I always like returning to Elmore's 10 rules every so often, as they are so practical. I almost always have to edit out extra unnecessary words from my early drafts (actually, kinda, sort of, and the like). I had hoped to train my brain to stop using them but if my old dog can't learn new tricks on a first draft, I'm happy to catch 'em on later drafts.
Paul......I enjoyed Leonard's "10 Rules for Writing," despite feeling as if he wrote them only after reading two of my articles. Raging self-consciousness (and, my icing-drizzled cruller) aside, I might offer one more: Never use a colon except for only the most necessary gastro-intestinal purposes. And, only use a semi-colon if you've had half of it removed. Parenthetically yours, (Brad)
Reminds me of when my ex-wife claimed she was pregnant. I asked what made her think so, and, just like this reply, all she said was she missed her point or character used to mark the end of a declarative sentence
A sports writer called Hugh Mcillvanney was phone by his editor to say his article was late. HM apologised, but said he'd been having colon trouble. The editor asked if he'd seen the doctor. HM clarified that he wasn't ill, but had been having trouble deciding whether to use a colon or a semicolon 😂
Nice one, Paul, that first sentence! I'm gonna even concede you meant the word in PUNctuation! And, of course, I'm reminded again of my ex-wife, as I accompanied her to her OB-GYN for a check-up, early on in our marriage.
The good doctor greeted us warmly at his office door, and promptly introduced himself: "Good afternoon! Dr. Solomon, at your cervix." At which point, I threw myself before him, prostate on the floor. I was taken immediately into surgery.
It can happen to the best of us! Even Boy George had trouble with punctuation, and what to use when. Who can forget Culture Club's classic 1983 hit, "Comma Chameleon"?🦎
This saved my ass this AM. I’d woken up wondering if the book I’m writing needed detailed physical descriptions of my characters. Or more in-depth pictures of locations and landscapes. Leonard’s rules answered my questions! Thank you. (Oops. I just used an exclamation mark here).
I really don't want to sound like a snooty, stuffy academic, but I would suggest that your writing may get a shot in the arm by reading good writers. To me, English and American writiing was at its very best at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Those guys exuded so much elegancve, wealth, beauty and charm that one feels as if the books one is reading are but a literary equivalent to the 10 course dinner served to 1st class travelers on the Titanic on the day it sunk. Man, what made me suddently segue from fine literature to the titanic. That may be ominous.
I like all of these rules. However, a few years ago the department for education in England had the audacity to issue a decree against using exclamation marks except in particular ways. I say"audacity " because even a cursory look at the leaden, corporate, unreadable twaddle that continually emanates from these moronic pen pushers would be enough to convince anybody that they really haven't earnt the right to pontificate about such matters. I was so outraged that I wrote a macro in Word that converted every full stop to an exclamation mark. I tried it on the DfE's edict. Needless to say, it improved it no end.
I always like returning to Elmore's 10 rules every so often, as they are so practical. I almost always have to edit out extra unnecessary words from my early drafts (actually, kinda, sort of, and the like). I had hoped to train my brain to stop using them but if my old dog can't learn new tricks on a first draft, I'm happy to catch 'em on later drafts.
Same…
Paul......I enjoyed Leonard's "10 Rules for Writing," despite feeling as if he wrote them only after reading two of my articles. Raging self-consciousness (and, my icing-drizzled cruller) aside, I might offer one more: Never use a colon except for only the most necessary gastro-intestinal purposes. And, only use a semi-colon if you've had half of it removed. Parenthetically yours, (Brad)
Thanks, Brad:
I like your advice; a lot!
I had a semi-colonoscopy a few years ago and woke up with a dozen exclamation marks all over my body.
LOL!
Reminds me of when my ex-wife claimed she was pregnant. I asked what made her think so, and, just like this reply, all she said was she missed her point or character used to mark the end of a declarative sentence
Don’t you love grammar jokes…
A sports writer called Hugh Mcillvanney was phone by his editor to say his article was late. HM apologised, but said he'd been having colon trouble. The editor asked if he'd seen the doctor. HM clarified that he wasn't ill, but had been having trouble deciding whether to use a colon or a semicolon 😂
The colon is my number 2 favorite punctuation mark. Although not number 1, it's up there...(Brad and I are true pun - dits).
Nice one, Paul, that first sentence! I'm gonna even concede you meant the word in PUNctuation! And, of course, I'm reminded again of my ex-wife, as I accompanied her to her OB-GYN for a check-up, early on in our marriage.
The good doctor greeted us warmly at his office door, and promptly introduced himself: "Good afternoon! Dr. Solomon, at your cervix." At which point, I threw myself before him, prostate on the floor. I was taken immediately into surgery.
It can happen to the best of us! Even Boy George had trouble with punctuation, and what to use when. Who can forget Culture Club's classic 1983 hit, "Comma Chameleon"?🦎
Omg. Groan 😂
To paraphrase Rod Stewart and the Faces, "A Groan's as Good as a Giggle to a Deaf Horse."😁👍
It gets worse....
This saved my ass this AM. I’d woken up wondering if the book I’m writing needed detailed physical descriptions of my characters. Or more in-depth pictures of locations and landscapes. Leonard’s rules answered my questions! Thank you. (Oops. I just used an exclamation mark here).
Gotta love serendipity!
I really don't want to sound like a snooty, stuffy academic, but I would suggest that your writing may get a shot in the arm by reading good writers. To me, English and American writiing was at its very best at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Those guys exuded so much elegancve, wealth, beauty and charm that one feels as if the books one is reading are but a literary equivalent to the 10 course dinner served to 1st class travelers on the Titanic on the day it sunk. Man, what made me suddently segue from fine literature to the titanic. That may be ominous.
For a chuckle about the evolution of words, you might enjoy this Shakespearean take on The Three Little Pigs. https://biggeekdad.com/2011/11/the-three-little-pigs/
I know writing can be a serious subject, but sometimes.....
That was excellent. What brilliant writing. Thanks for sharing, Heather!
STOP! My sides are hurting. It's bad enough that I've got ANY and Tragedy as a double ear worm when I'm trying to sleep!
I like all of these rules. However, a few years ago the department for education in England had the audacity to issue a decree against using exclamation marks except in particular ways. I say"audacity " because even a cursory look at the leaden, corporate, unreadable twaddle that continually emanates from these moronic pen pushers would be enough to convince anybody that they really haven't earnt the right to pontificate about such matters. I was so outraged that I wrote a macro in Word that converted every full stop to an exclamation mark. I tried it on the DfE's edict. Needless to say, it improved it no end.