Dealing with grammar

[MandiKenendy]

I've just been looking at the new Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation test that 11 year olds have to do in the UK this year and it is incredible what they are expected to know the technical terms for. We did it as a staff and there were several people who did not know half of what the children are supposed to.

[lily-mack]

Deyvion,

I've been an avid reader all my life and was lucky enough to turn that into a source of income in my later years. I am a freelance editor, which means I read all genres of work, many of which come from authors whose first language is NOT English. I will suggest four things: 1) as far as punctuation, less is better; 2) be consistent throughout; 3) be VERY careful with the verb tense; and 4) AVOID 'run-on' sentences (those that seem to never end).

I have found that many of the authors who are not naturally English speaking, produce some excellent storylines and simply need a little help, especially with consistent usage and 'run-on' sentences.

Good luck on your literary endeavor...I wish you much success.

lily-mack

[Deyvion]

Deyvion,

I've been an avid reader all my life and was lucky enough to turn that into a source of income in my later years. I am a freelance editor, which means I read all genres of work, many of which come from authors whose first language is NOT English. I will suggest four things: 1) as far as punctuation, less is better; 2) be consistent throughout; 3) be VERY careful with the verb tense; and 4) AVOID 'run-on' sentences (those that seem to never end).

I have found that many of the authors who are not naturally English speaking, produce some excellent storylines and simply need a little help, especially with consistent usage and 'run-on' sentences.

Good luck on your literary endeavor...I wish you much success.

lily-mack

Thank you for the suggestions. I have to say I got quite intrigued by your profession as a FREELANCE editor - how does one become that?

[lily-mack]

I worked in 'Corporate America' for over 30 years as an Administrative Assistant in all different facets of business...engineering, marketing/sales, computer education/training, etc. Then the large corporation I worked for as a Communications Coordinator closed its office here in the Pittsburgh, PA area and I was out of a job. I got my real estate license, but didn't like that...so I applied for a spot with a 'subsidy publisher' as a reader/reviewer (on a freelance basis) while I worked for others as a 'temp.' Then I was fortunate enough to pay off my house, so I decided to retire from 'temping.' I started my own business called Virtual Assistance, doing admin work for other small businesses. I asked the publisher I was working with if they needed any typing, transcription, etc. and was told they needed proofeading/editing work done. I took a test for them and passed...and have been working as a freelance editor for them since 2008. My background and years of experience in life helped me be able to work in all genres of writing. Also, I was always good at English in school...so it has worked out wonderfully. We do all our work via email/computer and although I do have deadlines, I am able to work whenever or wherever I like.

In addition, whenever work gets slow...I can choose to put an ad on Craigslist or check for jobs on elance and do work for others.

Again, good luck with whatever you do. Keep in touch and let me know how things are going.

[matthewkeith]

I hate to give an 'easy answer' to this, but I have found that most of the punctuation errors I've made in my writing have been caught by whatever word processor I've used at the time. I can't count how many times I've cursed at that little squiggly line underneath a sentence because, to me, it looks perfect.

Another way that I've avoided grammar issues is to read back everything I've written out loud. I always wait a couple of days (at least) before I go back to something and do this because I've found that, generally, I am much more fond of what I've written right after I've written it than later... when I've given it a chance to 'cool' a little. This way I'm not as 'in love' with what I've done and I'm more likely to be critical. There are a great many times that I catch grammatical errors simply by hearing them spoken, even if it is me doing the speaking.

Squiggly lines and reading out loud; if I still like what I've written after that, I leave it up to the editor to tell me I'm wrong.

[Deyvion]

Thank you all for the replies! I guess my biggest fear is that my English won't be sufficient enough to even be read by an editor. How bad can a draft be for and editor to even bother taking it under it's wings?

[lily-mack]

In MOST cases, editors are being paid for their time. Your plans to publish...self-publishing, subsidy publishing, etc....will determine what you will pay and the type of edit that will be done. Some simply do punctuation, grammar, and verb tense; others will provide content and storyline help (which, naturally, costs more).

In my editing experience thus far, I have found that most first-time authors with English as a second language, are looking to publish in ebook format. Generally, they can tell the story but have difficulty with the basics of tense, grammar, and punctuation; therefore, requiring basic editing.

I also agree with matthewkeith that waiting a few days and reading the work aloud will help.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions from an editorial standpoint.

[Alyosha]

I cringe to post such an obvious response, but have you considered buying an old English grammar textbook? The rules haven't changed much, and I don't think American-English grammar and English-English grammar differ much.

Idioms are tough because English changes so quickly, always absorbing new words, phrases and slang. Have you considered books or audiobooks of current English-language novels similar to the one you're trying to write? You wouldn't have to worry about silly slang from, say, gangster books.

I know that by definition you're trying to create something new, in a crazy language, and I'm awed. I can't even learn Spanish because its latinate cousin French, which I learned too well too many years ago, gets in the way. Congrats and best of luck to you.

[nachwaal3ab]

I think I get some points for understanding you the first time.

[Felrona]

When I was in college I took a few grammar courses and writing classes. Having the classes helped learn the rules while I was putting them into practice. We would write an essay or story she would put a note on the side saying there was an error, but we needed to figure out what the error was. That helped me learn the rules and everything. I still have my text books just as a reference if I needed it.

[Cody Mathews]

Computers are great for grammar tools....but remember that they are just computers. Sometimes printing out your draft and proofreading the old school way works!

[TD Matzenik]

OK no more Mr. Nice-guy. "Off of" is not English. Its as easy as falling off a log, not falling off of a log, but it is all over of this forum.

[Ashley2005]

I have to write essays for my degree every week and it has put a damper on any other writing I might have done but I also know that my grammar is in need of help. That is also putting a hindrance on my writing.

[Ibanezakame]

im not very good at that thing

[MassimoMarino]

I write in English, too, though English is not my mother tongue. I've lived abroad for more years than my home country and English, de facto, became the language I even dream with. Grammar and language flow is a must for a well narrated story, and even though I can edit myself and revise my prose, a writer can only go up to a certain level by himself...thus, I work with a professional editor to fine tune my last draft manuscript and a proofreader before publishing.