Kris Spisak's Blog, page 38

Writing Tip 154: “Equally” vs. “Equally As”

Kermit doesn’t like extra words in sentences either.

Words are so much fun sometimes that we often add them in nonsensically, letting them land where they may. Sometimes we stick extra words into sentences where they really have no point. That’s exactly the case when it comes to “equally as.”

Hint: There’s no point to the word “as” next to the word “equally” in most instances. Please clean it up if it spills onto your keyboard.

For example:

The twins were equally tall.
The racing snails were equally fast.
The muppets were equally hilarious. (Strike that sentence; it’s not true. Sorry, Fozzy.)

Do you see how “as” is never needed? Yet writers add this little word in all of the time. Why is that? Where did it start? When will it stop? Here’s a little grammatical instance of how change can start with you.

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Writing Tip #153: “Compose” vs. “Comprise”

Mozart composed the Prague Symphony, and many stones compose this bridge in Prague.

100 writing tips compose my book, Alright? Not All Right. My book comprises 100 writing tips. There’s a subtle difference between these words that is essential in mastering their usage. Are you getting them right?

Ignoring other meanings for a moment, let’s focus on when “compose” means “to come together to form something.” Thus, little pieces come together to make something big. Words compose a page; planets compose the solar system; trees compose a forest.
To comprise means “to contain,” so to use it properly, something big must contain smaller parts. The library comprises books; molecules comprise atoms; the “dead poets society” did not comprise dead poets (or maybe it did have one. Oh, I just got sad… good movie).

I can hear the gears grinding in your brain, and you’re thinking about more than Neil Perry. What about “to be comprised of,” you say?

Maybe you’ve been told to avoid the passive voice, but here’s one case where the passive voice should always be avoided. Never use to phrase “to be comprised of.” Technically, it’s a bit confusing, and it’s commonly considered nonstandard if not completely incorrect. Please stop using it.

Are these compose vs. comprise rules ones you’ve been following? Are they rules you’ve heard before? Whether this is new information or not, it’s time to get it right, folks. (And maybe to rewatch Dead Poets Society. I love that film.)

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Writing Tip #152: Overusing “Then”

There was a chase. And then the good guy jumped over the fence, and then the bad guy saw the gate unlocked and ran through it after her (What? Who says the “good guy” can’t be a girl?). Then he caught up to her and grabbed her arm. Then she unleashed her inner woman warrior she’d tapped into in a recent self-defense class. He gasped and then groaned as he fell to the ground.

You know what’s wrong with this scene? Sure, many things, but one was exaggerated to make a point. We are over-using the word “then,” people!

Is any meaning lost between the sentences “he ran; he jumped” and “he ran; then he jumped”? No sense of timing is missing when the word “then” is cut.

I feel like we sometimes use “then” in our creative writing to up the suspense and pacing of a scene, but really, it makes the lines clunkier and wordier—the exact opposite of our stated goal!

When you are finished with your next writing project, why not utilize that ever handy “find” feature (Ctrl +F) and seek out the word “then.” How many did you write? How many can you cut? How much better will your story be because of it?

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Writing Tip #151: Misleading Quotation Marks

Beware. Coffee is “hot.” (Or is it?)

Quotation marks never create emphasis. They only cause confusion. Are you using yours properly?

It makes me smile every time I see bungled quotation marks on store signage, business marketing materials, or even in personal communications. Please don’t continue this downward trend. If you want to emphasize your language, use bold, italics, an underline, or even surround something with *asterisks* if you must, but do not—I beg you—use quotation marks.

Besides where to put them around other punctuation and when to use single versus double quotes (which we’ve already covered), here’s …

What you need to know about quotation marks:

They surround exact words that someone said or wrote.
They surround a title of a song, poem, or article.
They surround a word that is being defined or discussed.

That’s roughly it.

