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More common mistakes of English language

2011-10-13T08:56:00.001-07:00

More common mistakes of English language

Mentioned here are some more common mistakes of English language. Please note that I will not go in detail because my aim in this post is to highlight the difference of the words that are similar and to furnish obvious errors so that readers can correct their mistakes. I request you to kindly let me know what you feel about these posts either by leaving your comments or by writing to me. Be brutally honest, your feedback will be of immense importance to me.

“Seize” and “cease”. “S-e-i-z-e” is a verb and means to grab something: “I seized the opportunity of having coffee with him.” “My warden ma’am seized my phone.” “The police seized his property” “C-e-a-s-e” is also a verb and means to stop, end, desist etc. “We are ceasing to design websites.” “Our excellent services would never cease for our customers”
“Except” and “accept”. “E-x-c-e-p-t” is a preposition and means apart from, excluding, but etc. “Except on Sundays, I don’t like wearing T-shirts.” “Except George, everyone passed” “A-c-c-e-p-t” is a verb and means to take, receive, agree, believe etc. “Please accept my offer.” “I accepted the letter.” “John accepted that I was right”
“Effect” and “affect”. “E-f-f-e-c-t” is a noun and means result, consequence, outcome etc. “The effect of the revolution is that they gained independence.” “A-f-f-e-c-t” is a verb and means have an effect on, to pretend. “The bad weather affected my health.” “Ever since he has returned from America, he affects their accent.”
“Site,” “sight” and “cite”. “S-i-t-e” is a noun and means a place, location, spot etc. “The construction site.” “S-i-g-h-t” is a noun and means view, spectacle, scene, the ability to see etc. “From this lobby the sea sight looks marvellous.” “Joe has some sight problem.” “C-i-t-e” is a verb and means to quote, name, mention, refer etc. “Citing the example of Gandhiji, Gita represented the theme of nonviolence.” “William cited several authentic books to prove his point.”
“Practice” and “practise”. “P-r-a-c-t-i-c-e” is a noun and means rehearsal, preparation, training etc. “A week before the final presentation, it was the practice of students to give presentations among themselves.” “Peter made it a practice to run five kilometres every morning.” It is important to note that “practice” is also used as a verb in US English. “P-r-a-c-t-i-s-e” is a verb and means to repeatedly do something in order to gain mastery etc. “Everyday Sara practises on the typewriter.”
The plural of “life” is “lives” not “lifes”. It should be “Our lives are good here” not “Our lifes are good here.”
The plural of “wife” is “wives” not “wifes”. It should be “Tom’s wives are opposing his third marriage,” not “Tom’s wifes are opposing his third marriage.”
Many people, writing the plural of “NGO,” put an apostrophe such as “NGO’s,” which is wrong. The correct word would simply be “NGOs”.
The plural of “software” is never “softwares”. When I searched the plural form of “software,” I found out that it is a collective noun.
“In fact” are two separate words, but many people join “in” with “fact” such as “Infact” which is wrong.

Common errors of English language

2011-10-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

Common errors of English language

I am listing some common errors of English language.

It is always “ma’am” but many people omit the apostrophe and write “mam” which is a blunder.
In “up to,” there is always a space between “up” and “to”. It is never “upto”.
In a sentence with “though,” “but” is not needed. You cannot say, “Though Tom is good, but his company is bad.” The correct sentence will read: “Though Tom is good, his company is bad.”
“I will be more happier” is a blunder because double comparative is used. It should simply be “I will be happier.” This rule should be applied on all the similar sentences.
People frequently err using “my” and “mine”. When “my” is used, the object has to be mentioned such as “My computer is not working.” “Where is my mobile?” “My shirt is loose” etc. But, when we use “mine,” the talked about object does not need to be mentioned. For example, if Tom talks further to “My computer is not working” – It should be “But mine is working well” – not “My is working well.” If he needs to answer the question “Where is my mobile?” it would be “It is with mine” – not “It is with my.” And talking about the shirt, he can say “Mine is fit” not “My is fit.”
Difference between “Lose” and “Loose” is very obvious yet sometimes people get confused. “Lose” is a verb which means to be defeated – “Those who think they will win never lose,” to misplace or drop “I have lost my pen,” etc. “Loose,” on the other hand, is an adjective which means something not fit, tight etc. “My shirt is loose.” “Loose” can also be used as a verb. There are other meanings of these words but I merely highlighted the difference.
“Does it works?” “What does he thinks?” are wrong sentences. The correct ones would read: “Does it work?” and “What does he think?”
“Role” and “Roll” mustn’t be interchanged. “Role” is a noun and is used as “John has played a key role in the organization,” “The role of the comedian was crucial in the movie” etc. “Roll,” on the other hand, is a verb and is used as “He has rolled up the chart,” “The wheels of the vehicles were rolling” etc.
“Past” and “Passed”. “Past” is an adjective which is referred when talking about a thing which has been over such as “past happiness,” “past president” etc. “Passed,” on the other hand, is the past tense of “pass”. “I have passed my graduation,” “Have you passed that information to everyone in the class?” etc.
The pronunciation of “chore” (which is a noun and means a task or job) is as ch in child, and oor in door; but many people utter it from the K sound which is wrong. Cambridge dictionary website and howjsay.com are excellent sources to listen to the audio pronunciation.

