Wed, 21 Jul 2004

today's instant vacation...

Probably more often than we realize, we say or write things that are really weird because of poor wording. Among the common causes of outrageous statements are dangling participles, misplaced modifiers, and pronouns with unclear antecedents. Today's iv is a list of some examples I've accumulated in my archives.

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quotation...

I'm currently reading Shadow of the Almighty, the story of Jim Elliott, told largely by him through his journal and his correspondence. There are some wonderful quotations in the book. This week's quotation is one of the ones I've been copying into my files.

"Forbid, Lord, that any of those to whom I minister should be so foolish as to take my word as though it were Thine; or so daring as to set aside Thy word as though it were mine." - Jim Elliot

 =^..^=  =^..^=  =^..^=   
Rob Loach in Greenville SC

Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
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Riding along on my bicycle, a dog knocked me over.

Mrs. Shirley Baxter, who went deer hunting with her husband, is very proud that she was able to shoot a fine buck as well as her husband.

Prepare to stop when flashing.

We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.

Now is your chance to have your ears pierced and get an extra pair to take home, too.

Walking down the street, the library came into view.

The burglar was about 30 years old, white, 5' 10", with wavy hair weighing about 150 pounds.

We have several very old dresses from a grandmother in beautiful condition.

Hunting can also be dangerous, as in the case of pygmies hunting elephants armed only with spears.

One evening on the NBC Nightly News, Tom Brokaw announced, "Just like men, heart disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S."

A department store ad: "Mixing Bowl Set designed to please a cook with round bottom for efficient beating."

Another ad: "We will oil your sewing machine and adjust tension in your home for $10.00."

Overheard: "This summer I almost wore a dress every day."

Newspaper Blurb: "A purple lady's bicycle was missing from Serendipity Lane recently."

After finishing my homework, my dog ate it.

Being flat, Betsy changed the tire.

While swimming upstream to spawn, John watched the salmon.

Organ donations from the living reached a record high last year, outnumbering donors who are dead for the first time.

The dog was hungry and made the mistake of nipping a 2-year-old that was trying to force feed it in his ear.

Buzzing in the garden I heard a bee.

We spent most of our time sitting on the back porch watching the cows playing Scrabble and reading.

The family lawyer will read the will tomorrow at the residence of Mr. Hannon, who died June 19 to accommodate his relatives.