Grammar Quiz Wednesday

Welcome to grammar day on Seriously Write. Ready to test your skills? Today, we’re looking at some commonly misused words. Try not to look at the answers below.

Have fun!

Which word is correct?

1)      My friend learned how to paint with water colors by taking a coarse/course at the community college.

2)     After performing her solo in church last Sunday, Mary received a wonderful compliment/complement from the pastor.

3)     When trying to decide between two career paths, my niece sought council/counsel from her mentor, a favorite teacher.

4)     Grandma asked if we’d like apple pie, cheesecake, brownies, or carrot cake for dessert/desert.

5)     The remark made by the reporter at the scene of the accident sounded callous/callus.

6)     After sitting all day at the computer, it really felt good to take a break/brake.

7)     Karen strolled down the grocery aisle/isle looking for the whole wheat pasta.

8)     Before purchasing an older home, it would be wise to get advise/advice from a building inspector.

Corrected sentences:

1)      My friend learned how to paint with water colors by taking a course at the community college.

If something is coarse, it’s rough.

2)     After performing her solo in church last Sunday, Mary received a wonderful compliment from the pastor.

A complement is something that completes or goes well with something else.

3)     When trying to decide between two career paths, my niece sought counsel from her mentor, a favorite teacher.

A council is an advisory or legislative group of people.

4)     Grandma asked if we’d like apple pie, cheesecake, brownies, or carrot cake for dessert.

A desert is an arid region.

5)     The remark made by the reporter at the scene of the accident sounded callous.

A callus is hard, thickened area on skin.

6)     After sitting all day at the computer, it really felt good to take a break.

A brake is the part of a machine that slows it down or stops it.

7)      Karen strolled down the grocery aisle looking for the whole wheat pasta.

An isle is another term used for an island.

8)     Before purchasing an older home, it would be wise to get advice from a building inspector.

To advise is to suggest or recommend and is a verb.

Advice is a suggestion or recommendation and is a noun.

How well did you do?

Like anyone else, I’m not perfect. I use The Chicago Manual of Style, The Christian Writers Manual of Style, and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources.

Homonym Test

Hey everyone, welcome to Grammar Day here on Seriously Write. Annette here. Let’s play with homonyms again, shall we?

You insert the correct homonym (homograph or homophone) into the spaces provided from the list. You may not use every choice. Have fun! (Answers below.)

1. REIGN/REIN/RAIN

We’re going to have to ______ in the enthusiasm on our gardening project if the weather turns to _______.

2. VEIN, VAIN, VANE

The weather ______ says winds are north by northwest. That’s why they’re so cold. Is it ______ to brag? I’m sure it’s not in the same ______ as humility.

3. LEAD, LED

Just because you’re ______ by the same notions, doesn’t mean people will follow your ______. Can you tell me when they exchanged the ______ in pencils out for graphite?

4. VALE, VEIL

They were married down in the ______, and she wore the most beautiful ______.

5. HEARTY, HARDY

He offered a _________ handshake, proving he was hale and _________. A synonym for hale is _________, ironically, considering the idiom doesn’t reflect this.

6. BAIL (OUT), BALE (OUT)

She offered to _____ him out so he could go back to making hay _____s.

ANSWERS

1. REIGN/REIN/RAIN

We’re going to have to rein in the enthusiasm on our gardening project if the weather turns to rain.

2. VEIN, VAIN, VANE

The weather vane says winds are north by northwest. That’s why they’re so cold. Is it vain to brag? I’m sure it’s not in the same vein as humility.

3. LEAD, LED

Just because you’re led by pure motives, doesn’t mean people will follow your lead. Can you tell me when they exchanged the lead in pencils out for graphite?

4. VALE, VEIL

They were married down in the vale and she wore the most beautiful veil.

5. HEARTY, HARDY

He offered a hearty handshake, proving he was hale and hearty. A synonym for hale is hardy, which is ironic considering the idiom doesn’t reflect this.

6. BAIL, BALE

She offered to bail him out so he could go back to making hay bales.

How’d you do? I see these little guys (homonyms) everywhere and keep a running list. If you know of a great resource online that gives an "exhaustive" or thorough list, please post the link in a comment below. Aren't words fun?!

Grammar Quiz Wednesday

Welcome to grammar day on Seriously Write. Ready to test your skills? The following sentences may contain grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other writing misdemeanors. Your job is to find the infraction and set it right. Try not to look at the answers below.

Have fun!

Sentences to correct:

1)      Rain had nurished the pink geranuims and other plants growing in the yard. Reaching into the half basket hung in the entry-way to our front door where it was sheltered from the rain, I tested for dryness.

2)     My fingers felt something solid and round. I wondered how a rock had found it’s way there. I lifted the object out of the basket to see not a rock; but a bird’s egg.

3)     After unhooking the basket from the nail on the wall: I peared inside and discovered a nest built   into the dirt and vegetation. I replaced the egg and several days later an additional egg lay cradled next to it.

4)     Our yard has a number of tall trees; birch, cherry, and an asortment of evergreens. Large, beautiful floral baskets hang from the house. But, this bird decide to make a home in the smallest and simplest space available.

5)     An unusual place but, sheltered from the eliments, as well as creatures who might harm the “family.” It met the need. God works that way. He doesn’t always provide in the way we think he would, should, or could. But, he always provides…

6)     ‘Consider the ravens: They do not sew or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are then birds! (Luke 12:24 NIv)”

Corrected sentences:

1)      Rain had nourished the pink geraniums and other plants growing in the yard. Reaching into the half basket hung in the entryway to our front door where it was sheltered from the elements, I tested for dryness.

2)     My fingers felt something solid and round. I wondered how a rock had found its way there. I lifted the object out of the basket to see not a rock, but a bird’s egg.

3)     After unhooking the basket from the nail on the wall, I peered inside and discovered a nest built into the dirt and vegetation. I replaced the egg, and several days later an additional egg lay cradled next to it.

Note: Two extra spaces were included between the words “built” and “into” in the first set of sentences.

Note: A comma should be included after the word “egg” in the second sentence because it includes independent clauses. An independent clause is a part of a sentence that can stand on its own as a complete sentence. If you put two together, and join them with a conjunction (and, but, or, etc.), separate them with a comma.

4)     Our yard has a number of tall trees: birch, cherry, and an assortment of evergreens. Large, beautiful floral baskets hang from the house. But, this bird decided to make a home in the smallest and simplest space available.

5)     An unusual place, but sheltered from the elements, as well as creatures who might harm the “family.” It met the need. God works that way. He doesn’t always provide in the way we think he would, should, or could. But, he always provides….

Note: In the first sentence, the comma comes before the word “but,” not after.

Note: If an ellipsis is going to be used at the end of the last sentence, four dots are used, indicating the sentence is grammatically complete. A period would work just as well.

6)     “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” (Luke 12:24 NIV).

Note: There should be a double quotation mark at the beginning of the quote instead of a single.

Note: When a quotation comes at the end of a sentence, and it is a question or exclamation, that punctuation stays inside the quotation marks. Add a period after the closing parentheses.

How well did you do?

Like anyone else, I’m not perfect. I use The Chicago Manual of Style, The Christian Writers Manual of Style, and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources.

Grammar Quiz Wednesday



Welcome to grammar day at Seriously Write. Ready to test your skills? The following sentences may contain grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other writing misdemeanors. Your job is to find the infraction and set it right. Try not to look at the answers below.

Have fun!

Sentences to correct:

1)      I’ve been repeatedly hit over the head with the same message. I’ve heard if from pastures and I’ve read it in devotionels. Quite simply we’re to ask God for what we want, believing we’ll receive it.

2)      Why don’t we ask God for more? Are we afraid the answer will be no? Are we afraid He’ll think our requests to trivail? Or that well appear selfish?

