Do you use correct spelling and grammar?

[TD Matzenik]

If you need a pause in a sentence, throw in a comma.

I am with you except on this point. A comma in the wrong place can be disastrous. For a pause I use a dit-dot (. . .) but I use as few as possible, and almost solely in dialogue.

[eofmen220]

This was a really easy answer for me, because I love English. Grammar and spelling come almost naturally to me, and I almost never have trouble with it.

Also, this is somewhat of a pet peeve of mine. I believe that things like grammar rules and spelling rules should still be taught in schools. It seems, however, that schools are starting to focus more on creativity than actually teaching them the rules that should become their foundation for their creativity! I know this is not the case in all schools, but it seems that it is quickly becoming the general rule.

Looking back to Old English, I see how there was little standardization for spelling and grammar. However people chose to write and spell was up to them. Eventually, mankind began to realize the benefits of standard grammar and spelling. Enter grammar books, spellers, lexicons, and dictionaries! The transformation was amazing! Writing became clearer and people no longer had to wonder how to spell a word because they could simply look it up. It was genuinely a great advancement to language. It stabilized the language, making it change less over a long period of time. (If you were to do a study of English, you would notice it changed quite a bit in its early stages, but has changed quite a bit less since the idea of standardization took root.)

So go ahead. Write those words how you feel they should be written. Use your creativity. After all, if it feels right, it must be right! Soon, we will find ourselves with the same problem people had before they had books to standardize writing. Everyone will spell their own way, leading to nothing but confusion and miscommunication.

(Sorry if it sounded I was ranting, I'm probably a bit too passionate about this particular topic. )

[Loveabull]

"Correct" grammer is subjective as can be spelling...just ask Dr Seuss...or Dave Barry who had an English instructor tell him what a lousy writer he was...yet he won a Pulitzer with grammatical errors and ellipsis overdosage in most of his books...

There really isn't such a thing as correct English in writing unless a character is speaking the Queen's English and even then. This is in comparison to Queen's English meaning you're frum Nu Yuck, see what ahm sayin"? You can have fun with a character's accent. Grammer teachers present you with what they consider correct, but then privately throttle other grammer instructors over how excruciatingly correct they must be.

[TD Matzenik]

No matter what happens in the development of common usage, English will always be a beautiful instrument that some will learn to play well.
On the subject of writing dialogue in an accent, this can be treacherous. First of all, we must be extremely familiar with the particular accent if we are not to make fools of ourselves in print. Secondly, the reader will interpret the non-standard English used to indicate accent in the way they have learned to speak. This is not necessarily the same as the writer's experience, so an Englishman from Kent will not "hear" the same thing as a writer from Texas imitating a Mexican.

[Loveabull]

You make an excellent point! There are some writers who should absolutely not attempt accents. There are so many variations of dialect and slang that one needs to be intimately attuned to the culture they're writing about to do it well. I'm thinking of an example...a rather obscure Elton John track called Texan Love Song. I believe it may have been written before Bernie Taupin even came to America. Even as just a filler song the desperate attempt at Texan is humorous.

[Fran]

Reading through the reviews submitted by our Private Review Team members I was surprised to note how many mention that they reduced their review rating citing spelling and grammar errors as the reason. I was actually amazed at how many authors submit their work without checking what I would consider the most fundamental aspect of writing.

[Loveabull]

Spelling is one of my pet peeves, unfortunately in our lazy modern culture U cn rite like that...what is sad is when you drive past a business with a professionally created sign that they spelled wrong...not as a joke or intentionally, but something like Louis's Fine Supurmarket...the dumming down of society

[Venusian42]

It is probably the most undesired thing in the whole process of publishing a book, but I edit and proof read the book three times before it is published. My favourite part is the creativity that follows the inspiration. I wish I had a publisher. I really feel that editing and revision is wearing me out sometimes. But the reward makes it all worthy at the end.

[TD Matzenik]

It is probably the most undesired thing in the whole process of publishing a book, but I edit and proof read the book three times before it is published. My favourite part is the creativity that follows the inspiration.

I would add that a good editor is highly desirable. I think most successful writers have editors who are close confidants.

[Venusian42]

I would add that a good editor is highly desirable. I think most successful writers have editors who are close confidants.[/quote]

You’re right, I meant an editor. Still, I believe that, unless there are many errors, or unless that the few errors are intolerable, that despite the errors, what counts in the end, is the essence of the story. Sadly, most readers pay more attention to the vanities surrounding the book, whereas only few readers really appreciate the content of it. The tendency of contemporary reviewers has unfortunately shifted from discernment to glib talk. But I agree with you, editors can make the difference between pleasure and displeasure.

[colleenmclain]

Good question. It's a struggle sometimes.
I need spell check, I need a line editor, my mechanics are coming along, however, did I mention I needed a line editor? And you are correct DT an (editor) has to be someone close, a confidant because this manuscript is my baby. Also, because sometimes I use incomplete sentences to punctuate or underscore a point, often in good humor. And I confess, it has been just those issues that have kept me from pursuing my dream of writing. Some kids don't get math... I didn't get grammar. I've taken adult education classes and have gotten better. But still not good enough. My creative writing teacher and my last line editor tried to make me feel better by telling me I had the gift, don't worry about the rest. But you still do. Move that comma and you may be changing the essence of the sentence, made the hero pathetic instead of empathetic. It's narrow line.
I go over my work three and four times to correct my tenses. There are three words I continually spell wrong, not because I don't know how to spell them but because my left hand is faster than the right, and because the program I use tries to tell me what word I want. And sometimes my brain is faster than my fingers and completely skip over words.
I really need my line editor! (sorry this is uneditied, corrections are invited )
OK I'll just answer the question: Spelling absolutely, grammar I use to my advantage, with the aide of a very talented line editor.

[scuba_steves]

As a freelance editor, this question makes me twitch. In dialogue, grammar and spelling rules are fairly lax. For example, a Texan might say "Howdy, y'all. Howya doin'." That isn't proper English, but it goes with the character. Writing "I new rite away that he wuz a loser" is NOT going with a character, even as first person. Narrative writing should be in conventional English, following proper grammatical and spelling rules for whatever country you happen to be in. Anything else is disruptive to the reader. (I cannot tell you how often I want to beat my head on my desk when reading Facebook posts. Don't write a book like a Facebook post.)

If you aren't good at grammar or spelling, that's ok! That's what editors and beta readers are for: to help you in the areas you might fall short. It's kind of like a marriage of sorts: both balance each other out.

[srivolco]

I may not be perfect at grammar and spelling but i try to be as correct as possible. I make sure i do a work spell check , do a few re reads and get my friends to read before i post my writings to public. Sloppy grammar i believe makes the writing look too shoddy

[colleenmclain]

Is there an automated grammar check program out there. The few built into Microsoft office rigid , open office non existent...

[Enigma]

I always try to. I have an editing software that I use before giving the MS to my editor, less work for her.