Elizabeth Weir/John Sheppard Appreciation/Ship/Discussion Thread

[Southern Red]

Really? Wonder what else we have got in common.

OT (SR, you might be interested):

Spoiler:

I've been reading a book called The Lexicographer's Dilemma by Jack Lynch for my AP English class this year. It's about the history of the English language and how it has evolved over time. It also talks about what "proper" English means and the ongoing debate about who gets to say what's right. I found this book utterly fascinating, and I also learned a new word while reading it. Logophile. It means a lover of words, which perfectly describes me. The author writes in such a witty, satirical style that it's hard not to be engrossed in the material. I totally recommend this book to anyone who has the slightest bit of interest in the history of the English language.

Sounds interesting. The English language is constantly changing, which is hard on some of us. English teachers tend to get locked into the rules as they learned them and have trouble adapting.

[Eri13]

Really? Wonder what else we have got in common.

OT (SR, you might be interested):

Spoiler:

I've been reading a book called The Lexicographer's Dilemma by Jack Lynch for my AP English class this year. It's about the history of the English language and how it has evolved over time. It also talks about what "proper" English means and the ongoing debate about who gets to say what's right. I found this book utterly fascinating, and I also learned a new word while reading it. Logophile. It means a lover of words, which perfectly describes me. The author writes in such a witty, satirical style that it's hard not to be engrossed in the material. I totally recommend this book to anyone who has the slightest bit of interest in the history of the English language.

That does sound interesting!

Sounds interesting. The English language is constantly changing, which is hard on some of us. English teachers tend to get locked into the rules as they learned them and have trouble adapting.

I wish there was less having to adapt and more enforcing of the old rules. We received an article yesterday that had horrendous grammar mistakes in it, mostly centering around ye olde comma splicing/not splicing (which I know nothing about, right SR? *whistles*). I had to go back and fix a few things, and that was after our head writer had already done preliminary editing.

I come to find out that the article writer is someone who is relatively well known, because our webmaster was impressed we had him writing for our site.

And all I could think was 'this guy writes professionally and he doesn't know that you set off an appositive with commas?' @_@

SR has inspired me, however, to try and re-study my grammar lessons. Most things she corrects me on I can understand why I've made the error (or she coaches me on it). Still, I want to be more well-educated, so when I'm making mistakes, the mistakes are of the 'I was tired and forgot a word/punctuation' kind rather than the 'I simply had no idea what form is right or not' kind.

[Southern Red]

That does sound interesting!



I wish there was less having to adapt and more enforcing of the old rules. We received an article yesterday that had horrendous grammar mistakes in it, mostly centering around ye olde comma splicing/not splicing (which I know nothing about, right SR? *whistles*). I had to go back and fix a few things, and that was after our head writer had already done preliminary editing.

I come to find out that the article writer is someone who is relatively well known, because our webmaster was impressed we had him writing for our site.

And all I could think was 'this guy writes professionally and he doesn't know that you set off an appositive with commas?' @_@

SR has inspired me, however, to try and re-study my grammar lessons. Most things she corrects me on I can understand why I've made the error (or she coaches me on it). Still, I want to be more well-educated, so when I'm making mistakes, the mistakes are of the 'I was tired and forgot a word/punctuation' kind rather than the 'I simply had no idea what form is right or not' kind.

*comma needed/comma not needed rinse and repeat*

We were recently talking about left brain and right brain. If I sweep some of the cobwebs aside in my brain, I think I recall from college that reading and writing take place in separate areas of the brain. So when you (any you) are writing creative stories, you are using a completely different section than when you are editing a piece of writing. That is why it is virtually impossible to correctly edit your own work, and why teachers make their students read their compositions aloud. Almost every time they read what they meant to write not what it actually says on the paper. And sometimes they don't believe you when you tell them what it actually says. And thusly, why betas are so very important. And not just any beta, but someone who uses correct grammar and knows the rules enough to know when something is wrong. You don't have to be an expert but a beta needs to be able to put together a coherent paragraph. (Now what I just wrote contains a number of errors, but for this informal situation, who cares? So everybody relax when posting.)

Now, that said, I'll add that it's crucial that writers not let grammar stifle their creativity. Forget the rules and write write write. You will find some of your own errors, and a beta will find most of the rest.

On the subject of "professionals" writing badly, do not even get me started on the mistakes I hear coming out of sports announcers' mouths. *headdesk*

[Scary Kitty]

Good morning, Sparkies! Happy Fluffy Thursday!

*comma needed/comma not needed rinse and repeat*

We were recently talking about left brain and right brain. If I sweep some of the cobwebs aside in my brain, I think I recall from college that reading and writing take place in separate areas of the brain. So when you (any you) are writing creative stories, you are using a completely different section than when you are editing a piece of writing. That is why it is virtually impossible to correctly edit your own work, and why teachers make their students read their compositions aloud. Almost every time they read what they meant to write not what it actually says on the paper. And sometimes they don't believe you when you tell them what it actually says. And thusly, why betas are so very important. And not just any beta, but someone who uses correct grammar and knows the rules enough to know when something is wrong. You don't have to be an expert but a beta needs to be able to put together a coherent paragraph. (Now what I just wrote contains a number of errors, but for this informal situation, who cares? So everybody relax when posting.)

