Some tips to help new writers with grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc...

Hmmm ... been trying to locate the exact place I read about Americans using adjectives in place of adverbs ... for the life of me I can't! Then again, it was so long ago now! *Grrr*

But, yeah, I understand that it's probably just regional dialect. In fact, this page I found a few minutes ago says adverb-as-adjective is non-standard in America: Separated by a Common Language

Ah well, since you live in America, Teresa, I'll believe you over a website any day!
 
Being scientifically educated, I am evidently practically illiterate (as well as being functionally inarticulate with a vocabulary containing more quarks than gerunds.
I still frequently wonder if, when I correct punctuation or grammar on one of the excerpts in this forum, my reasons for correcting things is clear, or whether I should go into more detail on the reasons for the suggestions. So I consider this thread an excellent initiative. It remains tobe seen if its potential will be realised.
 
Ultimately, if you want any degree of success as a writer, you have to love the language (whichever language that might be).

By that I don't mean the occasional one night stand or weekend fling for the purpose of making literary babies. You have to respect it the morning (and the afternoon, and the evening), and then be willing to make a commitment.

Above all, you need to take the time to really get to know it before you even think about moving in with it.

Which is a somewhat flippant way of saying what I sincerely and deeply believe, if you are serious about your writing you will develop a sensitivity to language and an intuitive grasp of what is right and what is wrong, so that you will know most of these things instinctively whether or not you can memorize and recite the rules behind them.

Which is not to say that learning the rules isn't a good way to start. But sooner or later you have to internalize them.
 
Definitely! I learnt how to compose a sentence before I started my novel, then as I began to write I naturally evolved my own style, which, I hope, is unique to me. In parts of my novel my sentences are brief (usually if there's action), in some I have long paragraphs of description or exposition, and in others it's mostly dialogue. I guess once you find your voice as a writer, your style fits whatever the scene requires. That's what I found anyway, and now when I write, I write with confidence because I'm happy with my style. I suppose that's what all authors find. And besides, I wouldn't want to give up my writing for anything -- it's the best job in the world!

But this info I've posted here will, I hope, help beginning writers to find their voice and their confidence. And as I wrote in my post, the information is just what I found through reading; some people may agree with it, others may not, and to be honest that's what I expected. At least they've read it and made their own decision on what, if any, they will find useful in terms of their own writing. Well, it would be nice to think so, anyway!
 
Here's another one I see occassionally: "I'd of" , as in "I'd of gone with him."

The most recent example was in our local newspaper (quoting someone).

At worst, it should be "I'd've" (to preserve the sound of the person's speech). At best, "I'd have".
 
I think there are places in dialog where it's ok to bend the rules a bit, to give the character's speech a bit of...well, character. Though "I'd've" or "I'd 'ave" would have been a better choice than "I'd of," which may be too jarring to a reader.
 
I'm going to delurk to thank you for such a helpful thread. ^_^,
 
Just adding my kudos to the crowd - great job, Leisha! Thanks for compiling this handy list of things to keep in mind!
 
"Doris smiled happily"

Doris smiled grimly

Doris smiled evily

Doris smiled disparingly

Doris smiled lustfully

Doris smiled lovingly

Doris smiled foolishly....note that each smile is for a different reason and establishes a different emotion. To asume a smile is for only one reason shows a lack of imagination (no offence intended).

Doris smiled at the silly notion, which is part of the problem when you use absolutes. Adverbs are there for a reason and the fad over the past several years to try and eliminate an entire part of speech has resulted in a lot of bland writing (IMO).

J.K. Rowlings is sometimes refered to in this country as the "Adjective Queen" as she uses an average of about 14 per page. Yet despite this 'over use' her novels and the movies from them have made hundreds of millions. One would think it goes towards pointing out that 'truisms' don't really cut it with the public.

Personally, I find these 'boned' writings that minimalise the use of these two parts of speech boring, which is why (for pleasure) I often retreat to the Golden Age authors who IMHO had a better handle on word useage than much that I read today.

