Comments for The Writing Rag http://writing-rag.com How to write well Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:46:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on A good example of misuse of tense by World Wide News Flash http://writing-rag.com/314/a-good-example-of-misuse-of-tense/comment-page-1/#comment-1403 World Wide News Flash Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:46:31 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=314#comment-1403 <strong>A good example of misuse of tense...</strong> I found your entry interesting so I've added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)... A good example of misuse of tense…

I found your entry interesting so I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :) …

]]> Comment on Hmm; maybe a slight change ahead by Mack Beemer http://writing-rag.com/278/hmm-maybe-a-slight-change-ahead/comment-page-1/#comment-1401 Mack Beemer Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:07:34 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=278#comment-1401 I go for the girlie pics, m'self. I go for the girlie pics, m’self.

]]> Comment on What does “beg the question” mean? by Jeffrey Newman http://writing-rag.com/200/what-does-beg-the-question-mean/comment-page-1/#comment-1400 Jeffrey Newman Sun, 08 Aug 2010 18:59:53 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=200#comment-1400 Consider the following example, which illustrates the *correct* use of the phrase: "Imagine that we’re discussing Lindsay Lohan. "YOU: I can’t understand why the news media give so much coverage to Lindsay Lohan. It’s ridiculous. She’s not that important or newsworthy. "ME: What? Of course she’s important and newsworthy! Lindsay Lohan is a big deal. Why, just look at the newsstand. People magazine, The Post, you name it. She’s everywhere. "YOU: That begs the question. "ME: Huh? "Your use of the phrase is correct. In arguing that Lindsay is important enough to merit heavy news coverage, I cite as evidence the fact that she gets heavy news coverage. It’s a circular argument that begs the question." The source of the above illustration? None other than "The New York Times" and, more particularly, Philip B. Corbett, the Grey Lady's Deputy News Editor and keeper of the paper's Style Manual. http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/begging-the-question-again/ Not incidentally, keep up the good work. Jeffrey Newman Consider the following example, which illustrates the *correct* use of the phrase:

“Imagine that we’re discussing Lindsay Lohan.

“YOU: I can’t understand why the news media give so much coverage to Lindsay Lohan. It’s ridiculous. She’s not that important or newsworthy.

“ME: What? Of course she’s important and newsworthy! Lindsay Lohan is a big deal. Why, just look at the newsstand. People magazine, The Post, you name it. She’s everywhere.

“YOU: That begs the question.

“ME: Huh?

“Your use of the phrase is correct. In arguing that Lindsay is important enough to merit heavy news coverage, I cite as evidence the fact that she gets heavy news coverage. It’s a circular argument that begs the question.”

The source of the above illustration? None other than “The New York Times” and, more particularly, Philip B. Corbett, the Grey Lady’s Deputy News Editor and keeper of the paper’s Style Manual.

http://topics.blogs.nytimes.co.....ion-again/

Not incidentally, keep up the good work.

Jeffrey Newman

]]> Comment on Beware of those homophones! by rogersgeorge http://writing-rag.com/254/beware-of-those-homophones/comment-page-1/#comment-1399 rogersgeorge Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:23:08 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=254#comment-1399 This comment might or might not be spam. It's from Topsy, a legitimate bookmarking site based on Twitter. So I'll let the comment stay. This comment might or might not be spam. It’s from Topsy, a legitimate bookmarking site based on Twitter. So I’ll let the comment stay.

]]> Comment on Beware of those homophones! by Tweets that mention Beware of those homophones! | The Writing Rag -- Topsy.com http://writing-rag.com/254/beware-of-those-homophones/comment-page-1/#comment-1396 Tweets that mention Beware of those homophones! | The Writing Rag -- Topsy.com Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:24:03 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=254#comment-1396 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rogers George, Rogers George. Rogers George said: Beware of those homophones! - http://writing-rag.com/254/beware-of-those-homophones/ #motorcycles #grammar #writing [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rogers George, Rogers George. Rogers George said: Beware of those homophones! – http://writing-rag.com/254/bew.....omophones/ #motorcycles #grammar #writing [...]