Please click Avoid Common Errors and Errors to Avoid as I am sure that you all will find them very useful.

Separation

2011-04-21T02:27:00.000-07:00

Separation

It is with a kind of an inexplicable joy that I am writing this post because I write very lightly yet you folks find it praiseworthy. (Inexplicable adjective: unable to be understood or explained.) I thank you all with my complete heart for appreciating my posts.

I am afraid I have not written here that I was in Delhi for a good period of time. I was pursuing diploma in computer applications and communications skills course from that big smoke. (Big smoke: big city.) I must timorously confess that I was never good at studies, and these courses were really beyond my abilities. (Timorously adverb fearfully or shyly.) But please don’t you presume that I failed in these courses for I did manage to get through them!

Somehow I also managed to get a job of website developer. It was like a lovely dream as this was the kind of job I was looking forward to! I was worried because my course was about to over and before that I had to get a suitable job.

My worry was intensified because employers all over India have preconceived notions against the blind, so for me, the chances of getting a suitable job were slim. Needless to tell, preconceived notions are wrong, and if they turn out to be right, it is due to sheer chance.

Whether these dim- witted (dim-witted: stupid or silly) employers understand this or not...I must tell that it is always ‘blind’ and not ‘blinds’; in plural we use it as ‘the blind’.

Anyway, as I was joyfully returning from the interview, it struck me that I will be separated from my friends. The grief of leaving them was so intense that it pretty overwhelmed me even in my joy. (Grief noun deep sorrow or suffering.) You rarely feel happy and sad at the same time, and when you do get in such a curious condition, a perplexed flood of excitement thrills your heart. Lost in excitement, I ran into the back of a parked truck and got an injury on my forehead from the protruding rods. (Protruding: sticking out.) Coincidently, as I write this post, a fresh injury at the same place on my forehead has been ripped open by a trolley which was hooked up to a tractor.

Those two days I was happy because the studies I had done were bearing fruits; sad because I was leaving my beloved friends; hopeful and nervous because I was entering the professional life; energetic because I had been appreciated; tired because of packing and finding a new place. It was an inexplicable storm of mixed emotions that I had never thought about.

We had planned that on getting jobs we will rent a flat and live together, but it was childish and impractical. Now we all are living in different cities: separation is all part of life’s rich tapestry. (Be all part of life’s rich pageant/tapestry [literary]: a sad and difficult but an unavoidable part of life.)

Inexplicable joy
Preconceived notions
A perplexed flood of excitement
An inexplicable storm of mixed emotions
Childish and impractical

Talking up

2010-12-20T07:55:00.000-08:00

Talking up

I am sorry because I have not updated this blog since a very long time. But to my joy, I have been receiving your comments, and where most of them were
encouraging, a few appeared in any encrypted form (encrypted: electronic information or signals not understood due to secret coding.) I am amazed at the
creativity of people that how they manage to invent all that stuff! Naturally, I have not released those unclear comments.

At the moment I am stuck up in a building because some political leaders are about to arrive and due to security concerns I am unable to make a move.
I don't have my mobile phone otherwise I would have talked with my friend to while away these moments (while away something: to pass time in a relaxed
way as you have nothing to do or you are waiting for something.) So, I have cracked open this laptop to write for the blog. Good idea?

I phone my friends and love talking with them. (It is never 'phone to someone' - it is always 'phone someone'.) Spending time talking over phone often
makes people believe that you are having a romantic affair with someone, however, I am very far from it. Once my warden ma’am took me to task on this suspicion,
but thankfully I was able to convince her (take someone to task: to scold someone.)

A joyous thing in winters is warm sun. I enjoy warming myself in sun (not in sunshine / sunlight because linguistically it is wrong) and if I am having
tea and my beloved laptop is with me, it becomes like a dream.

I think that now those politicians have left and I can move. Heartfelt thanks for your sweet company and for bearing with me! I am very thankful because
you people like reading this blog, though really there is nothing special about it. I love you all!

Talking Again

2010-10-07T08:19:00.000-07:00

Talking Again

I have numberless things to tell you but converting the thoughts to written words is a titanic task. I require a tremendous effort of the will to give a shipshape and clear exit to my thoughts and ideas (which try to rush out from my mind) otherwise whatever I write - it appears futile to the readers. This, I feel, is a common problem for all the novices; practice is the key to clarity.

As my fingers are dancing on the keyboard, the lovely breeze laden with the fragrance of the coming winters is filling me up with mirth. I can hear,
a bit far from here, a pigeon is flying and the sound of its wings is giving me joy; the sweet warmth of the setting sun is brimming everything with love and life!

But tell me anyone why on earth I am scribbling all this stuff when I wanted to tell you some common mistakes of English language? Beautiful weather
and romantic evening are actually forcing me to beat about the bush!

