|
Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
nawee
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Posts: 400
|
 Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 2:20 am Post subject: Error identification: Where's the mistake =( |
 |
|
Hello,
I can't find a mistake in the following passage.
"Strength, steadiness, and san-froid are essential traits for a president, [u][u]who must handle tough choices on a routine basis and brutal choices more often than anyone would like to[/u]. Bush and Kerry, so different in mamny ways, do share this crucial attribute: [u]crisis seems to bring out the best in them[/u]. [u]Neither shows any tendency to get panicky or weak-kneed when things go wrong[/u], and [u]once they set a course[/u] they can be extraordinary tenacious in pursuing it.
The mistake must be in 1 of the 4 underlined phrases. I found the original text on USNews.com and saw only 2 differences.
1. The original text doesn't have "to" after would like.
2. The "C" in "crisis" was capitalised after the colon.
Well, I think "to" at the end of the sentence isn't very neat, but is it considered wrong? I thought it was ok in spoken English.
And in British English, people tend not to use a capital letter after a colon, whereas it is a common practice in American English. So, to me, it's not really wrong either. Just different usage.
Please enlighten me. I don't have an answer key for this exercise.
Nawee |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Mister Micawber
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 774
Location: Yokohama
|
| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 5:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
.
Nawee, there are too many typographical errors in your transcription-- and the underlined portions are not clearly enough marked-- to make any assessment of the actual errors you are seeking.
Could you please proofread this passage carefully and re-submit it?
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pinenut
Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 165
Location: Illinois, U.S.A.
|
| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Error identification: Where's the mistake =( |
|
|
| nawee wrote: |
Hello,
I can't find a mistake in the following passage.
"Strength, steadiness, and san-froid are essential traits for a president, [u]who must handle tough choices on a routine basis and brutal choices more often than anyone would like to. Bush and Kerry, so different in mamny ways, do share this crucial attribute: crisis seems to bring out the best in them. Neither shows any tendency to get panicky or weak-kneed when things go wrong, and once they set a course they can be extraordinary tenacious in pursuing it.
The mistake must be in 1 of the 4 underlined phrases. I found the original text on USNews.com and saw only 2 differences.
1. The original text doesn't have "to" after would like.
2. The "C" in "crisis" was capitalised after the colon.
Well, I think "to" at the end of the sentence isn't very neat, but is it considered wrong? I thought it was ok in spoken English.
And in British English, people tend not to use a capital letter after a colon, whereas it is a common practice in American English. So, to me, it's not really wrong either. Just different usage.
Please enlighten me. I don't have an answer key for this exercise.
Nawee |
Bush and Kerry, so different in mamny ways, do share this crucial attribute: crisis seems to bring out the best in them.
Unless it is a typographical error, the colon in this sentence is not appropriate. I think a full stop or a semi--colon is correct. It is possible that the original text on USNews.com may show a full stop and Crisis with a capital letter. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mister Micawber
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 774
Location: Yokohama
|
| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 7:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
.
| Quote: |
| Bush and Kerry, so different in many ways, do share this crucial attribute: crisis seems to bring out the best in them. |
The colon is fine, Nawee: the following clause elucidates the attribute mentioned in the first. Capital letters are not normally used after colons in either AmE or BrE. I have a feeling that the errors you seek are not so subtle, anyway-- but we still have to see a proofed copy of your text.
Here are the errors I see at the moment:
sang-froid, not san-froid
the to is indeed questionable; what do you mean, the original text?
many, not mamny
There should be commas before once and after course
extraordinarily, not extraordinary
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nawee
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Posts: 400
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 3:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
A proofed copy of the text in question.
"Strength, steadiness, and sang-froid are essential traits for a president, who must handle tough choices on a routine basis and brutal choices more often than anyone would like to*. Bush and Kerry, so different in many ways, do share this crucial attribute: crisis seems to bring out the best in them. Neither shows any tendency to get panicky or weak-kneed when things go wrong, and once they set a course they can be extraordinarily tenacious in pursuing it."
I believe this text is taken from USNews.com. On that website, it says "more often than anyone would like" without "to" and the word "crisis" is capitalised. (The text appears as an error identification exercise as I retyped it above)
1. Is "to" after "would like" in this sentence inappropriate?
2. Should "crisis" be capitalised after the colon?
Thank you,
Nawee |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ClarissaMach
Joined: 18 May 2006
Posts: 644
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
| nawee wrote: |
A proofed copy of the text in question.
"Strength, steadiness, and sang-froid are essential traits for a president, who must handle tough choices on a routine basis and brutal choices more often than anyone would like to*. Bush and Kerry, so different in many ways, do share this crucial attribute: crisis seems to bring out the best in them. Neither shows any tendency to get panicky or weak-kneed when things go wrong, and once they set a course they can be extraordinarily tenacious in pursuing it."
I believe this text is taken from USNews.com. On that website, it says "more often than anyone would like" without "to" and the word "crisis" is capitalised. (The text appears as an error identification exercise as I retyped it above)
1. Is "to" after "would like" in this sentence inappropriate?
2. Should "crisis" be capitalised after the colon?
Thank you,
Nawee |
By the way, what is "sang-froid"? Sounds like French to me, and reminds me the Portuguese expression "sangue frio" (something like "cold blood". Is it right?
_________________
Stormy Weather. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mary W. Ng
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 261
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:51 pm Post subject: Re: Where's the mistake? |
|
|
| Quote: |
A proofed copy of the text in question.
"Strength, steadiness, and sang-froid are essential traits for a president, who must handle tough choices on a routine basis and brutal choices more often than anyone would like to*. Bush and Kerry, so different in many ways, do share this crucial attribute: crisis seems to bring out the best in them. Neither shows any tendency to get panicky or weak-kneed when things go wrong, and once they set a course they can be extraordinarily tenacious in pursuing it."
|
I'd change crisis seems to crises seem.
| Quote: |
| 1. Is "to" after "would like" in this sentence inappropriate? |
To is necessary after would like.
_________________
Mary W. Ng
Helping students learn grammar
http:www.aimpublishing.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mister Micawber
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 774
Location: Yokohama
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 3:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
.
Are you confused yet, Nawee? Once again, your corrected quote:
| Quote: |
| "Strength, steadiness, and sang-froid are essential traits for a president, who must handle tough choices on a routine basis and brutal choices more often than anyone would like to*. Bush and Kerry, so different in many ways, do share this c | | | |
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
