Wonderful post on why 'was' is not a crime.
I occasionally also froth at the mouth about this subject, and have crossed one publisher off my list of 'people I will ever work with again' because they tried to take my wases away. But I have been too lazy/ill informed to ever write a proper post about why using the verb 'to be' does not constitute passive voice, why you can't just take it away without deforming the language – and why passive voice isn't always such a terrible thing anyway.
Fortunately for my laziness, Patricia C Wrede has written her own post about it, and it is wonderful. Have a look at this:
Misunderstanding grammar
~
On other news, I am having a bad winter this year, despite the lightbox and the vitamin D. I just got the SAD sorted out when my hormones decided to pack it in. I'm still managing to do my 1000 words a day on The Pilgrims Tale, but I went to the doctor today to talk about HRT and this conversation sums up my current level of enthusiasm for life.
Dr: Are you enjoying anything in your life at the moment?
Me: No.
Dr: I see you're a writer. Are you enjoying that?
Me: No.
(OTOneH, did he really have to ask the same question twice? The first answer clearly implies the second. OTOH, I may not be the easiest of patients to squeeze useful information from.)
Which is a way of saying that I may be blogging less frequently, or less lengthily for a while. If I'm going to make a point of carrying on doggedly with something I'm not enjoying, it's going to be the writing rather than the talking. (Even if the talking is done via text.)
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I'm sending you now a huge load of positive vibes, just catch it !!!"Misunderstanding grammar" WAS very interesting and instructive to read, English is not my language and I'm always happy to learn more about it .... Chin up !
Richard wrote: ":-{Sad to hear this. Take care of yourself first, and please goddesses let spring spring soon."
Spring soon, yes please! How can these three months of the year be longer than the other nine put together? But they are.
Blacktulip wrote: "I'm sending you now a huge load of positive vibes, just catch it !!!"Misunderstanding grammar" WAS very interesting and instructive to read, English is not my language and I'm always happy to lea..."
*g* Thank you! I think your positive vibes just made the sun come out in my garden, so ~result~ :)
English prides itself on being illogical and having more exceptions than rules in its grammar. Most people like it like that, but there are always those who think it needs to be tidied and simplified. I'm of the opinion that the more richness and variety there is in the language, the better, so I don't really understand the drive to streamline it.
Sending very best wishes and good vibes your way!
Amy wrote: "Sending very best wishes and good vibes your way!"Thank you! I'm off back to the doctor's on Monday (he's not confident of his diagnosis and wants me back in incase he got it all wrong.) Hopefully by Monday afternoon *something* will be sorted out in order to make an improvement.
Alex wrote: "I'm of the opinion that the more richness and variety there is in the language, the better, so I don't really understand the drive to streamline it. "You, in your basic optimism and goodwill towards humankind (which traits I do not share), overlook the impetus of most human behavior: Control. Streamlining the language is the impulse to control expression and thus channel communication into paths that are agreeable to the controllers.
I hate, loathe, despise, abominate, detest, and otherwise do not much like rap. I'd never try to shut it off, control it, censor it, or remove it from the earth (despite my intense desire that it go away) because it's a form of expression that pushes boundaries and causes controversy, therefore ignites conversation.
Whether I like it or not, anything that makes people mad (including me) is a net good thing. Control is bad for art and for thought and for freedom.
Not that you asked. You can have your thread back now, sorry.
Richard,Like you I reject any form of control and censorship and I like diversity in everything and above all freedom of expression. I hate meanness and narrowness of mind.
Have a nice day !
Blacktulip wrote: "I hate meanness and narrowness of mind. Have a nice day !"
I'd say part one of that sentence makes part two very unlikely, but I'll give it my best shot.
Richard wrote: "Blacktulip wrote: "I hate meanness and narrowness of mind. Have a nice day !"
I'd say part one of that sentence makes part two very unlikely, but I'll give it my best shot."
You're caustic like my hubby and I like that !!!
Richard wrote: You, in your basic optimism and and goodwill towards humankind (which traits I do not share), overlook the impetus of most human behavior: Control."
LOL! I'm not sure about the optimism, alas, but you're probably right about the control issues. I don't actually understand that, because like you, I hate being controlled and I am enough of a follower of 'do as you would be done by' to believe that means I should therefore not try to control anyone else. (Not that I particularly have any desire to control anyone else so long as they aren't bothering me.
Live and let live. And after all, some people like rap (I'm another who doesn't) and why should they be forced to give up what they enjoy, just because I don't like it? (As long as they're not playing it loud outside my window at 4am.)
As far as art goes, I think art needs control - but it needs the control to come from the artist, not from outside.
Alex wrote: "As far as art goes, I think art needs control - but it needs the control to come from the artist, not from outside."Exactly and precisely the point! Now that we've solved all the world's problems, let's go have a pint.
Richard wrote: Now that we've solved all the world's problems, let's go have a pint. What a great idea. It's a deal :)
Hang in there, Alex. Maybe buy yourself a couple of those potted tulip or other spring flower thingies. They're cropping up at the grocery store around here. Put them on your writing desk.*hugs*
Jennifer wrote: "Hang in there, Alex. Maybe buy yourself a couple of those potted tulip or other spring flower thingies. They're cropping up at the grocery store around here. Put them on your writing desk.*hugs*"
Thanks Jennifer! That's a lovely idea, I wonder if there are any daffodils out yet. A bunch of yellow daffodils is very cheery, as Wordsworth can confirm ;) I'll check that out tomorrow. *Hugs back*.
I know it works for me. That, and seed-catalogue-porn ;pPlaaaaaaaaaaantssssss...
Jennifer wrote: "I know it works for me. That, and seed-catalogue-porn ;pPlaaaaaaaaaaantssssss..."
*g* I think for me that would be penny-whistle catalogues. There is a new type I've been coveting... :)
Oo. Musical instruments are good, too.
Sad to hear this. Take care of yourself first, and please goddesses let spring spring soon.