Transcript Glossary Of Usage - Rowan County Schools
Glossary Of Usage
Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar
a, an
• These short words are called indefinite articles. They refer to one general group. • Rule: • Use
a
use
an
before words beginning with a consonant sound; before words beginning with a vowel sound. •
An
is used before hour because hour begins with a vowel sound. • Examples: •
A
woman bought Larry’s car. • Maria was in
an
accident in her father’s car.
accept, except
• Rule: •
Accept
is a verb; it means “to receive.” •
Except
as a verb means “to leave out”; as a preposition it means “excluding.” • Examples: • • I
accepted
the gift gratefully. Debbie has a perfect attendance record, if you
except
the day she stayed home with the flu. • We were busy every evening this week
except
Tuesday.
adapt, adopt
• Rule: •
Adapt
means “to change in order to fit or be more suitable; to adjust.” •
Adopt
means “to take something and make it one’s own.” • Examples: • When it rained on the day of the senior class picnic, we
adapted
our plans. • The Broadway play was
adapted
miniseries. from a popular television • The couple who
adopted
the baby read many books and
adopted
some suggestions for infant care.
affect, effect
• Rule: •
Affect
is usually a verb; it means “to impress” or “to influence (frequently the mind or feelings.)” •
Effect
as a verb means “to accomplish, to bring about.” •
Effect
as a noun means “the result of some action.” • Examples: • Try not to let careless remarks
affect
• you. The school board
effected
(brought about) drastic changes in the budget. • The
effects
(results) of the hurricane were shown on the evening news. Video: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Examples+of+Affect+Vs.+Effect&Form= VQFRVP#view=detail&mid=BD59B16A8ED6C56ED431BD59B16A8ED6C56ED431 Practice for affect/effect Activity: Complete on your own. Compare with a partner. Vote as a class. Check responses. http://www.towson.edu/ows/_vti_bin/shtml.dll/exerciseaffect2.htm
all the farther, all the faster
• Rule: • Used informally in some parts of the country to mean “as far as, as fast as.” • Examples: • Dialect: • Thirty miles per hour was
all the faster
the first airplane could travel. • Standard: • Thirty miles per hour was
as fast as
the first airplane could travel.
allusion, illusion
• Rule: • An
allusion
is a reference to something. • An
illusion
is a mistaken idea. • Examples: • • In her essay she made many
allusions
to the American pioneers. The behind-the-scenes report destroyed her
illusions
Hollywood. of
alumni, alumnae
• Rule: •
Alumni
is the plural of alumnus (male graduate). •
Alumnae
is the plural of alumna (female graduate). • The graduates of a co-educational school are referred to (as a group) as
alumni
. • Examples: • All of my sisters are
alumnae
of Adam’s High School. • • Both men are
alumni
of Harvard. My parents went to their college
alumni
reunion.
amount, number
• Rule: • Use
amount
to refer to a singular word. • Use
number
to refer to a plural word. • Examples: • The
amount
of research (singular) on stress is overwhelming. • A
number
of reports (plural) on stress are available.
and etc.
• Rule: • Since
etc.
is an abbreviation of the Latin et cetera, which means “and other things,” you are using and twice when you write “and etc.” • Examples: • The new store in the mall sells DVDs, cameras, radios, video games,
etc.
and which, but which
• • Rule: • The expressions
and which, but which (and who, but who)
should be used only when a
which (or who)
clause precedes them in the sentence. Examples: • Nonstandard: Our jazz band was pleased with the audience’s enthusiastic response
and which
we had not expected before the concert. • Standard: Our jazz band was please with the audience’s response,
which
was enthusiastic
and which
we had not expected before the concert. • Standard: Our jazz band was please with the audience’s enthusiastic response,
which
we had not expected before the concert.
•
anywheres, everywheres, nowheres
Rule: • Use these words and others like them without the final s. • Examples: • I could not find my keys
anywhere
; I looked
everywhere
, but they were
nowhere
in the house.
at
• Rule: • Do not use
at
after
where
. • Examples: • Nonstandard:
Where
are they living
at
now? • Standard:
Where
are they living now?
Formative Assessment:
• • • Complete
Exercise 1
on your own without using your notes. Once you have finished, partner up and discuss your answers. You may use your notes as reference at this point. Each group member must have the right answer AND understand the justification of that answer. • I will be calling on students to tell me the correct answer AND explain why it is the correct answer.