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12 mistakes nearly everyone who writes about grammar makes
I've posted this on FB and Twitter too, but thought some of you might not see it there. Worth a read I think:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathon-owen/grammar-mistakes_b_4312009.html?utm_hp_ref=books
What do you think? Sane advice or shaky ground?
Comments
I like this writer; he's helpful but shows a lot of humility. There are some very interesting observations in it too.
I still think there needs to be a balance when it comes to assessing grammar. I think we really need to drop the use of the term 'grammar police', but at the same time accept our language is changing and styles are different.
Punctuation should assist the flow and readability of the work and support the sense. Lack of, or poor, punctuation can detract from the reading experience. I've read three books in a row recently that had me itching for a red pen button on my Kindle: failure to put accents on French words (the books were set in France), 'leant' used three times in one paragraph where the author meant 'lent', and a complete misuse or failure to use the comma - 'Good, I'll pick you up at 7.00 give me your address', for example. All these are faults that should be corrected - not Grammar Police irritation!
What's the point in writing if we don't polish our work and make it shine?
I agree with almost all your post, Mrs Bear, but I know plenty of people who speak in the way indicated in the quote. If I were writing a piece of dialogue it's distinctly possible I would write it like that if it suited the character. Obviously, I would never write narrative in such a sloppy fashion.
Erm does the title of this thread need a tweak?
Just writing me shopping list ...
*adds Andrex Quilts*
There you go - I've slapped ya with a thanks.
<Winks>
I'm always nervous about commenting on grammar questions in case I end up looking a bigger prairie-hat than usual.
There will always be someone who has encyclopedic knowledge of every obscure rule the Grammar Police book and be more than willing to share it. Anyway, I'm seventy-seven now, and don't have time or inclination to be pedantic. I just get on and write. I work on the basis that if it looks right and sounds right, it probably is right.
Don't make it right, but in an appropriate context a broken rule don't matter.
Love your work, look after it and make it the best it can be.
I think rule-breaking is a good thing, but it has to be right.
Not sure if anybody has ever read Orange Laughter by Leone Ross, but every other chapter contains zero punctuation. Sounds horrendous, doesn't it? However, it reads so well and works. That's because it's fitting to the character and story.
That really depends on what you mean by pedantic.
There's a thread on here about it (or another written in the same or similar style) - I looked at the free excerpt and found it fascinating.
I've read some of her other work and even spent a week on a writing course years ago where she was one of the tutors.
I still get caught out on the usage of that/which... and the explanations as to their usage.
yes, my OH, a stickler, complains if I write 'cos' in e mail/text, and the word is in current everyday usage.
Instead of 'because?
'Because' is instead 'caused this situation'.
A lot of our words/phrases are truncated versions of wordier explanations.
Some would argue that text speak and similar abbreviated terms/words are an evolutionary refinement.
Not sure about this myself...just an observation...
The writer calls it 'Muphry's Law', but it is in fact 'Murphy's Law'. Dear me, a typo.
Not a typo. Muphry's law is a deliberate misspelling of Murphy's law as it relates to someone criticising the work of others and making errors of their own within that criticism.
[quote=claudia]I still get caught out on the usage of that/which... and the explanations as to their usage. [/quote]
Me too - I'm forever looking it up but it won't stick!
This was a problem that cropped up when an American friend of mine asked me to have a look at her writing. In the end, I could only offer advice up to a certain point because of the differences in spelling, sentence construction and style because she was writing for the US market.
[quote=heather]Me too - I'm forever looking it up but it won't stick![/quote]
Glad to hear it's not just me then! :)
Can't think of one offhand, but it was phrasing that we would edit out as awkward and should be simplified, her editor expects her to use as standard.
I like the challenge of change too. It makes me feel very humble. I'd hate to think I ever knew it all, unlike some.
So the first thing to learn? Re-read your work!
[quote=Abster]Anyone got any recommendations of a good grammar book to turn to when you just can't remember whether you want a that or a which?[/quote]
p169/170...:)
I still mainly Google the answer as when I'm on the computer it's quicker.
Try this site to test your knowledge:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_55.htm
I would also advise going into a second-hand bookshop reference section - people often seem to get rid of this sort of book and you could pick one up cheaply after looking inside to see if it suits you - after all grammar, punctuation etc. does not really change!