http://www.writingforward.com/grammar/good-grammar/are-you-a-stickler-for-good-grammar Creative writing tips and ideas Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:52:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.writingforward.com/grammar/good-grammar/are-you-a-stickler-for-good-grammar/comment-page-1#comment-39 Greg Thu, 08 Nov 2007 21:39:36 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=47#comment-39 This is the best summarization I've read for the to-do or not-to-do, pro v. con schools of adherence to grammar in fiction or satire. While adherence is certainly necessary in journalistic or technical writing, and professional correspondence, it's nice to relax when writing for entertainment. Admittedly, this is something over which I anguished until I noted how successfully Elmore Leonard uses small departures in the dialogue of his characters. The departures can be used to establish specific, tangible personalities in a medium that lacks the telltales of inflections and mannerisms. Certainly an author can establish these devices in the descriptions of his/her characters, but it's much more compelling if the characters do so for themselves via dialogue. Likewise, departures from grammar are especially useful in establishing tones and/or themes in experiential satires. This is the best summarization I’ve read for the to-do or not-to-do, pro v. con schools of adherence to grammar in fiction or satire. While adherence is certainly necessary in journalistic or technical writing, and professional correspondence, it’s nice to relax when writing for entertainment. Admittedly, this is something over which I anguished until I noted how successfully Elmore Leonard uses small departures in the dialogue of his characters. The departures can be used to establish specific, tangible personalities in a medium that lacks the telltales of inflections and mannerisms. Certainly an author can establish these devices in the descriptions of his/her characters, but it’s much more compelling if the characters do so for themselves via dialogue. Likewise, departures from grammar are especially useful in establishing tones and/or themes in experiential satires.

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