I know that most people who do this whole "writing" thing are pretty full on about grammar. Got to get all the punctuation in the right places, try not to dangle your participles, not mix up your their, there and they're.
I, however, am most definitely NOT one of them. I honestly couldn't give a rats about whether I'm appeasing the Grammar Nazis. Plenty of my sentences end in prepositions, I regularly split my infinitives, and I start sentences with "and" so regularly that I'd practically forgotten that was a rule at all.
I suppose, for me it's really about what feels right. How does it sound when I read it out loud? If I think it flows, that means more to me than whether I'm making my high school English teacher pivot in her grave (sorry Mrs Bryant).
But, if it's all the same to you, maybe I'll keep the Oxford comma ... no one should have to see Stalin wearing a pair of pasties.
.jpg)
At my age there's enough dangling to worry about any more.
ReplyDeleteLOL!
DeleteI try hard to follow the rules, but, as you say....it needs to flow.
ReplyDeleteI think it's because I don't care if other people follow the rules. Maybe it would be annoying to people who are all about the grammar.
DeleteI'm with you..... I do my best but get in a hurry and if anyone thinks I'm going to go look up the rules they can kiss my rat's ass.
ReplyDeleteI've pretty much accepted that I'm anti-establishment when it comes to grammar rules.
DeleteI think the point should be to make clear what you are saying. Often proper grammar helps with that, other times it can be a detriment. I think of Kirstie Alley on Cheers saying "there are some things up with which I will not put!"
ReplyDeleteLOL! I haven't heard that one before, but it's a perfect example.
DeleteOh but calling people out on grammar rules makes people feel smart and superior. Where else will they get their superiority fix? I guess there's always commenting on celebrities.
ReplyDeleteLanguage is nothing more than a form of communication. If you're getting the point across, the rules can be flexible.
rules suck, I think unless your( you're, you are) writing for a PhD, it really does not (doesn't, doughnut) matter.
ReplyDeleteYep, grammar definitely matters if grades are on the line ;P
DeletePersonally, I'm on a mission to eradicate the Oxford comma off the face of the earth. Stalin in pasties is a small price to pay.
ReplyDeleteI admire your dedication to the cause, even if I can't support it ;D
DeleteI am The Queen of Grammar. In the interest of creativity, I do not always obey the rules. I shall not judge you harshly if you misplace a comma.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
That's good, I misplace commas all the time!
DeleteThere's my laugh for the day!! Thank you for linking to Super Sunday Sync! :)
ReplyDelete:D
DeleteAccording to the writing program my girls are using, it is now okay to split an infinitive - changed forever by Star Trek - To Boldly Go . . .
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the best example of a split infinitive ever!
DeleteI'm a selective grammar/punctuation nazi. I use incomplete sentences and I end sentences with prepositions. There ARE certain things that drive me incredibly insane. I'm all for creative license and flow, but please don't ever say, "Look what the cat drug in." Makes me homicidal. Truly.
ReplyDelete-andi
LOL! I'll keep that in mind.
DeleteI've noticed in many corners of blog-land the whole grammer/punctuation issue is, well, and issue! I've learnt through life's journey that there is just so much more to give one's attention to. I would be so much the poorer if I stopped reading a couple of blogs (which contain atrocious grammar and spelling errors) but the richness and depth of content leave me breathless.
ReplyDelete(Haha, and if I have trouble understanding someone's writing then I take the ownership for lacking comprehension skills!)
A good topic Kelly!
Why thank you!
DeleteIt's the problem I have with not only each blog post but my writing as well. That's why I leave my manuscript up to the woman who does the assessment, she fixes little bits and pieces. Besides, even the language experts reckon it's changing with all the Gen Y bullshit words we have to put up with.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Bloody Gen Yers!
DeleteI never understood what the big deal was in ending a sentence with a preposition.
ReplyDeleteBuggered if I know!
DeleteI wish I was better with my punctuation, spelling, and grammar, even if it sounds correct to me when the grammar is wrong I would like to know it and at least consciously override the rules. We are becoming way to lazy with way too much. I could not tell you what a split infinitive is, and I also don't get what is wrong with ending a sentence with a preposition. I am not proud of that fact.
ReplyDeleteI always remember split infinitives from Star Trek. The most famous example of all is "To Boldly Go..."
DeleteI used to care about grammar until I read a book stating all the rules we have been taught are not even true. So now I break all of them and just write.
ReplyDeleteI used to care about it too, then one day I realised that there's actually nothing stopping me from breaking every single rule. Who's going to stop me?
DeleteSocial media is destroying the written language, in my opinion. I'm no expert when it comes to grammer and such, but I do my best to break the rules only when I feel it necessary.
ReplyDeleteI guess you can't stop the evolution of language. It's going to happen regardless.
DeleteI prefer to read blogs that are written in the manner of an actual conversation i.e. in any which-way a person chooses to put their thoughts to paper or computer.
ReplyDeletePutting too much emphasis on sentence structure, punctuation and word usage, sometimes sounds stilted and phoney depending on the subject. I get annoyed when blog tutorials rant on the importance of getting each comma just right.
It's the grammar nazis that get me. Seriously, why do they think pointing out my mistake is going to be a good thing? Do they think I'm going to say "Oh, of course you're right! I'll just go over there and flagellate myself."
DeleteI have a friend with a blog who wouldn't know where to put a comma if a comma was standing in front of her with a sign that said, "Hey, I'm a comma! Put me right there!" I still read it, because she makes me smile. However, if I come across a blog full of grammatical errors, I don't go back again. A few mistakes doesn't bother me, but a post full of them makes me a little batty.
ReplyDeleteI guess there's a difference between taking liberties with grammar and torturing it until it begs for mercy.
DeleteWe start sentences with 'and' all the time. And end our sentences with prepositions. See? Just started a sentence with 'and.' If the sentence flows well and sounds natural, I say go for it. That's totally cool. But if a blog/article/book looks like it was grammatically written by a 5 year old, then I can't do it. That crosses the line.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's fair enough. I break rules because it flows better, but if I break the rules and it still sounds like shite then it kind of defeats the purpose.
Deletegrammar rules were made to be broken. ;o)
ReplyDeleteYou rebel you ;P
DeleteGrammar has rules???
ReplyDeleteSo I've been lead to believe, although maybe it's just a nasty rumor.
DeleteAnd I love Kelsey too.... just saying
ReplyDeleteLOL! I see what you did there ;D
DeleteI'd say it depends on who your audience is. When I blog I try to make sure my punctuation and spelling is correct but I write more like I talk. I start with "ands" I ramble and split infinitives, I, too, end with prepositions. All the time! I use fragments with purpose and holy moly do I love ellipses. But in formal writing or when I am novelling, I stick with proper and traditional grammar rules (except as needed in dialogue).
ReplyDeleteMe too! I know you're only supposed to use ellipses to show missing text ... but they're so effective for indicating a pause before a punchline!
DeleteHa! Love this post! I too, play fast and furious with grammar rules... I laugh in the face of rules! It's called artistic licence!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, I used to have one of those. They revoked it though.
Delete