3)      You want something, but don’t get it…You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives…  James 4:2 -3 (NIV) We can’t expect God to answer requests we haven’t made—or made in faith, believing they’ll be answered.

4)      We’re not only to ask, were to include details. When desiring a husband or wife, wouldn’t it be better to ask for a person with specific qualities as opposed to just asking for spouse? If your willing to take any man or women you might not like watts included in the package!

5)      That doesn’t mean hell automatically give us everything we ask for. He only wants what’s best for us. And, if are requests are purely biased on selfish reasons, we may not get the answers we’re hoping for.

6)      Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of you heart. Psalm 37:4  (NIV) God wants to be good to us. Tell Him what’s in your heart.

Corrected sentences:

1)      I’ve been repeatedly hit over the head with the same message. I’ve heard if from pastors, and I’ve read it in devotionals. Quite simply, we’re to ask God for what we want, believing we’ll receive it.

Note: There should be a comma after pastors. An independent claus is a part of sentence that could stand on its own as a complete sentence. If you put two of these together and join them with a conjunction (and, but, or, etc.), separate them with a comma.

Note: A comma is also needed after “simply.”

2)      Why don’t we ask God for more? Are we afraid the answer will be no? Are we afraid he’ll think our requests too trivial? Or that we’ll appear selfish?

Note: Remember, we’ve covered this before. The CMOS and the CWMS both state that deity pronouns should not be capitalized. And most publishers agree. There is a long list of reasons why. But, if an author feels strongly about capitalizing He, Him, etc. when referring to God, the publisher will usually accept it. If you choose to capitalize the pronouns, it’s important to be consistent throughout the manuscript.

3)      “You want something, but don’t get it.…You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (James 4:2-3 NIV). We can’t expect God to answer requests we haven’t made—or made in faith, believing they’ll be answered.

Note: A period is added before an ellipsis to indicate the omission of the end of a sentence and /or added material immediately following the period.

4)      We’re not only to ask, we’re to include details. When desiring a husband or wife, wouldn’t it be better to ask for a person with specific qualities as opposed to just asking for spouse? If you’re willing to take any man or woman, you might not like what’s included in the package!

5)      That doesn’t mean he’ll automatically give us everything we ask for. He only wants what’s best for us. And, if our requests are purely based on selfish reasons, we may not get the answers we’re hoping for.

6)      “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NIV). God wants to be good to us. Tell him what’s in your heart.

Note: It’s important to write the quote exactly as it is in the Bible, and in this case, the deity pronoun “he” is not capitalized. On the other hand, it’s preferred that the word LORD, which is completely capitalized in the NIV is not written that way when quoted.

How well did you do?

Like anyone else, I’m not perfect. I use The Chicago Manual of Style, The Christian Writers Manual of Style, and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources.

Grammar Quiz Wednesday

Hey everyone, Annette here. It’s Grammar quiz day here at Seriously Write. Your task is to find the mistakes (spelling, punctuation, formatting, grammatical, etc.) in the following paragraphs. You can check your work when you’re finished proofreading by reading below. Have fun!

Grammar Quiz:

I love flowers. Any collar will do. Do you like flours, too? Just surrounding myself lately in hanging planters has really livened up my view. There are a couple more posts on the fence which could use a hanging basket and than I might be able to relax for the season and just tend what’s here.

Spring is such an unstable time of year, weatherwise. My heart goes out to all those who’ve been touched by sever weather lately. I don’t like lightening and thunder, but I especially despize high winds. How about u?

Since none of my tulips came up this year, well, except for the leaves, I decided to buy a bouquet from the store. They’re purple, tall and gorgeous. We’ve concluded it might be the climate here, which, apparently, isn’t very hospitible to tulips. Best advice? Plant new bulbs every year and don’t count on naturalizing.

Answers:

I love flowers. Any color will do. Do you like flowers too? Just surrounding myself lately in hanging planters has really livened up my view. There are a couple more posts on the fence which could use a hanging basket, and then I might be able to relax for the season and just tend what’s here.

