March 2007
18 posts
“Slashes, technically called virgules and defined as slanted strokes “used...”
– Slash and Burn on Word Wise by Dan Santow
Writing Rant: "...you, the reader..."
I know who I am, thanks. You don’t really have to tell me.
Even worse? “You, the customer.” Not anymore. I’ve added this to the list of grammar offenses that are so heinous that they compel me to take my business elsewhere. Also included:
Intentional cute misspellings (clemency obviously granted to Krispy Kreme… mmmmmm.)
Backwards letters (Toys backwards-R not...
“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”
– Jack London
I Spy with Sophia
Sophia: I spy something green!
Papa: Is it the grass?
Sophia: Umm... yeah, that too.
...
Sophia: I spy something... mailbox!
Papa: Is it... the mailbox?
Sophia: Yeah! You got it, Papa!
“The scariest moment is always just before you start.”
– Steven King in On Writing [via SvN]
“When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.”
– Japanese proverb
Sophia's an ace at geography.
Papa: Sophia, where's my office? Do you see it?
Sophia: It's in ATLANTA!
Papa: *laugh* Yes, honey, it is... but so are we! We're in Atlanta now.
Sophia: No we're not. We're in the CAR.
“It is a misconception that the opposite of doubt is faith. …the opposite...”
– Why have doubt? from Mike Leaptrott’s blog
“It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is...”
– John Andrew Holmes, American physician and writer
Grammar Nazi: Fewer vs. Less
Use fewer when the noun being described is concrete and can be counted. Use less when the noun being described is abstract and cannot be counted.
Fewer wars, less violence.
Fewer cars, less traffic.
Fewer food shortages, less famine.
Fewer grammar diatribes, less grammar nerd-boy ranting.
“What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down.”
– Mary Pickford (Gladys Louise Smith), actress and co-founder of United Artists (1893-1979)