February 10 2016

Rules Of Grammar: Flair vs. Flare

Rules Of Grammar LogoFlair is defined as follows: “(1) A natural ability to do something. (2) An unusual and appealing quality or style.”

Flare is defined as follows: “(1) A light that shines brightly and briefly. (2) A very bright light that is used to give a signal, to light something, or to attract attention. Also, a device that produces such a light. (3) A sudden expression of anger.”

Machine Briefs:

flair= FLAIR
flare= FLAER

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February 2 2016

Rules Of Grammar: Plurale Tantum

Rules Of Grammar LogoPlurale Tantum is Latin for, “pural only.” It is a noun that only has a plural form and doesn’t have a singular form.

Here are some examples:

scissors
slacks (referring to pants)
glasses (referring to eyewear)
shenanigans
cahoots
amends (as in “making amends”)
thanks
goggles
smithereens
suds
trousers
jitters
riches

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January 5 2016

Rules Of Grammar: Chile, Chile, Chilly, and Chili

Rules Of Grammar LogoChile is a South American country that is located along the Pacific coastline. Chile (spelled with a lowercase “c”) is an alternative spelling of the word “chili.” The Free Dictionary defines “chili” as follows: “The pungent fresh or dried fruit of any of several cultivated varieties of capsicum, used especially as a flavoring in cooking.” And of course, “chilly” means frigid.

Here are some machine briefs to differentiate between the four sound-alike words:

chilly= KHIL/YI
chili= KHIL/LI
Chile= KH*IL/LAO*E
chile= KHIL/LAO*E

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December 22 2015

Rules Of Grammar: Conjunctive Adverbs- Part 2 (Briefs Included)

Rules Of Grammar LogoConjunctive adverbs function like two different parts of speech: adverbs and coordinate conjunctions. Conjunctive adverbs are like adverbs in the meanings that they express. Conjunctive adverbs are like coordinate conjunctions in that they connect main clauses.

The meaning that is expressed by conjunctive adverbs applies to the entire clause in which it is contained.

Here are some common conjunctive adverbs along with their machine briefs:

in like manner= N-/LAOIK/MARN
in short= N-/SHORT
instead= STAED
in the meantime= NAOEMT
later= LAIRT
likewise= LAOIKZ
meanwhile= MAOENL
moreover= MOEFR
namely= NAIM/LI
nevertheless= NEFRLS
next= NEGT
on the contrary= ONT/KRAIR
on the other hand= OERND
otherwise= OERZ
perhaps= PRAPS
so= SO
still= STIL
subsequently= SKWENLT
that is= THAS
then= THEN
therefore= THRFR
thus= THUS

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December 18 2015

Rules Of Grammar: Conjunctive Adverbs- Part 1 (Briefs Included)

Rules Of Grammar LogoConjunctive adverbs function like two different parts of speech: adverbs and coordinate conjunctions. Conjunctive adverbs are like adverbs in the meanings that they express. Conjunctive adverbs are like coordinate conjunctions in that they connect main clauses.

The meaning that is expressed by conjunctive adverbs applies to the entire clause in which it is contained.

Here are some common conjunctive adverbs along with their machine briefs:

accordingly= KWORLG
afterward= AFRD
again= GEN
also= L-S
anyhow= NI/HO*U
as a result= SRULT
at last= TLAFT
at the same time= TAIMT
besides= BESZ
consequently= KWENLT
earlier= ERL/*ER
eventually= VAENL
finally- FLAOINL
for example= FOERX
for instance= FRINS
furthermore= F*URM
hence= HENS
however= HOUFR
in addition= NIGS
in any case= N-NGS
indeed= N-D
in fact= N-FT

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December 3 2015

Theory Thursday: The Most Commonly Used Prepositions (With Briefs) Part 2

Here are some of the most commonly used prepositions as listed by The Grammar Bible

except= XEPT
for= FOR
from= FROM or FR-
in= IN
inside= N-DZ
into= NAO
like= LAOIK
near= NAOER
notwithstanding= NANG
of= -F
off= OF
on= ON
out= OUT
outside= OUDZ
over= OEFR
past= PAFT
per= PER
since= SINS
through= THRU
throughout= THROUT
till= TIL
to= TO
toward= TAORD
under= N-R
underneath= NAO*ETH
until= N-L
up= UP
upon= PON
via= VAOE/YA*
with= W-
within= W-N
without= WOUT

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December 2 2015

Rules Of Grammar: Talking To vs. Talking With

To say that you are “talking to” someone denotes a soliloquy; whereas saying that you are “talking with” someone denotes colloquy. Using the preposition “to” in the aforementioned scenario expresses that you did most of the talking. To use the preposition “with” in the aforementioned scenario expresses that the conversation was on an equal footing of give and take.

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December 2 2015

Rules Of Grammar: In vs. Into

The preposition “in” is used to represent an action within a certain area. The preposition “into” is used to express a motion towards an area from outside of that area. For example: The boys swam in the lake. (This would denote that the boys were already in the lake.)
The girls dove into the lake.

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November 19 2015

Theory Thursday: The Most Commonly Used Prepositions (With Briefs) Part 1

Here are some of the most commonly used prepositions as listed by The Grammar Bible:

aboard= A/BAORD
about= B-
above= BOF
across= KRAOS
after= AFR
against= GENS
along= LAONG
among= MAONG
around= ARND
at= AT
before= BFR
behind= HIND
below= BLOE
beneath= BAO*ENT or NAO*ET
beside= BES
between= TWAOEN
betwixt= BAOE/TW*IX
beyond= YOND
but= BUT
by= BI
down= DOUN
during= DURG

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