Spring is such an unstable time of year, weather wise. My heart goes out to all those who’ve been touched by severe weather lately. I don’t like lightning and thunder, but I especially despise high winds. How about you?

Since none of my tulips came up this year—well, except for the leaves—I decided to buy a bouquet from the store. They’re purple, tall, and gorgeous. We’ve concluded it might be the climate here, which, apparently, isn’t very hospitable to tulips. Best advice: plant new bulbs every year, and don’t count on naturalizing. (note: either way on this last sentence is technically fine)

~~~

I use CMS and Webster’s as my sources. Remember, no editor is perfect. This quiz is just for fun!

Grammar-O

Welcome to grammar day on Seriously Write. Ready to test your skills? The following sentences may contain grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other writing misdemeanors. Your job is to find the infraction and set it right. Try not to look at the answers below.

Have fun!

Sentences to correct:

1)   A beautiful ballad flowed from the radio, as I drove to my destination.   No matter where the singer traveled, how much he acomplished, or how many people surrounded him he felt alone and acked to go home.

2)   Maybe “home” is where you grew up. No matter how old we became, our parents may still ask, “When are you coming home”?

3)   Maybe home is a “safe place to land” for you, family, and friends. A place where everyone can find warmth, comfort, encouragment, aceptance, and unconditonal love. It’s been said that “home is where the heart is” which means your true home is with the person or place you love most.

4)  Everyone deserves to have a home. Whether its a mansion or a shack, a home should provide shelter and protection not only the elements, but the stress, struggles, and pain that can be expereinced in the outside world.

5)   As followers of Christ, we know that an eternal home is being prepard for us. John 14:2 says, In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepar a place for you (NIV).”

6)   But, there’s also another kind of home to be found. One that we can live in today. “Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14;23 NIV) We can find the truest sense of home—of being where were supposed to be—in our relatoinship with our Lord.

Corrected sentences:

1)   A beautiful ballad flowed from the radio as I drove to my destination. No matter where the singer traveled, how much he accomplished, or how many people surrounded him, he felt alone and ached to go home.

Note: No comma is needed after radio.

Note: There were two extra spaces between the first and second sentence in the incorrect set above. There should only be one space in-between sentences.

2)   Maybe “home” is where you grew up. No matter how old we become, our parents may still ask, “When are you coming home?”

3)   Maybe home is a “safe place to land” for you, family, and friends. A place where everyone can find warmth, comfort, encouragement, acceptance, and unconditional love. It’s been said that “home is where the heart is,” which means your true home is with the person or place you love most.

Note: A comma is needed between “home is where the heart is,” and the word “which.”

4)  Everyone deserves to have a home. Whether it’s a mansion or a shack, a home should provide shelter and protection from not only the elements, but also the stress, struggles, and pain that can be experienced in the outside world.

5)   As followers of Christ, we know that an eternal home is being prepared for us. John 14:2 says, “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you” (NIV).

Note: In the example above, quotation marks proceed and follow the quote. The period comes after the reference.

6)   But, there’s also another kind of home to be found. One that we can live in today. “Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him’” (John 14:23 NIV). We can find the truest sense of home—of being where we’re supposed to be—in our relationship with our Lord.

Note: When a quote is contained within a quote it’s surround by single quotation marks. In this case, because the inside quote also ends the quote, both single and double quotation marks are used at the end of the sentence.

Note: A colon, not a semi-colon, separates the Bible chapter and verse. The period follows the reference, not the quote.

How well did you do?

Like anyone else, I’m not perfect. I use The Chicago Manual of Style, The Christian Writers Manual of Style, and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources.

Grammar-O Wednesday

Hey everyone, Annette here. Welcome to Grammar-O Wednesday. The following sentences have grammatical errors (spelling, punctuation, word choice, etc.). Your assignment is to catch all the errors. Try not to look at the answers below. Have fun!
~~~~

Im by no means a perfect editor. Who is? I no of some editors who evan list on their Web sites that they are imperfect. we’re human. Even editors make misteaks.