Now, that said, I'll add that it's crucial that writers not let grammar stifle their creativity. Forget the rules and write write write. You will find some of your own errors, and a beta will find most of the rest.

On the subject of "professionals" writing badly, do not even get me started on the mistakes I hear coming out of sports announcers' mouths. *headdesk*

I sometimes use the "reading out loud" trick on my writing to see if dialogue flows smoothly, and it works.

I think I need to get my hands on this book!

[Annelantis]

Though I an not usually interested in books about real things (except serial killers, I suppose) this book does sound like it may be interesting and could be helpful in my writing. I'll be honest, I am okay with grammar but I think I missed the lessons in school that told me what a semi-colon is used for. That's why you rarely see them in my writing.

I am big on spelling though. I am someone who tries to type quickly and, therefore, sometimes an error gets by me until after I have clicked the 'post' button but that means I just need to check before I click. I am a good speller and it annoys me in my job when I read others' reports and see glaring spelling mistakes - even on simple words. The whole There, Their, They're is also a part of the errors I hate to see. I remember reading a report where the reporter wrote 'Oostimeyers'. It took us all ages to figure out they meant 'Alzheimer's'. Now that is not a typo! I tell you, my job is full of people who probably couldn't spell better than me when I was eight.

[Sparky She-Demon]

Hi Annelantis! Guess what?

[Annelantis]

Hi Annelantis! Guess what?

Give up!

[Sparky She-Demon]

Give up!

TWGO has been updated!

[Annelantis]

TWGO has been updated!

OMG!!! Heading there now!!!!

[Sparky She-Demon]

Hope you like it!

[Annelantis]

Hope you like it!

Hey, that was great. You didn't cut as much as I thought you would either. I loved the bit before John enters the building and thinks about how the kids slept overnight and how they would be a family soon.

And the first part of the chapter and the last all tied together really well.

Spoiler:

And John shot Kavanaugh. HA!!! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

Your cliffhanger by the way was pretty evil. I do hope you can update again soon, I don't know how long I can wait before I start bugging you about it!

And thanks for the A/N at the beginning, I was happy to help. Honestly, if you need anything else, like advice or anything, then feel free to ask. I totally enjoyed it.

[Sparky She-Demon]

Hey, that was great. You didn't cut as much as I thought you would either. I loved the bit before John enters the building and thinks about how the kids slept overnight and how they would be a family soon.

And the first part of the chapter and the last all tied together really well.

Spoiler:

And John shot Kavanaugh. HA!!! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

Your cliffhanger by the way was pretty evil. I do hope you can update again soon, I don't know how long I can wait before I start bugging you about it!

And thanks for the A/N at the beginning, I was happy to help. Honestly, if you need anything else, like advice or anything, then feel free to ask. I totally enjoyed it.

I was surprised that I didn't cut as much as I thought I would either. The bit with John thinking about the twins was one of my favorite parts to write.

I always credit the people that have helped me with the updates. I'm looking forward to writing parts of the next chapter. Do you want me to send you a basic synopsis of the last chapter?

I will most likely ask you for help with the next chapter.

[Annelantis]

I was surprised that I didn't cut as much as I thought I would either. The bit with John thinking about the twins was one of my favorite parts to write.

I always credit the people that have helped me with the updates. I'm looking forward to writing parts of the next chapter. Do you want me to send you a basic synopsis of the last chapter?

I will most likely ask you for help with the next chapter.

That's great. If you send me the synopsis, then I can get up to speed with it and you can let me know what you need.

Gonna go to bed now but shall look forward to that.

It's great to see the update.
x

[Sparky She-Demon]

It hadn't been updated in waaay too long!

[JT-2]

On the subject of "professionals" writing badly, do not even get me started on the mistakes I hear coming out of sports announcers' mouths. *headdesk*

I recently heard a news announcer say "I's". My head exploded. I'm still recovering.

That book sounds very interesting. I was reading somewhere that Americans actually talk like British people used to way back when, and they are the ones that changed (something about rhotacism). I find that kind of thing fascinating, although I don't know why. I do love grammar, though. Although I'm never perfect myself, I get very frustrated by simple grammar errors like they're/their/there or two/to/too. Some of my relatives on FB can't create simple sentences, or really ANY sentence that is grammatically correct. They give me headaches. Sometimes I'll correct my closer relatives because I just can't take it any more. (Thank you, Mom and Dad, for sending me to a Catholic elementary school instead of the public school.)

*If you're a non-native English speaker, then I will always give you a break. Because English is a complicated, messed up language. But that's why a beta is so vital, for everyone.

It hadn't been updated in waaay too long!

Sorry to be a rule stickler here, but if you two are going to have conversations that are just related to the two of you, could you please take them to PM?

(And speaking of grammar, was that a run on sentence I just wrote?)