Three Quests for Errors

Are you feeling smart and alert today? Test yourself in the three short passages below. Each "Error Quest" has just one error. Find and correct it. 

 

Error Quest 1:

Since you asked, this is RoAnn's and my suggestion: We believe that we should use the word programs rather than tracks. Programs fits better with our offerings and tracks might confuse people on the environmental side of the business.

 

Error Quest 2:

As you know, both Damian and Patrick transferred out of the department, so we are in unchartered territory. We have never before had to operate without at least one supervisor. We are gradually developing confidence in our decision-making skills, but it hasn't been easy. 

 

Error Quest 3:

Thank you for doing the meeting notes so quickly. I have just one possible correction: I believe it was Mirza who volunteered to write the article-not Mark. Mark said he would review Mirza's work. Does that sound familiar to you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How did you do? Did you find one error in each passage? Before scrolling down to compare your ideas with mine, check to see whether you found the same type of error I found:

• Error Quest 1 has a punctuation error.
• Error Quest 2 has an incorrect word.
• Error Quest 3 has another punctuation problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Error Quest 1 the last sentence needs a comma between its two independent clauses:

Programs fits better with our offerings, and tracks might confuse people on the environmental side of the business.

Anytime you connect two independent clauses (sentences) with the conjunction and, but, or, nor, for, yet or so, you need a comma before the conjunction. 

 

In Error Quest 2 the territory is uncharted--not unchartered. Uncharted means there is no map, or chart, for it. 

 

In Error Quest 3 the hyphen should be a dash, like this:

It was Mirza who volunteered to write the article--not Mark.

OR: It was Mirza who volunteered to write the article -- not Mark.  

OR: It was Mirza who volunteered to write the article—not Mark. 

OR: It was Mirza who volunteered to write the article — not Mark. 

Your software may change the two-hyphen dash (--) into an em dash (—). And some style manuals recommend inserting a space before and after an em dash. 

 

Would you like more practice finding errors? Try five more Error Quests. Then get my entire booklet (printed or interactive PDF) of 50 Error Quests.

Or consider taking a punctuation or a proofreading course. My Punctuation for Professionals and Proofread Like a Pro are available as online self-study courses.  

Did you find any other errors in the three passages or in this blog post? Let's discuss them!

Lynn
Syntax Training

Are You Envious--or Jealous?

Envious? Jealous? Do you use these words interchangeably? Or do you make a distinction between them? Test your understanding by filling in these blanks: 

1. I am _______________ of my neighbors' gorgeous backyard. 
2. Rob feels _______________ when he sees Carlos talking to their new supervisor so often, especially when both of them are laughing. 
3. Natalie feels _______________ when she sees her friends' upbeat Facebook posts. 
4. Some older workers are _______________ of retirees who appear to have a comfortable, carefree retirement. 
5. David is _______________ that his parents seem to prefer his wife's company to his. 
6. Our toddler is very _______________ of the new baby. 

 

Thinking about the woman standing in this photo, which word might apply? Envy or jealousy? 

 

 

Careful writers distinguish between the words jealous and envious, jealousy and envy. The Chicago Manual of Style describes the differences this way:

Jealousy connotes feelings of resentment toward another, particularly in matters relating to an intimate relationship (sexual jealousy). Envy refers to coveting another's advantages, possessions, or abilities [example]: his transparent envy of others' successes. 

 

According to Garner's Modern English Usage:

Jealousy is properly restricted to contexts involving emotional rivalry, especially regarding the sex instinct; envy is used more broadly of resentful contemplation of a more fortunate person. 

 

Given those definitions, will you change your mind about any of the fill-ins above?

 

 

 

 

 

Here are my responses:

1. I am envious of my neighbors' gorgeous backyard. 
2. Rob feels jealous when he sees Carlos talking to their new supervisor so often, especially when both of them are laughing. 
3. Natalie feels envious when she sees her friends' upbeat Facebook posts. 
4. Some older workers are envious of retirees who appear to have a comfortable, carefree retirement. 
5. David is jealous that his parents seem to prefer his wife's company to his. 
6. Our toddler is very jealous of the new baby. 

Although Items 2, 5, and 6 do not involve sexual relationships, they all involve relationships or possible rivalries. That's why I chose jealous. Do you agree? 

The word you choose for the photograph above depends on what you read into it. The woman with one rose may be envious that the seated woman received a bouquet. Or she may be jealous that the seated woman received flowers from that man. Or she may simply be thinking about where she might find a bud vase in the office. 

Your dictionary may offer envious as a synonym for jealous, but it's a good idea to use the words in distinct ways, especially if you are writing for a sophisticated audience. 

I wrote this blog post because I needed to use the correct word in a post last month, and I had to check my style guides to be certain. Which word do you think I ended up using, envious or jealous?

If you have a sophisticated contact management system that helps you track your communications, I'm ___________. 

You might like a copy of my booklet 60 Quick Word Fixes. It can help you choose the correct word in 60 confusing word pairs.

Lynn
Syntax Training