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I like this! -ly adverbs (adverbs in general) are a real problem. I don't worry about them too much in first draft, but get ruthless in later drafts. The new writers I work with are enchanted with them, unfortunately.Not to be redundant...
This is the Old English way of spelling, isn't it? By George, I think I've got it! HahahaNot to be redundant...
Mr. King is good about that in "On Writing." I'm looking over my draft with a whole new eye.I like this! -ly adverbs (adverbs in general) are a real problem. I don't worry about them too much in first draft, but get ruthless in later drafts. The new writers I work with are enchanted with them, unfortunately.
Mine is "then." Mostly unnecessary to the story. Of course the next action will happen "then." That's how things happen.That's another thing: be aware of your own 'crutch words'. Every writer has them, and sometimes they vary.
I love Twain. That's a great one.I remember something I read from Mark Twain, about the word 'very': "Every time you're tempted to use 'very', write 'damn' instead. Your editor will get rid of them all and your story will be better for it."
Yep.It doesn't always work, but more often than not, if you can substitute "also" and it still reads correctly, then it should be "too" rather than the preposition "to".
For me, it's prolly. The word is probably dammit!! And what's up with the trend to make plurals into possessives by adding the apostrophe "s" when it clearly should not have the apostrophe because you were talking about more than one of something?!...said it before, gonna say it again...the word is supposEDly, NOT supposEBly!!!!!!....
My head spins when someone asks me to be more pacific.
Specific means to clearly define or identify. The Pacific is an ocean.
Agreed. The one exception I can think of is "do's and don'ts." I don't mind it then. "Dos" may be technically correct, but it doesn't read as well, and "does" looks, counterintuitively, like the third-person singular form of "do." Or the plural for a female deer.For me, it's prolly. The word is probably dammit!! And what's up with the trend to make plurals into possessives by adding the apostrophe "s" when it clearly should not have the apostrophe because you were talking about more than one of something?!
Yup. And in the last few years, I've heard "boughten" more and more.The word "tooken" drives me up the wall. Never heard it until I moved to the south. The correct word is "taken".
Agreed. The one exception I can think of is "do's and don'ts." I don't mind it then. "Dos" may be technically correct, but it doesn't read as well, and "does" looks, counterintuitively, like the third-person singular form of "do." Or the plural for a female deer.
Yup. And in the last few years, I've heard "boughten" more and more.
There's an exception to every rule. Right? Including that one.One of those pesky exceptions.
Well, I better hop to it, then! Let me find a good spot.........Only 1 more post to go and your posts will no longer be moderated.
The word "tooken" drives me up the wall. Never heard it until I moved to the south. The correct word is "taken".