What is a contronym?

What is a contronym?

Have you ever noticed that several language arts terms have the letters o-n-y-m in them? I’m talking about words like synonym, antonym, homonym, heteronym, acronym, etc. Of course, the list goes on, but here’s what you need to know about all of these words:

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Grammar Time: What part of speech is the word THERE?

Grammar Time: What part of speech is the word THERE?

The word there is a commonly used word that can be difficult to classify because of its various roles in a sentence. There can be used as an adverb, pronoun, adjective, and sometimes as an interjection. But in grammatical constructions like there is or there are, there is considered an expletive. This tiny word can create a lot of confusion because the context can be so varied.

Study the following guide to help you understand how to label and classify the various roles of the word there.

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Use To vs Used To: What's the difference?

Use To vs Used To: What's the difference?

Lately, I’ve noticed some confusion with the way people use the idiomused to in a sentence. Some write “use to and others write “used to?” Do you know which one is correct?

Use to and “used to cause confusion for a couple of good reasons. We unravel the mystery in this week’s Two-Minute Tip. Take a look…

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How to Correct Usage Mistakes

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As a teenager in the 1980s, I incorporated some ungrammatical words and phrases from pop culture into my day-to-day dialogue.  One of the worst habits I picked up was saying the word “like” to accent almost everything that came out of my mouth.  (Like, I was totally, like, bad about it!)  Eventually, I stopped, but my bad habit left a scar.  I still have a grammar usage problem with the word like!

It turns out that there are certain words in the English language that create special problems in usage.  These words can cause confusion in both speaking and writing, and the word like is on the list!  The only way to combat the problem is to 1) learn more about the word and 2) use it correctly. Completing a word-study exercise with your students is a great way to discuss word usage. Here's an example: 

Like has multiple uses in Standard English, and it can be used formally and informally when speaking and writing.  Formally, it can be used as a noun, a verb, an adjective, a preposition, and a conjunction.  Informally, it can be used as an adverb.

Etymology explains that the formal usage of like as a conjunction began in the mid-14th century, but many grammarians regard this usage as an error.  Also, since the mid-19th century, grammarians have been engaged in a long and complicated dispute over the use of the word like as a preposition or not.  Many prefer to use as or as if instead of like.  

Here’s a simple way to keep the information straight:  The word like, meaning “similar to,” is a preposition, not a subordinate conjunction.  Use like to introduce prepositional phrases.  Use the subordinate conjunctions as or as if to introduce subordinate clauses.  Examples:

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Informally, the word like can be used as an adverb when speaking, but it’s rare to see it written that way.  Authors will use it on occasion for emphasis or to capture colloquialism.  (So, that means I wasn’t totally wrong back in the 1980s!  Right?) 

 

Remember, a good command of the English language requires mastering the rules and applying them correctly when speaking and writing. I encourage you to make word-study a part of your language arts time. This activity will help you understand the word meanings, how to spell them, and in what situation to use them.

 

Bonus Activity:

From your word-study activity, create a list of common English usage problems and study it!  You will speak and write with more competence and confidence once your master the lists. We have provided a few example lists for you below, but you can find more resources located in your Shurley English book!

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Jamie Geneva

Jamie Geneva is the Senior National Consultant at Shurley Instructional Materials and is a seasoned subject matter expert in the realm of English Language Arts.  Her career with the company began during the days of the Shurley Method binder, which was pre-1st Edition, and has spanned across three decades.  Over the years, her various roles have included teacher, presenter, state representative, consultant, manager, and most recently, a Shurley English Digital Assistant.  You might not recognize her face, but her voice could certainly sound familar.  That’s because she’s recorded Jingles, Q&A Flow Sentences, and other Shurley English content for many, many years. 

Jamie and her husband, Garret, live in the foothills of eastern Oklahoma. She loves spending quality time with her family, traveling, reading, cooking, and staying connected on social media.

Ms. Geneva received her B.S. degree in Elementary Education and her M.Ed in Public School Administration from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. 

You and I or You and Me: When do I use what?!?

You and I or You and Me: When do I use what?!?

Yup…we have some troublesome rules to follow in grammar sometimes, and one of the most challenging obstacles in our spoken and written language is that our ear is often at war with the rules of Standard English. Our ears seem to be stuck on hearing and saying “you and I” together at every verbal occasion.

Did you know that most English speakers

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