Writing 101 should be open - Writers Forum

Kamisama · 05-10-2006, 02:12 AM

I think there needs to be a board that allows people to ask common grammar and mechanics questions. I understand people want someone to critique and proofread a work, but the basics must be established.

I was hoping a board would be created that allows people to talk about things such as subordinate, independent, and dependent clauses.

Sure, many of the basics are covered in a written up thread by someone of the forum; however, some punctuation usages are clouded in mystery due to lack of reference availability on the Internet.

I personally do not like asking my questions about semicolon usage in the Writing Tips & Advice section. Although, I do understand this section is classified for advice and tips; I have always thought of the forum board to be on a larger scale than simple mechanics.

Hodge · 05-10-2006, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Although, I do understand this section is classified for advice and tips, I have always thought of the forum board to be on a larger scale than simple mechanics.

Lose your apprehensions. If the "Writing 101" forum were open, someone would come along and say, "u can use commas to make ur senteces go on 4 ever!!!1 lol"

Kamisama · 05-10-2006, 03:07 AM

I don't think so; some of your typos are awful and very incorrect.

I think it would achieve what the other board does, but just in a more organized fashion.

Selorian · 05-10-2006, 07:27 AM

Writing 101 is closed to posting to help maintain the integrety and correctness of the information within it and to avoid reposts of the same material multiple times.

Questions and discussions such as the one you described are suited for Writing Tips & Advice. That has always been the purpose of that forum. If a particular thread has enough valuable information in it, then it may be moved permanently to Writing 101.

Also, there is a thread stickied at the top here for Writing 101 suggestions. That is where this should have been posted.

Janelle_34 · 05-10-2006, 07:37 AM

I have no nice comment on what you just said about writing 101 so Ill just shut up!

Selorian · 05-10-2006, 08:07 AM

Nothing I said was meant to be bad. We all know how threads can get off topic and so-forth--that is what I was referring to.

Anyone who wants to contribute content for Writing 101 may do so. The procedures for doing so are at the top of the Writing 101 forum.

And why post to just say what you did? Kind of defeats the purpose.

Janelle_34 · 05-10-2006, 08:08 AM

lol Cuz Im me.. Do you ever know me to be normal? Geesh.. Im just kidding. I think that it should be open, but I also think there should be rules

Selorian · 05-10-2006, 08:20 AM

Sorry, I'm dealing with three very cranky spawns as I'm browsing the forum.

Any comments, suggestions, ideas, or feedback for the Writing 101 forum is welcome, but there is a seperate sticky here in the Suggestion Box to do so. The creation of this thread already illustrates the reason why the forum isn't open. Any discussion needs to be carried on in the appropriate spot.

kad barma · 06-20-2006, 02:11 PM

<--raises hand to second the original idea, though declining to agree that opening "101" is the best approach...

i've only been here a short while, but i'd observe that the general state of grammar, spelling and punctuation among the feedback forums are, to use an appropriate word, atrocious. not considering myself perfect in this regard, i'd still hesitate to wade in among the "riters" to ask them questions about the pluperfect tense. ("the reader, noticing what had been written, was appalled").

would it be possible to have a "sticklers" forum as an alternative? we could name it in homage to strunk & white: "elements of style".

sure would be nice to have a place to hang out with others who value similar things...

Pawn · 06-20-2006, 08:46 PM

All three of us, you mean? Why don't you go ahead and write a Grammar Nazi article for the 101?

kad barma · 06-21-2006, 12:38 PM

i'd love to write a hundred grammar nazi articles for the 101, provided two things:

1) the people who needed them would actually read them and pay attention
2) i had somewhere else to go ask for feedback whenever i needed my own help with a "grammar nazi" topic

today's obsession is prepositions. as they went to the trouble to name them with a "pre", it certainly stands to reason they shouldn't come "post" and at the end of a sentence. however, as churchill sarcastically observed, that ending sentences with prepositions was something up with which he would not put, there seems to be some reasonable middle ground in need of clearing. i'm in the personal quandary of enjoying the rhythm of stilted prepositional constructions in order to avoid the end-of-sentence problem, but facing the sheer weight of popular disuse and disaffection for the convention.

there would seem to be a need for more sticklers with whom to converse!

TsuTseQ · 06-21-2006, 01:21 PM

Language has evolved since Churchill's day, and rules of use are always in flux. It used to be common practice to use the oxford comma, but now that's falling away; it was also once pounded into our brains that infinitives should NEVER be split, but that rule is effectively broken time and time again.

Why not stick to the gross flaws you keep finding in others' writing, instead of nitpicky rules that stilt flow and add pomposity to the tone. Here's a great grammatical place to start: subject/verb agreement. Why not give us a lecture on that, oh mighty grammar slammer.

Mungye · 06-21-2006, 06:01 PM

Grammer slammer. I like that.
The thing about writing that bothers me is that when you realize in the ages past a lot of stuff was oral, passed from one person to the next and what mattered was the feel, the emotion, the content. And then someone or ones decided that when written down an article had to do this and that and the next thing. It is to me like painting a picture that is astounding and then having someone come along and strike a red line thru it because you didn't put your colors and texture how he or she thinks you should have. But yes yes I know we must have rules. We must have rules. sigh.......

TsuTseQ · 06-21-2006, 06:36 PM

A friend of mine used to call himself the grammar slammer. He could cut dangling modifiers easily, but couldn't spell to save his life,lol.

Sobre use of punctuation and grammar is important to be able to communicate properly, but that doesn't mean these rules won't, or shouldn't change. The reason why many fast and true grammar rules are now dying out is because they were intended to be used on a dead language -- latin. The powers that be, and for the life of me I don't know who they were, decided way back when that we should adopt the grammatical system used for latin. Many of the rules are either impractical or inappropriate for use in English.

Mungye · 06-21-2006, 06:48 PM

Yah, the powers that be. Dost thou thinkest they mayhap have been high as yon kites on mushrooms in that dazzling twighlite?

I just feel like making a grammar slammer t shirt. compliments to your friend.
and to you as well.