Language was created to communicate. Shades of meaning abound, which is what modifiers are for. An excess of anything is bad - as the over use of ADJs and ADVs can mess with your writing, so is the attempt at extremely limiting important descriptive parts of speech.

~Frank
 
While we are on the topic.... Adverbs and Adjectives are the Poet's bread and butter....For example:

Softly,

I will leave you.

Softly,

Long before your arms

beg me to stay,

For one more hour

for one more day...

Great song - picture it without the adverbs...

~Frank
 
As someone who's gramatically challenged in the extreme, I applaud this thread. :)

PTeppic said:
Is this a guide for "American English" or "British English"?
Click to expand...

I was wondering that myself. I can't remember ever hearing a word like "shan't" in everyday conversation. I'm guessing it is almost an archaism in American English, though the rest of it seems to apply.
 
Frank menser said:
"Doris smiled happily"

Doris smiled grimly

Doris smiled evily

Doris smiled disparingly

Doris smiled lustfully

Doris smiled lovingly

Doris smiled foolishly....note that each smile is for a different reason and establishes a different emotion. To asume a smile is for only one reason shows a lack of imagination (no offence intended).

Doris smiled at the silly notion, which is part of the problem when you use absolutes. Adverbs are there for a reason and the fad over the past several years to try and eliminate an entire part of speech has resulted in a lot of bland writing (IMO).

J.K. Rowlings is sometimes refered to in this country as the "Adjective Queen" as she uses an average of about 14 per page. Yet despite this 'over use' her novels and the movies from them have made hundreds of millions. One would think it goes towards pointing out that 'truisms' don't really cut it with the public.

Personally, I find these 'boned' writings that minimalise the use of these two parts of speech boring, which is why (for pleasure) I often retreat to the Golden Age authors who IMHO had a better handle on word useage than much that I read today.

Language was created to communicate. Shades of meaning abound, which is what modifiers are for. An excess of anything is bad - as the over use of ADJs and ADVs can mess with your writing, so is the attempt at extremely limiting important descriptive parts of speech.

~Frank
Click to expand...

No offence taken! And yes, of course poets need adjectives and adverbs; the poems in my own story are full of them! (This thread is to aid beginning writers of novels.) The point I'm trying to make is that, in most cases, there's usually a way to show these details instead of stating them (like "smiled grimly"). You see, do you do you need to state something that can be expressed through showing instead of telling? Though, I agree, sometimes telling is fine, otherwise you'd have pages and pages of long, drawn-out descriptions, which would send the reader to sleep. As for myself, I also write "She smiled grimly", "Peter looked happy", "she was tired", etc -- you have to sometimes, for the sake of word count and suspense. I see you are an author yourself... can you see what I'm trying to achieve? I'm just trying to encourage writers to be creative, by picking strong verbs instead of verb-adverb combinations, a couple of adjectives instead of a list of them, etc, etc.

Here are my offerings for alternatives to lines of telling. Caution: some suggestible content!

"smiled happily" What about this instead: Doris smiled. "Could this day be any more perfect?"

smiled grimly -- "Death awaits us, Marcus," said Brackus. "Take up your sword and we'll ride out to engage the enemy. We won't survive long, but at least we'll have delayed the raiders." His face took on a faraway look, and he smiled. "I just wish I could've held my wife one last time. God I miss her."

smiled evily -- "Perhaps you're right, Panthelos, perhaps I should have spared her life." Karnarian bent down and ran one of his fingers over the woman's lifeless face. He smiled. "But what pleasure would there be in that? Her screams shall linger in my memory, her blood shall stain this hall, and her death has eased my worries."

smiled disparingly -- Peter ceased struggling against his bonds and instead sagged against his captor. Why god? He thought. Why this end, when all my life I've abided by the church? Never once had he sinned, never once had he wronged another human. A slow smile spread across his face. Never once would he have that choice, after today.