Listing the meanings of the words used above before going to the mistakes of English language:

Titanic [adjective] extremely powerful, strong, important or large (taken from dictionary.cambridge.org)

Shipshape [adjective] (informal) tidy and with everything in its correct place (taken from dictionary.cambridge.org)

Futile [adjective] (of actions) having no effect or achieving nothing; unsuccessful (taken from dictionary.cambridge.org)

Novice [n.] 1. A person new to a field or activity; a beginner. 2. A person who has entered a religious order but has not yet taken final vows. Also called novitiate. (taken from thefreedictionary.com)

Fragrance [noun] 1. A sweet or pleasant smell 2. A liquid which people put on their bodies to make themselves smell pleasant (taken from dictionary.cambridge.org)

Mirth [noun] (literary) laughter, humour or happiness (taken from dictionary.cambridge.org)

Scribble [verb] to write or draw something quickly or carelessly. Also scribble [noun] a careless piece of writing or drawing (taken from dictionary.cambridge.org)

Beat around the bush (UK also beat about the bush) to avoid talking about what is important (taken from dictionary.cambridge.org)

Mistakes of English language

It is always “one of my friends / neighbours / shirts etc.” because you are pointing a single item from a group. You cannot say, “one of my friend
/ neighbour / shirt etc.”

Never write “Your’s sincerely / faithfully” because it is always “Yours sincerely / faithfully” (People using screen readers need switching to all
punctuation in order to get this one)

The spelling of “surname” is (S-U-R-N-A-M-E) but folks like me put “I” instead of “U”!

Past tense of “hurt” remains “hurt”

Past tense of “hold” is “held” and not “holded”

If you wish to read more common as well as uncommon mistakes of English language, you can click Avoid
Common Errors and Errors to Avoid. These posts were thankfully appreciated
by the readers - you too might find them useful.

Trying something new

2010-06-20T05:31:00.000-07:00

Trying something new

Tomorrow I have to give a presentation on global warming. But since my system went out of kilter, so I could not study anything about it.

I am feeling very nervous because of it. However, I will keep on preparing the presentation and when I will feel that my nervousness is exacerbating, I will get back to you so that I can freshen up my mind.

You might have noticed that I have not provided the meanings of the aforementioned words and idioms. This is because a candid reader very thankfully pointed out that it is disturbing to read the meanings interlaced in the post, so I settled on furnishing them at the bottom of this post. Well, I am trying something new, and I wish that you will enjoy it.

Alternating between the presentation and this post is enjoyable!

Last night I planned that I will be up early in the morning so that I can give sufficient time to the presentation. Yes the same planning; but I had not slept properly since two nights so previous night I slept like a log - and now I am pacing well behind the time!

I am getting a presentiment that I won’t be able to give the presentation properly. This is partly because it is a graphical presentation to which I am very new. I am afraid I have to cut short this post to focus more on the presentation lest tomorrow I will be fishing in troubled waters!

Out of kilter: in a state of not working well (dictionary.cambridge.org)

Exacerbate: verb To make something which is already bad worse (dictionary.cambridge.org)

Candid: adjective Honest and telling the truth, especially about something difficult or painful (dictionary.cambridge.org)

Interlace: verb To join different parts together to make a whole, especially by crossing one thing over another or fitting one part into another (dictionary.cambridge.org)

Sleep like a log and sleep like a baby: to sleep very soundly (thefreedictionary.com)

Presentiment noun [This word is formal]: A feeling that something, especially something unpleasant, is going to happen; a premonition (dictionary.cambridge.org)

Fish in troubled waters: Fig. to involve oneself in a difficult, confused, or dangerous situation, especially with a view to gaining an advantage (thefreedictionary.com)

Talking again

2010-06-03T02:49:00.001-07:00

Talking again

I am very silently writing this post so that our warden ma’am remains unaware that I am in the computer lab. Hush, she is sleeping, so I will make less noise.

Actually we are not allowed to enter the lab so early in the morning but I come in a surreptitious manner! ‘Surreptitious,’ according to dictionary.cambridge.com, is an adjective which means ‘done secretly, without anyone seeing or knowing.’

To my surprise, I recently learnt that our warden ma’am is above 60. But hale and hearty, she keeps on roaring and running around the hostel like a commando. ‘Hale and hearty’ is used when we refer to people who are strong and energetic in spite of their old age.

Before sneaking in the lab I had no idea that what I will write. But thanks to this roaring warden ma’am that I have got ample ideas to write on. If ever she will know that I am writing such rubbish about her, she will definitely haul me over the coals! ‘Rake / haul someone over the coals,’ according to thefreedictionary.com, means ‘to give someone a severe scolding.’ She last raked me over the coals when she found that my bed was untidy, and I did nothing to make it tidy!

Please do not mind it - I am a workshy chap so I rarely like to clean my room! ‘Workshy,’ (adjective) thefreedictionary.com: ‘not inclined to work; lazy.’

I am going out to bring a cup of tea for myself. Please wait.

Hmm, I am back. I was feeling a bit drowsy but because of this tea I am feeling as fresh as a daisy! Now some of you will think that what the dickens ‘be fresh as a daisy’ is.’ Well, according to thefreedictionary.com, it means ‘to be full of energy and enthusiasm.’

When I gave a start to this post I had no foreknowledge what its matter is going to be. But, encouraged by your feedback, I wrote it. Did I pan out as a blogger?