]]> Comment on Unintentional Ambiguity by Mack Harrell http://writing-rag.com/219/unintentional-ambiguity/comment-page-1/#comment-1392 Mack Harrell Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:13:24 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=219#comment-1392 Your come-on suggests all lies are deliberate (and so, I suppose, conscious, intentional, etc.). What of self-deception, otherwise known as denial, as in "Denial ain't just a river in Egypt, boy!" M Your come-on suggests all lies are deliberate (and so, I suppose, conscious, intentional, etc.).

What of self-deception, otherwise known as denial, as in “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt, boy!”

M

]]> Comment on Onesies and Twosies—getting plurals right by Peter http://writing-rag.com/183/onesies-and-twosies%e2%80%94getting-plurals-right/comment-page-1/#comment-1383 Peter Fri, 07 May 2010 01:09:58 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=183#comment-1383 Thanks for bringing up "phenomena." I so rarely hear it used correctly that sometimes I wonder whether I dreamt the correct usage. I have actually heard "phenomenons" on television. Thanks for bringing up “phenomena.” I so rarely hear it used correctly that sometimes I wonder whether I dreamt the correct usage. I have actually heard “phenomenons” on television.

]]> Comment on Onesies and Twosies—getting plurals right by Melissa http://writing-rag.com/183/onesies-and-twosies%e2%80%94getting-plurals-right/comment-page-1/#comment-1377 Melissa Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:01:43 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=183#comment-1377 I shoulda put the good stuff first, darn it! Thanks for being a good sport about it! If you want to delete the comment, that\'s fine. Or you could edit it and just leave the good stuff. This is my official permission slip with my official signature. :-) I shoulda put the good stuff first, darn it! Thanks for being a good sport about it!

If you want to delete the comment, that\’s fine. Or you could edit it and just leave the good stuff. This is my official permission slip with my official signature. :-)

]]> Comment on Onesies and Twosies—getting plurals right by Melissa http://writing-rag.com/183/onesies-and-twosies%e2%80%94getting-plurals-right/comment-page-1/#comment-1376 Melissa Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:01:15 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=183#comment-1376 I shoulda put the good stuff first, darn it! Thanks for being a good sport about it! If you want to delete the comment, that's fine. Or you could edit it and just leave the good stuff. This is my official permission slip with my official signature. :-) I shoulda put the good stuff first, darn it! Thanks for being a good sport about it!

If you want to delete the comment, that’s fine. Or you could edit it and just leave the good stuff. This is my official permission slip with my official signature. :-)

]]> Comment on Onesies and Twosies—getting plurals right by rogersgeorge http://writing-rag.com/183/onesies-and-twosies%e2%80%94getting-plurals-right/comment-page-1/#comment-1375 rogersgeorge Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:26:10 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=183#comment-1375 Y'know, I looked at that and it didn't seem right. Thanks! Y’know, I looked at that and it didn’t seem right. Thanks!

]]> Comment on Onesies and Twosies—getting plurals right by Melissa http://writing-rag.com/183/onesies-and-twosies%e2%80%94getting-plurals-right/comment-page-1/#comment-1374 Melissa Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:30:45 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=183#comment-1374 Isn't it "onesies," not "onsies"? Seems to me "onsies" is pronounced awn-zees. But the rest of this is terrific and makes me say YEAH! Isn’t it “onesies,” not “onsies”? Seems to me “onsies” is pronounced awn-zees. But the rest of this is terrific and makes me say YEAH!

]]> Comment on In the Bible or not? by drantin http://writing-rag.com/166/in-the-bible-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-1370 drantin Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:42:07 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=166#comment-1370 "God helps those that help themselves" may be from Poor Richard's Almanack, but he derived it from good old Aesop, who wrote: "The gods help them that help themselves." (remembered from my school days, but verified <a href="http://www.fbcvilonia.com/sermons/lies/helps.htm" rel="nofollow">here.</a> “God helps those that help themselves” may be from Poor Richard’s Almanack, but he derived it from good old Aesop, who wrote: “The gods help them that help themselves.”

(remembered from my school days, but verified here.

]]> Comment on Fancy and plain quotes by drantin http://writing-rag.com/170/fancy-and-plain-quotes/comment-page-1/#comment-1369 drantin Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:36:33 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=170#comment-1369 This actually works for anything that Word automatically changes from what you type. Be it the fancy quotes, or changing the capitalization of an acronym, etc. This actually works for anything that Word automatically changes from what you type. Be it the fancy quotes, or changing the capitalization of an acronym, etc.

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