Miscellaneous
Writing Notes
”I first saw her on the beach as she walked by
wearing a tiny bikini with a huge smile.”
“Ahead of them stood another young woman, this one
dressed in a navy blue suit with a jacket with a wide belt that buckled at the
waist and extended down to her hips.”
For the first statement, I picture a smiley face on the
bikini backside. For the second, an interesting woman’s suit with an
extraordinarily wide belt.
Other recent observations in published books:
Except
instead of accept
To accept
is to receive. “I’m happy to accept the position of team leader.”
To except
something is to separate or excuse it. “Everyone, except Jim, is on the team.”
Affect
and effect are often misused.
How did the divorce affect your life?
How effective
was the counseling?
Myself
should not be used as the subject of any sentence. We even hear it on news
broadcasts. “Officer Opelski and myself entered the building…” When you are the
subject, use I.
“Sunrise will be at five fifteen a.m. in the morning.” Would that be as opposed to the
sunrise at five fifteen a.m. in the evening? Listen for this one regularly on
all television stations. Probably radio, too.
Announcer whispers into the microphone: “We are here
waiting for the president to arrive. He is scheduled to speak at eleven a.m.
this morning.”
Okay. I know you have your own favorite errors. Go
ahead, hit me with them.
Ronnie (www.veroinicahhart.com)
Veronica Helen Hart is the author of The Prince of Keegan Bay, Champagne Books, and Elena, the Girl with the Piano, Double Edge Press.
4 comments:
"Driving down the road, a pothole damaged her tire." (Great ravening potholes!)
"Oranges .09 cents each." (Really? 9/100 of a cent each?)
"Whom shall I say is calling?"
"Definately."
"He was the kind of person that always used apostrophe's wrong."
That just about sums up three of my pet grammar peeves. Thanks, Ronnie!
"You'll get a free gift just for ordering!"
Because, you know, otherwise you have to pay for the gift.
Good ones, guys!
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