Search found 172 matches
- Sat Jan 09, 2016 11:39 am
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--AVOIDING ETHNIC STEREOTYPES
- Replies: 21
- Views: 30302
Re: Be a Better Writer--AVOIDING ETHNIC STEREOTYPES
I am familiar with this in the context of press, as well. Choice of words is extremely important, not only for being PC and avoiding offense, but also because of bias. One example is the use of the words "indigenous people" or "people of aboriginal descent" or "First Nations...
- Mon Nov 02, 2015 6:57 pm
- Forum: Ann's Grammar Basics
- Topic: Semi-colons
- Replies: 2
- Views: 11057
Semi-colons
Semi-colons... a brief review. (For more information, scroll down the topics. I did a lesson on semi-colons a few years ago.) Primarily, semicolons join two independent clauses. In other words, two complete sentences that are very closely linked. The clauses are "stand-alone" in that they ...
- Mon Nov 02, 2015 6:36 pm
- Forum: Ann's Grammar Basics
- Topic: Her/Herself
- Replies: 5
- Views: 12438
Re: Her/Herself
Coming late to the party. In agreement with Shari and Jan. What I do, when in doubt (of either the grammar checker or myself), is re-write the sentence to avoid using whatever I'm second-guessing. Laurie wrapped the blanket tighter around herself, hoping to block the cold air. Laurie wrapped the bla...
- Mon Aug 31, 2015 12:18 pm
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--BE A BETTER READER
- Replies: 26
- Views: 27852
Re: Be a Better Writer--BE A BETTER READER
I can't really add anything that hasn't already been said. I read. I read a lot. I schedule my day to get all my chores done so I can read. I read "real" books. I also have an e-reader. (Kobo) I have both Kindle and Kobo apps on my smart phone. I download free books, but my main source for...
- Sat Aug 01, 2015 4:26 pm
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--VOICE (PART 1)
- Replies: 11
- Views: 14774
- Sat Aug 01, 2015 2:24 pm
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--VOICE (PART 1)
- Replies: 11
- Views: 14774
Re: Be a Better Writer--VOICE (PART 1)
For a little more of what Jan suggested regarding reading material, see my BoB interview with Joanne Sher. A tiny example of a writer using similar language even in vastly dissimilar works... I have read three Barbara Kingsolver novels in a row. In each one, she uses the word "earbobs," a ...
- Thu Jul 09, 2015 1:36 pm
- Forum: Ann's Grammar Basics
- Topic: Re: I Wish I Could Say I Know I'm Right, But I Can't
- Replies: 5
- Views: 13415
Re: I Wish I Could Say I Know I'm Right, But I Can't
In that case, change the "each" to "all" and "deals" to "deal." "but the theme of the story focuses on risk taking and how all of us deal with risk in our own ways." Which makes better sense, I think. I often reword a sentence if it isn't clear or if...
- Thu Jul 09, 2015 1:29 pm
- Forum: Ann's Grammar Basics
- Topic: Passive sentences
- Replies: 1
- Views: 9043
Re: Passive sentences
The passive voice is not necessarily wrong. In fact, as you say, it is often indicated and may be preferred in certain instances.
Here's a little article about the use of passive voice.
Passive
Here's a little article about the use of passive voice.
Passive
- Mon Jun 29, 2015 11:41 am
- Forum: Ann's Grammar Basics
- Topic: Re: I Wish I Could Say I Know I'm Right, But I Can't
- Replies: 5
- Views: 13415
Re: I Wish I Could Say I Know I'm Right, But I Can't
Just getting to this, Lillian. "Each" is the noun and is singular. So use the appropriate verb. "Toddlers and adults" is extra information, parenthetical, so remove it (in your head) to complete the sentence's structure. "but the theme of the story focuses on risk taking and...
- Mon May 18, 2015 1:31 pm
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--SLANT RHYME
- Replies: 19
- Views: 21065
Re: Be a Better Writer--SLANT RHYME
Could you give us a snippet of cowboy poetry, please? Mine? If not, here's part of an old classic by S. Omar Barker "Purt Near!" They called him "Purt Near Perkins," for unless the booger lied, He'd purt near done most everything that he had ever tried. He'd purt near been a pre...
- Mon May 18, 2015 1:16 pm
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--SLANT RHYME
- Replies: 19
- Views: 21065
Re: Be a Better Writer--SLANT RHYME
YES, this. From the article posted above. http://www.cowboypoetry.com/slant.htm "Does Slant Rhyme With Can't?" By the same token, slant rhyme that fails to lift a poem to loftier heights of language is every bit as useless as a poorly made strict rhyme. Slant rhyme is not a license to be s...
- Mon May 18, 2015 12:12 pm
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--SLANT RHYME
- Replies: 19
- Views: 21065
Re: Be a Better Writer--SLANT RHYME
I am hesitant to comment, because I don't know much except that I like to play around with poetry, and I have several favourite poets, specifically, Robert Service, Alfred Noyes, and Robert Frost. I like poetry, either what I write or read, to "say what it says," none of the hashing out th...
- Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:56 pm
- Forum: Ann's Grammar Basics
- Topic: Dangling Participles - Misplaced Modifiers
- Replies: 0
- Views: 8437
Dangling Participles - Misplaced Modifiers
Dangling Participle (and its twin, Misplaced Modifier ) are funny-at-best, confusing-at-worst little monsters that can run amuck through copy and fiction, causing the reader to stop and go, "Huh??" At least they should. To understand dangling participles, you need to know what a participl...
- Wed Apr 08, 2015 6:28 pm
- Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
- Topic: Be a Better Writer--RESOURCES FOR THE WRITER
- Replies: 13
- Views: 20286
Re: Be a Better Writer--RESOURCES FOR THE WRITER
I use these, as Jan cited. Grammar Girl Here on FaithWriters, don’t forget Ann’s Grammar Basics. . She’s a busy gal, and her forum tends to go through periods of activity and inactivity. But if “business” picked up there, I’m sure she’d pop in more often, and her advice is as fine as any I’ve ever s...
- Tue Apr 07, 2015 2:56 pm
- Forum: Ann's Grammar Basics
- Topic: The word that
- Replies: 4
- Views: 11510
Re: The word that
Do you tend to use it more or less? I answered your other questions, I hope, about clarifications and if using "that" really matters, but I didn't answer this question. I try not to use "that," if at all possible. My early elementary school Language Arts lessons about "that...