We have some repeat flubs and some new flubs in this batch of sentences. See if you can find that flubs that were caught before they made it into The Forum.
1. The School Board is confident they've got their message out.
2. The floodplain would go up three feet at the Wilkin County border.
3. Activities will include face painting, T-shirt dying and a free picnic.
4. Cass County has begun spraying for noxious weeds in road right-of-ways.
5. The school board and school district are considering hiring a Texas-based company.
1. The School Board is confident it got its message out.
School Board is singular. It's one entity. The sentence would be correct if it stated: School Board members are confident they got their message out.
2. The flood plain would go up 3 feet at the Wilkin County border.
3. Activities will include face painting, tie-dyeing and a free picnic.
4. Cass County has begun spraying for noxious weeds in road rights of way.
AP Stylebook states: right of way, rights of way
5. The School Board and School District are considering hiring a Texas-based company.
The following rules also apply to School Boards and School Districts. AP Stylebook states:
governmental bodies Follow these guidelines:
FULL NAME: Capitalize the full proper names of governmental agencies, departments, and offices: The U.S. Department of State, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the Boston City Council, the Chicago Fire Department.
WITHOUT JURISDICTION: Retain capitalization in referring to a specific body if the dateline or context makes the name of the nation, state, county, city, etc. unnecessary: The Department of State (in a story from Washington), the Department of Human Resources or the state Department of Human Resources (in a story from Georgia), the City Council (in a story from Boston), the Fire Department or the city Fire Department (in a story from Chicago).
Lowercase further condensations of the name: the department, the council, etc.
FLIP-FLOPPED NAMES: Retain capital names for the name of a governmental body if its formal name is flopped to delete the word of: the State Department, the Human Resources Department.
city council Capitalize when part of a proper name: the Boston City Council.
Retain capitalization if the reference is to a specific council but the context does not require the city name:
BOSTON (AP) – The City Council ...
Lowercase in other uses: the council, the Boston and New York city councils, a city council.
Use the proper name if the body is not known as a city council: the Miami City Commission, the City Commission, the commission; the Louisville Board of Aldermen, the Board of Aldermen, the board.
Use city council in a generic sense for plural references: the Boston, Louisville and Miami city councils.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Another batch of flubs
Have fun with these five sentences. See if you can find the flubs that were caught before they made it into The Forum.
1. Moorhead police responded to 1015 36th Street South at 10:13 p.m. Thursday night.
2. Everyone who attended the press conference wore buttons promoting the referendum.
3. Commission Chair Jerry Waller said Overbo was up front about his arrest.
4. The Jensens bought out Prairie Public in the late 1980's.
5. Precipitation totals were at the top five percent of historical averages.
1. Moorhead police responded to 1015 36th St. S. at 10:13 p.m. Thursday.
AP Stylebook states: Use the abbreviations Ave., Blvd. and St. only with a numbered address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Spell them out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number: Pennsylvania Avenue. Lowercase and spell out when used alone or with more than one street name: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania avenues.
All similar words (alley, drive, road, terrace, etc.) always are spelled out. Capitalize them when part of a formal name without a number; lowercase when used alone or with two or more names.
Abbreviate compass points used to indicate directional ends of a street or quadrants of a city in a numbered address: 222 E. 42nd St., 562 W. 43rd St., 600 K St. NW. Do not abbreviate if the number is omitted: East 42nd Street, West 43rd Street, K Street Northwest. No periods in quadrant abbreviations – NW, SE – unless customary locally.
It's redundant to write 10:13 p.m. Thursday night.
2. Everyone who attended the news conference wore buttons promoting the referendum.
AP Stylebook states: press conference News conference is preferred.
3. Commission Chairman Jerry Waller said Overbo was upfront about his arrest.
4. The Jensens bought out Prairie Public in the late 1980s.
AP Stylebook states: years Use figures, without commas: 1975. When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set off the year with a comma: Feb. 14, 1987, is the target date. Use an s without an apostrophe to indicate spans of decades or centuries: the 1890s, the 1800s.
5. Precipitation totals were at the top 5 percent of historical averages.
AP Stylebook states: percent One word. It takes a singular verb when standing alone or when a singular word follows an of construction: The teacher said 60 percent was a failing grade. He said 50 percent of the membership was there.
It takes a plural verb when a plural word follows an of construction: He said 50 percent of the members were there.
Use figures for percent and percentages: 1 percent, 2.5 percent (use decimals, not fractions), 10 percent, 4 percentage points.
For a range, 12 to 15 percent, or between 12 and 15 percent.
For amounts less than 1 percent, precede the decimal with a zero: The cost of living rose 0.6 percent.
1. Moorhead police responded to 1015 36th Street South at 10:13 p.m. Thursday night.
2. Everyone who attended the press conference wore buttons promoting the referendum.
3. Commission Chair Jerry Waller said Overbo was up front about his arrest.
4. The Jensens bought out Prairie Public in the late 1980's.
5. Precipitation totals were at the top five percent of historical averages.
1. Moorhead police responded to 1015 36th St. S. at 10:13 p.m. Thursday.
AP Stylebook states: Use the abbreviations Ave., Blvd. and St. only with a numbered address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Spell them out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number: Pennsylvania Avenue. Lowercase and spell out when used alone or with more than one street name: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania avenues.
All similar words (alley, drive, road, terrace, etc.) always are spelled out. Capitalize them when part of a formal name without a number; lowercase when used alone or with two or more names.
Abbreviate compass points used to indicate directional ends of a street or quadrants of a city in a numbered address: 222 E. 42nd St., 562 W. 43rd St., 600 K St. NW. Do not abbreviate if the number is omitted: East 42nd Street, West 43rd Street, K Street Northwest. No periods in quadrant abbreviations – NW, SE – unless customary locally.
It's redundant to write 10:13 p.m. Thursday night.
2. Everyone who attended the news conference wore buttons promoting the referendum.
AP Stylebook states: press conference News conference is preferred.
3. Commission Chairman Jerry Waller said Overbo was upfront about his arrest.
4. The Jensens bought out Prairie Public in the late 1980s.
AP Stylebook states: years Use figures, without commas: 1975. When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set off the year with a comma: Feb. 14, 1987, is the target date. Use an s without an apostrophe to indicate spans of decades or centuries: the 1890s, the 1800s.
5. Precipitation totals were at the top 5 percent of historical averages.
AP Stylebook states: percent One word. It takes a singular verb when standing alone or when a singular word follows an of construction: The teacher said 60 percent was a failing grade. He said 50 percent of the membership was there.
It takes a plural verb when a plural word follows an of construction: He said 50 percent of the members were there.
Use figures for percent and percentages: 1 percent, 2.5 percent (use decimals, not fractions), 10 percent, 4 percentage points.
For a range, 12 to 15 percent, or between 12 and 15 percent.
For amounts less than 1 percent, precede the decimal with a zero: The cost of living rose 0.6 percent.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
If you've got the time, I've got the flubs
See if you can find the flubs in these five sentences that were caught before they appeared in The Forum.