Before shutting up let me copy paste the meaning of ‘pan out’ from thefreedictionary.com! This phrasal verb means ‘To turn out well; be successful.’

Talk up

2010-05-30T06:15:00.000-07:00

Talk up

It has been a long time since I posted last. Every Sunday I used to think that I will write but I found myself tasked anywhere else.

Thankfully, today as time is on my hands, I thought of talking with you. ‘Time on your hands’ means ‘a time when you have nothing to do’ and this is the favourite period of my life because in it I pursue whatever I wish to!

I had planned that on Sunday I will wake up early so that I could clear the mess of my room and wash my clothes. Writing here, reading David Copperfield and meeting a person was also in my mind.

But I must confess that last night I kept on tossing and turning because I was thinking where the devil to get a job from! Due to this reason I have not been able to properly execute the plan I had made for this Sunday. ‘Toss and turn’ means ‘to be unable to sleep because of any trouble.’

Thinking about the little appreciation people give me, and ignoring how false it is, I slept!

I woke up pretty fresh, albeit late. When on Sundays I don’t set out for any place, I read and write a lot. I also drink lots of tea and coffee!

Never put ‘A’ when you say ‘lots of’ - and never skip ‘A’ when you say ‘a lot of’. It is never ‘a lots of’ and it is never ‘lot of’. A lot of people make this mistake and it is curious that lots of them even know about it!

Such oversights should be taken care of, because they discolour the communication. ‘Oversight,’ according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is a noun and it means ‘a mistake made because of a failure to notice something.’

In writing the aforementioned stuff, my computer hanged several times, and it broke my heart to smithereens. ‘Smithereens’: ‘small pieces or bits’.

So, I will end this post here. I have to also wash my clothes! It would be heartening to hear from you. I like you all very much! God bless everyone!

Improving English

2010-04-08T23:06:00.000-07:00

Improving English

If you sincerely write what you feel, you will catch the attention of your readers. I have read that the writing style that touches the heart of the reader springs from a sincere heart.

Words

Prosaic: adjective (Formal) lacking interest, imagination and variety; boring. [This meaning was from dictionary.cambridge.org]

If you are in love with the career you are in, you will never find your life prosaic.

Stonewall verb to stop a discussion from developing by refusing to answer questions or by talking in such a way that you prevent other people from giving their opinions. [This meaning was from dictionary.cambridge.org]

Mr James, understanding that he won’t be able to defend himself, chose to stonewall the matter.

Doughty: adj. Marked by stouthearted courage; brave. [This meaning was from thefreedictionary.com]

The corporate sector is meant for doughty characters.

Idioms

De trop (formal) unnecessary, unwanted or more than is suitable. [This meaning was from thefreedictionary.com]

Presuming that the praises showered on him are de trop, Tom got embarrassed.

The in thing (to do): the fashionable thing to do. [This meaning was from thefreedictionary.com]

Consuming soft drinks is the in thing to do.

Cooler heads prevail: Fig. the ideas or influence of less emotional people prevail. (Used of a tense situation.) [This meaning was from thefreedictionary.com]

People know that cooler heads prevail, but little they do to get rid of their emotions.

Phrases

Incomparably excellent: Sachin is incomparably excellent at batting.

Inborn refinement: An orator of inborn refinement easily attracts the attention of his audience.

Insufficient appreciation: Tom was disheartened due to the insufficient appreciation his work received.

I will also furnish a few common mistakes we make, so please keep on coming to this little place.

Improving English Etc.

2010-04-06T04:06:00.000-07:00

Improving English Etc.

Bear with me as I know that I am taking long silences. But a new feature called FeedBurner has been added to this blog using which you can subscribe to my posts.

For those who are using screen readers: I am afraid - in the process of getting subscription captcha will intimidate you. Just let me know if you face difficulty passing it and I will try to get you through the thing.

Captcha is to confirm whether the user is a human or robot. In the technical language, “robot” is referred as “bot” - meaning that it is controlled by anyone else.

A “bot” is a part of a huge number of hijacked computers that are controlled by a single person. And a group of hijacked computers is called “botnet”.

Can I tee off the English stuff? Here is the meaning of “tee off”! This phrasal verb means “to begin something” or “to make angry or disgusted.”

I have taken the meaning of the aforementioned phrasal verb from (thefreedictionary.com). I mentioned the source otherwise Google would have teed me off by banning my blog!

A very positive English proverb is: “The darkest hour is always before dawn.” This proverb says just before sunrise the sky is at its blackest - implying that when good time is in the offing the problems too are at their extreme.

“In the offing” is an idiom which means “anything likely to happen soon.”

My holidays are in the offing - so hopefully I will visit home!

How many of you are living away from home? How lovely the embrace of the family is, one learns after living away from it. I won’t add anything to it otherwise pearly tears might stream down from the beautiful eyes of anyone! I have a very nice nephew, who misses me a lot.

Why do you people always misunderstand me!

Difference between ‘elder’ and ‘older’. ‘Elder’ is used when a person refers to the members of his own family. An example: My elder brother has a nice voice.