smiled lustfully -- The Queen's hand rested on his chest. Henry jumped as the hand began moving lower. "I -- I -- oh -- surely Queen" -- he dabbed a hand onto his sweaty forehead -- "what -- what are you doing?"
The Queen's hand squeezed, and she smiled. "What does it look like?" Her voice was lowered, and it promised all manner of pleasurable things.
He swallowed.

smiled lovingly -- Harriet smiled. "I love you, Eric."

smiled foolishly -- "Oops!" she said, smiling. "Well, it's an easy mistake to make, isn't it? I mean, he does look like a girl, doesn't he?"


Of course, as you can see, showing lengthens your word count, so sometimes it is best to just tell.




As to that old guy: I'm English. Shan't is an old form of "shall not". Perhaps it's not heard of in America? Anyway, I suppose this guide is applicable to any country; it's really just encouraging strong writing, which is something anyone from anywhere can learn, if they aren't sure of these things already. Well, obviously not everyone will like this thread, but I wrote it because I just wanted someone -- even just one person -- to take something away from reading this, and to have improved their writing in some way. :)

I'm just trying to help my fellow aspiring authors.
 
Leisha said:
As to that old guy: I'm English. Shan't is an old form of "shall not". Perhaps it's not heard of in America?
Click to expand...

It is certainly not in common use nowadays in America, though I honestly can't say why. If I heard someone using it I'd likely consider it an affectation. Or even that they were trying to sound ironic. Were I a writer I'd never consider using it in any kind of dialog. Unless I was writing Jane Austen fanfic or some such thing. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I suppose this guide is applicable to any country; it's really just encouraging strong writing, which is something anyone from anywhere can learn, if they aren't sure of these things already.
Click to expand...

Like I said, I think this is an excellent thread. And I need all the help I can get. :)
 
"Shan't" is fairly common in the UK, but generally not with younger generations, and not with the working class. My girlfriend's Grandma is pretty well spoken, and tends to say things like this.

Goes back t' days when folk talked proper, like.
 
Leisha,

I appreciate your point (showing vs telling). The problem, though is a lot of people don't put that kind of thought into it and take the litteral interpretation. Heck...I just rankle at truisms (LOL).

I kinda like what Spencer Tracy said in INHERIT THE WIND.

"...I figure language is a poor enough means of communication as it is. So we ought to use all the words we got. Besides there's damn few words anyone understands."

~Frank
 
Hey, I rankle at a LOT of things, even simple errors in my own posts! Urgh! It's so frustrating! But yes, I can see that some people may not appreciate my indirectness; I always assume they'd figure it out in the end.

Ah well, at least people are getting the gist of this thread.

Oh, and as to the "shan't" debate -- I use it occasionally, and I'm neither upper-class nor old! I must be the odd one out -- or perhaps us Yorkshire folk speak differently to everyone one else... :D
 
"Shan't" is a word that hasn't been used in this part of the world since somewhere around the beginning of the twentieth century.

And I'm betting that when to use "will" and when to use "shall" is as obscure to most Americans as the proper use of the second person familiar tense. If it doesn't come naturally, better to leave it alone. If it's part of your local dialect, that's a different story.
 
I thought that there should be two spaces at the end of a sentence. I was always taught two spaces after a period or colon, one after a comma. I think that it is one after a semicolon. Since I do not belive in them, I am not sure.
By the way, thanks for its and it's. Not be allowed to use contractions in must things I have written, that was a problem area for me.
 
Yes, I've read this too. Some editors and agents prefer two spaces after a full stop, colon, and exclamation mark (but not a comma or a semicolon), whereas others accept that most writers use one. My only advice would be to check with whomever you're sending your work off to. Personally I use one space, but that's just my preference. :)

Unless Teresa or someone else can give you more specific advice, since they're published? (Bear in mind not all countries have the same rules.)


Glad to help. :)
 
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