SmartTechWriting: October 2006 Archives

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Oct30	WORD ORIGIN: HECKLE Jayvee Fernandez October 30, 2006 Know More: Expressions, Meaning 2.0, Meaning sourced by JMJF The word HECKLE reminds me of those two awful magpies of cartoon fame, driving one crazy with their constant jabbering and heckling. The original meaning of the word is not immediately recognizable, since it was used mainly in the cloth-making industry of the middle ages. During medieval times, cloth spinners used mainly the material called Flax, which was a vegetable fiber. They were quite strong but were difficult to prepare and spin, given the limited knowledge and resources of that age. In a latter operation, the fibers would be combed by hand, using a brush instrument with iron teeth called a HECKLE. The word is Anglo-Saxon in origin, taken from hecel (to split). In later years, the word began to take on a more specific meaning: “scratch with steel brush” or “check for weak points”. In politics, candidates would often be questioned about their stance on various issues. In these public gatherings, potential voters would pound mercilessly on the candidates, checking them for weak points. Gradually, the practice of hectoring or distracting a candidate became known as heckling. Posted at 4:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct30	EXPRESSION: ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING Jayvee Fernandez October 30, 2006 sourced by JMJF In present-day elections, the actual day of voting is usually a quiet affair, with ballots marked manually or electronically. In olden times, a voice vote was usually the norm, with voters shouting their preferences on issues put... Continue Reading Posted at 2:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	EXPRESSION: TO SPILL THE BEANS Jayvee Fernandez October 30, 2006 sourced by JMJF Modern usage of the expression TO SPILL THE BEANS implies a clumsy indiscretion in revealing the outcome of an exercise or information that should have been kept secret. The expression originated from the practice of... Continue Reading Posted at 12:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	EXPRESSION: UNCLE SAM Jayvee Fernandez October 30, 2006 sourced by JMJF With the days of the draft gone, and a volunteer army in place, one does not get to see the picture of an old gentleman dressed in patriotic colors pointing at you and saying: UNCLE SAM... Continue Reading Posted at 11:53 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WORD ORIGIN: LOBBY Jayvee Fernandez October 30, 2006 sourced by JMJF The word LOBBY is one many politicians are familiar with. It is also associated with both legitimate or illegitimate attempts to influence the votes or the will of elected or appointed officials. In many more civilized... Continue Reading Posted at 1:56 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct29	RIGHT USAGE: IMPERIAL vs IMPERIOUS Jayvee Fernandez October 29, 2006 sourced by JMJF The word IMPERIAL is derived from the word EMPEROR. Thus, it is used to describe the trappings of power, or other expressions in reference to the emperor or empire. Example: The monarch resides in the Imperial Palace,... Continue Reading Posted at 4:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	RIGHT MEANING: IMPECUNIOUS Jayvee Fernandez October 29, 2006 sourced by JMJF When one is described as being IMPECUNIOUS, he or she is said to be poor or broke. Sometimes, the term is used in a self-deprecating manner, as when a well-heeled stockbroker, having suffered a single-day loss in... Continue Reading Posted at 3:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	RIGHT WORD: ILLEGAL, ILLICIT, ILLEGITIMATE Jayvee Fernandez October 29, 2006 sourced by JMJF The word ILLEGAL means that something is contrary to or against the law. While the word ILLEGITIMATE also means that something is unlawful, it has come to be accepted to mean “someone born out of wedlock”. On... Continue Reading Posted at 2:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	RIGHT MEANING: INTERCOURSE Jayvee Fernandez October 29, 2006 sourced by JMJF Because of the often crass usage of the word INTERCOURSE in everyday writing or speaking, many think of Sex only when encountering this word. And yet, there are so many other contexts in which this word can... Continue Reading Posted at 12:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	RIGHT WORD: AWARD vs REWARD Jayvee Fernandez October 29, 2006 sourced by JMJF Again, these two words that seem similar actually mean slightly different things in actual usage. Thus, an AWARD is usually something given to a person for something done well, for excellence, bravery or merit. It can also... Continue Reading Posted at 11:49 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct28	RIGHT WORD: AVENGE vs REVENGE Jayvee Fernandez October 28, 2006 sourced by JMJF The words AVENGE and REVENGE are almost similar in meaning in usage, and yet, they possess subtle differences that will be pointed out next. According to a text I studied, the word AVENGE is more properly used... Continue Reading Posted at 3:48 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	RIGHT USAGE: ANTI- vs ANTE- Jayvee Fernandez October 28, 2006 sourced by JMJF These two prefixes are so similar in spelling that they are often mixed up in daily usage. And yet, their meanings