Do you use correct spelling and grammar?

xanadu0324 · Post by **xanadu0324** » 22 May 2014, 21:23

I use correct spelling and grammar to a fault. I almost cringe when reading spelling errors and 'internet speak.' My grammar isn't nearly as good as my spelling, though. I still get hung up on semicolons and commas. I try.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 22 May 2014, 22:23

I once was too obsessed with perfection as I first wrote, but that constant scanning for small typos kept interrupting my train of thought. So now I just roar ahead and slam the story onto the "page" and go back later to fix stuff. I actually find that if I return to the story later, I catch even more errors.

I'm just now taking a break in reviewing my new novel, to which I typed "The End" two days ago. I figure it will take me about a month to ensure that the novel is clean and error free, then onto the agent.

biggsrv · Post by **biggsrv** » 23 May 2014, 12:40

I'm new to writing and a lesson i learnt early on was to edit from paper. On screen editing may be for first pass but after that i always print and often read aloud. It does focus the mind and catches all shorts if typos and grammatical errors. I still get caught out though.....usually when looking at the published article. Spot the error.....i blame my phone.

GeonnaMarie · Post by **GeonnaMarie** » 23 May 2014, 17:14

I try to use proper grammar and spelling, but I tend to go a little comma happy. I throw them where they shouldn't be and have to edit them out later. I am a little weirdly obsessed with trying my best though.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 23 May 2014, 22:14

Using lots of commas is a sign of slightly older writing styles, 40s and 50s. Not that it's bad but newer practice uses fewer commas.

Bigg, I used to edit on paper but finally got away from that. Everything's on the computer now.

Earlier this week I finished my 3rd novel, and tonight I just completed a thorough review and edit, tweaking here and there. It's quite a job, 60,000+ words, but I think the novel's ready to go to agents or publishers.

As befits a modern American novel set in the present, people use slang and abbreviated words in their dialogue (sayin', gotta, etc) and naturally the spellchecker finds these, and I of course skip them. But the auto checker does find the occasional typo, where I simply misspelled a word.

But I think my new book's 99% clean. I may go through it once more but I'm pretty satisfied that there are no mechanical errors.

HalcyonFlower · Post by **HalcyonFlower** » 23 May 2014, 23:31

The only time I would think you wouldn't want to use proper grammar is if a character in the book has a particular way of speaking or an accent. In one novel, the sentences were simple and choppy then I understood when the second book came out that the first book's characters were from another, imaginary of course, civilization.

That is the only way I would think it alright. It makes a different that way. Otherwise, I'm completely turned off by bad grammar.

biggsrv · Post by **biggsrv** » 25 May 2014, 06:17

I agree, GeonnaMarie, I tend to go mad with commas then edit them out and in again before I'm happy with how a sentence reads. As for grammar in general, I've just had my first (self published) novel reviewed here, with a result that I'm very happy with. The reviewer usefully commented on a few grammatical errors which was interesting. The problem with self proofing and publishing is trying to make sure you've found all the errors before hitting that PUBLISH button. Having said that, I've read professionally published books with odd errors in them.

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 25 May 2014, 09:10

Self publishing is tricky because the subsidy (read: vanity) publishers will print a grocery list if you pay them. But if the book's being published by a house that's trying to actually SELL the book for real money, they'll send the manuscript through several edits.

My 2 novels with through three "filters" -- a proofreader whose job it was to just catch mechanical errors, then an editor, then senior editor.

That being said, I'm now going through my just-completed 3rd novel meticulously to catch the smallest problems before I submit it to an agent. This is for 2 reasons -- first, because an agent (or publisher) won't be inclined to give my novel proper consideration if it's got sloppy errors, and second, because I take pride in my writing, not only for style but for precision as well.

Regardless, a manuscript full of crud isn't likely to make much money or gain any fans.

Halcyon, the book you read where the characters speak oddly (fantasy novel, right?) -- I'd think it incumbent on the author to provide some sort of telltale for the readers, letting them know what's up, such as:

"Mumble-spew gruntsome day, not too?" Quirddy Fomsone said, using the Buzzyfurr dialect.

(ha ha -- which is why I eschew fantasy -- booooring!)

jhollan2 · Post by **jhollan2** » 25 May 2014, 23:25

I am a big stickler for correct spelling and grammar. I'm not sure when incorrect spelling would be okay, but depending on the nature of the book or paper, grammar can be flexible. Especially in dialogue, proper grammar can come across as stiff and unwieldy, very different from the conversational way people speak. If it is just sloppy writing though, it irks me. I can hardly read a book that has poor grammar or spelling errors (not typos, but genuine errors. Don't get me started on typos) because it breaks my flow of concentration by calling attention to errors, so I try not to do the same to those who read my works.

Amheiser · Post by **Amheiser** » 27 Dec 2014, 23:29

T McKinley wrote:I am a middle school English teacher, so I have a fetish for grammar and punctuation, not as a set of traps for my students, but as part of a conversation about living language. Bottom line, language and usage always changes. The trick is to meet or exceed the expectations of that audience you have chosen to write to. If you want adults to read your book, you need to write up to their level. At the same time, the one rule I really try to teach my students is the one that has always worked best for me: Read your work out loud. If it sounds boring or confusing, it probably is. If you need a pause in a sentence, throw in a comma. If you run out of breath before reaching a comma or a period, you probably need to shorten your sentence. The point is to communicate. Know your audience and read out loud!

I think this is a great way to explain why good grammar and spelling is important. I always thought that if a story was good and captured my attention then I would be able to put up with a few mistakes in spelling and/or grammar but only up to a certain point. After that, the bad spelling and sentence structure disrupts the story and you lose the flow. It really pays to take the time to make the sentences correct.

Himmelslicht · Post by **Himmelslicht** » 28 Dec 2014, 05:12

I'm not a native English speaker but I still try as hard as I can to use proper grammar, punctuation and orthography.
And that's what I do in Portuguese as well.

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 31 Dec 2014, 07:37

I feel like this is an obvious question to ask.
Is anyone really going to answer no to this question?

TLGabelman · Post by **TLGabelman** » 31 Dec 2014, 08:52

ALynnPowers wrote:I feel like this is an obvious question to ask.
Is anyone really going to answer no to this question?

I read a few of the first posts and was shocked that yes, some people don't care. It is obvious to me when people post and they aren't filtering out mistakes. I'm guilty of writing how I talk, so my grammar suffers. I am working hard to correct this and this forum has been useful! Spelling shouldn't be an issue since everything has spell check now a days. I am guilty of sending text messages without correcting mistakes and usually it looks like I gave my phone to a drunk monkey to type it.

Himmelslicht · Post by **Himmelslicht** » 31 Dec 2014, 11:23

tlgabelman wrote:
ALynnPowers wrote:I feel like this is an obvious question to ask.
Is anyone really going to answer no to this question?
I read a few of the first posts and was shocked that yes, some people don't care. It is obvious to me when people post and they aren't filtering out mistakes. I'm guilty of writing how I talk, so my grammar suffers. I am working hard to correct this and this forum has been useful! Spelling shouldn't be an issue since everything has spell check now a days. I am guilty of sending text messages without correcting mistakes and usually it looks like I gave my phone to a drunk monkey to type it.

That is SO true.

Of course that when I'm speaking with someone on Facebook messenger or something like that, I usually don't care about punctuation or errors because I usually try to write at the same speed my thoughts follow.