Importantly, when ‘than’ is used with ‘elder’, the sentence will read: “My sister is ten years elder than I.” It is wrong to say “My sister is ten years elder than me.”

‘Older’ can be used with both people and things. But, when it is used with people, a person cannot refer to the members of his own family.

You can say “The boy sitting in the first row appears older to me.” But it would be wrong if you say “The boy sitting in the first row appears elder to me,” because that boy isn’t your family member.

Using ‘older’ with things is very simple: “This building is older than that one.”

I hope that I will not tee you off by talking a bit about business!

Assets: Things of possessions that can be converted into cash are called assets. Cash is also assets.

Assets are of two types: fixed assets and current assets. Fixed assets or long-term assets have a life of more than a year. Land, Building, machinery etc., are fixed assets. Additionally, there are intangible fixed assets like the goodwill or brand of a company.

Things that can be easily and quickly converted into cash are current assets. These include money at the bank, bills receivable, debts (the money which someone has to pay you back) etc.

A customer gives bills receivable to the businessman in the place of cash. Thereafter, these bills receivable are quickly converted into cash.

That was all I brought for you. If you have any suggestions for me or if you find me erring anywhere, just let me know. I will really love to read anything written by you.

Let’s Talk

2010-03-11T03:07:00.000-08:00

Let’s Talk

I wrote here that I will furnish some financial and technical terms. These terms are used very often yet many a times people don’t understand them. But it is very important for us to have an idea of these terms, because they extensively come in use. Further, I forgot to tell you that I will keep on furnishing stuff which would help you improve your English, because I was distracted by the two idiotic but nice girls who coloured me while I was writing the post.

Girls are becoming rather frolicsome these days! My teacher told me this after reading my post. He might have thought my vocabulary is good. But I needed looking up the meaning of ‘frolicsome’ in the Cambridge dictionary!

‘Frolicsome’ is an adjective which means “enthusiastic and playful.”

Responding to his email I made a blunder. I wrote. “Thanks a lot for taking out time of reading my post despite of your intensely hectic schedule.”

We never add ‘of’ with ‘despite’. ‘Of’ is used with ‘in spite’. So the correct sentence will read:

Thanks a lot for taking out time of reading my post in spite of your intensely hectic schedule.

Sir please excuse your student!

A bad thing about me is that I rarely prepare for things. This is the secret of my failures. I enjoy reading impromptu and spontaneous pieces.

‘Impromptu’ adjective (dictionary.cambridge.org): “done or said without earlier planning or preparation.”

You will not look the meaning of ‘spontaneous’ in the dictionary website I mentioned above! Am I right? So here it is

‘Spontaneous’ adjective: “happening or done in a natural, often sudden way, without any planning or without being forced.“ Telling you another secret - this is an impromptu post!

I am giving a start to the financial glossary by telling the meaning of ‘deflation’. When the prices of goods and services go down, we call it ‘deflation’. ‘Inflation’, on the contrary, is the state when the prices of goods and services rise.

Do you know the meaning of ‘bull market’? In a ‘bull market’ prices normally rise and the confidence of investors gets a boost.

Well, now I am going to wind up this impromptu post by telling a technical word. A ‘CARDER’ is a person who steals credit card numbers or information related to them and earns a living. Idiot.

Irrational protests (The Hindu)

2010-03-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

Irrational protests

Ms Nasreen has clarified that she did not write the article, of which a ‘translation' was carried in the Kannada daily. Immediate action should be taken against the newspaper for publishing an article that was both provocative and unauthentic. Freedom of expression, undoubtedly, is a crucial aspect of journalism. But credibility is equally crucial. Regrettably, the Kannada daily ignored all principles of journalism.

It is perhaps the first instance when Ms Nasreen has not intentionally come to the limelight. The newspaper seems to have used her name.

Shadab Husain,

Lucknow

http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/04/stories/2010030453930801.htm

Back to Writing

2010-02-28T05:48:00.000-08:00

Back to Writing

It is very sweet and thrilling for me as I am back to begin writing on this blog. I am aware that you people would have got annoyed with me because there was a long silence on my part.

Nevertheless, I must tell you that the reasons behind this silence were genuine. But dear readers, don’t think that I am going to bore you by telling those reasons! So before we get on, please accept the heartfelt apologies of this small blogger for taking such a long break.

Sometimes it happens with me that all of a sudden a topic pops up in my mind and I start talking on it. To my curiosity, for the moment I am in a mood to talk about the weather.

Kindly note that ‘weather’ is (W-E-A-T-H-E-R) which relates to meteorology (the science of atmosphere). People who use screen readers tend to mix this ‘weather’ with (W-H-E-T-H-E-R) which is used with ‘or’ when there are two options.

I clarified this presuming that people like me would get confused whether I am talking about ‘weather’ or ‘whether’!

I enjoy all the seasons (often even the hated Indian summers). Mind you, in the West if you say ‘Indian summers’, it will mean "a time of warm weather which happens in early autumn." And they thoroughly enjoy it!

This idiom also refers to a successful or pleasant time of someone’s life, especially when one is very old. So we can say “Our octogenarian grandmamma is in her Indian summers because kids love and fondle her a lot.” By the way, ‘octogenarian’ refers to people who are in their eighties. Caught?

