Author: Gary McCarty

New Category: MorphedWords

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Since I screwed up and used the NotWord morphed in my posting yesterday, I’ve created a new category wherein common and acceptable English words get bastardized into forms and meanings never originally intended.  In short, to employ a NotWord (which has been now joined by new category), these words have been morphed.  Hence the name for my new category: [tag]MorphedWords[/tag].

What was the first MorphedWord?

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Categories: Grammar Sucks

MorphedWords: Put ‘Charisma’ on the List

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There I go–I used a NotWord.  I don’t believe morph is a verb, though the dictionary folk may have added it.  Naughty me.

The word I’m really writing about, however, is [tag]charisma[/tag], which is being bandied and thrown about a lot now that [tag]Barack Obama[/tag] is running for president.

What exactly does the word mean?

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Categories: Grammar Sucks

Passive Voice Blues

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In the English classes I’ve taught, and there have been many of them over the years, students have generally struggled over the English usage of [tag]the passive voice[/tag].  If, say, I write an active sentence on the board and ask the class to turn it into the passive voice, what I’ll usually get is a past tense sentence.

For instance, change this to passive:  “I eat hamburgers everyday.”

What’s your solution?

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Categories: Grammar Sucks

Can’t Escape that Rome Connection

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English is not a romance language, meaning its roots aren’t in ancient Rome, but our traditions still date back to the days of Caesar et al. 

Take [tag]Valentine’s Day[/tag]. Despite its naming after Catholic saints (which one is hard to say, for two or more are candidates), Valentine’s Day may have its roots in Lupercalia, Feb. 15, when Roman young men ran through the streets naked.

Then what happened? Read More

Categories: Grammar Sucks

Three Steps to Writing Perfection

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Okay, the headline/title sounds promising, doesn’t it?

What I’m referring to here are the three parts of a well written piece, and I know this is going to sound rather mundane, but they are–the introduction, body and conclusion.

The point of success comes in how the writer approaches these elements, and that’s why you should read my articles on thesis statements and topic sentences in English Resources.  The [tag]magic of three[/tag] is revealed in these articles.

Categories: Grammar Sucks

Notword Addition: 24/7

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Okay, the saying “24/7” is not technically a word, but it still qualifies as a [tag]Notword [/tag]since it has become both uniquitous and meaningless.  To wit: During the local morning sports talk radio program, a listener called in and told the host how great he was because he talked about football “24/7.”

Now, what exactly did he mean?  I seriously doubt any living being does anything contiuously 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except breathe and live.  If he meant “solely,” “a lot,” or “mostly,” Mr. Listener should’ve said that, but we’ve become so inured to bad and sloppy English that Notwords can replace and obfuscate clear English usages.

I say for the next 24 hours, try not to use Notwords.  If not, then stay away from sports radio at least.  You may pick up more bad habits.

 

Categories: Grammar Sucks

Beijing Cleans Up Its English Act

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In preparation for the 2008 Olympics being hosted there, [tag]Beijing[/tag] officials have decided to eradicate bad English translations from public venues, including "Deformed Man" for handicapped restrooms and "Show Mercy to the Slender Grass," reports the Wall Street Journal.

For the next eight months, teams of linguistic monitors will scour the city’s nooks and crannies to eradicate bad English usages. (Can they come here next?)

Meanwhile, the site Engrish.com continues to run all manner of English flub-ups in pictorial display from all over Asia. It’s a fun read/view.

Categories: Grammar Sucks

English Resources Continues to Grow

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I’ve added my first personally written article to my new section, English Resources, which is entitled “[tag]The Kitchen Sink Approach to Writing[/tag].”  I’ll be following this up with articles on thesis statements, topic sentences and the five-paragraph paradigm before moving into more creative types of writing.  Enjoy!

Categories: Grammar Sucks