SIGforum
New Years Writers Improvements!
December 27, 2017, 03:05 PM
JALLENNew Years Writers Improvements!
As the New Year approaches, one of my New Years wishes is that we here on the Forum improve our writing, try to minimize, if not eliminate those spelling grammatical and stylistic malaprops that we often inflict on each other.
To that end, I offer the following dozen suggestions from William Safire, a professional writer of some renown.
1. Remember to never split an infinitive.
2. The passive voice should never be used.
3. Do not put statements in the negative form.
4. Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
5. Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
6. If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be by rereading and editing.
7. A writer must not shift your point of view.
8. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)
9. Don't overuse exclamation marks!!
10. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
11. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
12. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
13. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
14. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
15. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
16. Always pick on the correct idiom.
17. The adverb always follows the verb.
18. Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; seek viable alternatives.
Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me.
When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown December 27, 2017, 03:08 PM
newtoSig765These should be a sticky made.
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Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
-- H L Mencken
I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is.
-- JALLEN 10/18/18
December 27, 2017, 03:09 PM
LS1 GTOAnd always place a period inside the close quotation otherwise it is "wrong."
Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
"If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go" Will Rogers
The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...
December 27, 2017, 03:21 PM
thundersonWinston Churchill once said that number 8 above was just the sort of English "up with which I will not put."
I have the heart of a lion.......and a lifetime ban from the Toronto Zoo.- Unknown December 27, 2017, 03:32 PM
wishfull thinkerTo parrot a phrase, grammar is the hobgoblin of small minds.
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December 27, 2017, 03:36 PM
parabellumquote:
Originally posted by wishfull thinker:
To parrot a phrase, grammar is the hobgoblin of small minds.
That's my favorite quote from Ralph Waldo Anderson.
December 27, 2017, 03:38 PM
PHPaul19. Eschew Obfuscation.
Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
December 27, 2017, 03:39 PM
PHPaulquote:
Originally posted by parabellum:
quote:
Originally posted by wishfull thinker:
To parrot a phrase, grammar is the hobgoblin of small minds.
That's my favorite quote from Ralph Waldo Anderson.
DAMN it, Para!
I read that and my mind filled in "Emerson" and I thought "I didn't know he said that." And then my brain caught up with my eyes. Real glad I wasn't mid-swallow on my coffee.
Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
December 27, 2017, 03:42 PM
CoolRich59quote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
19. Eschew Obfuscation.
Where have I seen that before?
_____________________________________________________________________
“One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them.” – Thomas Sowell
December 27, 2017, 03:48 PM
wishfull thinkerquote:
Originally posted by parabellum:
quote:
Originally posted by wishfull thinker:
To parrot a phrase, grammar is the hobgoblin of small minds.
That's my favorite quote from Ralph Waldo Anderson.
Mine too. He's been my go to philanderer for years and years.
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December 27, 2017, 03:53 PM
newtoSig765In a similar vein, Benjamin Franklin (I think) said he had no respect for a man who could only spell a word one way. To which I respond: "Werd"!
Edited to correct punctuation error.
--------------------------
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
-- H L Mencken
I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is.
-- JALLEN 10/18/18
December 27, 2017, 04:44 PM
Patrick-SP2022One must not exclude the Oxford comma from any discussion about grammar.
December 27, 2017, 05:19 PM
Gene HillmanThis is something up with which I shall not put! Seriously though, try some car forums. You need a translator for some of the posts. I try to proofread my own posts and clean anything up as best I can. I think spellcheck messes up some posts with a totally different word then I have to try to figure out what the person is trying to say. Since I was a shop teacher, we can always blame it on the English teachers.
December 27, 2017, 05:38 PM
benny6quote:
Originally posted by JALLEN:
As the New Year approaches, one of my New Years wishes is that we here on the Forum improve our writing, try to minimize, if not eliminate those spelling grammatical and stylistic malaprops that we often inflict on each other.
To that end, I offer the following dozen suggestions from William Safire, a professional writer of some renown.
1. Remember to never split an infinitive.
2. The passive voice should never be used.
3. Do not put statements in the negative form.
4. Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
5. Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
6. If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be by rereading and editing.
7. A writer must not shift your point of view.
8. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)
9. Don't overuse exclamation marks!!
10. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
11. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
12. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
13. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
14. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
15. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
16. Always pick on the correct idiom.
17. The adverb always follows the verb.
18. Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; seek viable alternatives.
I understand numbers 9 and 18, but everything else was Greek. Did I mention that my mother was a spanish teacher and I failed Spanish in high school? Second languages were never my strong point.
Tony.
Owner, TonyBen, LLC, Type-07 FFL
www.tonybenm14.com (Site under construction).
e-mail: tonyben@tonybenm14.com
December 27, 2017, 05:55 PM
wishfull thinkerquote:
Originally posted by benny6:
quote:
Originally posted by JALLEN:
To that end, I offer the following dozen suggestions from William Safire,
1. Remember to never split an infinitive.
<snip>
18. Last but not least, avoid cliches like
the plague; seek viable alternatives.
I understand numbers 9 and 18, but...
Tony.
Maybe this will help, give it a second to set up the mood of the thing, try again, read carefully and get a chuckle, maybe.
_______________________
December 27, 2017, 06:15 PM
two-two-niner-romeoOuch! I'm having flashbacks of sixth grade English class.
"Being miserable and treating other people like dirt is every New Yorker's God-given right!" - GhostBusters II
"You have all the tools you need. Don't blame them. Use them." - Dan Worrall
December 27, 2017, 06:16 PM
PHPaulquote:
Originally posted by Gene Hillman:
<snippage> Since I was a shop teacher, we can always blame it on the English teachers.
I worked for the local school system for 7 years. I did IT support so I wasn't (thankfully...) involved in actual teaching.
I used to daydream about how I'd run a school if I made all the rules. There were many, but very near the top of the list was that ALL teachers, regardless of subject, required proper grammar, punctuation and spelling in ANY classwork or homework.
Of course, that would require all teachers to be
cognizant of proper grammar, punctuation and spelling so that would never fly.
Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
December 27, 2017, 06:22 PM
V-Tailquote:
Originally posted by JALLEN:
a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.
I'm sure that you know the story of the Texan who went to Harvard.
The Texan, not yet knowing his way around, approached a Harvard English major and asked, "Can y'all tell me where the library's at?"
The English major sneered at the Texan and replied, "My good man, at this university we do not end a sentence with a preposition."
The Texan said, "All right. Where's it at, asshole?"
הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים December 27, 2017, 06:24 PM
mikeyspizzaWhen I was in grade school, the teacher called on me and said, "Name two pronouns." I said, "Who, me?"
December 27, 2017, 07:08 PM
PHPaulquote:
Originally posted by mikeyspizza:
When I was in grade school, the teacher called on me and said, "Name two pronouns." I said, "Who, me?"
Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.