Common grammatical errors and how to avoid them. - Page 4 - Writers Forum

eleutheromaniac · 07-07-2004, 04:12 AM

That's what I was thinking, too, that if you have a complete sentence within the parenthesis, the period goes inside.

Actually, that sentence brings up another question: how should you use a comma for words like too, also, yet, etc.

I haven't seen him, yet.
I haven't seen him yet, though.
I saw him at the park, too.

Is a comma even necessary here? I've seen it with and without the comma.

Twice · 07-07-2004, 04:16 AM

1) no
2) optional
3) yes

eleutheromaniac · 07-07-2004, 04:18 AM

Is that official, or are you just guessing?

Twice · 07-07-2004, 04:39 AM

I'm not guessing, per se, but I can't say I'm absolutely positive. About 98% sure, though. Especially on #3.

eleutheromaniac · 07-07-2004, 05:08 AM

I think for #1 it depends on whether or not you want the emphasis on 'yet'.

Savannah · 07-07-2004, 06:25 AM

You may not need the comma on the first one, but I'm almost certain you need it on both the others.

Airborneguy · 07-07-2004, 08:57 AM

Looking down the barrel of his gun, Billy exclaimed, "Here goes nothing!"

I also have heard that you are not supposed to use semi-colons within dialogue:

"I don't know; it doesn't sound right." WRONG

"I don't know, it doesn't sound right." OR
"I don't know. It doens't sound right." CORRECT

Emma LB · 07-07-2004, 09:21 AM

Have any of you read 'Eats, shoots and leaves?'
I have the book, but I must admitt I haven't read it.

eleutheromaniac · 07-07-2004, 09:27 AM

"I also have heard that you are not supposed to use semi-colons within dialogue:"

That's new to me. I can't see why not. What's your source?

Airborneguy · 07-07-2004, 04:03 PM

Honeslty? Bob Gelinas' website. He has a good article on editing.

Savannah · 07-08-2004, 08:39 AM

That doesn't make sense. I've never heard that before, and I've seen lots of dialogue in books with semicolons.

Airborneguy · 07-08-2004, 05:25 PM

Well, maybe it is a publisher by publisher thing, but I agree with his idea. I guess if your character speaks in a very precise, clear, "perfect" manner, then it might help convey that type of speech. Since my characters tend to have more of an everyday, almost "street" type of speaking, I like to use the comma, keeps the dialogue flowing.

strokesnstripes · 07-12-2004, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emma LB

Lay and lie

--------------------------------------------

Two verbs which are often used incorrectly especially in the past tense.

To lay is a transitive verb, that means this verb needs an object.
e.g. the hen lays eggs, the carpenter lays carpets and so on.
The past of lay is laid.
e.g. the hen laid eggs, the carpenter laid the carpet.

To lie is not a transitive verb, that means there is no object.
e.g. I lie on my bed, he is lying on the floor. The bed and floor are not objects of lie though, because the floor or the bed are not things that he is lying, but the hen in laying eggs.
The past of lie is lay.
e.g. I lay on my bed, he lay on the floor.

---------------------------------------------

Oh god, I've had that backwards for years! Actually, not backwards, but tangled. Thanks for the help

*edit* It's official. I am grammatically challenged.

PigletLover · 07-12-2004, 03:07 AM

I realize that the main topic of this thread is grammar and its use, but I feel compelled to add a couple comments on style to the discussion.
All the correct grammar in the world won't make crappy writing any better. The comments listed below are compiled from my own experience, The Elements of Style, as well as an interesting book written by Stephen King titled On Writing. This is just my two cents, but I think attention to these few tenets of the craft will yield more tangible results in terms of real quality of writing than all the grammar lessons on the planet.

1. Passive voice verb use - avoid it. "Sam strangled the dog." Not "The dog was strangled by Sam."

2. Just say no to adverbs.

3. Less is more, delete needless words.

4. Don't worry too much about grammar. If you haven't absorbed the basics by now, you'll have to rely on your word processor and your editor. I would also add that stringent use of correct grammar can sometimes make writing too sterile. Let your style be your style. If you orphan a few prepositions, use the wrong punctuation once in a while, or stutter you way through dialog with new spellings for your words, let it go.

That being said, try not to sound like a moron - use basic grammar! I love the double standard implicit in my post. You just need to write. Obvious errors will make themselves known and can be corrected.

5. On grammar specifically, subject-verb agreement needs to be addressed.
Examples: He goes vs. He go.
There may be better examples, but I'm too burned out to think about
them right now.

That's about all I have for the moment. Hope you like it.

PL