To my joy, this part of the year is my favourite because spring is on and there is a joy of change in the air. In winters I kept on craving for romance but pitiably there was no one to talk with. Anyway, I have kept my fingers crossed that in the near future I will get that special someone who will make a lovely company. A lovely green parrot. Aren’t parrots romantic?

I am not kidding you!

New plan

To carry out our day-to-day tasks it is necessary to have a general understanding of business terms. So I will post them here.

Methinks technical glossary too is something we should be updated with because many a times it happens that a word or phrase crops up here and there and we are left on guesses and ideas to find its meaning. So of course there will be some stuff on the web which would be very beneficial for you. And those who are planning to carve a niche on the World Wide Web would definitely find it amazing. ‘Carving a niche’ means making a position.

Two idiotic girls just intruded here and coloured me. Now I have to go asking how to clean this colour. Several folks are threatening me outside...getting a joyful fear! It is Holi! Happy Holi to you all!!!

Memorials & statues (The Hindu)

2009-07-03T20:16:00.000-07:00

Memorials & statues

This refers to the editorial “Symbols over substance?” (July 3) on the Supreme Court’s notice to the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh for its spending on memorials and statues. Ms Mayawati has put up many memorials and statues for Dalit leaders and work on many more is on. But who stands to gain from them?

For most Dalit children, proper education is a farfetched dream even today. There are a host of memorials and statues in Uttar Pradesh but the living condition of Dalits is pitiable.

Shadab Husain,

Lucknow

http://www.hindu.com:80/2009/07/04/stories/2009070455871001.htm

Informative Chat of Pinky and Bobby

2009-07-01T03:24:00.001-07:00

Informative Chat of Pinky and Bobby

Oh so lovely!

Thank you very much Pinky for praising my face.

Pah! I was thinking about New Zealand which has been named the most peaceful country in the annual Global Peace Index. You have a face like a wet weekend!

Are you looking into the mirror?

Are you blind or what? I am reading this magazine. See, cannot you see it?

Ya I can see! But you said I have a face like a wet weekend (which means to look very unhappy). And since you always look like that so I thought that you are looking into the mirror!

Shut up. I am planning a trip to New Zealand.

Oh No no no! Let the Kiwis live peacefully in their island country. Jericho would be the best place for you.

Hey you are sending me to the lowest point on earth which is not covered with water and where war between the Zionist regime and the Palestinians can spark off at any moment!

Ya I know that, that’s why I am sending you there. The atmosphere of war will suit your nature!

Right. I can become a private source to Irene Khan, the General Secretary of the Amnesty International, and shall keep her updated about the human rights violation! And it would be because of my unprejudiced intelligence!

And Pinky one pleasant morning I will read in the newspaper that you are shot dead! “Unprejudiced intelligence”, good phrase by the way! Cheated me, no doubt.

You are a perfect idiot. I would no longer sit with you. I am going!

Informative Chat of Pinky and Bobby

2009-05-31T19:24:00.000-07:00

Informative Chat of Pinky and Bobby

Good morning Pinky!

Good morning, Bobby!

It is since long you are exercising. Do not you get bored?

No it is good! Regular exercise increases endorphins, the hormones which decrease the pain and stress.

But do not you get tired?

Yes I do get tired but it is called eustress which is a positive form of stress!

Hell with your health! I love sipping warm coffee with the newspaper every morning. And the news is that Mr Madhav Kumar Nepal is the new Prime Minister of Nepal!

Well just see how many new governments are forming? See, Mr Manmohan Singh became the prime minister of India. A little before that, Mr Jacob Zuma became the president of South Africa. And now you are telling about Mr Madhav Kumar Nepal. It would be easy to remember his name because it is the namesake of his country!

How childish is your mind! Become like me, I never forget anything. I am smart!

Really? Then let me ask you something.

Alright!

You say that you read the newspaper every morning. Then do you remember the name of the royal palace of Nepal, that had been a symbol of the country’s monarchy, and has recently been turned to a museum?

Ya ya ya! It is Narayanhiti Royal palace! Now restart your exercise and do not tick me off.

Well I am over with it. I am dying to know the meaning of tick off! Tell me!

It means to annoy or make angry.

I was not ticking you off. But you said it because you are a curmudgeon. Before you could beg me to tell the meaning of curmudgeon, I will tell you its meaning. It is a noun and means an ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn ideas.

I knew the meaning! And you damn fool shut up.

You you just get out!

English Class

2009-05-30T23:45:00.000-07:00

English Class

Simplicity is the essence of writing. But, because of our craze of using high-sounding words and making needlessly new sentences, many of us become habitual of artificial writing.

I think that this happens when we try to show that our writing style is special. And the moment we do it, we move away from simplicity and turn to artificiality, which is regarded to be a cardinal sin in writing.

Therefore we must never try to show that our writing style is different or special.

Words of the day

Shambolic: adj. Chaotic or disorderly. Throwing our city in a shambolic state, the cyclone turned towards the nearby villages to cause destruction.

Moniker: n. A nickname or personal name. The moniker of Nelson Mandela is Madiba. Often monikers sound very funny!

