Page 15 - PGA Community News - February '25

February 2025 February 2025 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 15

Book Review

I had intended for this
Dictionary Of Fine Distinctions: book to take its place purchase it is my need,
My initial decision to
Nuances, Niceties, And Subtle alongside the dictionary as an editor and writer, to
and Roget’s Thesaurus in
Shades Of Meaning my home office as a helpful always select the correct
word when more than
reference. Instead, I have one option may seem to
By Nils A. Shapiro been carrying it around be available … and the
Nils began his career as marketing director for a to share with friends as a purpose of The Dictionary
major book publisher. He has since edited the authors’ source of not only important of Fine Distinctions is to
manuscripts’ for more than 20 published books, written helpful information but to point out the more than
more than 200 book reviews, served as publisher of several spark a round of appreciative 100 examples of two
million-plus circulation national magazines, created the good humor with the turn of words that most people
official yearbooks for teams in Major League Baseball, the almost every one of its 200 pages. mistakenly believe are
National Football League, National Basketball Association I believe you will be tempted to do the same once you interchangeable, but
and National Hockey League, and “retired” as president get your hands on this handy-sized, 5-1/4” by 7-1/4” hard- which are not … and in
of a successful telecommunications company. cover volume. each case to explain the differences. The text by author Eli
Burnstein is laced with such a wonderful sense of humor
that you hardly realize you are learning so much, and many
of the explanations are illustrated with delightful cartoon
illustrations.

If you care about using the correct words in your own
conversations or in your writings this is a must-have
reference book. If that is not a problem you care much about,
then it is a must-have for the fun it will add to your life.
Here are just a few examples of words you may be using
incorrectly. For lack of space here I offer only the author’s
brief opening statement for each. He almost always follows
up with a fuller explanation, but you will have to see the
book for those.
• Poisonous vs. Venomous. Poisonous is when you bite it
(as with a toadstool mushroom). Venomous is when it bites
you (as with a snake).
• Irony vs. Sarcasm. Irony is when you say one thing but
mean another. (Lounging on the beach: “It’s a tough life.”)
So is sarcasm, only what you mean is insulting. (After
someone trips: “Smooth move.”)
• Pronunciation vs. Enunciation. To pronounce a word is
to say it correctly. To enunciate a word is to say it clearly.
• Hors d’oeuvres vs. Canape. Hors d’oeuvres are bite-
size appetizers. Canapes are bite-size appetizers on bread,
crackers or pastry.
• Schlemiel vs. Schlimazel. Shlemiels are bumbling fools.
Schlimazels have bad luck. Hence the Yiddish crack that
when a schlemiel spills their soup, it’s the shlimazel whose
lap it falls on.
• Assume vs. Presume. To assume is to suppose without
proof. To presume is to do so with confidence or authority.
• Gala vs. Ball. A Gala is a large, upscale social event. A
Ball is a large, upscale social event with dancing.
In any case, from now on I will have no more excuses
for using incorrect words in any of my columns. You have
my permission to chastise me if I do.

Drainage Information

From Northern Palm Beach
County Improvement District

Why do some yards flood after large quantities of
rain? The simple answer is according to most approved
drainage designs, some water is meant to be temporarily
stored in public recreational areas, yard swale and streets.
The excess surface water slowly drains to community
lakes or on-site ponds via street and yard drainage grates
and/or via swales, ditches and canals. The more complex
answer is that each yard is different. Some yards have
drainage swale areas. These are areas that are sloped to
catch water and filter out pollutants as water is absorbed
into the ground. Some yards direct water to the community
drainage system as run-off with very little water retained
in the yard. Familiarize yourself with how your yard was
built to determine how water drains from your home.