Comments on: Writing Resources: The Elements of Style http://www.writingforward.com/writing-resources-2/writing-resources-elements-of-style Creative writing tips and ideas Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:52:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/writing-resources-2/writing-resources-elements-of-style/comment-page-1#comment-39613 Melissa Donovan Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:33:40 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=520#comment-39613 <em>Eats, Shoots, and Leaves</em> is a European grammar resource; it doesn't deal with U.S. style and grammar. There aren't many difference between British and U.S. English, but there are enough to warrant different guide books. If you're writing for an international audience, it would be helpful to master both. Good luck to you. Eats, Shoots, and Leaves is a European grammar resource; it doesn’t deal with U.S. style and grammar. There aren’t many difference between British and U.S. English, but there are enough to warrant different guide books. If you’re writing for an international audience, it would be helpful to master both. Good luck to you.

]]> By: cmdweb http://www.writingforward.com/writing-resources-2/writing-resources-elements-of-style/comment-page-1#comment-39594 cmdweb Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:40:52 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=520#comment-39594 I'm in Scotland and had, until entering the internet writing world, never heard of Strunk and White's book. I have heard of Eats, Shoots and Leaves but I don't own a copy. I don't see that the use of guides on writing style is as widespread here in the UK as it is the US, although I certainly could do with the occasional reminder - so now might be the time to invest in a copy. I’m in Scotland and had, until entering the internet writing world, never heard of Strunk and White’s book. I have heard of Eats, Shoots and Leaves but I don’t own a copy. I don’t see that the use of guides on writing style is as widespread here in the UK as it is the US, although I certainly could do with the occasional reminder – so now might be the time to invest in a copy.

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/writing-resources-2/writing-resources-elements-of-style/comment-page-1#comment-36363 Melissa Donovan Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:35:45 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=520#comment-36363 Ah, the difference between a verb and adverb is easy: generally speaking, a verb is a word that modifies an adverb (the same way an adjective modifies a noun). This is fresh in my mind because I recently wrote a post about it: <a href="http://www.writingforward.com/grammar/parts-of-speech/parts-of-speech-adverbs" rel="nofollow">Parts of Speech: Adverbs</a>. I have a copy of <em>Eats, Shoots, and Leaves</em> (love the title!) but didn't get very far because it addresses British English and I'm here in America, where people do not want to see periods and commas outside the quotation marks. In fact, it was because of that book that I learned in England, the terminal punctuation goes outside the quotes. Before that, I always thought folks who wrote that way were simply making typos! Ah, the difference between a verb and adverb is easy: generally speaking, a verb is a word that modifies an adverb (the same way an adjective modifies a noun). This is fresh in my mind because I recently wrote a post about it: Parts of Speech: Adverbs.

I have a copy of Eats, Shoots, and Leaves (love the title!) but didn’t get very far because it addresses British English and I’m here in America, where people do not want to see periods and commas outside the quotation marks. In fact, it was because of that book that I learned in England, the terminal punctuation goes outside the quotes. Before that, I always thought folks who wrote that way were simply making typos!

]]> By: Simon Bishop http://www.writingforward.com/writing-resources-2/writing-resources-elements-of-style/comment-page-1#comment-36012 Simon Bishop Tue, 22 Jun 2010 04:22:01 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=520#comment-36012 Yay! Another two thumbs up from here - my copy's well worn and dog eared. Favourite bit of wisdom is the quote about writing being "nondetachable" - which, if you look at it from every angle you can think of, packs an incredible amount of wisdom and "right-ness" into one word. Although in many ways I hate it, the other book I turn to regularly is Eats Shoots and Leaves - albeit more for editing than writing. (Something to do with being an eighties child - right when grammar had gone out of fashion. I still don't know the difference between a verb and an adverb...) Yay! Another two thumbs up from here – my copy’s well worn and dog eared. Favourite bit of wisdom is the quote about writing being “nondetachable” – which, if you look at it from every angle you can think of, packs an incredible amount of wisdom and “right-ness” into one word.

Although in many ways I hate it, the other book I turn to regularly is Eats Shoots and Leaves – albeit more for editing than writing. (Something to do with being an eighties child – right when grammar had gone out of fashion. I still don’t know the difference between a verb and an adverb…)

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/writing-resources-2/writing-resources-elements-of-style/comment-page-1#comment-35979 Melissa Donovan Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:39:21 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=520#comment-35979 Based on what you've said about your specific challenges with writing clearly and accurately, yes, I think <em>The Elements of Style</em> would be the perfect place to start. You can also check with your school and possibly enroll in a writing class that is designed to help you hone your writing skills (most colleges offer an exam to place you in the proper course). Actually, this is something that probably should have happened before you received your undergraduate degree. In any case, best of luck to you! Based on what you’ve said about your specific challenges with writing clearly and accurately, yes, I think The Elements of Style would be the perfect place to start. You can also check with your school and possibly enroll in a writing class that is designed to help you hone your writing skills (most colleges offer an exam to place you in the proper course). Actually, this is something that probably should have happened before you received your undergraduate degree. In any case, best of luck to you!

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