Grammar Police Monday - Don't Be Obtuse

I’ve got a short lesson on usage lined up for today, with an added bonus for those of you who make it to the end. :) 

But first, a funny side note... 



I'll be posting about critiques this Wednesday, and it made me think of something my son said once. 

Son #2 (10 & homeschooled at the time) leaned over and looked at my screen when I was in the middle of a critique and asked me what I was doing. 

"I'm making comments about this man's book to help him improve his writing," I told him.

"Does he give you crap about what you do?"

"Yes, honey. He gives me 'crap' about my writing, too."

LOL - Kids! :D

Accurate vs precise
Although precise is sometimes given as a synonym for accurate, the two are not exactly the same. Accurate means free from error whereas precise means strictly stated, defined, or fixed.

His answers on the test were all accurate.

The hotel is located precisely five miles from the interstate, no more and no less.

Differ vs vary 
Vary means to change or show diversity.

You should vary your wording when you write. No one wants to read the same word 10 times in the same paragraph.

Differ means to be dissimilar or to disagree.

Editors differ in their opinions on the use of italics.

Abstruse vs Obtuse 

You probably won’t see abstruse used too often. 
It means hard to understand.  

Obtuse, on the other hand, means not quick in perception, sensitive, or observant. (Slow on the uptake is what we call it around here. :P)

And now, the bonus—my favorite scene using the word obtuse. (You'll hear it approximately 3 min. and 30 seconds into video.) This is a clip from the movie Shawshank Redemption. Apologies in advance for the language.

 

Thanks for stopping by. :)