{pin'd} writing resources

[Ten]

Most of it's easy, but there are some tricky things a lot of people forget or don't know. Here are some explanations of the most common mistakes in character bios. As it turns out, I've been giving some of you incorrect corrections, so I'm learning something myself with this. Feel free to suggest any additions to this list.

[x] comma splice
[x] commas, conjunctions, and compound verbs
[x] [x] hyphens and dashes
[x] how to use a semicolon
[x] apostrophes (the punctuation kind)
[x] active and passive voice
[x] "-ly" adverbs

[duckyaisha]

May I comment on this?
I was wondering, do we have to get rid of all -ly adverbs? I think using a few is acceptable.

[Ten]

"May I comment on this?"
--
No, of course not! I would have locked the thread if I wanted anyone to post on it!

/sarcasm :3


"I was wondering, do we have to get rid of all -ly adverbs?"
--
You don't have to do anything. Adverbs are a bit of a preference thing.


"I think using a few is acceptable."
--
Acceptable like a C.

Again, word choice isn't always right or wrong like punctuation is, but there are choices that are better and worse. I use adverbs when I'm being lazy and don't care about perfecting my description so much as conveying the gist, but most adverbs (like "-ly" ones) get in the way of meaning. If it's important to indicate the way in which the verbing goes on, or if it's important to modify the adjective or what have you, then you can use devices such as the prepositional phrase, which give more flexibility, plus they're longer -- and longer doesn't always equal better, but it does mean the eye (or ear) spends more time on it, adding to the emphasis. If the modification you want to make isn't important enough for you to go to that length, then chances are it's not important enough to warrant the adverb either.

[duckyaisha]

What is the difference between saying "He ran swiftly," and "He ran at a swift pace,"? They both say the same thing. And they're about the same length.

[Ten]

That's not how I would have reworded it -- instead of "at a swift pace", something more descriptive like "with the tremendous, split-second speed of blazing lightning" (although I understand if you're not so fond of melodrama) -- but the difference between your examples is subtle. As the eye reads "he ran swiftly", it comes to "he ran" first, so you imagine a boy running, and then you see that he ran "swiftly". Maybe I'm messed up in the head, because the kid doesn't seem like he's running much faster now. Yet if he's running "at a swift pace", this seems to push him forward. The prepositional phrase isn't modifying anything; it's adding something -- in this case speed.

Something I forgot to mention! Strong verbs. Instead of using adverbs to modify the verb, you can just use a stronger verbs (instead of "says loudly", use yells/roars/shrieks/bellows, depending on what feel you want to convey).

[duckyaisha]

Sometimes I hear that, but other times I hear that doing that leads to overdescription and pretentious-sounding writing. I always see people who complain about people who are 'afraid of the word said'.
God, writing is confusing.

[Ten]

"Sometimes I hear that, but other times I hear that doing that leads to overdescription and pretentious-sounding writing."
--
It can. So can using too many adverbs. Almost anything done too much or done wrong will sound stupid.


"I always see people who complain about people who are 'afraid of the word said'."
--
Never heard that, but I know what you mean.

[duckyaisha]

So basically, writing is like eating. Everything in moderation.

[Ten]

No. Moderation doesn't make hemlock any healthier. =P

[Cloud]

Or make calorie-heavy foods any less wearing on the body.