Status Updates From Sin and Syntax: How to Craf...

This book offers an excellent review of grmmar, but it packs such a large amount of information in its pages that I’m re-reading it, taking my time, and doing all the exercises. Slowly.

I'm in love. Most fun grammar book since Eats, Shoots and Leaves. 😃😃😃

It's not just sound that gives a word beauty. It's also precision. (p. 5)

Great examples and engaging writing style

I may be officially calling it. This book is from 2001, and I have come across too much crap advise. It's reads rather outdated and with such staunch adherence to archaic rules that should be done away with.

Okay, since I've had to take a step back now, perhaps I should set this aside for a bit, until I've finished some others...

Also, while reading Bill's Bryson's "The Mother Tongue," I can't help thinking that it feels like this author has such a vise around the English language. Loosen it up a little! English is constantly changing and moving-- ease up on the "slapping together of prefixes on prefixes, suffixes on suffixes." Sometimes, inventing new words is just fun. Just breathe, relax. It'll all be okay in the end.

This is my "911 book" I have on my kindle. Each time I pick it up, I want to puke a little. Some examples provided are great, don't get me wrong--but I can't help but to feel like this book is oozing pretention.

This is pretty fun tbh

"Ironing cows is, after all, a rare skill." #ItMakesSenseInContext

Very witty and informative; a good style guide so far.

In search of neat ways to help the kiddos understand the impact of syntax.

(note to self: "impact of syntax" kinda flows!)

love love loving this book - a writer on writing that brings wit & charm along with her black belt prowess!

Thus ends the text

One book down. Three to go.

This is a far better book than I thought it would be. I think I'll refer to this when I want to draw attention to my sentences and examine my prose more carefully. Some of the examples are interesting, and the fact she analyzes each part of a sentence is quite helpful.

I'm *loving* this book. The examples given, since they come not from classics but from The New Yorker and other modern magazines, as well as politicians' speeches and news articles, truly exemplify the current trends in language. Ms. Hale does an awesome job of explaining the basics (and not-so-basics) of grammar in a fluid way that's easy to remember--and put into use. Great stuff.

I, for one, love the music of voice in fiction. Reading across genres, like listening to different types of music broadens our world. I so agree with the sentiments in this chapter which sums up with: "...we urgently long for writing that is original, passionate and personal. We search for writers whose voices are distinct and recognizable. We celebrate prose that is musical..." Well said. On to Voice...

I like the turn of phrase. "When you want to bolt the clauses together without the softening influence of a conjunction, use a bracing piece of punctuation..."

"If sentences are streams of thought, phrases and clauses are the creeks and underground springs that feed them." Thus, begins the discussion on phrases and clauses. Some good pointers and refreshers. Some amusing examples. On to Sentence Variety next.

Complicated. Purple prose doesn't just exist in sex scenes. Who knew? It really does pay to get out and read large and wide. :-) Next up Phrases and Clauses...

Subject and predicate and agreement. Simplification. "Every sentence is a mini-narrative." Diagramming makes me shudder. In the end, agreement and simplification. And thus on to simple sentences next.

On sentences. "Sentences should be as varied as our objects of desire--sometimes we want them brawny, sometimes we want them brainy, sometimes silken, sometimes brutal. We don't want them to stay the same, day after day." And. "Tame savage sentences, combing through them until every hair is in place. Then muss them up and see how you like the look." Works for me. :)

Well, geez, what more is there to say about interjections... On to sentences...

Think conjunction junction. "Keep command of your tone," is something to consider, but in fictional dialogue to convey character I might want to create a more stilted professorial tone, or intentionally interject bad grammar. Thus, taking the "sins" of these parts of speech and using them in dialogue is something to consider. Food for thought anyway. On to Interjections...

Some clarification on prepositions provided in a colorful way. "Anytime you can replace a cluster of words with one elegant one, do it." Guilty, and I'll do my set of Hail Mary's or maybe an Act of Contrition, and hope to sin no more on this front. Dream on... "Scour your writing for prepositional barnacles worthy only of being scraped away, and replace them with simpler words." See? Colorful. Good examples...

I have sinned. Misplacing adverbs. I'm guilty. I love words as well as story. But understanding the structure and purpose of each word is important. "Don't be kind of bold. Be bold." Some very good pointers in this chapter. I like the way the author conveys her ideas. In the end, confidence comes through understanding. Whatever it takes to make that happen. Marching forward into the realm of prepositions next...

Love the opening sentence to this chapter on adjectives. "Adjectives are consorts, never attending a party alone, preferring to hook themselves on the arm of a sturdy noun." Many good reminders, presented a little differently. Might even stick with me. Good reminders on descriptives to avoid. I made note... Try harder, I advise my Muse... "Alchemy of adjectives." I like that.

Verbs. Revisit. "The pros make strong nouns and dynamic verbs the heart of their style; verbs make their prose quiver..." Active voice, dynamic verbs. "...active voice is strong, direct, muscular..." Verbs descending from nouns. I just rewrote that. "...because a verb descends from a legitimate noun does not give it a proper pedigree." Hmm. "...flat-footed ideas, not fleet-footed actions..." On to adverbs.

Interesting and informative!! Just plain fun to read.