Author Archives: [email protected]

Confusing Words of the Week

By | | , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Confusing Words of the Week

Words of the WeekIt’s time for “Confusing Words of the Week” where I take a set of two or three words that get confused and give you definitions and try to give you a memory trick to help you remember when to use which word. If you have words that confuse you, use the Ask PTB tab on the website or send an email to [email protected] and they may appear here soon!

This week’s words are:

Shown – displayed; revealed; past participle of show

The results had shown that their efforts were successful.

Shone – gave off light; did shine

The light shone directly in her eyes.

So what memory trick can we use to help remember these?

Shown is showing off something that you own.

Shone means did shine so it’s a change of one letter.

Email, RSS Follow

Grammar Giggle – Brining Animals

By | | , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Grammar Giggle – Brining Animals

This was in a Google Alert I get. When I clicked on the headline link, it was correct there, but it obviously wasn’t in my Alert. “Brining” is to soak something in a salty water mixture to add flavor and to tenderize it. I’m sure that is not what they meant.

Brining service animal

Email, RSS Follow

Grammar Giggle – The News Station Should be “Facin” the Fact That They Got It Wrong

By | | , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Grammar Giggle – The News Station Should be “Facin” the Fact That They Got It Wrong

Another news story on my local station recently gave me this gem. The ONLY time it would be appropriate to use “Facin” without the ending “g” would be in very informal writing and using an apostrophe to indicate the “g” was missing. But, honestly, there isn’t a good reason to leave the “g” off.

Facin

Email, RSS Follow

Grammar Giggle – Clicks

By | | , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Grammar Giggle – Clicks

My news station comes through again. This story was about a high school student who was bullied in middle school and who developed an app to help other students meet to “sit with us.” Great concept, right? But I think what the news station meant to emphasize was the “cliques” of middle school and high school. A “clique” is, according to dictionary.com,  “a small, exclusive group of people.” The kind of group who would bully people and tell them “you can’t sit with us,” the “mean girl” kind of group. So while I appreciate their continuing assistance in future Grammar Giggles (I already have two from earlier this week that will come soon), I can just shake my head and wince when I see it on TV.

Cafeteria Clicks

Email, RSS Follow

Replay Thursday

By | | , , , ,
Comments Off on Replay Thursday

Thursday ReplayIt’s time for a review of recent blog posts just in case you’ve missed them. We call this Replay Thursday. Here are posts from Proof That proofreading blog and 60 Is The New 60 blog during the past week.

Grammar Giggle – Priot, Prio . . ., Before

Grammar Giggle – Marry Christmas

Confusing Words of the Week

Email, RSS Follow

Confusing Words of the Week

By | | , , , , ,
Comments Off on Confusing Words of the Week

Words of the WeekIt’s time for “Confusing Words of the Week” where I take a set of two or three words that get confused and give you definitions and try to give you a memory trick to help you remember when to use which word. If you have words that confuse you, use the Ask PTB tab on the website or send an email to [email protected] and they may appear here soon!

This week’s words are:

  • hail – precipitation in the form of small balls or lumps usually consisting of concentric layers of clear ice and compact snow; something that gives the effect of a shower of hail

The man fell from a hail of rifle fire.

  • hale – free from defect, disease, or infirmity; to compel to go

Her grandmother was hale and hearty for 90 years old.

She was haled into court when she ignored her jury summons.

Memory Tips:
  • hail – ice falling from the sky or something like ice falling.
  • hale – contains most of the letters in health and most of the letters in haul (as in compelling to go).
Email, RSS Follow

Replay Thursday

By | | , , , ,
Comments Off on Replay Thursday

Thursday ReplayIt’s time for a review of recent blog posts just in case you’ve missed them. We call this Replay Thursday. Here are posts from Proof That proofreading blog and 60 Is The New 60 blog during the past week.

Grammar Giggle – Beauty Shop Deels

Confusing Words of the Week

Ask PTB – Initial Caps

 

Email, RSS Follow