Vocabulary

Increase your vocabulary with not-very-common and/or not-frequently-used words.

Today's Weird Word is: noologist, and its pronunciation is: noo la jest.

Noologist is a noun meaning: the study of the human mind.


Who better to write a book about the mind than a noologist.

Janus Words

Janus words are words with two opposite meanings. Such words are named after the Roman god Janus who has two faces that look in opposite directions.


Examples of Janus words are:

"sanction," which means approved by an authority, and otherwise condemned;
"cleave," which can mean to cling to or to separate;
"screen," which can mean to review or display or to hide or shield from view, and
"trim," which can mean to remove things or add things.







Source: Grammar Girl

Trusting Your Eyes

Mnay of you hvae sene tihs tpye of pargarpah bfeore. The etnrie piont is taht it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. And I'm nto eevn srue abuot taht! The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit too mcuh porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?


Since we're able to read the above paragraph, it provides an excellent example of just how easy it is to miss errors. It's important to be consciously aware of what you're doing when going over your work; don't rely solely on your eyes!

Punctuation Used for Emphasis

Italics, Capitals, and Quotation Marks For Emphasis

Good writers choose commanding words in their sentences and only use italics, capitals, and quotation marks when required by punctuation rules. Don't overuse these forms of punctuation or your writing will lose its force.

Italics for Emphasis

Examples:

Employees must notify the HR office in writing of any absence.

Will I ever finish this chapter?

I only tried to help!


Capitals For Emphasis

Examples:

Manuscripts sent without self-addressed, stamped envelopes WILL BE RETURNED UNREAD.

Scalpers mingled in the noisy crowd yelling, "TICKETS, SIXTY DOLLARS!"


Quotation Marks Used For Emphasis (in a skeptical or sarcastic way):

Example:

Bob's regular Friday night "volunteer work" turned out to be a poker game.




Source: Grammar Done Right!