
“Overactive bladder” is a moronic advertising cliché which should be preceded by the indefinite article “an”.
“ One in six adults has an overactive bladder.”
“Chicagoans Maggie and John Anderson have dedicated themselves to living off of only black-owned businesses in an effort called The Empowerment Experiment.”
“Off of” is incorrect for two reasons: two prepositions such as “off” and “of” cannot be used together; notwithstanding that, the meaning of the sentence precludes the use of “off of” and another phrase should be used.
“Chicagoans Maggie and John Anderson have dedicated themselves to living and buying from only black-owned businesses in an effort called The Empowerment Experiment.”
Thursday
FORTUITOUS/FORTUNATE
“Fortuitous” (adj.) refers to events that have no apparent cause or by chance. They are random but usually positive.
“Fortunate” (adj.) means of unexpectedly good fortune, lucky or favourable.
Friday
REPEL/REPULSE
“Repel” (v.) means to force back, fight off or reject.
“Repellence” is the noun form of the word.
“Repulse” (v.) also means to fight off , drive back or rebuff.
“Repulsion” is the noun form of the word.
The difference is that if you are disgusted with someone, you are repelled, not repulsed, by that person.
GENEROSITY
Identify the author of the following concept.
“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese artist and poet, wrote these words.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Magnanimous” (adj.) means great-hearted, ennobling, generous, understanding and tolerant.
“Munificence” (n.) refers to largesse, openhandedness, philanthropy or liberality of giving.
“Vicarious” (adj.) means alternate or experienced secondhand.
“Mastication” (n.) refers to biting or chewing of food in the mouth.
“Nebulous” (adj.) means lacking distinctness or definiteness of content.
Friday, July 31, 2009
JULY'S FINISH
REPEL/REPULSE
Explain the subtle difference between "repel" and "repulse".
What part of speech is each word?
What is the noun form of each word?
Use "repel" and "repulse" in sentences that show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "nebulous".
What part of speech is "nebulous"?
Define "nebulous" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Monday, August 3, is a civic holiday, so there will be no postings.
Explain the subtle difference between "repel" and "repulse".
What part of speech is each word?
What is the noun form of each word?
Use "repel" and "repulse" in sentences that show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "nebulous".
What part of speech is "nebulous"?
Define "nebulous" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Monday, August 3, is a civic holiday, so there will be no postings.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
BECOME ACTIVE GRAMMATICALLY
FORTUITOUS/FORTUNATE
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "fortuitous" ans "fortunate".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "fortuitous" and "fortunate" in sentences.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "mastication".
What part of speech is "mastication"?
Use "mastication" in a sentence that clearly expresses its meaning.
A CHALLENGE
Listen to people and try to identify grammar errors they use in everyday speech.
Send me a note of the errors you hear and I will post them.
This can be done anonymously if you wish. Just click on "Comment" below and submit your examples.
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "fortuitous" ans "fortunate".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "fortuitous" and "fortunate" in sentences.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "mastication".
What part of speech is "mastication"?
Use "mastication" in a sentence that clearly expresses its meaning.
A CHALLENGE
Listen to people and try to identify grammar errors they use in everyday speech.
Send me a note of the errors you hear and I will post them.
This can be done anonymously if you wish. Just click on "Comment" below and submit your examples.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
ENJOY THESE ENTRIES
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
(The pun is free. Identify it and you get a bonus star for your forehead.)
"Council voted Monday to reconsider the issue. Why? Because the people spoke."
Anne Jarvis, "Ward inaction stirs ire", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
"1 in 6 adults have overactive bladder."
Pfizer TV commercial and website.
“Chicagoans Maggie and John Anderson have dedicated themselves to living off of only black-owned businesses in an effort called The Empowerment Experiment.”
CBSNews.com, Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
GENEROSITY
Identify the author of the following concept.
“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "vicarious".
What part of soeech is "vicarious"?
Define "vicarious" and use it in a sentence.
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
(The pun is free. Identify it and you get a bonus star for your forehead.)
"Council voted Monday to reconsider the issue. Why? Because the people spoke."
Anne Jarvis, "Ward inaction stirs ire", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
"1 in 6 adults have overactive bladder."
Pfizer TV commercial and website.
“Chicagoans Maggie and John Anderson have dedicated themselves to living off of only black-owned businesses in an effort called The Empowerment Experiment.”
CBSNews.com, Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
GENEROSITY
Identify the author of the following concept.
“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "vicarious".
What part of soeech is "vicarious"?
Define "vicarious" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
ANOTHER EASY DAY
FAINT/FEINT
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "faint" and "feint".
What part of speech is each word?
Devise sentences using "faint" and "feint".
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "munificence".
What part of speech is "munificence"?
Define "munificence" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "faint" and "feint".
What part of speech is each word?
Devise sentences using "faint" and "feint".
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "munificence".
What part of speech is "munificence"?
Define "munificence" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, July 27, 2009
EASY START TO THE WEEK
PURPOSELY/PURPOSEFULLY
Explain the difference between the words "purposely" and "purposefully".
Use each word in a sentence that clearly shows its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "magnanimous".
Define "magnanimous" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "magnanimous"?
Explain the difference between the words "purposely" and "purposefully".
Use each word in a sentence that clearly shows its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "magnanimous".
Define "magnanimous" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "magnanimous"?
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