Inure also enure: v. To become habitual to anything undesirable, especially by prolonged subjection. For Tom, earlier bearing loneliness was difficult, but now he has got inured to it.

Idioms of the day

Like flies to manure: Eagerly assembling in a large number. (Always used to denote something negative). Those folks were running after that arrogant billionaire like flies to manure.

Through thick and thin: Through good and bad times. It would be lovelier if I gained a person who can remain with me through thick and thin.

Send someone on a wild-goose chase: To send someone on a useless or pointless search. As informed the police rushed to the spot to arrest the terrorists but it turned out to be a wild-goose chase.

Combinations of words

A storm of public indignation: Communal cards triggered a storm of public indignation tugging several regional parties off the fray.

A potentially momentous shift: In a potentially momentous shift, the BSP chief promised to keep the criminals in check but she did not.

Patient and gentle: That girl is so patient and gentle that she bears all the pointless abuses of her sister.

The class is over.

Punjab violence (The Hindu)

2009-05-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

Punjab violence

The violence in Punjab following an attack on the chief of the Dera Sach Khand and the killing of Sant Rama Nand in Vienna shows the low level of tolerance among the people. I feel sorry for those who were stranded in airports and railway stations due to the violence although they were not even remotely connected with the Vienna incident.

The top Sikh leaders should condemn the violence and instruct their followers to desist forthwith.

Shadab Husain,

Lucknow

http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/29/stories/2009052954810802.htm

Informative Chat of Pinky and Bobby

2009-05-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

Informative Chat of Pinky and Bobby

Shit...

Pinky, is today’s newspaper that bad?

Hmm, I am reading a report about suicide. Idiots have not thought that it might be a cause for werther effect otherwise they would have taken care to trim it up.

Better, I must keep a dictionary while talking to you.

Oh you do not know what werther effect is?

Do not try to show that you have more knowledge than I have ok!

Alright Bobby, let us not argue. When reports of suicide trigger more suicides, it is called werther effect.

Good. You are becoming an excogitator!

Excogitator? Hey what’s that! I reckon you are abusing me, monkey!

No stupid...am actually praising you falsely... excogitator means a thinker who considers carefully and thoroughly...

Oh yes, you are rat. Am an excogitator just like Carol Ann Duffy!

Mind you, you dead lizard, it is “right” and not “rat”! You say you are like Carol Ann Duffy the lady who has become the first female poet laureate?

You are right for the first time!

Pinky, you sickly tick, I only wanted to brag about my vocabulary. That’s I called you excogitator. Demolish your delusions of grandeur!

I know that you again are bragging by saying delusions of grandeur. Do you really know the meaning of this idiom? I know.

Yup Pinky. I know its meaning very well.
But if you know then tell, come on, tell!

Well, I mean... a – a – I do not have time...get lost...

You do not know the meaning! And you damn fool shut up. Delusion of grandeur is used when a person thinks that he is much more important or powerful than he really is.

Mind your language! It is because of this that I do not like you coming to meet me. But as the saying goes: a bad penny always turns up.

Pinky, an extremely intelligent, highly educated and decently handsome gentleman like me would only say that this saying is out of context.

Hey, are you crazy! I have never heard anyone doing so much self-glorification! By the way, may I know how this saying is out of context?

Well, this saying is used for nasty or bad people who have a habit of showing up or returning. But I have already told you just now that how good I am! So this is totally out of context!

Would you do me a favour, Bobby?

Yes, of course. That’s my habit.

Shut up and get out!

English Class

2009-05-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

English Class

I feel that the flow and beauty of your writing depends on your knowledge and intelligence. Giving importance to high-sounding words and intentionally choosing to write long, complex sentences is at best an idiocy. It must ever be kept in mind that simplicity and deep knowledge are at the core of a clear and crisp communication.

Words of the day

Unflappable: adj. Always calm, whether undergoing difficulties or experiencing success. Ms Sonia Gandhi, unlike most of the politicians, appears unflappable.

Minutiae Pl minutiae: n. A tiny or trivial detail. Come on Cris just cram up the answer there is no use going in the minutiae! In order to come on the correct conclusion it is important to examine each and every minutiae of the matter.

Upholster: v. To supply (furniture) with springs, stuffing, cushions and covering fabric. Rather than upholstering the room with expensive, showy material, it is better to furnish it with simple and fine furniture.

Idioms of the day

Chocolate box: A chocolate box place or thing is very attractive in a way that does not look real (always before noun). Call it their chocolate box charm, but unquestionably a considerable credit goes to Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi for the victory of Congress.

Thick and fast: In large numbers or amounts and rapidly. Mr Advani will avoid the media because journalists will pose embarrassing questions thick and fast.

One’s goose is cooked: One has been found out and is in trouble; one is finished. After unleashing terror for several years, Velupillai Prabhakaran’s goose is cooked.

Combinations of words

Prevailing misconception: In the ancient times a prevailing misconception was that the earth is stationary.

Pointless and ineffective: The complete debate turned pointless and ineffective because the two competitors skirted from the topic.

Transient emotions (transient = for a brief time): Transient emotions can never trigger a robust revolution.

The class is over!

