Grammar - Writers Forum

skywalker21 · 07-09-2008, 10:37 PM

Adjectives and adverbs

Positive
soft
fast
careful
bad
good

Comparative
softer
faster
more careful
worse
better

Superlative
softest
fastest
most careful
worst
best

Pronoun agreement

Indefinite pronouns
anybody
anyone
each
either
everybody
everyone
everything
neither
no one
someone
something

"In this class performs at his or her [not their] fitness level."

Note: He is considered sexist as Hacker says. Use it if you want to not conform but in school use his or her.

Sen Yama · 07-09-2008, 10:39 PM

I'm still going to use their...

skywalker21 · 07-10-2008, 09:02 AM

Far enough...

If you want to check this site out it might help you when you go to college.

http://www.dianahacker.com/pocket

Sam Winchester · 07-10-2008, 09:15 AM

And the point of this list is? You don't need to go to college to know any of what you've said above. People have this ludicrous belief that you need to be able to understand every single thing in English in order to write well. Complete and utter BS. I don't need to know whether a word is an adjective, adverb, noun, verb, or anything else. I just need to know how to write a sentence.

skywalker21 · 07-10-2008, 09:35 AM

You don't think I know that.
I am trying to make a point that if you are writing at a college level you will probably not be understood.
I was told by my 67 year old husband that people can only read at a 5 grade level and that is for the common person. How many books do you see with high level language?
The only ones I have seen are books that are Non-Fiction and school books. I just want you to know that this is what you are taught in school.

If you really want to know, this is the reason I dropped out of college. Atleast one of them. I want you to know that they will teach you this stuff but use what feels confortable to you. Use your peers to help you better your work.
They may read it and find grammar mistakes or they may want you to add/subtract things but those are suggestions and you can take them or leave them.

Some one in college will tell you not to write as you speak. I do that sometimes because isnae write just like you speak? I believe so. This is all spoken as I write it down.

Tiamat10 · 07-10-2008, 01:32 PM

No offense, but I think your 67-year-old husband is mistaken. Maybe I just have a different sampling of people, but the vast majority of my friends, acquaintances, and even my family (whose collective intelligence is comparative to that of a box of garden tools) are perfectly capable of understanding college-level writing if they so choose.

What you mean to say is that people often prefer to read 'See Spot run' crap because the don't have to think about it. That doesn't mean that's all they can read. Sorry.

Sam Winchester · 07-10-2008, 01:37 PM

You see, the problem is this: You're talking about grammar like you're some kind of expert on the subject, when in actual fact you can't construct a sentence worth shit. I'm not normally a rude person. In fact, I'm quite jovial for the most part. But stuff like this really tries my patience. I have no problem with people imparting their so called "wisdom" on writers, provided they actually have a clue what they're talking about. Unfortunately, you fail on both counts. I need a decipher ring just to figure out what you said in your previous post.

Quote:

I am trying to make a point that if you are writing at a college level you will probably not be understood.

As opposed to writing at a level where no one understands what the hell you're saying? Yeah, makes sense. Writing like a child is so much easier.

Tiamat10 · 07-10-2008, 01:40 PM

Quote:

In fact, I'm quite jovial for the most part.

Don't try to steal his Lucky Charms, though. That's where he draws the line.

Sam Winchester · 07-10-2008, 01:47 PM

Dont dare touch my Lucky Charms! People have been killed for less.

Wintermute · 07-13-2008, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skywalker21

You don't think I know that.

I am trying to make a point that if you are writing at a college level you will probably not be understood.
I was told by my 67 year old husband that people can only read at a 5 grade level and that is for the common person. How many books do you see with high level language?
The only ones I have seen are books that are Non-Fiction and school books. I just want you to know that this is what you are taught in school.

Your 67 year old husband is an idiot. I read plenty of books with language well over a fifth grade level, but I can clearly see that you don't.

Mike C · 07-13-2008, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skywalker21

How many books do you see with high level language? The only ones I have seen are books that are Non-Fiction and school books.

What utter tosh. The only thing less fathomable than what you write is the presentation -tiny font and centred text is probably not the best way to get people to take you seriously.

And for your information all of what I read uses 'high level language' - and I read a lot. I suggest you try visiting a book store and taking a look around rather relying on your spouse's opinion.

The Backward OX · 07-13-2008, 05:30 AM

Define 'high level language'. And nix with the lilliputian font in future, ok?