1. The committee is seeking public comment at 7 p.m. tonight.
2. He suggested the city consider moving the Second Ward polling site.
3. Five people work at the company full-time.
4. City Commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to waive the fees.
5. Back yards are lakes; front yards are ponds.
1. The committee is seeking public comment at 7 tonight.
AP Stylebook states: times Use figures except for noon and midnight. Use a colon to separate hours from minutes: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Avoid such redundancies as 10 a.m. this morning, 10 p.m. tonight or 10 p.m. Monday night. Use 10 a.m. or 10 p.m. Monday, etc., as required by the norms in time element.
2. He suggested the city consider moving the 2nd Ward polling site.
AP Stylebook states: political divisions Use Arabic figures and capitalize the accompanying word when used with the figures: 1st Ward, 10th Ward, 3rd Precinct, 22nd Precinct, the ward, the precinct.
3. Five people work at the company full time.
AP Stylebook states:full time, full-time Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: He works full time. She has a full-time job.
4. City commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to waive the fees.
5. Back yards are lakes; front yards are ponds.
AP Stylebook states: backyard One word in all uses.
The same goes for frontyard.
1. The committee is seeking public comment at 7 p.m. tonight.
2. He suggested the city consider moving the Second Ward polling site.
3. Five people work at the company full-time.
4. City Commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to waive the fees.
5. Back yards are lakes; front yards are ponds.
1. The committee is seeking public comment at 7 tonight.
AP Stylebook states: times Use figures except for noon and midnight. Use a colon to separate hours from minutes: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Avoid such redundancies as 10 a.m. this morning, 10 p.m. tonight or 10 p.m. Monday night. Use 10 a.m. or 10 p.m. Monday, etc., as required by the norms in time element.
2. He suggested the city consider moving the 2nd Ward polling site.
AP Stylebook states: political divisions Use Arabic figures and capitalize the accompanying word when used with the figures: 1st Ward, 10th Ward, 3rd Precinct, 22nd Precinct, the ward, the precinct.
3. Five people work at the company full time.
AP Stylebook states:full time, full-time Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: He works full time. She has a full-time job.
4. City commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to waive the fees.
5. Back yards are lakes; front yards are ponds.
AP Stylebook states: backyard One word in all uses.
The same goes for frontyard.
Friday, May 15, 2009
A stunning development
Two posts in one week? You're lucky!
These five sentences have flubs that were caught before they made it into The Forum. See if you can find them.
1. The West Fargo School Board held their first open forum Wednesday night.
2. Falcon Research Group is a non-profit organization in Bow., Wash.
3. Lambeth is a long-time birder and retired University of North Dakota professor.
4. Alien broke ground on its 50,000 square-foot plant in October, 2005.
5. Paul Young's basement is ruined, victimized by six feet of water that poured in when Red River flood waters inundated Oakport Township.
1. The West Fargo School Board held its first open forum Wednesday night.
2. Falcon Research Group is a nonprofit organization in Bow., Wash.
AP Stylebook states: non- The rules of prefixes apply, but in general no hyphen when forming a compound that does not have special meaning and can be understood if not is used before the base word. Use a hyphen, however, before proper nouns or in awkward combinations, such as non-nuclear.
3. Lambeth is a longtime birder and retired University of North Dakota professor.
AP Stylebook states: long time, longtime They have known each other a long time. They are longtime partners.
4. Alien broke ground on its 50,000-square-foot plant in October 2005.
5. Paul Young's basement is ruined, victimized by 6 feet of water that poured in when Red River floodwaters inundated Oakport Township.
AP Stylebook states: dimensions Use figures and spell out inches, feet, yards, etc., to indicate depth, height, length and width. Hyphenate adjectival forms before nouns.
EXAMPLES: He is 5 feet 6 inches tall, the 5-foot-6-inch man, the 5-foot man, the basketball team signed a 7-footer.
The car is 17 feet long, 6 feet wide and 5 feet high. The rug is 9 feet by 12 feet, the 9-by-12 rug.
The storm left 5 inches of snow.
The building has 6,000 square feet of floor space.
Floodwaters is one word in the AP Stylebook.
These five sentences have flubs that were caught before they made it into The Forum. See if you can find them.
1. The West Fargo School Board held their first open forum Wednesday night.
2. Falcon Research Group is a non-profit organization in Bow., Wash.
3. Lambeth is a long-time birder and retired University of North Dakota professor.
4. Alien broke ground on its 50,000 square-foot plant in October, 2005.
5. Paul Young's basement is ruined, victimized by six feet of water that poured in when Red River flood waters inundated Oakport Township.
1. The West Fargo School Board held its first open forum Wednesday night.
2. Falcon Research Group is a nonprofit organization in Bow., Wash.
AP Stylebook states: non- The rules of prefixes apply, but in general no hyphen when forming a compound that does not have special meaning and can be understood if not is used before the base word. Use a hyphen, however, before proper nouns or in awkward combinations, such as non-nuclear.
3. Lambeth is a longtime birder and retired University of North Dakota professor.
AP Stylebook states: long time, longtime They have known each other a long time. They are longtime partners.
4. Alien broke ground on its 50,000-square-foot plant in October 2005.
5. Paul Young's basement is ruined, victimized by 6 feet of water that poured in when Red River floodwaters inundated Oakport Township.
AP Stylebook states: dimensions Use figures and spell out inches, feet, yards, etc., to indicate depth, height, length and width. Hyphenate adjectival forms before nouns.
EXAMPLES: He is 5 feet 6 inches tall, the 5-foot-6-inch man, the 5-foot man, the basketball team signed a 7-footer.
The car is 17 feet long, 6 feet wide and 5 feet high. The rug is 9 feet by 12 feet, the 9-by-12 rug.
The storm left 5 inches of snow.
The building has 6,000 square feet of floor space.
Floodwaters is one word in the AP Stylebook.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Finding flubs is a full-time job
We're back with another batch of sentences with flubs that were caught before they made it into The Forum. See if you can find them.
1. The 4.3-acre parcel is at the corner of 7th Avenue and 15th Street North.
2. FEMA [first reference] will cover 75 percent of flood damages.
3. The popular 401k retirement plan is becoming less attractive for many American workers.
4. "We get emails quite often with suggestions."
5. Five people work at the business full-time.
1. The 4.3-acre parcel is at the corner of Seventh Avenue and 15th Street North.
2. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover 75 percent of flood damage.
AP Stylebook states: Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA is acceptable on second reference.
AP Stylebook states: damage, damages Damage is destruction: Authorities said damage from the storm would total more than $1 billion.
Damages are awarded by a court as compensation for injury, loss, etc.: The woman received $25,000 in damages.
3. The popular 401(k) retirement plan is becoming less attractive for many American workers.
4. "We get e-mails quite often with suggestions."
AP Stylebook states: e-mail Acceptable in all references for electronic mail. Many e-mail or Internet addresses use symbols such as the at symbol (@), or the tilde (~) that cannot be transmitted correctly by some computers. When needed, spell them out and provide an explanatory editor's note.
(Also e-book, e-commerce, e-business.)