Voter turnout (The Hindu)

2009-05-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

Voter turnout

A lot of people have condemned the low voter turnout in the election. But I fail to understand how a huge turnout will improve matters. What is the point in voting in large numbers for the same breed of politicians who are responsible for the existing state of affairs?

Shadab Husain,

Lucknow

http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/13/stories/2009051353461003.htm

Voter turnout (The Hindu)

2009-05-05T06:15:00.000-07:00

Voter turnout

As a young Indian, I was excited about the election but I did not go to the polling booth, first because I am visually impaired and I have heard from my peers that there is no privacy for people like us. Braille EVMs exist only in name. Secondly, a host of families from my neighbourhood came back frustrated as their names were missing from the voter lists.

Is the Election Commission aware that names go missing from the voter lists; houses are wiped off the map; people who are alive are declared dead; and the religion and even the gender of many people have been changed?

Shadab Husain,

Lucknow

http://www.hindu.com:80/2009/05/05/stories/2009050555310803.htm

Informative Chat of Pinky and Bobby

2009-04-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

Informative Chat of Pinky and Bobby

Hey Pinky what are you reading?

I am reading about trypanophobia.

What is it?

Ugh. Again you have started boring me.

Tell me Pinky tell me!

Mind you, this is the first and last thing I will explain. Trypanophobia is the extreme and groundless fear of injections. It is also called needle phobia. Now bugger off, Bobby!

Shucks, what are you saying!

Are you suffering from trypanophobia, honey?

No no! I again am very curious for the thing you just spoke, Pinky! How smart you are! Come on please tell me the meaning of bugger off and I promise I will go.

Well, this expression is chiefly British and it means go away. Now make the best use of your legs and bugger off!

I am buggering off. Michaelle Jean’s interview was making a curious reading. It was boring to be with you idiot!

Do not bluff Bobby ok! Whose interview? Come tell me.

No no. Am going catching on with the interview!

You Bobby! I keep on telling you so many things. Tell me whose interview is it tell me.

It is Michaelle Jean’s interview, and she is the first Black governor general of Canada.

Pah! I knew it from before. Bugger off!

Pinky, do not try to be over smart. Lie is really writ large in your face.

I know the meaning of writ large, so do not feel that you are very special! This idiom is formal and it means something very obvious. Bugger off!

Hasta la vista!

Wait there, wait Bobby! I can understand that this is Spanish but what is the meaning of it please tell me!

See you later!

Tell me the meaning just now!

Good bye, Pinky!

How cruel you are!

I am telling you the meaning even then I am cruel?

Oh does ‘Hasta la vista’ mean ‘see you later’ and ‘good bye’?

Yup, idiot.

Since you have told me a Spanish expression, I will tell you a Latin phrase. It is “de minimis non curat lex (the law does not concern itself with trifling things)”. I remain on the top!

Dealing with ragging (The Hindu)

2009-03-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

Dealing with ragging

The Supreme Court’s act of issuing a show-cause to the principal and the registrar of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Himachal Pradesh, and asking
them why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for the death of Aman Kachroo, allegedly due to ragging, is welcome.

From media reports, it is obvious that the college administration did not take Aman’s complaints seriously. We, the people, repose our faith in the judiciary
and hope it will take stringent action against the guilty.

Shadab Husain,

Lucknow

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/18/stories/2009031855760802.htm

English Class

2009-03-12T19:27:00.000-07:00

English Class

The following are the views of my blind friend about writing:

When I write my cheerfulness increases. The more I write, the more I crave to! It makes everything very lovely. It gives me an extremely beautiful view - and I feel like going on writing - regardless of what I am saying or expressing. I love it very much!

Words of the day

Traduce: v. Causing disgrace or humiliation to by making wrong and malicious statements. As a rule, truth soon comes to light, so we should not bother if anyone traduces us.

Recriminate: v. To blame or accuse in return. Instead of lifting up the economic blockade from Gaza, Israel is busy in recriminating Palestinians.

Snigger: n/v. A quiet and insulting laugh kept to oneself. Fearing that my snigger will change into laughter, I disconnected the phone. I later realised that Mr Young was sniggering throughout my rehearsal.

Idioms of the day

If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers' hands: It is useless to wish for things. Often said in replying to the sentences beginning with “If only”. John: If only I wouldn’t have dropped that catch, we would have won the match. George: If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers' hands!

Rule with a velvet glove: To rule in a very gentle manner. My sir rules with a velvet glove, yet nobody misbehaves in the class.

Kid’s stuff: A very easy task. Cheer up chaps for winning this game is a kid’s stuff.

Combinations of words

Unrestrained anger: In a fit of unrestrained anger he smashed the computer screen.

Wavering courage: This planet is unfriendly to the people of wavering courage.

Shy and subdued: That idiot girl, shy and subdued, is a character which is rarer than the rarest.

The class is over.

Correction

Anonymous says in the comment box:

In a sentence like this, "Was/Were" or "Had", and not "Would", is used in the first clause beginning with "If". So the grammatically correct sentence, if you don't mind, would be:

"If only I hadn't dropped that catch, we would have won the match.

You can justify your usage above in terms of casual or popular use, but not in terms of grammar, come on!