The Worlds of Katherine Kurtz

Off Topic => Writing Tips => Topic started by: Elkhound on September 24, 2012, 10:32:14 AM

Title: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: Elkhound on September 24, 2012, 10:32:14 AM
http://silvablu.skeeter63.org/HMG/00-Introduction.htm

The examples are all from fanfic on the TV show "The Sentinel", but her advice is sound.
Title: Re: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: DesertRose on September 24, 2012, 11:22:49 AM
LOL, her advice is sound and packaged in a rather amusing fashion.  :D
Title: Re: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: Jerusha on September 24, 2012, 03:28:25 PM
This is the first time I've ever enjoyed a grammar lesson.  :)
Title: Re: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: Alkari on September 28, 2012, 05:24:38 PM
Great fun.  I loved this one, in the 'common mistakes' section:-

tiramisu: Not "tiara misu." There are no rhinestones on this particular Italian dessert.

Not even when served at Hollywood weddings!
Title: Re: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: Elkhound on September 28, 2012, 10:11:35 PM
My favorite was the one about 'camera angels' (where the writer meant 'camera angles.')
Title: Re: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: DesertRose on September 29, 2012, 04:10:22 PM
Quote from: Elkhound on September 28, 2012, 10:11:35 PM
My favorite was the one about 'camera angels' (where the writer meant 'camera angles.')

That one may have been a typo rather than an actual word choice error.  I know I make transposition typos like that all the time.
Title: Re: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: Alkari on September 29, 2012, 06:13:30 PM
She makes a good point about using the spell-check function, which is only of use to pick up typos or glaring errors.  Many people protest and say: "Oh, but I used the spell check!" if you point out errors.   I used to find this when supervising staff writing reports or letters: what I had to explain to them was that the words had been spelled correctly, but that they had actually used the wrong words entirely - effect / affect, stationery/stationary, there/their, and so on.    And of course, the more advanced functions about grammar checking are only of use if the person has a basic knowledge of grammar in the first place - apostrophes breed like plague rabbits because people don't understand possessive vs plural vs a contraction  (it's vs its), and it's no use a grammar check function alerting them to use of the passive voice if they have no idea what that is in the first place.   *sigh*.   

Title: Re: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: DesertRose on September 29, 2012, 09:12:06 PM
And as any English major knows, it's an excellent idea to have an actual human being take a look at anything you've written before you turn it in to whatever higher authority (teacher/professor, supervisor, editor), because sometimes another set of eyes will catch things you miss.

This is why every decent writer has beta readers, even if s/he doesn't call them that.  :)

Oh, and on the topic of spell-check functions not catching word choice errors (not my work, I'm not sure who wrote it, otherwise I'd credit the author):

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.
Title: Re: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: Elkhound on September 30, 2012, 07:00:17 AM
My favorite spellcheck story was how on a Harry Potter discussion my spellchecker kept trying to change 'Slytherin' to 'Lutheran.'  Who knew that Microsoft was Calvinist? 
Title: Re: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: DesertRose on September 30, 2012, 07:33:49 AM
That's cute.

MS Word's spell checker used to be unhappy about certain names.  I had a professor in college/uni named Morrison; Word thought I meant moron, which was about as far off true as you could get--she (Dr. Morrison) was sharper than a rapier, and could (verbally) skewer you as fast as one, also, if you ran afoul of her.  (I never personally ticked her off that I knew of, but I saw her chew the dickens out of a classmate who had been late to class three times in a row.)
Title: Re: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: Elkhound on October 04, 2012, 02:43:51 PM
Quote from: DesertRose on September 29, 2012, 04:10:22 PM
Quote from: Elkhound on September 28, 2012, 10:11:35 PM
My favorite was the one about 'camera angels' (where the writer meant 'camera angles.')

That one may have been a typo rather than an actual word choice error.  I know I make transposition typos like that all the time.

True, but as HMG remarks, the image of angels holding cameras and driving away camera demons is SO delightful!
Title: Re: Holy Mother Grammatica
Post by: DesertRose on October 04, 2012, 04:53:18 PM
Quote from: Elkhound on October 04, 2012, 02:43:51 PM
Quote from: DesertRose on September 29, 2012, 04:10:22 PM
Quote from: Elkhound on September 28, 2012, 10:11:35 PM
My favorite was the one about 'camera angels' (where the writer meant 'camera angles.')

That one may have been a typo rather than an actual word choice error.  I know I make transposition typos like that all the time.

True, but as HMG results, the image of angels holding cameras and driving away camera demons is SO delightful!

True.  That is a very cute mental image.  :)