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Post by Alatariel on Jan 25, 2021 11:31:01 GMT -6
OFFICAL SPaG THREADNo matter how much we know about grammar or spelling, it can always catch us up. Especially in our own work because we it's harder to DO than it is to KNOW.
This thread is for ANY and ALL SPaG related questions, gripes, or pet peeves.
For example:
Quotation marks, what's the proper way to use them?
Do we capitalize the word after a question used in dialogue?
Is it affect or effect?
When is it appropriate to use adverbs? Some writing books tell me to never use them, but I see them all the time in my favorite books.
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Post by doublejay9 on Jan 26, 2021 11:46:28 GMT -6
Allow me to take a stab at answering Example #4 -- the adverbs thing.
The rule against adverbs seems to originate from Hemingway who's famous for never using them. His work isn't *that* amazing imo. So it's beyond me why his style is being held up as something every writer should emulate.
Personally, I've come to treat adverbs like cumin. A little can add a lot of flavor, but too much can overpower the rest of the piece.
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Post by Alatariel on Jan 27, 2021 17:11:01 GMT -6
Oh I love that, Jay. And I also love cumin so this totally works for me as a comparison. I think adverbs can be greatly useful when you want to move quickly forward with your story and not dwell on the descriptions. There are places in my story where adverbs are necessary and helpful. And there are other places where I want to marinate the moment in beautiful artful descriptions.
I think a good challenge is to write something, a short story, with zero adverbs and instead convey emotion through other means.
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Post by doublejay9 on Jan 27, 2021 17:42:39 GMT -6
I agree. No adverbs is a wonderful idea for a writing exercise. Same for not using “said”. As a habit, though, I think such restrictions are unnecessary. You’re denying yourself a bunch of useful vocabulary.
Glad you appreciate my choice in spice metaphors.
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Post by ScintillaMyntan on Feb 12, 2022 21:52:41 GMT -6
"I bought some books that I don't know whether are good or not." Is that correct? Colloquially I sometimes say "I bought some books that I don't know whether they're good or not," but I'm pretty sure that's not actually right. Or should you skip the 'whether' and say "I bought some books that I don't know are good or not"?
How do you say this?
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Post by RAVENEYE on Feb 17, 2022 13:41:12 GMT -6
"I bought some books that I don't know whether are good or not." Is that correct? Colloquially I sometimes say "I bought some books that I don't know whether they're good or not," but I'm pretty sure that's not actually right. Or should you skip the 'whether' and say "I bought some books that I don't know are good or not"?
How do you say this?
Oh, ew. Yeah, sentence constructions like this are weird and difficult to judge. I have no idea if/how they're covered in Chicago or anywhere else, honestly. I'd probably go with the last option, skipping the "whether." *shrug* |
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Post by Alatariel on Feb 17, 2022 17:55:36 GMT -6
"I bought some books that I don't know whether are good or not." Is that correct? Colloquially I sometimes say "I bought some books that I don't know whether they're good or not," but I'm pretty sure that's not actually right. Or should you skip the 'whether' and say "I bought some books that I don't know are good or not"?
How do you say this?
I think they're all technically right, so I'd go with the less confusing option of: "I bought some books and I don't know if they are good or not." Changing "that" to "and" and adding "if". |
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Post by saintofm on Oct 3, 2023 18:55:42 GMT -6
Thank heavens, I don't have to go to Google to figure out how to spell something!
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You add them to your profile as you do them around the forum.
