HUMP DAY WORD CHALLENGES

April 25, 2012

FORTUITOUS/FORTUNATE The words “fortuitous” and “fortunate” are often incorrectly used interchangeably but they do not have the same meanings. “What part of speech is “fortuitous”? “What part of speech is “fortunate”? Define and explain the differences in meaning between “fortuitous” and “fortunate” being sure to show why they are not interchangeable. Create sentences using “fortuitous” [...]

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PSHAW! “P” AGAIN

April 24, 2012

PLAINTIFF/PLAINTIVE These words should not be confused but they often are. Define “plaintiff” and “plaintive”. What part of speech is “plaintiff”? What part of speech is “plaintive”? Create sentences that demonstrate the correct use and meaning of the words “plaintiff” and “plaintive”. TODAY’S WORD The word for today is “porcine”. What part of speech is [...]

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THIS IS A “P” DAY

April 23, 2012

PALATAL/PALATIAL Define the words “palatal” and “palatial”. What part of speech is each word? Create sentences using “palatal” and “palatial” in such a way as to correctly demonstrate the meaning of the words. TODAY’S WORD The word for today is “palliate”. What part of speech is “palliate”? What other parts of speech can be made [...]

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CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS – April 22, 2012

April 22, 2012

Here are the corrections and explanations for last week’s entries. MONDAY COMPARISONS Read and choose the correct comparative word for each sentence. When you have finished, try to formulate rules that govern the choices made. Both drawings are good, but yours is the (best, better). Both drawings are good, but his is better. (CORRECT) He [...]

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MAYBE PROOF-READING, THINKING MIGHT HELP!

April 20, 2012

FIVE DIFFERENT EXAMPLES! FIVE DIFFERENT ERRORS! A FIRST! New heights of carelessness are attained every day. Find, identify and correct the errors in each of the following pieces. “ ‘Because of the large number of European seats on the board of the IMF, some of us, and Canada certainly, is of the view that we [...]

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GEE! I LIKE “Gs” TODAY

April 19, 2012

GLUTINOUS/GLUTTONOUS Though they shouldn’t be confused, these words are easily mixed up. Define “glutinous”. How is it pronounced? Define “gluttonous”. How is it “pronounced? What parts of speech are “glutinous” and “gluttonous”? Create sentences using “glutinous” and “gluttonous” that show the meanings of the words. TODAY’S WORD The word for today is “gibe”. What part [...]

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CORRECT GRAMMAR! I WISH!

April 18, 2012

CORRECT GRAMMAR SHOULD NOT BE ELUSIVE Correct grammar is not difficult; it just takes a bit of thinking. Find and correct the error in the following piece. “With students, professionals and residents coming to the downtown core, there is a lot of opportunities to make the mezzanine into a space that is useful to the [...]

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WRITING ERRORS RETURN

April 17, 2012

I KNEW IT WOULDN’T LAST It has been a while since I have cited writing sloppiness from my local newspaper and that has delighted me; but, I knew it wouldn’t last. Find, identify and correct the errors in the following examples. Though there are three examples, chances are good that you will find more than [...]

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MONDAY’S GRAMMAR CHALLENGE

April 16, 2012

COMPARISONS Here are six sentences that offer a choice of comparisons. Read and choose the correct comparative word for each sentence. When you have finished, try to formulate rules that govern the choices made. Both drawings are good, but yours is the (best, better). He is the (less, least) talkative of all the children. This [...]

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CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS – April 15, 2012

April 15, 2012

Here are the corrections for the last two weeks of entries, April 2 through April 13. MONDAY – April 2 WHETHER/WITHER/WEATHER “Whether” is a conjunction expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives. It introduces, in a dependent clause, the first of two or more alternatives and is used in correlation with “or”. “Whether we go [...]

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