Thursday Thought #AmandaGorman

Thursday Thought: Many of you know and love her already. If you don’t, her name is Amanda Gorman. I’ve seen her referred to as Amanda Forman and Amanda Harris, but her name is Amanda Gorman. She has two books coming out in September, a children’s book called Change Sings, and her debut book of poetry, The Hill We Climb, which includes the poem she delivered at the inauguration. If you are in the United States, you can preorder both through Cincy Book Bus (https://bookshop.org/shop/cincybookbus) and all the profits will be used to buy books for classroom libraries and children’s programs that promote literacy. You can follow Cincy Book Bus on Facebook and Instagram (@cincybookbus), and you can order Amanda’s books here:
Change Sings
https://bookshop.org/books/change-sings-a-children-s-anthem/9780593203224
The Hill We Climb
https://bookshop.org/books/the-hill-we-climb-poems/9780593465066

#AmandaGorman #ThuThought

Youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, reciting the 2021 inauguration poem. Caption: We’ve braved the belly of the beast. We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace. And the norms and notions of what just is, isn’t always justICE.

Tuesday Two

Tuesday Two: Write a story with only two sentences. Use the photo for inspiration if you wish. #TueTwo

Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash.

A skier doing a flip with his feet in the air above his head, on high, rocky terrain that overlooks a large body of water.

Monday Muddle: marinade, marinate

Last week we saw that a space can make the difference between a noun and a verb. This week a single letter makes the difference. The more-frequent use of marinade as a verb in the last decade has led some dictionaries to accept it as an alternative, but it is still unacceptable to many. My recommendation, for the sake of clarity and to avoid harsh judgement from language purists, is to use marinate as the verb. Marinate has been in use as a verb since the 1640s.

Monday Muddle: marinade: (n) an acidic liquid, made of vinegar or wine with spices, used for soaking foods to flavour or tenderize them marinate: (v) to soak something in a marinade

Language Laughs

Language Laughs: For a weekly dose of language-based humour, visit my Facebook page at https://facebook.com/lcplauntMEd

#LangLafs

Tuesday Two

Tuesday Two: Write a story with only two sentences. Use the photo for inspiration if you wish. #TueTwo

Photo by Marcin Czerniawski on Unsplash.

A doorway in ancient temple ruins in Siem Reap.

Monday Muddle: set up, setup

If you can logically place a word between “set” and “up”, you need a space. For example, you can say that you need to set up the computer, and wonder whether there should be a space or not. But you can also say that you need to set the computer up. Now it’s obvious that you need the space. Either way, once you finish the job, you’ll have a great computer setup.

Monday Muddle: set up: (phrasal verb) arrange; construct; organize; make ready for use; start (a business) setup: (noun, adjective) organization, organizational; preparation, preparatory As a noun, setup is the result of setting something up. (e.g. a great camera setup) As an adjective, setup describes something that will be used in setting something up. (e.g. use the setup checklist)