Watching our kid kick ass

[yendi]

So, we got up at ass-thirty today to take Elayna to her Quiz Bowl tournament. We had no idea how it would work, or that it would be nearly as large as it was.

shadesong has a huge recap in her journal, but a quick summary:

● The entire team of five had never played quiz bowl before, and were nervous as heck.

● They went 4-1, with three of those wins matches in which they either shut their opponents out or kept them to 10 points.

● They finished fourth (which nabbed them a trophy -- the top four teams in the elementary and middle school divisions got trophies, although only the middle school teams could go on to the state tournament).

● Of the teams that finished above them, they beat the third place team in head-to-head (but ranking was done based on total points, not record), and their only loss was to the first-place team, which was composed of people who'd played quiz bowl before.

● Most importantly, all five players contributed to the wins, and they all had fun and relaxed once things got under way.

So yeah, a good day.

Comments

[thryn.livejournal.com]

Psst. ...

There is no such thing as "comprised of."

The team comprised five people who had played quiz bowl before.

The team was composed of people who had played quiz bowl before.

Your usage is becoming increasingly accepted, but it's still wrong, dammit!

http://www.bartleby.com/61/72/C0537200.html

http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000201.htm

(This is one of the most common usage mistakes I see[1], so I'm not picking on you. I just figure you should start using it correctly and thus make yourself even cooler.) ;)

Besides, if the kid learns to use it right, it could win her a Quiz bowl match one day. Congrats to her for a killer first run!

[1] (Ambivalent is probably the most common usage mistake I see, closely followed by nonplussed. If you think you know what those two words mean, look them up anyway.)

[yendi]

What's worse is, I knew that, and would have sworn up and down that I'd written "composed of." :-( That said, rectifying it now.

[yendi]

Um, that said, how exactly do people misuse Ambivalent and nonplussed? And yes, I know what they both mean. :-)

[thryn.livejournal.com]

People use "ambivalent" to mean "indifferent" all the time.

And "nonplussed" to mean "not impressed."

[yendi]

Hunh. I've heard the first one on occasion. I honestly can't recall ever seeing or hearing the latter misused.

[maida-mac.livejournal.com]

I have, often. Actually, I've seen both used for "not impressed". People are weird sometimes.

Congratulations to Elayna. We've always known that she was kickass. :)

[ringrrl416.livejournal.com]

your kid ROCKS