Fanfic Pet Peeves

[hedwig]

Personally, I prefer wove and dove, although technically I think you can use either. Wove and dove simply seem more elegant (and more correct to someone like myself who studied grammar when the rules were a bit more clear).

My thoughts as well. I've been reading a lot of Stargate Novels recently, and the authors keep using the dived/weaved/add other similar kinds of wording in their stories, and it just doesn't read properly for me. I find it annoying.

[USS Thor]

even the editors must find it acceptable then but i see where your coming from

[fems]

What I've learned is:

To dive - dived - dived

To weave - wove - woven

My (translation) dictionary says that's true too with 'to weave' listed under irregular verbs, but not 'to dive'.

[dipsofjazz]

Personally, I prefer wove and dove, although technically I think you can use either. Wove and dove simply seem more elegant (and more correct to someone like myself who studied grammar when the rules were a bit more clear).

It may be an American thing, as I'm sure you'll not find anyone in the UK using 'dove'. It sounds wrong to me, and I would use 'dived'.

[LizzieAnne]

It may be an American thing, as I'm sure you'll not find anyone in the UK using 'dove'. It sounds wrong to me, and I would use 'dived'.

I agree. Dove is a type of bird to me.

[SF_and_Coffee]

It may be an American thing, as I'm sure you'll not find anyone in the UK using 'dove'. It sounds wrong to me, and I would use 'dived'.

I do see that more in Brit writing, but even then, bear in mind who the speaker is when you write it (and this includes whose POV you're writing from, if it isn't dialogue). If the person who is saying the word, or from whose POV you're writing that passage, happens to be American, it's still proper to use the American wording for things.

It occurs to me that if I were a fictional character, I'd be difficult to write, since I'm an American who tends to think/speak in British terms just often enough that it confuses people.

[fems]

I agree. Dove is a type of bird to me.

It's also a nice brand. But apparently in speech dove is also used, especially by Canadians and Americans.

[SF_and_Coffee]

The usage and origins of "dove" explained, from this source:

Both dived and dove are standard as the past tense of dive. Dived, historically the older form, is somewhat more common in edited writing, but dove occurs there so frequently that it also must be considered standard: The rescuer dove into 20 feet of icy water. Dove is an Americanism that probably developed by analogy with alternations like drive, drove and ride, rode.

Note that "dove" as the past participle of "dive" is pronounced with a completely different vowel sound from "dove" as a bird or a brand of soap-related products.

According to the same source, weaved and wove are each correct in differing contexts.

[mathpiglet]

I would use 'dove' and 'wove', which rhyme.

[LizzieAnne]

I do see that more in Brit writing, but even then, bear in mind who the speaker is when you write it (and this includes whose POV you're writing from, if it isn't dialogue). If the person who is saying the word, or from whose POV you're writing that passage, happens to be American, it's still proper to use the American wording for things.

It occurs to me that if I were a fictional character, I'd be difficult to write, since I'm an American who tends to think/speak in British terms just often enough that it confuses people.

It's interesting because I can't say that the word 'dove' is even on my radar (with that meaning). I must have read/heard it at some point over the years but my brain has somehow ignored it. Looks like I can't now. Even though I can't imagine ever using it. It sounds so wrong to my ears!

It's also a nice brand. But apparently in speech dove is also used, especially by Canadians and Americans.

Ah yes. I'd forgotten it was a brand name.

[Skydiver]

It's a brand name for soap, shampoos and chocolate

I know I'd say 'well Frankie just dove right in'
Dived doesn't sound right.

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

Dove and wove are archaic forms as well as normal North American usage.

Lit (as in he lit a candle) is also a North American usage, although it is (alas) fading in favor of lighted, which is longer and much less elegant.

Seaboe

[fems]

Dove and wove are archaic forms as well as normal North American usage.

Lit (as in he lit a candle) is also a North American usage, although it is (alas) fading in favor of lighted, which is longer and much less elegant.

Seaboe

Perhaps, but I've learned both versions of to light yet only dived/wove in English in high school and it's the same in my dictionary as well. So I'm inclined to say lighted/lit was probably accepted earlier as official tenses, if those other two are even officially accepted these days in dictionaries.

[hedwig]

It's a brand name for soap, shampoos and chocolate

I know I'd say 'well Frankie just dove right in'
Dived doesn't sound right.

dove (duh'v) is a bird and soap brand
dove (doe-v) as in dove off the edge

Too bad we have so many words spelled the same way, but spoken differently.

[Goose]

Dove and wove are archaic forms as well as normal North American usage.

Lit (as in he lit a candle) is also a North American usage, although it is (alas) fading in favor of lighted, which is longer and much less elegant.

Seaboe

"He lighted a candle"? I've never heard that... it just sounds so... odd.