Rules Of Grammar: Allude vs. Elude
Allude means “To refer without express mention; make indirect or casual reference.”
Elude is defined: “(1) To avoid or escape from by dexterity or artifice. (2) To escape the notice of understanding of. For example, Your meaning eludes me.”
Machine Briefs:
OPTION #1: allude= A/LAOUD
OPTION #2: allude= A/LAO*UD
OPTION #1: elude= AOE/LAOUD
OPTION #2: elude= AOE/LAO*UD
Rules Of Grammar: Canvas vs Canvass
Canvas is defined as follows: “(1) A heavy, strong cloth of various grades, used for sails, tents, etc. (2) A piece of such cloth; a sail. (3) A strong, closely woven cloth stretched on a frame and prepared for the reception of colors, as in paintings. (4) A painting. (5) A square-meshed fabric of linen, silk, or the like, on which embroidery or tapestry is worked with a needle. (6) A tent; especially, circus tent.”
When someone is talking about surveying an area, canvass is used. Canvass is defined as follows: “(1) The going about to solicit orders, interest, or votes. (2) A political campaign. (3) A survey taken to ascertain sentiment. (4) A detailed examination; especially, a sifting of votes in an election; a recount.”
Machine Briefs:
OPTION #1: canvas= KAN/VAS
OPTION #2: canvas= KAN/VA*S
OPTION #3: canvas= KWAS
OPTION #1: canvass= KA*N/VA*S
OPTION #2: canvass= KWA*S
Rules Of Grammar: Commonly Misspelled Words Starting With “Ra” and “Rh”
Rules Of Grammar: Therefore vs. Therefor
Therefore is defined as, “For that reason; consequently.”
Therefor is defined as, “For or in exchange for that or this.”
Here are a few examples of usage:
“He was injured and therefore unable to play.
I think; therefore I am.
Payment was received two weeks after it was due; therefore, he was charged a late fee.
Therefore the Court found the evidence unconvincing.”
“Ordering goods and enclosing payment therefor.
The applicant must submit the application form and any supporting documentation therefor in two weeks’ time.
I’ll explain what we must do and the causes therefor.”
Machine Briefs:
therefore= THRFR
therefor= THR*FR
Rules Of Grammar: Commonly Misspelled Words Starting With “Con”
Here are some words starting with “con” that are commonly misspelled:
concede
conceive
conceivable
condominium
consensus
condemn
condescend
confiscate
congratulate
Connecticut
conqueror
conscientious
consequence
consistent
constipation
constitution
consultant
contagious
contemptible
continuance
controlling
controversial
convalescence
convenient
conversant
convertible
Rules Of Grammar: Baggie vs. Baggy
Baggie is a trademark for manufactured plastic bags of various sizes. Although trademarks are usually capitalized, according to the Free Dictionary: “This trademark, [is] often styled…in lowercase.”
Baggy is defined as: “(1) Loose, puffed out. (2) Loosely constructed and inflated with inessential elements.”
Theory Thursday: Indefinite Pronouns (Briefs Included)
Indefinite pronouns refer to something that is unspecified.
Here’s a list of indefinite pronouns and their machine briefs:
anybody= NIB
anyone= NIN
anything= NIG
each= AOEFP
either= AO*ERT
everybody= EFRB
everyone= EFRN
everything= EFRG
neither= NAOERT
nobody= NOB
no one= N*ON
nothing= NOG
one= WUN
somebody= S-B
someone= SWUN
something= S-G
several= SEFRL
many= MAEN
few= FAOU
both= BO*ET
some= SM-
most= MOFT
none= NON
all= AUL
any= NI
Pronoun Source: English Grammar Revolution
Rules Of Grammar: Preventive vs. Preventative
According to WritingExplained.org, “preventive” and “preventative” are interchangeable. They can both be used as a noun or an adjective. The words both “refer to things that prevent, hinder, or act as obstacles.”
WritingExplained.org further explains that between the two word choices, internationally, “preventive” is the preferred choice; being used approximately eight times more than “preventative.”
The website also states that the existence of the word “preventive” predates “preventative” by a few decades, and is preferred by the New York Times, AP Stylebook, The Chicago Manual of Style, and other grammar sources.
Rules Of Grammar: Radical vs. Radicle
Radical has the following definitions: “(1) Relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough. (2) Advocating or based on thorough or complete political or social reform; representing or supporting an extreme section of a political party. (3) A person who advocates thorough or complete political or social reform; a member of a political party or part of a party pursuing such aims. (4) A group of atoms behaving as a unit in a number of compounds.
Radicle is defined as following: (1) A rootlike subdivision of a nerve or vein. (2) The part of a plant embryo that develops into the primary root.