NEW YEAR - NEW LOOK
When I resume this blog on Monday, January 7, 2008, there will be a new look. I hope you enjoy it and that you continue to log on.
Please tell your friends about the blog and please offer any comments on any entry.
Mike
Monday, December 31, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
NEXT POSTING
The next posting on this blog will be on Monday, January 7, 2007.
If you need a vocabulary refresher, a grammar fix, a sentence structure or word usage lesson, visit the "BLOG ARCHIVE". There are 225 postings and you can have a field day going cross-eyed reading them all.
Feel free to include your own comments by clicking on "COMMENT" at the end of each posted entry.
Michael Lyons
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
NEXT POSTING
The next posting on this blog will be on Monday, January 7, 2007.
If you need a vocabulary refresher, a grammar fix, a sentence structure or word usage lesson, visit the "BLOG ARCHIVE". There are 225 postings and you can have a field day going cross-eyed reading them all.
Feel free to include your own comments by clicking on "COMMENT" at the end of each posted entry.
Michael Lyons
Sunday, December 23, 2007
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - December 23, 2007.
Below are the corrections and explanations for last week’s postings.
Monday
Correct the errors and give reasons for your choices.
All are incomplete thoughts. None can stand as a principal clause.
“The man who took on the union at the wheel.
Remove “who” and there is a complete thought.
“The man took on the union at the wheel.
The man who took on the owners riding shotgun.”
Remove “who” and there is a complete thought.
The man took on the owners riding shotgun.”
“Both on and off the ice.”
A subject and a verb must be inserted.
“They competed fiercely both on and off the ice.”
“The only way both men believe it should be played – with the utmost of passion and while skating along a thin line between the laws of the game and the laws of the street.”
Reword the sentence by inserting a subject and a verb to create a principal clause.
“Both men played the game the only way they knew how – with the utmost of passion and while skating along a thin line between the laws of the game and the laws of the street.”
Tuesday
PRESUME/ASSUME
“Presume” means to suppose or take for granted beforehand without prior knowledge or without direct truth. One is “presumed” innocent by the law without proof of guilt.
“Assume” means to take up or on oneself or to take for granted. The noun form is “assumption”. A person can assume office either rightfully or wrongfully. So too, he can arrogantly assume he is always right.
Wednesday
Determine the errors in the sentence below.
"And anything they do for the rest of their life is somehow referenced in that instant as they make their way up the ice, carrying the puck, and the respect of everybody in that town."
“They” do not have one “life”. “They” are individuals who have “lives”.
I, also, suggest there should not be a comma after the word “puck”. Some will argue the point, but I prefer the traditional way.
"And anything they do for the rest of their lives is somehow referenced in that instant as they make their way up the ice, carrying the puck, and the respect of everybody in that town."
Thursday
Below are a few examples of poor, sloppy or incorrect diction and incomplete sentence construction. Can you identify and correct the errors?
"Lawson loaned the track $1 million and the other two each put in $500,000."
“Loan” is a noun, not a verb. The past tense of “lend” is “lent” and must be used.
"Lawson lent the track $1 million and the other two each put in $500,000."
"Those of you that live in the county, do you have [anything to add]?"
“Who” must be used when referring to people. “That” refers to a “thing”.
"Those of you who live in the county, do you have [anything to add]?"
"Traffic time brought to you by [PRODUCT]."
This is not a sentence nor is it a headline. A verb must be added.
"Traffic time is brought to you by [PRODUCT]."
"Drew Dilkens is anxious to hear what they have to say."
“Anxious” comes from “anxiety”. “Anxiety” is not what was intended by the context and is the wrong word.
"Drew Dilkens is eager to hear what they have to say."
Friday
AGGRAVATE/IRRITATE
“Aggravate” means to make worse.
“Irritate” means to exasperate or inflame.
THE WEEK’S WORDS
“Melange" (n.) means a hodgepodge, odds and ends or a motley assortment of things
“Aphorism" (n.) is a short instructive saying, a pithy statement of a truth.
“Moue" (n.) is a pout, a grimace or a wry facial expression.
“Slovenly" (adj.) means slatternly, sluttish, shaggy, slipshod or untidy.
“Rhapsodic" (adj.) means elated, ecstatic, gleeful or joyful.
A GOOD THOUGHT
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."
Socrates
Monday
Correct the errors and give reasons for your choices.
All are incomplete thoughts. None can stand as a principal clause.
“The man who took on the union at the wheel.
Remove “who” and there is a complete thought.
“The man took on the union at the wheel.
The man who took on the owners riding shotgun.”
Remove “who” and there is a complete thought.
The man took on the owners riding shotgun.”
“Both on and off the ice.”
A subject and a verb must be inserted.
“They competed fiercely both on and off the ice.”
“The only way both men believe it should be played – with the utmost of passion and while skating along a thin line between the laws of the game and the laws of the street.”
Reword the sentence by inserting a subject and a verb to create a principal clause.
“Both men played the game the only way they knew how – with the utmost of passion and while skating along a thin line between the laws of the game and the laws of the street.”
Tuesday
PRESUME/ASSUME
“Presume” means to suppose or take for granted beforehand without prior knowledge or without direct truth. One is “presumed” innocent by the law without proof of guilt.
“Assume” means to take up or on oneself or to take for granted. The noun form is “assumption”. A person can assume office either rightfully or wrongfully. So too, he can arrogantly assume he is always right.
Wednesday
Determine the errors in the sentence below.
"And anything they do for the rest of their life is somehow referenced in that instant as they make their way up the ice, carrying the puck, and the respect of everybody in that town."