5. Five people work at the business full time.
AP Stylebook states: full time, full-time Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: He works full time. She has a full-time job.
1. The 4.3-acre parcel is at the corner of 7th Avenue and 15th Street North.
2. FEMA [first reference] will cover 75 percent of flood damages.
3. The popular 401k retirement plan is becoming less attractive for many American workers.
4. "We get emails quite often with suggestions."
5. Five people work at the business full-time.
1. The 4.3-acre parcel is at the corner of Seventh Avenue and 15th Street North.
2. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover 75 percent of flood damage.
AP Stylebook states: Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA is acceptable on second reference.
AP Stylebook states: damage, damages Damage is destruction: Authorities said damage from the storm would total more than $1 billion.
Damages are awarded by a court as compensation for injury, loss, etc.: The woman received $25,000 in damages.
3. The popular 401(k) retirement plan is becoming less attractive for many American workers.
4. "We get e-mails quite often with suggestions."
AP Stylebook states: e-mail Acceptable in all references for electronic mail. Many e-mail or Internet addresses use symbols such as the at symbol (@), or the tilde (~) that cannot be transmitted correctly by some computers. When needed, spell them out and provide an explanatory editor's note.
(Also e-book, e-commerce, e-business.)
5. Five people work at the business full time.
AP Stylebook states: full time, full-time Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: He works full time. She has a full-time job.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
On to West Nile virus
After a bit of an absence, I hope to start posting more regularly now that the flood season has ended.
See if you can find the flubs that were caught before they made it into The Forum:
1. The new tax credit is an incredible deal for first-time home buyers.
2. R.D. Offutt Company took first place out of 15 teams.
3. It started out small and has grown into a week-long event.
4. The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals determined prosecutors failed to prove Bala had committed any crimes.
5. The species of mosquito responsible for West Nile Virus favors warmer weather.
1. The new tax credit is an incredible deal for first-time homebuyers.
2. R.D. Offutt Co. took first place out of 15 teams.
AP Stylebook states: company, companies Use Co. or Cos. when a business uses either word at the end of its proper name: Ford Motor Co., American Broadcasting Cos.
If company or companies appears alone in second reference, spell the word out.
The forms for possessives: Ford Motor Co.'s profits, American Broadcasting Cos.' profits.
3. It started out small and has grown into a weeklong event.
AP Stylebook states: daylong, weeklong, yearlong, hourlong, monthlong, and on and on.
4. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined prosecutors failed to prove Bala had committed any crimes.
AP Stylebook states: U.S. Court of Appeals On first reference to the full name, use U.S. Court of Appeals or a full name: 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals or the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals without a circuit number is a misnomer and should not be used.
5. The species of mosquito responsible for West Nile virus favors warmer weather.
See if you can find the flubs that were caught before they made it into The Forum:
1. The new tax credit is an incredible deal for first-time home buyers.
2. R.D. Offutt Company took first place out of 15 teams.
3. It started out small and has grown into a week-long event.
4. The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals determined prosecutors failed to prove Bala had committed any crimes.
5. The species of mosquito responsible for West Nile Virus favors warmer weather.
1. The new tax credit is an incredible deal for first-time homebuyers.
2. R.D. Offutt Co. took first place out of 15 teams.
AP Stylebook states: company, companies Use Co. or Cos. when a business uses either word at the end of its proper name: Ford Motor Co., American Broadcasting Cos.
If company or companies appears alone in second reference, spell the word out.
The forms for possessives: Ford Motor Co.'s profits, American Broadcasting Cos.' profits.
3. It started out small and has grown into a weeklong event.
AP Stylebook states: daylong, weeklong, yearlong, hourlong, monthlong, and on and on.
4. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined prosecutors failed to prove Bala had committed any crimes.
AP Stylebook states: U.S. Court of Appeals On first reference to the full name, use U.S. Court of Appeals or a full name: 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals or the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals without a circuit number is a misnomer and should not be used.
5. The species of mosquito responsible for West Nile virus favors warmer weather.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Let's get jump-started by midafternoon
I know if you're one of the Forum reporters reading this blog, you're anxious to find out if you made the spotlight. See if you can find the flubs in these sentences that were caught before they made it into The Forum.
1. He served in the army more than 40 years ago.
2. A spokesperson for the committee said experienced musicians were involved in the show.
3. About 20 vehicles were jumpstarted by mid-afternoon.
4. Pacific Sound installs home theatres and stereos.
5. "This is really a multi-purpose facility."
1. He served in the Army more than 40 years ago.
AP Stylebook states: army Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces: the U.S. Army, the Army, Army regulations. Do not use the abbreviation USA. Use lowercase for the forces of other nations: the French army. This approach has been adopted for consistency, because many foreign nations do not use army as the proper name.
2. A spokesman/spokeswoman for the committee said experienced musicians were involved in the show.
AP Stylebook states: spokesman, spokeswoman But not spokesperson. Use a representative if you do not know the sex of the individual.
3. About 20 vehicles were jump-started by midafternoon.
AP Stylebook states: mid- No hyphen unless a capitalized word follows: mid-America, midsemester, mid-Atlantic, midterm. But use a hyphen when mid- precedes a figure: mid-30s.
4. Pacific Sound installs home theaters and stereos.
AP Stylebook states: theater Use this spelling unless the proper name is Theatre: Shubert Theatre.
5. "This is really a multipurpose facility."
AP Stylebook states: multi- The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: multicolored, multimillion, multilateral, multimillionaire.
1. He served in the army more than 40 years ago.
2. A spokesperson for the committee said experienced musicians were involved in the show.
3. About 20 vehicles were jumpstarted by mid-afternoon.
4. Pacific Sound installs home theatres and stereos.
5. "This is really a multi-purpose facility."
1. He served in the Army more than 40 years ago.
AP Stylebook states: army Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces: the U.S. Army, the Army, Army regulations. Do not use the abbreviation USA. Use lowercase for the forces of other nations: the French army. This approach has been adopted for consistency, because many foreign nations do not use army as the proper name.
2. A spokesman/spokeswoman for the committee said experienced musicians were involved in the show.
AP Stylebook states: spokesman, spokeswoman But not spokesperson. Use a representative if you do not know the sex of the individual.
3. About 20 vehicles were jump-started by midafternoon.
AP Stylebook states: mid- No hyphen unless a capitalized word follows: mid-America, midsemester, mid-Atlantic, midterm. But use a hyphen when mid- precedes a figure: mid-30s.
4. Pacific Sound installs home theaters and stereos.
AP Stylebook states: theater Use this spelling unless the proper name is Theatre: Shubert Theatre.
5. "This is really a multipurpose facility."
AP Stylebook states: multi- The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: multicolored, multimillion, multilateral, multimillionaire.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
From breast-feeding to halfway houses
Fine the flubs in these sentences that were caught before they made their way into The Forum.
