The terms in the title represent two distinct ways of approaching writing. Prescriptive grammar defines the norms and rules, and represents accepted usage. Descriptive grammar, on the other hand is the language, syntax, and words that are actually used by speakers of a given language. While there are some writers and editors who take the
So, you’ve finally finished writing, editing, and rewriting. Your opening, middle and ending are all strong. You’re ready to submit your manuscript. Is there anything more you can do as a final check of your work before you release it? Following are some ideas. Share This:
Are you trying to write today—but you seem to be stuck? You’re not alone. Following are a few tips and hints for priming your pump and getting you moving. Share This:
No matter what you’re writing, every word needs to contribute to your message. When you use filler words, you make your communication less effective. Share This:
Adjectives are used to describe people, places, and things, and good writers are able to write descriptions that are varied and creative. While you’ve probably created strings of adjectives before a noun, without much thought, you may sometimes wonder if they’re in the right order. Following are some guidelines. Share This:
Knowing when and how to use quotation marks or italics—or nothing at all—is important for writers. Following are some guidelines. Share This:
Many people find proofreading to be a drag. And while you can do it yourself, and maybe should, another person, who isn’t as familiar as you are with the text, will spot errors that you miss over and over again. Share This:
Okay, you’ve written your first draft, and you’re really proud of the words you’ve set down. You may think that they’re unchangeable. After all, these are your words. However, your work is not yet a published book. It’s only a flow of words that will likely need to change a number of times before it’s
So many rules. So many exceptions. Should authors pay more attention to content or to grammar? Read on. Share This:
How do you interject something into a sentence or dialogue that’s not actually part of the main thought? You can use commas or parentheses—or you can use em-dashes. Here’s how. Share This: