Comments on: How To Speak Like A President http://regex.info/blog/2005-09-13/70 Not a photo blog, but sometimes I play one on TV Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:07:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.12-alpha by: John Cowan http://regex.info/blog/2005-09-13/70#comment-3263 Wed, 14 Feb 2007 01:47:43 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-09-13/70#comment-3263 There was a great moment for word-lovers at the 1976 Democratic national convention when the nomination speech for Jimmy Carter referred to his "moral turpitude" rather than "moral rectitude". There was a great moment for word-lovers at the 1976 Democratic national convention when the nomination speech for Jimmy Carter referred to his “moral turpitude” rather than “moral rectitude”.

]]> by: Sam http://regex.info/blog/2005-09-13/70#comment-643 Mon, 30 Jan 2006 23:16:14 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-09-13/70#comment-643 "Exceptional Wow, you got them all correct!!!" Guess I should have been born in the 17th century ;) Of course, knowing words is one thing; the skilled use of them, another entirely. And as I may have mentioned, I taught vocabulary classes for two years for The Princeton Review. The instructors used to offer prizes to students who brought them a word from a newspaper the instructor couldn't define correctly (with a few caveats: no scientific words (though I did accept "nictitating" just to show off) or highly specialized jargon). If anyone has (or is) a child approaching PSAT/SAT age, I'd recommend professional preparation, even if they're doing well (in fact, especially if they're doing well, unless they're currently scoring 1550 or higher). If that's not possible (it's perversely expensive), I'd recommend they practice every single SAT question they can get their hands on. “Exceptional

Wow, you got them all correct!!!”

Guess I should have been born in the 17th century ;) Of course, knowing words is one thing; the skilled use of them, another entirely.

And as I may have mentioned, I taught vocabulary classes for two years for The Princeton Review. The instructors used to offer prizes to students who brought them a word from a newspaper the instructor couldn’t define correctly (with a few caveats: no scientific words (though I did accept “nictitating” just to show off) or highly specialized jargon).

If anyone has (or is) a child approaching PSAT/SAT age, I’d recommend professional preparation, even if they’re doing well (in fact, especially if they’re doing well, unless they’re currently scoring 1550 or higher). If that’s not possible (it’s perversely expensive), I’d recommend they practice every single SAT question they can get their hands on.

]]> by: nils http://regex.info/blog/2005-09-13/70#comment-70 Sat, 17 Sep 2005 00:49:48 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-09-13/70#comment-70 I missed one, "aver." I read a lot as a kid. The word "vicissitude" always makes me laugh because we had this English blue-blood (a relative of Mountbatten) nutjob writing about arts for our college newspaper, and he once used the word "Vicissitudinous" in a review. At the time it was the funniest thing ever. I missed one, “aver.” I read a lot as a kid. The word “vicissitude” always makes me laugh because we had this English blue-blood (a relative of Mountbatten) nutjob writing about arts for our college newspaper, and he once used the word “Vicissitudinous” in a review. At the time it was the funniest thing ever.

]]> by: Bill http://regex.info/blog/2005-09-13/70#comment-62 Tue, 13 Sep 2005 06:50:22 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2005-09-13/70#comment-62 Wow, I did horrible. This left me lacking all felicity and with much despondence. I submit a supplication for additional such quizes in the future, regardless of any vicissitudes. (BTW, I believe the reason Washington's first term was in 1789 wasn't due to the war's length, but the Articles of Confederation, which preceeded the Constitution.) (BTW2, if you dig Washington, check out 1776. Great read.) Wow, I did horrible. This left me lacking all felicity and with much despondence. I submit a supplication for additional such quizes in the future, regardless of any vicissitudes.

(BTW, I believe the reason Washington’s first term was in 1789 wasn’t due to the war’s length, but the Articles of Confederation, which preceeded the Constitution.)

(BTW2, if you dig Washington, check out 1776. Great read.)

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