1. She won the award for her tireless efforts promoting breastfeeding.
2. The new headquarters will use 17,000-square-feet in an existing building.
3. Engineering fees are estimated to run about $423,000.
4. He has spent 6-plus months in a half-way house.
5. She was surprised nobody had launched a coop locally.
1. She won the award for her tireless efforts promoting breast-feeding.
AP Stylebook states: breast-feed, breast-feeding, breast-fed
"Estimated" and "to run about" are redundant.
4. He has spent six-plus months in a halfway house.
5. She was surprised nobody had launched a co-op locally.
1. She won the award for her tireless efforts promoting breastfeeding.
2. The new headquarters will use 17,000-square-feet in an existing building.
3. Engineering fees are estimated to run about $423,000.
4. He has spent 6-plus months in a half-way house.
5. She was surprised nobody had launched a coop locally.
1. She won the award for her tireless efforts promoting breast-feeding.
AP Stylebook states: breast-feed, breast-feeding, breast-fed
2. The new headquarters will use 17,000 square feet in an existing building.
3. Engineering fees are estimated to be $423,000."Estimated" and "to run about" are redundant.
4. He has spent six-plus months in a halfway house.
5. She was surprised nobody had launched a co-op locally.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Millions and billions...and other flubs
See if you can find the flubs in these five sentences that were found by copy editors before they appeared in the Forum.
1. Americans should watch for disagreements between Congressional Democrats and the Obama Administration.
2. The intent is to honor the contributions of long-time local leaders in shaping and serving the Chamber, community and region.
3. Another multi-million dollar sports facility appears to be on the horizon for southwest Fargo.
4. A Fargo financial advisor faces new charges after the execution of a search warrant at his business.
5. The United States has the potential to create more than four million jobs in coming decades.
1. Americans should watch for disagreements between congressional Democrats and the Obama administration.
2. The intent is to honor the contributions of longtime local leaders in shaping and serving the chamber, community and region.
3. Another multimillion-dollar sports facility appears to be on the horizon for southwest Fargo.
4. A Fargo financial adviser faces new charges after the execution of a search warrant at his business.
AP Stylebook says: adviser Not advisor.
5. The United States has the potential to create more than 4 million jobs in coming decades.
AP Stylebook says: millions, billions Use figures with million or billion in all except casual uses: I’d like to make a billion dollars. But: The nation has 1 million citizens. I need $7 billion.
Do not go beyond two decimal places. 7.51 million people, $256 billion, 7,542,500 people, $2,565,750,000. Decimals are preferred where practical: 1.5 million. Not: 1 1/2 million.
Do not mix millions and billions in the same figure: 2.6 billion. Not: 2 billion 600 million.
Do not drop the word million or billion in the first figure of a range: He is worth from $2 million to $4 million. Not: $2 to $4 million, unless you really mean $2.
Note that a hyphen is not used to join the figures and the word million or billion, even in this type of phrase: The president submitted a $300 billion budget.
1. Americans should watch for disagreements between Congressional Democrats and the Obama Administration.
2. The intent is to honor the contributions of long-time local leaders in shaping and serving the Chamber, community and region.
3. Another multi-million dollar sports facility appears to be on the horizon for southwest Fargo.
4. A Fargo financial advisor faces new charges after the execution of a search warrant at his business.
5. The United States has the potential to create more than four million jobs in coming decades.
1. Americans should watch for disagreements between congressional Democrats and the Obama administration.
2. The intent is to honor the contributions of longtime local leaders in shaping and serving the chamber, community and region.
3. Another multimillion-dollar sports facility appears to be on the horizon for southwest Fargo.
4. A Fargo financial adviser faces new charges after the execution of a search warrant at his business.
AP Stylebook says: adviser Not advisor.
5. The United States has the potential to create more than 4 million jobs in coming decades.
AP Stylebook says: millions, billions Use figures with million or billion in all except casual uses: I’d like to make a billion dollars. But: The nation has 1 million citizens. I need $7 billion.
Do not go beyond two decimal places. 7.51 million people, $256 billion, 7,542,500 people, $2,565,750,000. Decimals are preferred where practical: 1.5 million. Not: 1 1/2 million.
Do not mix millions and billions in the same figure: 2.6 billion. Not: 2 billion 600 million.
Do not drop the word million or billion in the first figure of a range: He is worth from $2 million to $4 million. Not: $2 to $4 million, unless you really mean $2.
Note that a hyphen is not used to join the figures and the word million or billion, even in this type of phrase: The president submitted a $300 billion budget.
Monday, February 9, 2009
From home schooling to geothermal
Here are five more examples of flubs that were caught by copy editors before they made it into The Forum. See if you can find them.
1. North Dakota home schoolers deal with some of the tougher regulations.
2. Jury selection is underway.
3. The Republican's goal is to become the U.S. Senator from North Dakota.
4. She was a communications supervisor for the Minnesota State Patrol in Rochester, Minn.
5. Geo-thermal is a huge issue now.
1. North Dakota home-schoolers deal with some of the tougher regulations.
AP style is: home schooling, home-schooled, home-schooler.
2. Jury selection is under way.
3. The Republican's goal is to become the U.S. senator from North Dakota.
4. She was a communications supervisor for the Minnesota State Patrol in Rochester.
5. Geothermal is a huge issue now.
1. North Dakota home schoolers deal with some of the tougher regulations.
2. Jury selection is underway.
3. The Republican's goal is to become the U.S. Senator from North Dakota.
4. She was a communications supervisor for the Minnesota State Patrol in Rochester, Minn.
5. Geo-thermal is a huge issue now.
1. North Dakota home-schoolers deal with some of the tougher regulations.
AP style is: home schooling, home-schooled, home-schooler.
2. Jury selection is under way.
3. The Republican's goal is to become the U.S. senator from North Dakota.
4. She was a communications supervisor for the Minnesota State Patrol in Rochester.
5. Geothermal is a huge issue now.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Five sentences for you to dissect
Writing tight is always a good thing, so I'm going to list five instead of 10 examples of style flubs with each post. Don't worry about me doing this because I'm running out of examples. I've got plenty. It means it won't take you as long to go through the examples and I'll be posting more frequently.
See if you can find the flubs in these sentences that were caught before they got into The Forum.
1. The former taxi driver was convicted of strangling two young women to death in 1968.
2. Kraft and his wife Sari are partners in the business with Sari's parents.
3. The human brain is not fully developed until people are between the ages of 18 to 23.
4. She is the new owner of the business at 702 University Drive North.
5. Voters are asked for their Zip Code, and the tool takes them to a list where they'll find their address.
1. The former taxi driver was convicted of strangling two young women in 1968.
The definition of strangle in Webster's New World Dictionary: to kill by squeezing the throat as with the hands, a noose, etc., so as to shut off the breath. It would be redundant to write "strangle to death."
2. Kraft and his wife, Sari, are partners in the business with Sari's parents.
Setting the wife's name off with commas lets reader know for sure that Sari is Kraft's only wife.
3. The human brain is not fully developed until people are between the ages of 18 and 23.
4. She is the new owner of the business at 702 N. University Drive.
5. Voters are asked for their ZIP code, and the tool takes them to a list where they'll find their address.
AP Stylebook says: ZIP code Use all-caps ZIP for Zoning Improvement Plan, but always lowercase the word code. Run the five digits together without a comma, and do not put a comma between the state name and the ZIP code: New York, NY 10020.
See if you can find the flubs in these sentences that were caught before they got into The Forum.
1. The former taxi driver was convicted of strangling two young women to death in 1968.
2. Kraft and his wife Sari are partners in the business with Sari's parents.
3. The human brain is not fully developed until people are between the ages of 18 to 23.
4. She is the new owner of the business at 702 University Drive North.
5. Voters are asked for their Zip Code, and the tool takes them to a list where they'll find their address.
1. The former taxi driver was convicted of strangling two young women in 1968.
The definition of strangle in Webster's New World Dictionary: to kill by squeezing the throat as with the hands, a noose, etc., so as to shut off the breath. It would be redundant to write "strangle to death."
2. Kraft and his wife, Sari, are partners in the business with Sari's parents.
Setting the wife's name off with commas lets reader know for sure that Sari is Kraft's only wife.
3. The human brain is not fully developed until people are between the ages of 18 and 23.
4. She is the new owner of the business at 702 N. University Drive.
5. Voters are asked for their ZIP code, and the tool takes them to a list where they'll find their address.
AP Stylebook says: ZIP code Use all-caps ZIP for Zoning Improvement Plan, but always lowercase the word code. Run the five digits together without a comma, and do not put a comma between the state name and the ZIP code: New York, NY 10020.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
See if you can find the style mistakes
Find the flubs in these sentences that were corrected by copy editors before they made their way into The Forum.
1. The 14-year-old wants to help other New Americans in the area.
2. The Chamber's board of directors made the decision late last week.
3. The student to computer ratio in Weset Fargo is 3:1.
4. When Palin takes the stage tonight, it will be a welcome site for Dueker.
5. Crews will fill the piles with six to nine feet of geofoam.
6. He argued the case should be dismissed because his client's Constitutional rights were violated.
7. More than 400 sixth- through twelfth-graders took their violins, violas and cellos.
8. She abruptly closed her daycare in north Fargo last month.
9. The transmission line will be between 9.5 to 11.5 miles long.
10. It will extend from the wind park to the existing Otter Tail Power Company transmission line southeast of Glyndon, Minn.
1. The 14-year-old wants to help other new Americans in the area.
2. The chamber's board of directors made the decision late last week.
3. The student to computer ratio in Weset Fargo is 3-to-1.
AP Stylebook says: ratios Use figures and hyphens: the ratio was 2-to-1, a ratio of 2-to-1, a 2-1 ratio. As illustrated, the word to should be omitted when the numbers precede the word ratio.
4. When Palin takes the stage tonight, it will be a welcome sight for Dueker.
5. Crews will fill the piles with 6 to 9 feet of geofoam.
6. He argued the case should be dismissed because his client's constitutional rights were violated.
AP Stylebook says: Lowercase constitutional in all uses.
7. More than 400 sixth- through 12th-graders took their violins, violas and cellos.
8. She abruptly closed her day care in north Fargo last month.
9. The transmission line will be between 9.5 and 11.5 milies long.
10. It will extend from the wind park to the existing Otter Tail Power Co. transmission line southeast of Glyndon, Minn.
1. The 14-year-old wants to help other New Americans in the area.
2. The Chamber's board of directors made the decision late last week.
3. The student to computer ratio in Weset Fargo is 3:1.
4. When Palin takes the stage tonight, it will be a welcome site for Dueker.
5. Crews will fill the piles with six to nine feet of geofoam.
6. He argued the case should be dismissed because his client's Constitutional rights were violated.
7. More than 400 sixth- through twelfth-graders took their violins, violas and cellos.
8. She abruptly closed her daycare in north Fargo last month.
9. The transmission line will be between 9.5 to 11.5 miles long.
10. It will extend from the wind park to the existing Otter Tail Power Company transmission line southeast of Glyndon, Minn.
1. The 14-year-old wants to help other new Americans in the area.
2. The chamber's board of directors made the decision late last week.
3. The student to computer ratio in Weset Fargo is 3-to-1.
AP Stylebook says: ratios Use figures and hyphens: the ratio was 2-to-1, a ratio of 2-to-1, a 2-1 ratio. As illustrated, the word to should be omitted when the numbers precede the word ratio.
4. When Palin takes the stage tonight, it will be a welcome sight for Dueker.
5. Crews will fill the piles with 6 to 9 feet of geofoam.
6. He argued the case should be dismissed because his client's constitutional rights were violated.
AP Stylebook says: Lowercase constitutional in all uses.
7. More than 400 sixth- through 12th-graders took their violins, violas and cellos.
8. She abruptly closed her day care in north Fargo last month.
9. The transmission line will be between 9.5 and 11.5 milies long.
10. It will extend from the wind park to the existing Otter Tail Power Co. transmission line southeast of Glyndon, Minn.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Electing to take a quiz
It's Election Day, so I hope you elect to take this short quiz to see if you can find the flubs in these sentences that were caught by copy editors before they made it into The Forum.
1. There is the anxiety over money and questions of self worth.
2. DuWayne Engness lives at the corner of Sheyenne Street and 40th Ave. S. in West Fargo.
3. Authorities placed vehicles at strategic spots in case the animal decided to move further into town.
4. "I think childcare is part of the infrastructure of our state and our communities."
5. The 14-year-old wants to help other New Americans in the area.
1. There is the anxiety over money and questions of self-worth.
AP Stylebook states: self- Always hyphenate: self-assured, self-government, self-defense.
2. DuWayne Engness lives at the corner of Sheyenne Street and 40th Avenue South in West Fargo.
3. Authorities placed vehicles at strategic spots in case the animal decided to move farther into town.
AP Stylebook states: farther, further Farther refers to physical distance: He walked farther into the woods. Further refers to an extension of time or degree: She will look further into the mystery.
4. "I think child care is part of the infrastructure of our state and our communities."
5. The 14-year-old wants to help other new Americans in the area.
1. There is the anxiety over money and questions of self worth.
2. DuWayne Engness lives at the corner of Sheyenne Street and 40th Ave. S. in West Fargo.
3. Authorities placed vehicles at strategic spots in case the animal decided to move further into town.
4. "I think childcare is part of the infrastructure of our state and our communities."
5. The 14-year-old wants to help other New Americans in the area.
1. There is the anxiety over money and questions of self-worth.
AP Stylebook states: self- Always hyphenate: self-assured, self-government, self-defense.
2. DuWayne Engness lives at the corner of Sheyenne Street and 40th Avenue South in West Fargo.
3. Authorities placed vehicles at strategic spots in case the animal decided to move farther into town.
AP Stylebook states: farther, further Farther refers to physical distance: He walked farther into the woods. Further refers to an extension of time or degree: She will look further into the mystery.
4. "I think child care is part of the infrastructure of our state and our communities."
5. The 14-year-old wants to help other new Americans in the area.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
For your reading enjoyment
We have 10 more flubs for your reading enjoyment. There are mistakes in these sentences that were found before they made it into The Forum. Do you know what they are?