are miles apart. The word ANTI- means “Against” or “Opposite”. It may be used in different... Continue Reading Posted at 2:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	RIGHT WORD: PERENNIAL vs ANNUAL Jayvee Fernandez October 28, 2006 sourced by JMJF The original usage of the word PERENNIAL was in the context of something lasting or continuing throughout an entire year. In more modern usage, it has also come to be used in the sense of something being... Continue Reading Posted at 1:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	RIGHT WORD: AMORAL vs IMMORAL Jayvee Fernandez October 28, 2006 sourced by JMJF These two words are easily mixed up in usage. Their meanings are close, but there are subtle differences. When one is referred to as being AMORAL, he or she is said not to be accepting of any... Continue Reading Posted at 12:45 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	GOOD ENGLISH: ALTERNATE VS ALTERNATIVE Jayvee Fernandez October 28, 2006 The word ALTERNATE is an adjective and refers to a sequence of events, i.e., something happening, coming, in turns, one after the other. For example: The assembly line was producing alternate colors of candy, first Reds, then Blues, and... Continue Reading Posted at 11:44 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct24	Word Origin: Idiot Jayvee Fernandez October 24, 2006 Yes, yes, this word IDIOT is so commonly used to describe anyone with a perceived lack of brains or the ability to use his God-given gifts, that we forget that it has its beginnings in the realm of politics.Early Greek... Continue Reading Posted at 7:52 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Word Origin: ALSO RAN Jayvee Fernandez October 24, 2006 Again, we find a political term that traces its origins to horse racing. This word, ALSO RAN, probably comes from the practice in racing of naming the first three horses to place in a given race. The horses, jockeys, times... Continue Reading Posted at 6:49 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Word Origin: Dark Horse Jayvee Fernandez October 24, 2006 Common political parlance identifies a DARK HORSE as one who comes out of nowhere in an election to win the fight over highly touted or favored candidates. The allusion to a horse race is not coincidental. Very often, political fights... Continue Reading Posted at 4:46 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Word Origin: Slate Jayvee Fernandez October 24, 2006 In present day politics, a slate usually refers to a line-up of candidates sponsored by a given political party for certain positions.Back then, as early as the 14th or 15th centuries, the more common material used for writing was the... Continue Reading Posted at 3:43 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	To be a "Filibuster" Jayvee Fernandez October 24, 2006 Whether we like it or not, politics seems to seep into the everyday fabric of our respective lives. So that you become aware of where some of those famous (or infamous) political terms come from, we will provide a treat... Continue Reading Posted at 2:37 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct19	GOOD ENGLISH: ALTOGETHER vs ALL TOGETHER Jayvee Fernandez October 19, 2006 The word ALTOGETHER can mean several things like “in total”, “completely”, and “all things considered”. Somehow, a more perverse meaning has also crept into the lexicon wherein the word can refer to one’s complete nakedness. ALL TOGETHER describes “all in... Continue Reading Posted at 9:20 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	GOOD ENGLISH: ADVICE vs ADVISE Jayvee Fernandez October 19, 2006 The simplest way to remember the proper usage of the two words above are: ADVICE is a Noun, whereas ADVISE is a Verb. One must not mix one up with the other. Funny though that a person who gives advice... Continue Reading Posted at 8:15 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	GOOD ENGLISH: AVERSE vs ADVERSE Jayvee Fernandez October 19, 2006 These two words, AVERSE and ADVERSE are often mixed up only because of their close similarity in spelling. Their meanings do not approximate each other in any way, however. When one is AVERSE, he is “not inclined”... Continue Reading Posted at 5:12 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	GOOD ENGLISH: ADHESION vs ADHERENCE Jayvee Fernandez October 19, 2006 The words ADHESION and ADHERENCE both refer to “sticking to something”, but differ somewhat in their usage. The word ADHESION literally describes one object sticking to another in a manifestly material way. Example: Which brand of Super Glue gives better... Continue Reading Posted at 3:09 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	GOOD ENGLISH: ABUSE vs MISUSE Jayvee Fernandez October 19, 2006 The words ABUSE and MISUSE are both verbs and mean “to use (something) in an incorrect way”. They do not mean exactly the same thing, however. The word ABUSE refers to the wrong use of abstract things. Examples would be... Continue Reading Posted at 2:04 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct18	WORD ORIGIN: TABLOID Jayvee Fernandez October 18, 2006 A tabloid is sometimes harshly described as the lowest form of a newspaper, since the genre tends toward the scandalous or the sensational in order to generate interest or sales. But who would have thought that the word would have... Continue Reading Posted at 6:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WORD ORIGIN: BUMMER Jayvee Fernandez October 18, 2006 The children of the 60s and early 70s will remember the word BUMMER very well. It was used quite often to describe any situation that did not quite turn out well or as expected. Thus, police crashing a pot session... Continue Reading Posted at 3:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WORD ORIGIN: BIGWIG Jayvee Fernandez October 18, 2006 When one uses the word BIGWIG these days, it is usually in reference to a big-shot or important person. In the corporate setting, you could call your department head the "floor bigwig" and your big boss the "head bigwig" for... Continue Reading Posted at 2:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WORD ORIGIN: COCKTAIL Jayvee Fernandez October 18, 2006 The cocktail hour has become a revered tradition in many a business or social setting. It provides an excuse for taking a break and imbibing spirits to mark the end of a busy day…..or not. Interestingly enough, the word has... Continue Reading Posted at 1:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WORD ORIGIN: COCONUT Jayvee Fernandez October 18, 2006 For those who live in tropical climes, the coconut is a rather ubiquitous sight. The many qualities of this nut are quite well known these days, augmented by the latest findings on the virtues and healing ability of virgin coconut... Continue Reading Posted at 12:08 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct17	What unblocks writer's block: for me it is chocolate cake Jayvee Fernandez October 17, 2006 Though writers' block is something we all have to deal with on a day to day basis, we often find strategies to lift ourselves from this veil of darkness. Food and drink tends to be a natural inspiration for people... Continue Reading Posted at 11:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Omit unnecessary words Jayvee Fernandez October 17, 2006 Brian Clark of Copyblogger has posted time long advice that we often forget: Omit unnecessary words. Though this piece of advice has been reiterated time and again, it is often undermined because of our personal desire to make things sound... Continue Reading Posted at 10:19 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct15	USING THE RIGHT WORD: ACCEPT / EXCEPT Jayvee Fernandez October 15, 2006 Very often, similar sounding words provide the basis for either misuse or misunderstanding in their application in writing. This of course can lead to a grammatical blunder especially when you're the secretary that takes the notes of the Monday board... Continue Reading Posted at 7:27 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	SmartTechWriting Refocus Jayvee Fernandez October 15, 2006 Hi there! Jayvee once again. Four months ago I took over Smart Tech Writing with the idea to focus topics on technical writing and technology. I guess time does things to people, and after a lot of experience with content,... Continue Reading Posted at 1:52 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct14	BUILDING A SPEECH AROUND A QUOTATION Jayvee Fernandez October 14, 2006 Previously, I made the point that one should select an appropriate quotation in order to augment or highlight what one is trying to say. Now, we will start from the opposite direction. We will obtain a wonderful idea from a... Continue Reading Posted at 12:24 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WRITING SPEECHES Jayvee Fernandez October 14, 2006 A particular curse or burden to one who is known to have a facility for writing is to be assigned (regularly!) to write speeches for bosses or those higher in the organization. My speech-writing days got their start with work... Continue Reading Posted at 10:23 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	USING QUOTATIONS Jayvee Fernandez October 14, 2006 “He who never quotes is never quoted.” (Charles Spurgeon) That quotation is probably an appropriate one for starting off this train of thought. First of all, quotations are usually there for the using. All one need to know is which... Continue Reading Posted at 9:22 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	EXPRESSION: TO MAKE THE GRADE Jayvee Fernandez October 14, 2006 When one is deemed capable of MAKING THE GRADE, he or she is said to be able to win against heavy odds or difficult obstacles. The expression finds its origins in railroad parlance. Once the mighty steam locomotive became more... Continue Reading Posted at 8:19 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	EXPRESSION: HUE AND CRY Jayvee Fernandez October 14, 2006 When one person or a group or people raise a HUE AND CRY, it usually refers to an unusually loud disturbance, whether done deliberately or in all innocence. The expression has an interesting origin in the practice of utilizing special... Continue Reading Posted at 7:18 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct13	WORD USAGE: FLOTSAM, JETSAM, LAGAN (LIGAN) Jayvee Fernandez October 13, 2006 Writers often refer to the dregs of society as the “flotsam and jetsam” of a given community. Where did these words come from? Interestingly enough, the terms have a nautical origin. The three words, FLOTSAM, JETSAM, and LAGAN are quite... Continue Reading Posted at 7:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WORD ORIGIN: KUDOS Jayvee Fernandez October 13, 