#Workshop - Helpful Tips on Grammar and Article Structure - Mon., Feb. 11th at 8 PM EST

Contributor: *Ashley* *Ashley*
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
That was a good one! Too bad I had to cut out early.

Everyone ready? Let's get started.
READY!
02/11/2013
Contributor: Rayne Millaray Rayne Millaray
Good evening, everyone.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Pandwhora Pandwhora
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Today we're going to talk about rules for writing a great article. Whether you're writing for SexIs or looking to get published elsewhere, you will need to have a solid understanding of sentence structure, article structure, common grammar ... more
Excellent! I know being bilingual (french+english) can make sentence structure and a little tricky.
02/11/2013
Contributor: *Ashley* *Ashley*
Quote:
Originally posted by Rayne Millaray
Good evening, everyone.
HI
02/11/2013
Contributor: Loriandhubby Loriandhubby
Hello everyone, I just back from out of town at the doc's. i'm so happy to have made it fairly close to starting time.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Pandwhora Pandwhora
Quote:
Originally posted by Rayne Millaray
Good evening, everyone.
g'evening!
02/11/2013
Contributor: SneakersAndPearls SneakersAndPearls
Quote:
Originally posted by Pandwhora
Excellent! I know being bilingual (french+english) can make sentence structure and a little tricky.
Good point! English is a Germanic language, while French is a Romantic one. Totally different structures.
02/11/2013
Contributor: travelnurse travelnurse
Hello everyone, Waves!!
02/11/2013
Contributor: SneakersAndPearls SneakersAndPearls
Quote:
Originally posted by Loriandhubby
Hello everyone, I just back from out of town at the doc's. i'm so happy to have made it fairly close to starting time.
Glad you made it!
02/11/2013
Contributor: Sera26 Sera26
here
02/11/2013
Contributor: travelnurse travelnurse
Everyone from Twitter is here!!
02/11/2013
Contributor: Pandwhora Pandwhora
Quote:
Originally posted by travelnurse
Hello everyone, Waves!!
Hey nurse!
02/11/2013
Contributor: travelnurse travelnurse
Quote:
Originally posted by Pandwhora
Hey nurse!
Hello!!
02/11/2013
Contributor: SneakersAndPearls SneakersAndPearls
Welcome, welcome everyone! We're just now starting the instruction part.
02/11/2013
Contributor: SneakersAndPearls SneakersAndPearls
Let's start from the basics and begin with common grammar and punctuation errors. I'm not going to bore you with talking about adverbs, conjunctions and other words you haven't heard since elementary school. We're going to make this quick and dirty.

Than vs. Then

Than is a comparison word. My hair is darker THAN yours. He is taller THAN her. The breakfast I had today was better THAN the breakfast I had yesterday.

Then, on the other hand, implies some sort of time element is involved. I didn't know about jelly toys THEN. I looked them up and THEN made a decision. Also, then is used in if/then statements. If I go to the store, THEN we will have dinner. If she doesn't like it, THEN she can do something different.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Pandwhora Pandwhora
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Good point! English is a Germanic language, while French is a Romantic one. Totally different structures.
Exactly. Growing up, I went to an all french school , and spoke english at home. Talk about confusing!
02/11/2013
Contributor: *Ashley* *Ashley*
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Let's start from the basics and begin with common grammar and punctuation errors. I'm not going to bore you with talking about adverbs, conjunctions and other words you haven't heard since elementary school. We're going to make this ... more
Than vs. Then... I do know something.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Pandwhora Pandwhora
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Let's start from the basics and begin with common grammar and punctuation errors. I'm not going to bore you with talking about adverbs, conjunctions and other words you haven't heard since elementary school. We're going to make this ... more
So common, I see this a lot. (another misspelled word: alot vs a lot) I think most people tend to write like they speak, "sounding it out".
02/11/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Pandwhora
So common, I see this a lot. (another misspelled word: alot vs a lot) I think most people tend to write like they speak, "sounding it out".
I think after a certain period of time one's brain starts to lose its sevens, so to speak.