1. Services include a dental lab, x-rays and a pharmacy.
2. The blast sent a loose piece of sheetrock falling to the ground.
3. The free hotline provides immediate response to voters.
4. "At some point, our kids got left on the backburner."
5. He started sexually abusing her when she was seven years old.
6. That's what he's doing, even if it seems farfetched.
7. Their German Sheppard cross had a gaping gash on her back.
8. The West Fargo show highlights student art work.
9. NDSU is hosting the thirteenth annual Sonia Kovalesky High School Day on Sept. 26.
10. Some older boys kept calling the fourth grader "bucktooth."
1. Services include a dental lab, X-rays and a pharmacy.
2. The blast sent a loose piece of Sheetrock falling to the ground.
AP Stylebook: Sheetrock A trademark for a brand of gypsum wallboard.
3. The free hot line provides immediate response to voters.
AP Stylebook: hot line A direct telephone line between government leaders, especially the circuit linking the United States and Russia, for use in crisis situations. Lowercase. Webster's New World Dictionary: telephone line to a social service agency, as a suicide prevention center. two words
4. "At some point, our kids got left on the back burner."
5. He started sexually abusing her when she was 7 years old.
AP Stylebook: ages Always use figures for people and animals (but not for inanimates).
6. That's what he's doing, even if it seems far-fetched.
7. Their German shepherd cross had a gaping gash on her back.
8. The West Fargo show highlights student artwork.
9. NDSU is hosting the 13th annual Sonia Kovalesky High School Day on Sept. 26.
10. Some older boys kept calling the fourth-grader "bucktooth."
AP Stylebook: grade, grader Hyphenate both the noun forms (first-grader, second-grader, 10th-grader, etc.) and the adjectival forms (a fourth-grade pupil, a 12th-grade pupil).
1. Services include a dental lab, x-rays and a pharmacy.
2. The blast sent a loose piece of sheetrock falling to the ground.
3. The free hotline provides immediate response to voters.
4. "At some point, our kids got left on the backburner."
5. He started sexually abusing her when she was seven years old.
6. That's what he's doing, even if it seems farfetched.
7. Their German Sheppard cross had a gaping gash on her back.
8. The West Fargo show highlights student art work.
9. NDSU is hosting the thirteenth annual Sonia Kovalesky High School Day on Sept. 26.
10. Some older boys kept calling the fourth grader "bucktooth."
1. Services include a dental lab, X-rays and a pharmacy.
2. The blast sent a loose piece of Sheetrock falling to the ground.
AP Stylebook: Sheetrock A trademark for a brand of gypsum wallboard.
3. The free hot line provides immediate response to voters.
AP Stylebook: hot line A direct telephone line between government leaders, especially the circuit linking the United States and Russia, for use in crisis situations. Lowercase. Webster's New World Dictionary: telephone line to a social service agency, as a suicide prevention center. two words
4. "At some point, our kids got left on the back burner."
5. He started sexually abusing her when she was 7 years old.
AP Stylebook: ages Always use figures for people and animals (but not for inanimates).
6. That's what he's doing, even if it seems far-fetched.
7. Their German shepherd cross had a gaping gash on her back.
8. The West Fargo show highlights student artwork.
9. NDSU is hosting the 13th annual Sonia Kovalesky High School Day on Sept. 26.
10. Some older boys kept calling the fourth-grader "bucktooth."
AP Stylebook: grade, grader Hyphenate both the noun forms (first-grader, second-grader, 10th-grader, etc.) and the adjectival forms (a fourth-grade pupil, a 12th-grade pupil).
Thursday, October 23, 2008
And you thought I'd disappeared!
I apologize for the lack of posts recently, but I'm back! See if you you can find the flubs in these sentences that were found by copy editors before they appeared in The Forum.
1. He is accused of molesting four girls who were between the ages of 6 to 8 at the time.
2. But five-year-old Ellen is excited that she gets to be like her big brother.
3. The flood study will review various alternatives, including levies.
4. It's holdings include lumber yards in Fargo, Mayville, Pelican Rapids and Perham.
5. He wants to see action on alternative energy in the next Administration.
6. Guan is a medium-sized city of about six million near Beijing.
7. She supports Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama.
8. Charlie embodies the spirit of productive aging as a contributing member to today's workforce.
9. The school district will pay $44,700 a year to lease space for their high school teams.
10. Russia and some other countries in eastern Europe grow many of the same crops as North Dakota farmers.
1. He is accused of molesting four girls who were between the ages of 6 and 8 at the time.
2. But 5-year-old Ellen is excited that she gets to be like her big brother.
AP Stylebook says: ages Always use figures for people and animals (but not for inanimates): The girl is 15 years old; the law is eight years old. When the context does not require years or years old, the figure is presumed to be years. Use hyphens for ages expressed as adjectives before a noun or as substitutes for a noun.
3. The flood study will review various alternatives, including levees.
4. Its holdings include lumber yards in Fargo, Mayville, Pelican Rapids and Perham.
5. He wants to see action on alternative energy in the next administration.
6. Guan is a medium-sized city of about 6 million near Beijing.
AP Stylebook says: millions, billions Use figures with million or billion in all except casual uses: I'd like to make a billion dollars. But: The nation has 1 million citizens. I need $7 billion.
7. She supports Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
8. Charlie embodies the spirit of productive aging as a contributing member to today's work force.
9. The School District will pay $44,700 a year to lease space for its high school teams.
10. Russia and some other countries in Eastern Europe grow many of the same crops as North Dakota farmers.
1. He is accused of molesting four girls who were between the ages of 6 to 8 at the time.
2. But five-year-old Ellen is excited that she gets to be like her big brother.
3. The flood study will review various alternatives, including levies.
4. It's holdings include lumber yards in Fargo, Mayville, Pelican Rapids and Perham.
5. He wants to see action on alternative energy in the next Administration.
6. Guan is a medium-sized city of about six million near Beijing.
7. She supports Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama.
8. Charlie embodies the spirit of productive aging as a contributing member to today's workforce.
9. The school district will pay $44,700 a year to lease space for their high school teams.
10. Russia and some other countries in eastern Europe grow many of the same crops as North Dakota farmers.
1. He is accused of molesting four girls who were between the ages of 6 and 8 at the time.
2. But 5-year-old Ellen is excited that she gets to be like her big brother.
AP Stylebook says: ages Always use figures for people and animals (but not for inanimates): The girl is 15 years old; the law is eight years old. When the context does not require years or years old, the figure is presumed to be years. Use hyphens for ages expressed as adjectives before a noun or as substitutes for a noun.
3. The flood study will review various alternatives, including levees.
4. Its holdings include lumber yards in Fargo, Mayville, Pelican Rapids and Perham.
5. He wants to see action on alternative energy in the next administration.
6. Guan is a medium-sized city of about 6 million near Beijing.
AP Stylebook says: millions, billions Use figures with million or billion in all except casual uses: I'd like to make a billion dollars. But: The nation has 1 million citizens. I need $7 billion.