If you are trying to use quotation marks for emphasis, you will miss. Instead your words will be understood as either sarcastic, ironic, euphemistic, or deceptive. And is that really what you wanted to say about your “free” cupcakes? Really? Suddenly those delicious treats just became a tad sketchy. What do I have to do for those cupcakes, really?

I know this one is a huge pet peeve for a lot of people—including the creator of the “blog of “unnecessary” quotation marks (which you should definitely check out). You may not even realize that what you’re doing is wrong, but moving forward, try to remember. Okay?

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Writing Tip #150: Myself (and the Reflexive Pronouns)

I’m convinced that swans think deep thoughts. Perhaps the usage of the reflexive pronoun is one of them. No? You don’t agree?

We’ve addressed prickly “I” versus “me” usage, but “myself” needs its own moment in the editorial spotlight. Sure, it can be egotistical or dramatic, but it’s time that “myself” is finally understood. Are you with me?

Above all else, remember that “myself” is not interchangeable with “I” or “me.”

The painter and myself didn’t choose our palette (yikes!)
No one went to the library with my friend and myself (no!)

Neither of these sentences is correct. If you’re not sure why, return to that “I” versus “me” refresher. Here’s what you do need to know about this tricky word—and let’s add “yourself,” “himself,” “herself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” “yourselves,” and “themselves” to this conversation too. (These are all reflexive pronouns, but I’ll whisper the grammar jargon so as not to scare you away).

Reflexive Pronouns have two functions:

They either refer to a pronoun that was already used in the sentence (e.g., I see myself in the mirror’s reflection), or
they add dramatic emphasis (e.g., I, myself, have caught this error more times than I can name).

That’s it.

This is one we tend to over-think and over-correct, but we need to take a step back and let “myself” and the other reflexive pronouns be themselves. It’s quite simple really. Got it?

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Writing Tip #149: Myself (and the Reflexive Pronouns)

I’m convinced that swans think deep thoughts. Perhaps the usage of the reflexive pronoun is one of them. No? You don’t agree?

We’ve addressed prickly “I” versus “me” usage, but “myself” needs its own moment in the editorial spotlight. Sure, it can be egotistical or dramatic, but it’s time that “myself” is finally understood. Are you with me?

Above all else, remember that “myself” is not interchangeable with “I” or “me.”

The painter and myself didn’t choose our palette (yikes!)
No one went to the library with my friend and myself (no!)

Neither of these sentences is correct. If you’re not sure why, return to that “I” versus “me” refresher. Here’s what you do need to know about this tricky word—and let’s add “yourself,” “himself,” “herself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” “yourselves,” and “themselves” to this conversation too. (These are all reflexive pronouns, but I’ll whisper the grammar jargon so as not to scare you away).

Reflexive Pronouns have two functions:

They either refer to a pronoun that was already used in the sentence (e.g., I see myself in the mirror’s reflection), or
they add dramatic emphasis (e.g., I, myself, have caught this error more times than I can name).

That’s it.

This is one we tend to over-think and over-correct, but we need to take a step back and let “myself” and the other reflexive pronouns be themselves. It’s quite simple really. Got it?

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Writing Tip #149: Lay vs. Lie (Past Tense Edition)

Does this “lay” vs. “lie” confusion make me want to lie down? Some days.

Perhaps my favorite past writing tip is the one that answers the question “Why Bob Dylan & Snow Patrol Aren’t Grammarians; Why Sophie B. Hawkins & Bon Jovi Are,” and today, we’re going to take that “lay” vs. “lie” conversation a step further. Are you ready for this?

Of course, you recall that one lies down (the subject taking the action) or one could lay down a rug (the direct object having something done to it). Now, what happens if this laying and lying happened yesterday?

Suddenly, Bob Dylan’s “Lay, Lady, Lay” is perfectly grammatical! Nonsensical, perhaps, but indeed grammatical. If Bob Dylan somehow is telling this lady to time travel and attempt the actions of yesterday all over again, this “lay” might work. Confusing? Sure. Am I trying too hard? Maybe. Let me elaborate.