As I've taken on and dealt with more things in my life that often require me to be distracted, grammar is the first area that takes a hit. The busier I am, the worse it becomes.
02/11/2013
Contributor: *Ashley* *Ashley*
When is a proper way to use this mark ;

I am awful with run on sentences..

The correct spelling is definitely.
Not definately.
Not definatly.
Not definantly.
Not definetly.
Not definently.
And certainly not defiantly.
The correct spelling is definitely!
-I still have a hard time remembering the correct spelling, I often say it in my phone and check my spelling-
02/11/2013
Contributor: theothers1 theothers1
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
I think after a certain period of time one's brain starts to lose its sevens, so to speak.

As I've taken on and dealt with more things in my life that often require me to be distracted, grammar is the first area that takes a hit. The ... more
I have the same issue. I write enough that my grammar has actually improved over the years, but busyness tends to see an increase in errors from me.
02/11/2013
Contributor: SneakersAndPearls SneakersAndPearls
Pole vs Poll

This one is very simple. Strippers have POLES. Planets have POLES. Telephone lines have POLES. However, forums have POLLS.

Simply put, a POLL is something like a questionnaire. A POLE is a structure, or the magnetic pole of a planet.

Something else that people struggle with is apostrophes. An apostrophe shows possession, not whether a noun is plural. If you have more than one pencil, you have pencils, not pencil's. The exception to this rule is if you are talking about letters and numbers. For example: There are four i's in Mississippi, or, children often write their 6's backwards.
02/11/2013
Contributor: *Ashley* *Ashley*
Quote:
Originally posted by Pandwhora
So common, I see this a lot. (another misspelled word: alot vs a lot) I think most people tend to write like they speak, "sounding it out".
I type it as I say it. I often find myself using alot... wrong spelling?
02/11/2013
Contributor: SneakersAndPearls SneakersAndPearls
Quote:
Originally posted by *Ashley*
When is a proper way to use this mark ;

I am awful with run on sentences..

The correct spelling is definitely.
Not definately.
Not definatly.
Not definantly.
Not definetly.
Not definently.
And certainly not ... more
Is that a question or a statement? I'm going to assume it's a question, so the info can be there for others.

This mark ; is a semicolon. It's used to connect two independent, but related clauses where a period could go.

I bought a new couch; it was soft.
02/11/2013
Contributor: SneakersAndPearls SneakersAndPearls
Quote:
Originally posted by *Ashley*
I type it as I say it. I often find myself using alot... wrong spelling?
Alot is not a word. It's actually "a lot." For reference, this will help you remember: link
02/11/2013
Contributor: Pandwhora Pandwhora
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Is that a question or a statement? I'm going to assume it's a question, so the info can be there for others.This mark ; is a semicolon. It's used to connect two independent, but related clauses where a period could go.I bought a new ... more
This is one that gets me.
02/11/2013
Contributor: Pandwhora Pandwhora
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Alot is not a word. It's actually "a lot." For reference, this will help you remember: link
Thank you
02/11/2013
Contributor: *Ashley* *Ashley*
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Is that a question or a statement? I'm going to assume it's a question, so the info can be there for others.This mark ; is a semicolon. It's used to connect two independent, but related clauses where a period could go.I bought a new ... more
It was a question. I didn't want to confuse anyone by adding the question mark.

I just listing things that I find myself questioning all the time.

Opinions... Do think it is better to use the ; mark OR just make a short sentence?
02/11/2013
Contributor: travelnurse travelnurse
Quote:
Originally posted by Pandwhora
This is one that gets me.
me too!!
02/11/2013
Contributor: theothers1 theothers1
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Is that a question or a statement? I'm going to assume it's a question, so the info can be there for others.This mark ; is a semicolon. It's used to connect two independent, but related clauses where a period could go.I bought a new ... more
Took long time to remember this rule and use it correctly.
02/11/2013