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We Would've Helped...Really!
As the Southwest Airlines ad asks, "Wanna get away?" Before you go using those online machine translators, think twice. Our English-to-Russian translators are classically trained Russian nationals who speak and write at the highest level of the Russian language. If you want something translated from English to Russian, we're here for you.
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Beware the Ides of March
If thou be Julius, beware this Sunday, for 'tis the Ides of March...and we're celebrating Shakespearean Words Week. Test thy mettle on yon list of words and let thy intellect shine forth.
1. delate: (a) an action that is performed intentionally or consciously; (b) inform against or denounce; (c) remove or obliterate; (d) a strong desire or hope for something that is not easily attainable.
2. imp: (a) having or showing a tendency to be quickly irritated or provoked; (b) belonging to, resembling, or associated with fairies; (c) having or showing creativity or inventiveness; (d) repair a damaged feather (in the wing or tail of a trained hawk) by attaching part of a new feather.
3. caitiff: (a) cite or appeal to (someone or something) as an authority for an action or in support of an action; (b) the action or process of throwing away or getting rid of something; (c) a contemptible or cowardly person; (d) have or display as a visible mark or feature.
4. lour: (a) look angry or sullen; (b) the power or scope to act as one pleases; (c) a supernatural being; (d) a tropical Asian and African kingfisher with brightly colored plumage.
5. kerns: (a) the first day of the month in the ancient Roman calendar; (b) a light-armed Irish foot soldier; (c) be mistaken or incorrect; make a mistake; (d) to prevent (someone or something) from doing.
6. leman: (a) a remarkable person, thing, or event; (b) of, from, or like God or a god; (c) a lover or sweetheart; (d) (of a place) not seen or visited by many people; sheltered.
7. welkin: (a) the sky; (b) the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events; (c) a written statement of someone's good qualities; a recommendation; (d) criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly.
8. kickshaws: (a) an elegant but insubstantial trinket; (b) a brave or noble act; (c) apply or bring to bear (a force, influence, or quality); (d) characterized by or involving physical strength, effort, or energy.
9. moiety: (a) a quality or feature of something or someone that evokes interest, liking, or desire; (b) a part or portion, esp. a lesser share; (c) a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements; (d) hard work; drudgery.
10. troth: (a) responding promptly to the helm; easily manageable; (b) a long, narrow open container for animals to eat or drink out of; (c) faith or loyalty when pledged in a solemn agreement or undertaking; (d) the object of a person's perception; what the senses or the mind notice.
If errors in printed publications are making your publication appear as nothing more than "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing," ProofreadNOW has the perfect script to purge the plague cast on both your houses (marketing and editorial). We examine the spelling, punctuation, and clarity of your writ, ad, proposal, Web page, brochure, or anything else in print. We'll help you crown what you are doing in the present deeds, that all your acts are queens.
1:b 2:d 3:c 4:a 5:b 6:c 7:a 8:a 9:b 10:c Rate Yourself: Thou lascivious toad-spotted malt-worm!
3 to 5 correct: Thou reeky motley-minded bugbear!
6 to 7 correct: I am glad thou canst speak no better English, for if thou couldst, thou wouldst find me such a plain king that thou wouldst think I had sold my farm to buy my crown. (HV)
8 to 9 correct: What you do still betters what is done. (TWT)
All 10 correct: I might call you a thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw so noble. (TT)
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| Weekly Grammar Tip |
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Gerunds - Do You Use Them Correctly?
A gerund is a present participle used as a noun. The word itself means "to bear" or "to carry on." In English, gerunds end in -ing. Being a noun, a gerund can be used as (1) the subject of a verb {complaining about it won't help}; (2) the object of a verb {I don't like your cooking}; (3) a predicate nominative or complement {his favorite hobby is sleeping}; or (4) the object of a preposition {reduce erosion by terracing the fields}. Seems pretty straightforward...but read on and see if you are using gerunds correctly in your writing.
A noun (or more commonly a pronoun) followed by a gerund may take the possessive form in contexts where, if a pronoun was used, it would be in the possessive case. This practice, elegant if followed appropriately, requires caution. In the first two examples below, the possessive form is clearly needed.
- Stuart's revealing his feelings about the venue resulted in some light laughter.
- Matthew's assuming the role of husband impressed the crowd of well-wishers.
In the following three examples, the possessive form (given in parentheses) might sound pedantic to some. In the fourth, however, use of the pronoun their is unlikely to seem so.
- He was worried about his daughter (or daughter's) going there alone.
- I won't put up with Jefferson and Franklin (or Jefferson's and Franklin's) being denigrated.
- The problem of authors (or authors') finding the right publisher can be solved.
but - The problem of their finding the right publisher can be solved.
In the following two examples, where "Kate" and "Guests" could not be replaced by "her" and "Their," the possessive would clearly be incorrect.
- We listened to Kate singing a solo.
- Guests wishing to park in the grocer's lot next door can expect a visit by the tow truck.
Sources: Merriam-Webster 11th Collegiate Dictionary, Chicago Manual of Style.
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| Word of the Week |
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quern
Pronunciation: kwern
Function: noun
Date: before 12th century
Entymology: Middle English, from Old English cweorn; akin to Old High German quirn hand mill, Old Church Slavic zruny
Definition: a primitive hand mill for grinding grain
Example:
Either I mistake your shape and making quite,
Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite
Call'd Robin Goodfellow: are not you he
That frights the maidens of the villagery;
Skim milk, and sometimes labour in the quern
And bootless make the breathless housewife churn;
And sometime make the drink to bear no barm;
Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm?
Those that Hobgoblin call you and sweet Puck,
You do their work, and they shall have good luck:
Are not you he?
-Fairy in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Definition source: Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary.
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Copyright 2009 by ProofreadNOW.com, Inc., 447 Boston Street, Topsfield, MA 01983 USA. Published weekly (we try) by the editors at ProofreadNOW.com, Inc. and sent to customers of record and to opt-in guests. Many readers find it is best to read a portion, put it aside, then come back and read more.
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