7. She supports Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
8. Charlie embodies the spirit of productive aging as a contributing member to today's work force.
9. The School District will pay $44,700 a year to lease space for its high school teams.
10. Russia and some other countries in Eastern Europe grow many of the same crops as North Dakota farmers.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Plethora of flubs
This week's post offers a variety of flubs, including style mistakes, misspellings and sentences that can be streamlined. Can you figure out how we improved sentences before they made it into The Forum?
1. Detroit Lakes math teacher Lisa Larson recently paid a visit to the White House.
2. Justin Flaten knows his company has sales opportunities in Columbia.
3. The trade agreement apparently became entangled in the Presidential campaign.
4. The installations include home theatre systems with wall-size screens.
5. He started out as a management consultant doing coding in the late 1990's.
6. "We're going to put a Band-aid on it and we're going to move forward."
7. Members of the State Historical Society of North Dakota will soon say good-bye to a long-time archivist.
8. No arrests have been made, according to spokesperson Mark Jamieson.
9. The seminar is scheduled from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the North Dakota State University Memorial Union.
10. They can require more right-of-way than a conventional intersection.
1. Detroit Lakes math teacher Lisa Larson recently visited the White House.
2. Justin Flaten knows his company has sales opportunities in Colombia.
1. Detroit Lakes math teacher Lisa Larson recently paid a visit to the White House.
2. Justin Flaten knows his company has sales opportunities in Columbia.
3. The trade agreement apparently became entangled in the Presidential campaign.
4. The installations include home theatre systems with wall-size screens.
5. He started out as a management consultant doing coding in the late 1990's.
6. "We're going to put a Band-aid on it and we're going to move forward."
7. Members of the State Historical Society of North Dakota will soon say good-bye to a long-time archivist.
8. No arrests have been made, according to spokesperson Mark Jamieson.
9. The seminar is scheduled from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the North Dakota State University Memorial Union.
10. They can require more right-of-way than a conventional intersection.
1. Detroit Lakes math teacher Lisa Larson recently visited the White House.
2. Justin Flaten knows his company has sales opportunities in Colombia.
3. The trade agreement apparently became entangled in the presidential campaign.
4. The installations include home theater systems with wall-size screens. I've mentioned this style rule before, but it doesn't hurt to repeat. AP Stylebook says: theater Use this spelling unless the proper name is Theatre: Shubert Theatre; or, in a local example, Fargo Theatre.
5. He started out as a management consultant doing coding in the late 1990s.
Again, I've mentioned this style rule before, but it doesn't hurt to repeat. AP Stylebook says: Use an s without an apostrophe to indicate spans of decades or centuries.
6. "We're going to put a Band-Aid on it and we're going to move forward." AP Stylebook says: Band-Aid A trademark for a type of adhesive bandage.
7. The State Historical Society of North Dakota will soon say goodbye to a longtime archivist. Both are in the AP Stylebook.
8. No arrests have been made, according to spokesman Mark Jamieson. AP Stylebook says: spokesman, spokeswoman But not spokesperson. Use a representative if you do not know the sex of the individual.
9. The seminar is scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the North Dakota State University Memorial Union. AP Stylebook says: noon Do not put a 12 in front of it. midnight Do not put a 12 in front of it. times Use figures except for noon and midnight.
10. They can require more right of way than a conventional intersection. Find this in the AP Stylebook.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
10 little gems
See if you can figure out who wrote these little gems that never made it into The Forum.
1. Fifteen piglets were found in the North Dakota badlands.
2. The group is putting the money towards charitable work.
3. The victim showed a blood-alcohol level of .22 percent.
4. The new business has 5 employees.
5. Inappropriately denied claims involve just one percent of all claims.
6. He isn't protecting the administration from flack.
7. The district's long-time building administrator will return part-time through August.
8. Construction costs are estimated at $9.8 to $15.3 million for segment one, $8.4 to $12.5 million for segment two and $11.5 to $14.4 million for segment three.
9. The city owns land south of 1st Avenue and to the west and east of 11th Street.
10. The West Fargo Park District is hosting a "Garden Extravaganza" from 6:30 p.m. to 8;30 p.m. tonight.
1. Fifteen piglets were found in the North Dakota Badlands.
2. The group is putting the money toward charitable work.
3. The victim showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.22 percent.
4. The new business has five employees.
5. Inappropriately denied claims involve just 1 percent of all claims.
6. He isn't protecting the administration from flak.
7. The district's longtime building administrator will return part time through August.
8. Construction costs are estimated at $9.8 million to $15.3 million for segment one, $8.4 million to $12.5 million for segment two and $11.5 million to $14.4 million for segment three.
9. The city owns land south of First Avenue and to the west and east of 11th Street.
10. The West Fargo Park District is hosting a "Garden Extravaganza" from 6:30 to 8;30 tonight.
1. Fifteen piglets were found in the North Dakota badlands.
2. The group is putting the money towards charitable work.
3. The victim showed a blood-alcohol level of .22 percent.
4. The new business has 5 employees.
5. Inappropriately denied claims involve just one percent of all claims.
6. He isn't protecting the administration from flack.
7. The district's long-time building administrator will return part-time through August.
8. Construction costs are estimated at $9.8 to $15.3 million for segment one, $8.4 to $12.5 million for segment two and $11.5 to $14.4 million for segment three.
9. The city owns land south of 1st Avenue and to the west and east of 11th Street.
10. The West Fargo Park District is hosting a "Garden Extravaganza" from 6:30 p.m. to 8;30 p.m. tonight.
1. Fifteen piglets were found in the North Dakota Badlands.
2. The group is putting the money toward charitable work.
3. The victim showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.22 percent.
4. The new business has five employees.
5. Inappropriately denied claims involve just 1 percent of all claims.
6. He isn't protecting the administration from flak.
7. The district's longtime building administrator will return part time through August.
8. Construction costs are estimated at $9.8 million to $15.3 million for segment one, $8.4 million to $12.5 million for segment two and $11.5 million to $14.4 million for segment three.
9. The city owns land south of First Avenue and to the west and east of 11th Street.
10. The West Fargo Park District is hosting a "Garden Extravaganza" from 6:30 to 8;30 tonight.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
10 examples to test your style
Various odds and ends are included in this week's post. See if you can find the flubs that were caught before they made it into The Forum.
1. Lightening either symbolizes inspiration or hints that God is ticked off.
2. His first wish was a stage, a big screen TV and a home theatre.
3. Emotions are rising nationally as leaders debate the question about whether biofuels such as ethanol are driving up food prices.
4. Passersby are urged to drop a poker chip down a board covered with pegs.
5. Her four-year-old son twirled his new blue Elmo backpack.
6. "There's no reason to think that someone looking at a place couldn't consider Glyndon as they consider places in South Fargo.
