Grammar / Spelling / Punctuation Discussion and Appreciation (questions welcome!)

[iiradned]

Argh, just came across another error that I see far too often: compliment/complement.

I have read in the past day several fics by different authors that use defiantly when the in the context of the sentence they meant to use definitely.

[SF_and_Coffee]

I see that all the time, too. Makes me want to scream, it does.

[fems]

I have read in the past day several fics by different authors that use defiantly when the in the context of the sentence they meant to use definitely.

And those that don't know the difference or correct meaning simply use definatly/definately, like it's a word

[SF_and_Coffee]

That makes me want to scream, too. Not to mention the people who write pregnate when they mean pregnant.

Oh, also? It's bated breath, people, not baited breath. (Unless you're trying to use halitosis as a means to catch flies or something.)

[fems]

I always wonder if those people don't have spell/grammar check or simply can't be bothered to use it.

[Whytewytch]

I always wonder if those people don't have spell/grammar check or simply can't be bothered to use it.

Unfortunately, those things are not always 100% accurate either, hence the need for a beta. It never hurts to have a second set of eyes catch things. I have a BA in English and a strong background in writing, as well as a general love of grammar. I still miss things. Thankfully, my beta usually catches them and between the two of us, I come up with a clean copy 98% of the time.

[fems]

I know, but they pick up on things like solider/soldier, too/to (not always, but in certain situations), definately/definitely, you/your/you're and pregnate/pregnant.

I don't have a beta, but I do find that reading through your stuff every once in a while helps, either for yourself or when someone is reviewing an old(er) fic/chapter.

[SF_and_Coffee]

I keep grammar checker turned off on my computer, because it is wrong 90% of the time. When I used to leave it on, it would continually instruct me to mix singular and plural (telling me to write things like "Jack fish in his pond" rather than "Jack fishes in his pond" for example) and a host of other errors. I don't need it; my grammar is fine. Same with my spelling, and I figure that I or my beta can catch typos.

I often suspect that an over-reliance on computerized spell-checking and grammar-checking is part of what's ruining people's own ability to write coherent sentences. I grew up in the era when if you wanted to check the spelling of a word or the proper way to use it, you had to get out the dictionary, and my first encounter with a computer program that would do it for me was when I was in my twenties, by which point I think I'd already internalized that damn dictionary and didn't need the program.

[Whytewytch]

I keep grammar checker turned off on my computer, because it is wrong 90% of the time. When I used to leave it on, it would continually instruct me to mix singular and plural (telling me to write things like "Jack fish in his pond" rather than "Jack fishes in his pond" for example) and a host of other errors. I don't need it; my grammar is fine. Same with my spelling, and I figure that I or my beta can catch typos.

I often suspect that an over-reliance on computerized spell-checking and grammar-checking is part of what's ruining people's own ability to write coherent sentences. I grew up in the era when if you wanted to check the spelling of a word or the proper way to use it, you had to get out the dictionary, and my first encounter with a computer program that would do it for me was when I was in my twenties, by which point I think I'd already internalized that damn dictionary and didn't need the program.

LOL! Same, of course & I totally agree about reliance on computer programs. I have had the same thing happen to me with singular and plural mixing, so I ignore it 90% of the time. I always make my boys use the dictionary to check spelling & usage.

[SF_and_Coffee]

Just caught another word substitution people always make:

"Roll" for "role". Really annoying!

[fems]

Yes, but like you both say: you know your spelling and grammar. Those people obviously do not.

I always have spelling and grammar turned on, though. It are only suggestions and it works great for typos. I've never had those plural/singular mixing you mentioned, but perhaps that's just my grammar settings. Next to that I always use babylon as a dictionary or for translations, because it's easy with just ctrl+click to check and I have my translation dictionaries on my desk in case I can't find the right words or expressions.

Just caught another word substitution people always make:

"Roll" for "role". Really annoying!

Yep, see those often too. Whenever I'm not sure, I check.

What really annoys me though is when people say "lead" in past tense. It's to lead - led - led!

[Whytewytch]

Fems--just curious & no need to answer, obviously. Are you a native speaker? Approximately how old are you? SF_and_Coffee & I are of a similar age & upbringing, native speakers from the "dark ages" before computers.

Also, just saw one on a lawyer's sign yesterday: "Your not at fault"

[SF_and_Coffee]

Oh, I know the grammar checker results are only suggestions, but seeing those colored squiggles all over the screen -- especially when I knew I'd written it correctly -- got annoying, which is why I turned it off. When I'm writing, or editing what I've written, I like to have as few visual distractions as possible.

[fems]

Nope, no native speaker and I'm 23 years old. It would be very sad if I needed a translation dictionary if I was a native speaker...


There are a lot of things you can (un)check for the grammar check in Word, I've only ticked several boxes and don't really have a lot of colored squiggles all over the screen. Same thing for the spelling check, all the Stargate-related terms are added to my customary dictionary (and autocorrect for the annoying apostrophes etc).

[SF_and_Coffee]

No matter what I unchecked, I still had enough to be annoying. (Then again, for me, even one or two is annoying.) Since I don't need it anyway, I just keep it turned off.

I do have a pretty extensive custom dictionary, however, considering that I not only have Stargate terms in my fiction, but also a number of words in Welsh or other languages.