“They” do not have one “life”. “They” are individuals who have “lives”.
I, also, suggest there should not be a comma after the word “puck”. Some will argue the point, but I prefer the traditional way.
"And anything they do for the rest of their lives is somehow referenced in that instant as they make their way up the ice, carrying the puck, and the respect of everybody in that town."
Thursday
Below are a few examples of poor, sloppy or incorrect diction and incomplete sentence construction. Can you identify and correct the errors?
"Lawson loaned the track $1 million and the other two each put in $500,000."
“Loan” is a noun, not a verb. The past tense of “lend” is “lent” and must be used.
"Lawson lent the track $1 million and the other two each put in $500,000."
"Those of you that live in the county, do you have [anything to add]?"
“Who” must be used when referring to people. “That” refers to a “thing”.
"Those of you who live in the county, do you have [anything to add]?"
"Traffic time brought to you by [PRODUCT]."
This is not a sentence nor is it a headline. A verb must be added.
"Traffic time is brought to you by [PRODUCT]."
"Drew Dilkens is anxious to hear what they have to say."
“Anxious” comes from “anxiety”. “Anxiety” is not what was intended by the context and is the wrong word.
"Drew Dilkens is eager to hear what they have to say."
Friday
AGGRAVATE/IRRITATE
“Aggravate” means to make worse.
“Irritate” means to exasperate or inflame.
THE WEEK’S WORDS
“Melange" (n.) means a hodgepodge, odds and ends or a motley assortment of things
“Aphorism" (n.) is a short instructive saying, a pithy statement of a truth.
“Moue" (n.) is a pout, a grimace or a wry facial expression.
“Slovenly" (adj.) means slatternly, sluttish, shaggy, slipshod or untidy.
“Rhapsodic" (adj.) means elated, ecstatic, gleeful or joyful.
A GOOD THOUGHT
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."
Socrates
Friday, December 21, 2007
THIS & THAT
NOTICE
It's time for a break.
There will be no new postings between Monday, January 24, 2007 and Sunday, January 8, 2008.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
If that offends you, try having a good holiday season.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted on Sunday.
AGGRAVATE/IRRITATE - AN INTERESTING ONE
What is the difference between "aggravate" and "irritate"?
Use the words in sentences that clearly show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "rhapsodic".
Define "rhapsodic" and use it in a seasonal sentence.
It's time for a break.
There will be no new postings between Monday, January 24, 2007 and Sunday, January 8, 2008.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
If that offends you, try having a good holiday season.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted on Sunday.
AGGRAVATE/IRRITATE - AN INTERESTING ONE
What is the difference between "aggravate" and "irritate"?
Use the words in sentences that clearly show their meanings.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "rhapsodic".
Define "rhapsodic" and use it in a seasonal sentence.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
MEDIA MUSH
HEADLINE SPEAK
Below are a few examples of poor, sloppy or incorrect diction and incomplete sentence construction. Can you identify and correct the errors?
"Lawson loaned the track $1 million and the other two each put in $500,000."
Dan Lajoie, "former raceway lawyer wins "380,000 judgment", The Windsor Star, Thursday, December 20, 2007.
"Those of you that live in the county, do you have [anything to add]?"
Lynn Martin, CKLW AM800, program promotion, 8:15 am, Thursday, December 20, 2007.
"Traffic time brought to you by [PRODUCT]."
Lynn Martin, CKLW AM800, commercial lead-in, Thursday, December 20, 2007.
"Drew Dilkens is anxious to hear what they have to say."
Peter Straw, CKLW AM800 News, Thursday, December 20, 2007, 9:32 m.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "slovenly".
Define "slovenly" and use it in a sentence.
Below are a few examples of poor, sloppy or incorrect diction and incomplete sentence construction. Can you identify and correct the errors?
"Lawson loaned the track $1 million and the other two each put in $500,000."
Dan Lajoie, "former raceway lawyer wins "380,000 judgment", The Windsor Star, Thursday, December 20, 2007.
"Those of you that live in the county, do you have [anything to add]?"
Lynn Martin, CKLW AM800, program promotion, 8:15 am, Thursday, December 20, 2007.
"Traffic time brought to you by [PRODUCT]."
Lynn Martin, CKLW AM800, commercial lead-in, Thursday, December 20, 2007.
"Drew Dilkens is anxious to hear what they have to say."
Peter Straw, CKLW AM800 News, Thursday, December 20, 2007, 9:32 m.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "slovenly".
Define "slovenly" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
MID-WEEK MUSINGS
ANY ERRORS?
Read the sentence below and determine if there are any errors in it. Explain your choices.
"And anything they do for the rest of their life is somehow referenced in that instant as they make their way up the ice, carrying the puck, and the respect of everybody in that town."
Marty Gervais, "Hockey dreams in a small town", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, December 19, 2007.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "moue".
Define "moue" and use it in a sentence.
Read the sentence below and determine if there are any errors in it. Explain your choices.
"And anything they do for the rest of their life is somehow referenced in that instant as they make their way up the ice, carrying the puck, and the respect of everybody in that town."
Marty Gervais, "Hockey dreams in a small town", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, December 19, 2007.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "moue".
Define "moue" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
TUESDAY'S TEASERS
PRESUME/ASSUME
Explain the difference between "presume" and "assume".
A GOOD THOUGHT
Identify the author of the following. Do you agree? Think about it.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "aphorism".
Define "aphorism" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference between "presume" and "assume".
A GOOD THOUGHT
Identify the author of the following. Do you agree? Think about it.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "aphorism".
Define "aphorism" and use it in a sentence.
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