pittwitch

Here is a site that I always find helpful for things grammatical: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Squallfan, If you have posted it here on AFF, please promote away with a link to the story here at AFF. What isn't allowed is promoting stories ONLY from other sites. PW

My family is rife with them: Every black-eyed pea you eat on New Year's day means an extra dollar in the New Year. Snip a locket of your hair for health and luck. Enter through the front door. Exit through the back door. Anyone else have some "traditions"?

Thanks, Raymy. I know the topic is/was bound to deviate, but truly, I will be happy if I have converted even one cannibal.

19855

Why on earth would I lock a thread with such lively discourse? I am bothered by the fact that apparently people are being taught that splicing together sentences improperly is acceptable as well as using fragments willy-nilly.

Okay Cuzosu, since this is my rant, I'm going to point out a few things using your post as an example. Please don't take this personally. It isn't. I don't know you at all. I just know what I read here. 1) The parenthetical aside: Had I used this "style" trick in any of my writing, my instructors would have torn me to shreds. I watched them do it to others. You are the author. Yours is the voice. There is no need (absolutely none) to cheat proper punctuation by using parentheses to address your readers separately. http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/parens.asp 2) Improper use of the ellipses ... meaning those three little dots which are used as a pause or to indicate that words have been left out of a quote. They do not follow a period. The punctuation follows them.http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/ellipses.asp Also, if a pause in the reader is what you are after -- an em-dash is more acceptable. http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/dashes.asp 3) The non-sentence: The more rare and professional level punctuation. 4) The splice, whether a comma or semi-colon: hey, this isn't perfect; here's a way you could improve it. This is two sentences. And you left out the quotation marks to signify this was something spoken, or written. "Hey, this isn't perfect. Here's a way you could improve it." 5) May I point out that all of this is off-topic. The Direct Address Comma, poor thing, is dead.

19842

Bronx, I would always beta for you. You are an exceptional writer, and your grammar is inherently strong. You'd be a refreshing breeze!

I can't imagine where I would have been if someone hadn't volunteered to beta for me. Expository writing and composition were my strong suits. My first attempt at creativeness was, frankly, frightening.

I think a large part of the issue is the instant gratification that the internet and self-publishing sites, like ours, provide. People rush, rush, rush but never polish. For the most part, if the grammar is totally ignored, I ignore the story. The back button is there for a reason, after all. Now what really burns my butt are the authors who ask for betas, are lucky enough to find someone who will work with them, then refuse to learn anything, apply the changes or post chapters before the beta returns the corrections. Hence, at least three reasons I refuse to beta anymore.

19839

Agrees with Dany's rant. Folks, not taking the time to learn the rules of grammar, even the simplest ones, is insulting to the readers and sheer laziness on the part of the so-called authors who ignore them despite someone trying to explain them. Clambers down off soapbox, for now.

You are absolutely a writer, perhaps a writer of pornography, but a writer nonetheless. Plus, you do have a solid enough grasp of your native language to craft amazing tales. Yes, JayDee, you are a writer.

19836

JayDee you knows their is sum body who just didnt get the sarcazm they're.

Bronxie! That was my next sticking point. Geez, how can anyone call themselves a writer if they totally ignore all the rules of writing?

This has been driving me nuts in the Archive. I learned this rule as a ten year old kid so I now question WTH our kids are being taught. This comma makes all the difference in the world in a sentence. Let's demonstrate! "Let's eat, Grandma!" means that we want Grandma to put the grub on the table. "Let's eat Grandma!" means that we have suddenly become cannibals and Grandma IS the grub. A lowly comma, long neglected by lazy writers, completely changes the context! It also applies to terms of endearment or titles: "Yes, Master," murmured the slave. "Good night, my sweet," whispered the dom. If even one person changes their evil ways, I shall rejoice with dancing, dearies!

19801

19780

For fiction writing, I would recommend avoiding the fancy punctuation until you've got a handle on the basics: commas, periods, exclamation points, question marks and dialogue markers. Happy writing.

I've looked over your story. You do seem to rush a bit. Remember too: proper address always requires a comma. For example, "Thank you, Dr. Nina," said Aric.