Their’s a word game I enjoy which helps me really analize words. And I discover new words, too. Like lodes. Who new? Loads, I’d heard of. But not lodes, until recently.

Sometimes as an editor I’ve guessed wrong. Yardwork isn’t one word. But back yard is. At our McCrit group, I miss my wordprocessing program because I rely on it to help me know if the two words should be one.

Last time I guested on Grammar-O day, I wined about the whether. Guess what? We’re still in the 40s here most days. I know I’m not the only won praying for warmer temps, with plenty of sunshine. Bring. It. On.

~~~~~

Answers: 

I’m by no means a perfect editor. Who is? I know of some editors who even list on their websites that they are imperfect. We’re human. Even editors make mistakes.

There’s a word game I enjoy which helps me really analyze words. And I discover new words too. Like lodes. Who knew? I’d heard of loads, but not lodes. Until recently.

Sometimes as an editor, I’ve guessed wrong. Yard work isn’t one word. But backyard is. At our McCrit group, I miss my word-processing program because I rely on it to help me know if the two words should be one.

Last time I guested on Grammar-O day, I whined about the weather. Guess what? We’re still in the forties here most days. I know I’m not the only one praying for warmer temps, with plenty of sunshine. Bring. It. On. (Note: Guested is a slang term. You get a point if you marked it incorrect and you get a point if you didn’t. I took a little license there. *smile*

I use the Chicago Manual of Style as a my reference. And see line number one. I'm not perfect. *smile*

Grammar-O Wednesday

Welcome to grammar day on Seriously Write. Ready to test your skills? The following sentences may contain grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other writing misdemeanors. Your job is to find the infraction and set it right. Try not to look at the answers below.

Have fun!

Sentences to correct:

1) Isn’t the five senses of touch, taste sight, hearing, and smell fabulous? To often we take them for granted.

2) During the summer I enjoy working in the yard, digging in soil warmed by the sun, and inhaling the pleasent earthy scent.

3) The breeze carries the fresh and slightly sweet fragrance of blooming flowers. Some times, the tempting aroma of meat being cooked on a barbegue drifts through the neighborhood, turning our thoughts and stomaches to food.

4) In writing, it’s important to include the sense of smell. Scents have the ability to invoke memories and feelings.

5) For example, think of the following smells; cinamon rolls baking, turkey roosting in the oven, chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven, a thunderstorm brewing in the air, and fresh pine bows brought into the home.

6) Concider the scent of a wet dog, sour milk, rotten eggs, or sewage. They’re affects are usually more negative than pleasant.

7) People have various concepts of how heaven will look. But, have you ever wondered about the cents you’ll experience? To breath them could be amazing!

Corrected sentences:

1) Aren’t the five senses of touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smell fabulous? Too often we take them for granted.

2) During the summer, I enjoy working in the yard, digging in soil warmed by the sun, and inhaling the pleasant, earthy scent.

3) The breeze carries the fresh and slightly sweet fragrance of blooming flowers. Sometimes, the tempting aroma of meat cooking on a barbeque drifts through the neighborhood, turning our thoughts and stomachs to food.

Note: Using “being cooked” is okay, but using “cooking” is better.

4) In writing, it’s important to include the sense of smell. Scents have the ability to evoke memories and feelings.

5) For example, think of the following smells: cinnamon rolls baking, turkey roasting in the oven, chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven, a thunderstorm brewing in the air, and fresh pine boughs brought into the home.

6) Consider the scent of a wet dog, sour milk, rotten eggs, or sewage. Their effects are usually more negative than pleasant.

7) People have various concepts of how heaven will look. But, have you ever wondered about the scents you’ll experience? To breathe them could be amazing!

How well did you do?

I use The Chicago Manual of Style and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources.