Hello friends, This is the last Grammar Wednesday of the year! Since next Wednesday is Christmas, I will be taking it off from this adventure. This week we'll be looking at weary and wary--two things that should not be happening during the holiday season. But here we go. EXAMPLES She was wary of going to … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Weary v Wary
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Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Effect v Affect
These are two that are actually less mixed up than they used to be. Affect is to affect something, while one thing has an effect on another. EXAMPLES Rusty was affected by the dog that moved into the house. Rusty made an effect on the dog when she smacked him on the nose. The effect … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Effect v Affect
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – It’s v Its
There was no Grammar Wednesday last week due to Thanksgiving and travel. This week we'll focus on what that is consistently incorrect in many things that I edit. One would thing that it would be easy because "it's" is a contraction of "it is," but it's still messed up. The easiest way to look at … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – It’s v Its
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Apart v A part
There is a massive issue when these two are mixed up, mainly because they mean the complete opposite. She stood apart of the crowd. She stood a part of the crowd. Both have very different meanings. "A part" means together and with, while "apart" means separate and away from. Thus they are very different in … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Apart v A part
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Peek v Peak v Pique
These are fun ones and are very often misused. I think the easiest way to differentiate is to just write sentences with them. EXAMPLES Peek a boo! I see you! The peak was over six thousand feet high. The concept piqued the child's interest, so they gave the child more to study. We played peek … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Peek v Peak v Pique
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Lead v Led
While lead is a word that would be used in a sentence, it is not the past tense of "to lead." Lead is actually a metal...led means "to lead" in the past tense. This is a very common mistake that is made, and I constantly have to correct it in other's work and in mine. … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Lead v Led
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Patience v Patients
It has honestly surprised me how many times I have seen this one mixed up. I'm not sure if it's because of just random typos, but it does seem to happen more than it should. Patients are people; they generally reside in a hospital but can be found in other places. Patience is something that … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Patience v Patients
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Faze v Phase
Tricky bugger! You can phase out of something and not have it faze you. That's how this one works. EXAMPLES The star ship phased out of reality and into the third dimension. The captain stared at the view screen, unfazed by what was happening.
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Reek v Wreak
This is a rather easy one to figure out. One can wreak havoc with things that reek. =P Reek is a smell, nasty, but a smell nonetheless To wreak is a verb; it is something that someone does to something else. It is also not to be confused with "wreck," which I have actually seen … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Reek v Wreak
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Awhile v A while
Now this one is confusing for a lot of people. "Awhile" as one word basically means "For a while" with two words...so if someone writes "for awhile" they basically write "for for a while" which is confusing and incorrect. This makes it hard. If there is a "for" generally the "a while" will be two … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Awhile v A while
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Then v Than
These are two that get mixed up ALL the time, and it annoys me to no end. They mean very different things and can completely change the reading of a sentence and what follows. EXAMPLES Rusty, the wonder kitten, scarfed down her food and then vomited it up. Rusty thought it was better to lounge … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Then v Than
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Defiantly v Definitely
These are two words that I do see mixed up on occasion. It might just be typos, but I figured it'd be better to explore than to not. These two have very different meanings. EXAMPLES Rusty defiantly stood at the window, waiting for the threatening kitten she saw in the glass to arrive again. Rusty … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Defiantly v Definitely
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Passed v Past
Here's two that get mixed up often...I even get confused on it. Passed is an action, used primarily with people passing by something or another person. Past is used with time. She passed by him in the past. (if you want to get in your wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey mindset) EXAMPLES Soldier, the white dog, passed by … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups – Passed v Past
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups — Lightning v Lightening
Good morning folks! I almost forgot that today is Wednesday. My life has been a bit crazy this week. This week we're still looking at word mixups, I have quite a few of them. Lightning and Lightening. I promise, they are two different words. The lightning struck down from the sky, bearing the world as … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups — Lightning v Lightening
Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups — Further vs Farther
I recently read a book, not to be named, where the author could NOT figure out the difference between further and farther. It occurred to me that this author was probably not the only one with this issue. Both have an essence of distance. Farther is physical distance. Further is metaphorical distance. FOR EXAMPLE: Rusty … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Word Mixups — Further vs Farther
Grammar Wednesday: TENSES — future
This is the rarest of all for an entire story/novel to be written in. However, there are often sections that require this. example time!! Rusty would be going to visit her brother in Washington, D.C. for a week. Then she would be going to the west to visit some family. She couldn't be more excited … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: TENSES — future
Grammar Wednesday: TENSES — past tense
Hey ya'll! This is my preferred tense to write in. I love it! To me, even when speaking, stories are told in the past tense because they happen in the past, not in the moment. If that makes sense. So here's an example of past tense. *** She walked into the room, her dress beautifully … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: TENSES — past tense
Grammar Wednesday: TENSES — Present tense
Here's the next series! Tenses! I'm thinking four posts in this one, at least for the main four things people generally do with tenses. Present, past, past perfect (and using those together). This first one is going to be about present tense. There are lot of fanfiction and some novels being written in present tense. … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: TENSES — Present tense
Grammar Wednesday: Pet Peeves and Americanisms
It is not OK. It is okay. ** It is not alright. It is all right. *** It is not wanna, gonna, coulda, shoulda, woulda. It is want to, going to, could have, should have, would have. (The only exception to these should be made in dialogue, or if you are planning some massive narrating … Continue reading Grammar Wednesday: Pet Peeves and Americanisms
Grammar Wednesday: Spelling and Grammar errors–mental_floss
So...since it is finals week for me, and I am still working like mad on this queer migration paper. This is your grammar rules of the week! There's 38, so catch up! 38 Common Spelling and Grammar Errors - mental_floss on YouTube (Ep.9) - YouTube.
Adrian J. Smith 