The past tense of “lie” is “lay.” (Leave it to the English language, I know.)
The past tense of “lay” is “laid.”

Thus, right now, that lady can lie down. Yesterday, she could lay down.

Right now, I could lay down my laptop. Yesterday, I laid down my laptop.

Do you see the difference?

To finish the past tense puzzle:

The past participle of “lie” is “lain”—as in, “I have lain on the couch for too long.”
The past participle of “lay” is “laid” (just like the past tense)—as in, “I had laid it out so clearly.”

I hope that clears that up for those of you commenting that I left my first “lay” vs. “lie” post incomplete. Only 145 tips later, problem solved!

Happy writing, everyone!

P.S. – I should also note the inner-grammarian tendencies of One Direction. (These are the things that make me happy)

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Writing Tip 148: Lay vs. Lie (Past Tense Edition)

Does this “lay” vs. “lie” confusion make me want to lie down? Some days.

Perhaps my favorite past writing tip is the one that answers the question “Why Bob Dylan & Snow Patrol Aren’t Grammarians; Why Sophie B. Hawkins & Bon Jovi Are,” and today, we’re going to take that “lay” vs. “lie” conversation a step further. Are you ready for this?

Of course, you recall that one lies down (the subject taking the action) or one could lay down a rug (the direct object having something done to it). Now, what happens if this laying and lying happened yesterday?

Suddenly, Bob Dylan’s “Lay, Lady, Lay” is perfectly grammatical! Nonsensical, perhaps, but indeed grammatical. If Bob Dylan somehow is telling this lady to time travel and attempt the actions of yesterday all over again, this “lay” might work. Confusing? Sure. Am I trying too hard? Maybe. Let me elaborate.

The past tense of “lie” is “lay.” (Leave it to the English language, I know.)
The past tense of “lay” is “laid.”

Thus, right now, that lady can lie down. Yesterday, she could lay down.

Right now, I could lay down my laptop. Yesterday, I laid down my laptop.

Do you see the difference?

To finish the past tense puzzle:

The past participle of “lie” is “lain”—as in, “I have lain on the couch for too long.”
The past participle of “lay” is “laid” (just like the past tense)—as in, “I had laid it out so clearly.”

I hope that clears that up for those of you commenting that I left my first “lay” vs. “lie” post incomplete. Only 145 tips later, problem solved!

Happy writing, everyone!

P.S. – I should also note the inner-grammarian tendencies of One Direction. (These are the things that make me happy)

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Writing Tip #148: “Slight of Hand” vs. “Sleight of Hand”

Maybe you have a love of magic. Maybe you had that uncle who always pulled a coin from your ear. Maybe you always cheat at cards (shame on you). Whatever the case, make sure you’re writing the correct idiom.

Sleight of hand is the correct way to write this phrase. The word “sleight” doesn’t get much use these days, but it means “dexterity” or “cunning.”

If you were writing about “slight of hand,” then that would mean small or feeble hands, but I don’t think that’s what you’re aiming for.

Got it?

 

Writing Tip 147.2: Sleight of hand is also known as “prestidigitation.” Say that ten times fast, I dare you.

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Wednesday Writing Tip #147: “Slight of Hand” vs. “Sleight of Hand”

Maybe you have a love of magic. Maybe you had that uncle who always pulled a coin from your ear. Maybe you always cheat at cards (shame on you). Whatever the case, make sure you’re writing the correct idiom.

Sleight of hand is the correct way to write this phrase. The word “sleight” doesn’t get much use these days, but it means “dexterity” or “cunning.”

If you were writing about “slight of hand,” then that would mean small or feeble hands, but I don’t think that’s what you’re aiming for.

Got it?

 

Writing Tip 147.2: Sleight of hand is also known as “prestidigitation.” Say that ten times fast, I dare you.

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