Grammar Annoyances

Posted by Marcie Hill | Posted in Grammar, Writing | Posted on 03-31-2010 | View Comments

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I can't rite english

I sometimes create abnormal words in moments of spontaneity, creativity or boredom. My words are created on purpose. Grammatical practices such as using words and phrases incorrectly and using nouns as verbs, are just plain wrong. They also annoy journalists Tasha Clopton-Stubbs and Glenn Reedus to a high degree.

Tasha literally wants to scratch her nails across a chalkboard when the following words are used incorrectly.

Incorrect Correct
Irregardless Regardless
Center of attraction Center of attention
We be We are
For Because
Your does not You are

Last but not least, educators who cannot differentiate between too, two, to and there, their, and they’re!

Glenn Reedus cringes when nouns are used as verbs:

Noun Verb
Conversation Conversate
Observation Observate
Continuation Continuate
Orientation Orientate

Ok, the last one is mine; I just wanted to share my two cents.

As you know, the English language is already complex enough without us adding to the madness. To keep life simple, learn to use words as they are intended. If you are uncertain, check out your dictionary, dictionary websites, or Tasha or Glenn.

Word of the Week: Meander

Posted by Marcie Hill | Posted in The Write Design Company, Word of the Week | Posted on 03-28-2010 | View Comments

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Definition: a winding course

winding road

Sentence: The race car zoomed along the meander.

Word of the Week: Curlicue

Posted by Marcie Hill | Posted in The Write Design Company, Word of the Week | Posted on 03-21-2010 | View Comments

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Definition: A fancifully curved or spiral figure

curlicue fries

Sentence: She was eating curlicue French fries.

Blogging Live from Are You Brainwashed? March 19th

Posted by Marcie Hill | Posted in Event Casting/Live Blogging, The Write Design Company | Posted on 03-19-2010 | View Comments

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<a href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=f9943f2e3c” mce_href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=f9943f2e3c” >Are You Brainwashed</a>

Fun with Words: The Write Design

Posted by Marcie Hill | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 03-17-2010 | View Comments

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Put your skills to the test by making as many words as you can from

T   H   E   W   R   I   T   E   D   E   S   I   G   N

You can only the use the letters as many times as they appear above.  Words must contain at least three letters.

Word of the Week: Eclat

Posted by Marcie Hill | Posted in The Write Design Company, Word of the Week | Posted on 03-14-2010 | View Comments

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Definition: a dazzling effect or success; acclaim

success

Sentence: The eclat of of Maya Angelou’s career is astounding.

Back to the Basics

Posted by Marcie Hill | Posted in Communication | Posted on 03-10-2010 | View Comments

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ABC

Somewhere over the course of time, society has lost the basics of simple greetings and good manners.  Gone are the days when hello, please and thank you are common in every day conversation with individuals that are both familiar and unfamiliar to us.  Do you know that these three words can turn a stranger into a colleague and possibly a friend under certain circumstances?  Let’s explore these three polite words in more detail.

Hello

Say “hello” the next time you walk by someone.  Make sure to smile.  Even if the other person does not respond, you will feel better knowing that you tried to make someone’s day with a simple greeting and a smile.

Please

When making a request for something from someone, it’s okay to say “please.” What is really special about please is you can say it prior to or after making a request, and still come across as polite.  Thus, you really can’t go wrong if you say, “Please pass the salt,” or “Pass the salt please.”

Thank you

With the attitudes of entitlement manifested by people in all ages and stage of life these days, “thank you” seems to have dropped from the English language.  It is courteous to express your appreciation for something received to let the giver know that you are grateful for his or her kind gesture – no matter how small it is.

On the other hand, when you give someone something and they do not express gratitude, just say, “You’re welcome.”  They will still be rude, but you won’t.

If you do not feel like saying hello, please and thank you in English, here are the terms in other languages to enhance your level of manners and language skills.

Hello Please Thank You
Country/Language Term Country/Language Term Country/Language Term
Greece Geia Sou Philippines Paki Panama Dot nuet
Hawaiian Aloha Thailand Garunch China Gui lah hui te ha
Japanese Konnichi wa Polish Prosze Australian Eso
Argentina Buen dia Fiji Bula vi naka Peru Juspajaraña
Quebec Canada Kwei Turkey Selam Bulgaria Merci

Source: http://www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/thankyou.htm

Word of the Week: Yegg

Posted by Marcie Hill | Posted in The Write Design Company, Word of the Week | Posted on 03-07-2010 | View Comments

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Definition: one that breaks open safes to steal; robber

Robber stealing from vault

Sentence: The yegg broke into the bank and made off with billions of dollars in cash and jewelry.

Grammar Don’ts: Like…Ya Know

Posted by Marcie Hill | Posted in Communication, Grammar, Writing | Posted on 03-05-2010 | View Comments

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Like Ya Know copy

Have you ever listened to  people speak in every day conversation?

Have you ever paid attention to the number of times people said “like” and “ya know” in a given statement?

Have you ever bothered to count the number of times people said “like” and “ya know”?

Like, these two words have got to be two of the most overused words in the English language next tow “uh” and “um.” Ya know?

I’ll admit that I do listen and sometimes count the number of “likes” and “ya knows” in conversations, and have determined that people say either of the words at least three times in a sentence.

What is the point of this article?

My point is to be mindful of your “likes” and “ya knows” in conversation, and PLEASE don’t let them flow into your writings.

Do Not Underestimate the Power of YouTube

Posted by Marcie Hill | Posted in Multimedia, Social Media | Posted on 03-03-2010 | View Comments

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YouTube

I was having a conversation with a colleague about sharing videos. He suggested iTunes and other video alternatives.  When I mentioned YouTube as a source, he pretty much said that it was not a good source for videos.

Are you kidding?  YouTube is the largest video community in the WORLD, why wouldn’t you put videos on the site even if you don’t think people would view them?  YouTube is not only attractive to the people who upload videos, it is a primary source of entertainment and distraction for millions of people in countries all over the globe.  Therefore, you never know who’s on YouTube at any given time.

The site has also become a major source for research.  Although I do not know for certain, I am willing to bet that YouTube ranks first in video research and probably second or third in traditional research right after Wikipedia and Twitter.  Yes, Twitter has become popular for topic searches.

My advice to anyone considering NOT adding video to YouTube: Do not underestimate the power of YouTube.  It is a FREE, worldwide opportunity you don’t want to miss.