2006 In everyday usage, the word has come to mean any of the following: Acclaim, Praise, Glory, Fame, and even, awkwardly, Congratulations. The word KUDOS is derived from the Greek, with exactly the same meaning and spelling. Note: The word is... Continue Reading Posted at 2:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WORD MEANING: HONEYMOON Jayvee Fernandez October 13, 2006 The Honeymoon period is usually that length of time when both spouses are still flying high and enjoying the better aspects of marital bliss. Until reality sets in. This term has its origins in the 16th century. The honeymoon period... Continue Reading Posted at 11:32 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WORD MEANING: WIFE Jayvee Fernandez October 13, 2006 The better half of a union (some cynics would rather use the term bitter half) is referred to as a WIFE. The origin of this word is interesting because it gives an idea of the role that a female partner... Continue Reading Posted at 10:30 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	WORD MEANING: HUSBAND Jayvee Fernandez October 13, 2006 Writing about Idioms, Expressions, Cliches, and Word Meanings is a lot of fun. First, in the process of researching the use or origins of these writing forms, I get to learn too. Second, the reader gets to appreciate the “how”,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:29 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct12	EXPRESSION: TO MAKE THE GRADE Jayvee Fernandez October 12, 2006 When one is deemed capable of MAKING THE GRADE, he or she is said to be able to win against heavy odds or difficult obstacles. The expression finds its origins in railroad parlance. Once the mighty steam locomotive became more... Continue Reading Posted at 1:21 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct11	EXPRESSION: "HUE AND CRY" Jayvee Fernandez October 11, 2006 When one person or a group or people raise a HUE AND CRY, it usually refers to an unusually loud disturbance, whether done deliberately or in all innocence. The expression has an interesting origin in the practice of utilizing special... Continue Reading Posted at 4:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Word Meaning: "Curfew" Jayvee Fernandez October 11, 2006 The average youngster or teenager has, over time, had reason to dread the C-Word: CURFEW! This seeming limitation on a young person’s liberty puts kids at loggerheads with their parents who only seek for the safety and well-being of their... Continue Reading Posted at 2:17 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Expression: "To fork over" Jayvee Fernandez October 11, 2006 The more benign meaning of the expression “To fork over” is simply the handing over of a good or item to another. A more stringent application refers to any enforced surrender of goods or services for money. This latter meaning... Continue Reading Posted at 1:16 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Using idioms Jayvee Fernandez October 11, 2006 There are countless pages in the internet devoted to describing idioms, their origins, and their respective meanings. Essentially, an IDIOM is usually a phrase of expression that has become part of a common language over time. The meanings of many... Continue Reading Posted at 12:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Must one avoid cliches? Jayvee Fernandez October 11, 2006 A CLICHÉ is a phrase, expression, or word that has been overused to the extent that its uniqueness or freshness is lost. Thus, to use a cliché, “One must avoid a cliché like the plague.” Maven’s Word for the Day... Continue Reading Posted at 11:13 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct10	REVISITING “WHO” AND “THAT” ET AL Jayvee Fernandez October 10, 2006 After that piece on the proper usage of WHO versus THAT, I decided to check out a movie to see if this practice of verbal abuse would be widespread in that particular screenplay. Well, I was not to be disappointed,... Continue Reading Posted at 2:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The death of newspapers Jayvee Fernandez October 10, 2006 The title of this piece will probably earn me the ire of every newspaper publisher or owner in the world. And yet, the idea is not mine. It is a pet theory held by those who feel that the computer... Continue Reading Posted at 1:31 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Gung Ho! Jayvee Fernandez October 10, 2006 What do we really mean when we refer to a person or a group as being “Gung Ho”? For some, the word means that one is excessively “Energetic” or “Zealous”. The expression “Gung Ho” has its origins in the Chinese.... Continue Reading Posted at 11:30 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	SEMPER FI! Jayvee Fernandez October 10, 2006 Since we are now discussing the subject of the Marines, it is worthwhile to take a look at their Motto: Semper Fi! This is a shortened form of the Latin Semper Fidelis. In English, it means “Always Faithful”. Like many... Continue Reading Posted at 10:29 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Expression: Go tell it to the marines! Jayvee Fernandez October 10, 2006 How many times have we either heard or made use of the expression: “Go tell it to the Marines!” In common usage, the phrase is meant to express disbelief at a statement made by another. In other words, the other... Continue Reading Posted at 9:25 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 8	Copywriters are silent, but deadly Jayvee Fernandez October 8, 2006 I have this mantra I recite in my head to get in the mood whenever I do copy. It's something I also tell some of my friends in the publishing industry and it does make a great tagline:I suck at... Continue Reading Posted at 5:55 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Neil Gaiman on Cranky Geeks Jayvee Fernandez October 8, 2006 If you follow Cranky Geeks hosted by John C Dvorak, the last episode features Neil Gaiman who talks about writing a book and blogging.Some things we learned:Gaiman used to write burning the midnight oil. Now he writes during the afternoon.Gaiman... Continue Reading Posted at 1:14 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 7	Wordsmith: "AGNOSTIC" vs "ATHEIST" Jayvee Fernandez October 7, 2006 Without rendering judgment on anyone’s beliefs, it may be useful to distinguish between the two words AGNOSTIC and ATHEIST. Usually, an AGNOSTIC is one who is not sure if God exists. Furthermore, many Agnostics tend to believe that such a... Continue Reading Posted at 3:42 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wordsmith: AIN'T Jayvee Fernandez October 7, 2006 The word AIN”T, which is a corruption of the contraction AREN’T, is a typical American colloquialism, one that has become accepted in daily use even if it is considered an abomination of Queen’s English. But then, when certain BLOKES can’t... Continue Reading Posted at 1:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wordsmith: "SPEAK WITH" vs "TALK TO" Jayvee Fernandez October 7, 2006 Since cellphones are the norm these days, one may as well learn the proper to begin addressing the other party in a conversation. (This is important because misuse of these terms finds its way into the written medium more often... Continue Reading Posted at 12:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wordsmith: THAT vs WHO Jayvee Fernandez October 7, 2006 One of the more unpleasant tasks that an editor or his designated assistant has to do is to review submitted articles. Inevitably, the editor has to decide if certain grammatical errors or clumsy sentence constructions should be allowed to fly,... Continue Reading Posted at 11:30 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The WAC as a prelude to written proposals or briefs Jayvee Fernandez October 7, 2006 The previous sections give one an idea of that course made in hell, the WAC, short for Written Analysis of Cases. One’s ability to distill the essence of a given WAC into a few pages of well-written analysis provides a... Continue Reading Posted at 10:27 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 3	Writers' Cramp Jayvee Fernandez October 3, 2006 Usually, one associates the cramps with athletic pursuits such as ball games, track and field, or swimming. They can be terribly inconvenient when they strike – usually at the wrong time.A writer also experiences cramps of another sort. This malady... Continue Reading Posted at 11:09 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The joys of owning your first personal computer Jayvee Fernandez October 3, 2006 This afternoon, while waiting for my storm-damaged computer (the RAM had fried due to reasons unknown to this non-techie) to complete its diagnostic tests in our local telecom store, I was kept amused by the sight of a teenage girl... Continue Reading Posted at 11:05 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Oct 2	Hot Topic: Ground Zero Jayvee Fernandez October 2, 2006 How does it feel to be in Ground Zero of a very powerful typhoon? Scary? Well, to this prayerful soul, I was simply thanking the Good Lord that our giant mango tree didn’t fall on our house or cabana, now... Continue Reading Posted at 7:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Hot Topic: Ode to modern technology Jayvee Fernandez October 2, 2006 During the four or five days that we lost power and the ability to communicate – except for the occasional text when we would dare turn our cellphones on – it was fairly easy to contemplate what life would be... Continue Reading Posted at 2:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Hot Topic: Ode to fallen trees Jayvee Fernandez October 2, 2006 Sometimes, when feeling low, I go out and gaze at my garden full of plants and trees. There is also the alternative of a trip to our park with its many trees and shady areas, painting a pretty picture for... Continue Reading Posted at 10:54 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Hot Topic: Ode to linemen Jayvee Fernandez October 2, 2006 Our guest writer writes about his experiences after the post typhoon damage and how it has caused a delay in online publishing habits.Normally, one is wont to either curse or take the electric utility company for granted in one’s hometown.... Continue Reading Posted at 9:48 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Hot Topic: Hurricane Central Jayvee Fernandez October 2, 2006 Right now, I can feel some heads rearing and probably mouthing the dreaded S-Word. No, a hot topic need not be one that appeals to the more prurient tastes of some publics, but rather, one that seizes the imagination or... Continue Reading Posted at 7:18 AM \| Permalink \| Comments

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