7. Hennen kicks off his new station with some help from presumptive Republican Presidential nominee John McCain.
8. The new south side fire station opens in about two years.
9. The cafe serves homemade soups, fresh salads and sandwiches to compliment Vintner's Cellar wine selections.
10. Camp staff members follow preventative measures to avoid accidents.
1. Lightning either symbolizes inspiration or hints that God is ticked off.
2. His first wish was a stage, a big-screen TV and a home theater.
3. Emotions are rising nationally as leaders debate whether biofuels such as ethanol are driving up food prices.
The original sentence was too wordy.
4. Passers-by are urged to drop a poker chip down a board covered with pegs.
5. Her 4-year-old son twirled his new blue Elmo backpack.
6. "There's no reason to think that someone looking at a place couldn't consider Glyndon as they consider places in south Fargo.
7. Hennen kicks off his new station with some help from presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
8. The new southside fire station opens in about two years.
9. The cafe serves homemade soups, fresh salads and sandwiches to complement Vintner's Cellar wine selections.
10. Camp staff members follow preventive measures to avoid accidents.
1. Lightening either symbolizes inspiration or hints that God is ticked off.
2. His first wish was a stage, a big screen TV and a home theatre.
3. Emotions are rising nationally as leaders debate the question about whether biofuels such as ethanol are driving up food prices.
4. Passersby are urged to drop a poker chip down a board covered with pegs.
5. Her four-year-old son twirled his new blue Elmo backpack.
6. "There's no reason to think that someone looking at a place couldn't consider Glyndon as they consider places in South Fargo.
7. Hennen kicks off his new station with some help from presumptive Republican Presidential nominee John McCain.
8. The new south side fire station opens in about two years.
9. The cafe serves homemade soups, fresh salads and sandwiches to compliment Vintner's Cellar wine selections.
10. Camp staff members follow preventative measures to avoid accidents.
1. Lightning either symbolizes inspiration or hints that God is ticked off.
2. His first wish was a stage, a big-screen TV and a home theater.
3. Emotions are rising nationally as leaders debate whether biofuels such as ethanol are driving up food prices.
The original sentence was too wordy.
4. Passers-by are urged to drop a poker chip down a board covered with pegs.
5. Her 4-year-old son twirled his new blue Elmo backpack.
6. "There's no reason to think that someone looking at a place couldn't consider Glyndon as they consider places in south Fargo.
7. Hennen kicks off his new station with some help from presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
8. The new southside fire station opens in about two years.
9. The cafe serves homemade soups, fresh salads and sandwiches to complement Vintner's Cellar wine selections.
10. Camp staff members follow preventive measures to avoid accidents.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
We all need learnin'
Everyone could use a little education. That includes reporters and copy editors. With this post, we'll offer a quiz based on recent education-themed sentences that were edited before getting into The Forum.
See if you can pick out the flubs.
1. About 40 percent of Minnesota students in grades 5 and 8 are proficient in science.
2. Seven members of her cabinet joined her on stage.
3. Many of the south side schools will be full because of the south side's growth.
4. The district anticipates an enrollment of 860 kindergarteners.
5. It's the first year both districts are offering all-day kindergarten district-wide.
6. Thirty-two percent of the state's 12th graders smoke.
7. But five-year-old Ellen is excited she gets to be like her big brother.
1. About 40 percent of Minnesota students in grades five and eight are proficient in science.
2. Seven members of her Cabinet joined her on stage.
AP Stylebook says: cabinet Capitalize references to a specific body of advisers heading executive departments for a president, king, govvernor, etc. The capital letter distinguishes the word from the common noun meaning cupboard, which is lowercase.
The example refers to Minnesota State University Moorhead President Edna Szymanski's Cabinet of advisers.
3. Many of the southside schools will be full because of the southside's growth.
4. The district anticipates an enrollment of 860 kindergartners.
5. It's the first year both districts are offering all-day kindergarten districtwide.
AP Stylebook says: -wide No hyphen. Some examples: Citywide, nationwide, continentwide, statewide, countrywide, worldwide, industrywide.
6. Thirty-two percent of the state's 12th-graders smoke.
7. But 5-year-old Ellen is excited she gets to be like her big brother.
See if you can pick out the flubs.
1. About 40 percent of Minnesota students in grades 5 and 8 are proficient in science.
2. Seven members of her cabinet joined her on stage.
3. Many of the south side schools will be full because of the south side's growth.
4. The district anticipates an enrollment of 860 kindergarteners.
5. It's the first year both districts are offering all-day kindergarten district-wide.
6. Thirty-two percent of the state's 12th graders smoke.
7. But five-year-old Ellen is excited she gets to be like her big brother.
1. About 40 percent of Minnesota students in grades five and eight are proficient in science.
2. Seven members of her Cabinet joined her on stage.
AP Stylebook says: cabinet Capitalize references to a specific body of advisers heading executive departments for a president, king, govvernor, etc. The capital letter distinguishes the word from the common noun meaning cupboard, which is lowercase.
The example refers to Minnesota State University Moorhead President Edna Szymanski's Cabinet of advisers.
3. Many of the southside schools will be full because of the southside's growth.
4. The district anticipates an enrollment of 860 kindergartners.
5. It's the first year both districts are offering all-day kindergarten districtwide.
AP Stylebook says: -wide No hyphen. Some examples: Citywide, nationwide, continentwide, statewide, countrywide, worldwide, industrywide.
6. Thirty-two percent of the state's 12th-graders smoke.
7. But 5-year-old Ellen is excited she gets to be like her big brother.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Can you guess who wrote these sentences?
See if you can find the flubs in this week's sentences that were edited before they appeared in The Forum.
1. "Everyday I get a customer from the old store and everyday we get new customers."
2. A career soldier had his life spared on two different occasions because of a decision made by two different individuals.
3. City Commissioners voted Monday to approve a rate increase.
4. The Kennedy's met while attending Marin Bible College.
5. "This is Democracy at its best."
6. The City of Moorhead will reveal an update to a feasability study.
7. The commercial features elementary school children.
8. "There's a lot going on under those grey hairs."
1. "Every day I get a customer from the old store and every day we get new customers."
2. A career soldier had his life spared on two occasions because of a decision made by two individuals.
3. City commissioners voted Monday to approve a rate increase.
4. The Kennedys met while attending Marin Bible College.
5. "This is democracy at its best."
6. The city of Moorhead will reveal an update to a feasability study.
7. The commercial features elementary schoolchildren.
1. "Everyday I get a customer from the old store and everyday we get new customers."
2. A career soldier had his life spared on two different occasions because of a decision made by two different individuals.
3. City Commissioners voted Monday to approve a rate increase.
4. The Kennedy's met while attending Marin Bible College.
5. "This is Democracy at its best."
6. The City of Moorhead will reveal an update to a feasability study.
7. The commercial features elementary school children.
8. "There's a lot going on under those grey hairs."
1. "Every day I get a customer from the old store and every day we get new customers."
2. A career soldier had his life spared on two occasions because of a decision made by two individuals.
3. City commissioners voted Monday to approve a rate increase.
4. The Kennedys met while attending Marin Bible College.
5. "This is democracy at its best."
6. The city of Moorhead will reveal an update to a feasability study.
7. The commercial features elementary schoolchildren.
8. "There's a lot going on under those gray hairs."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)