People have a lot of trouble with the word whose. A short web cruise will turn up numerous examples of the error of writing who’s when the context calls for whose. For example: Do any of you have favorite authors who’s books have become hard to find? People who’s lives are manipulated by others… What … Read more
When it comes to following grammatical rules by example, the field is a minefield, because many publishers and publications can’t even seem to get it right, and writers must resort to hunting down the correct usage in a style guide or a writing handbook. Take, for instance, phrases of several words in which hyphenation seems … Read more
I recently took a trip that encompassed layovers in Great Britain, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. And if you believe that, I’ve got a great deal for you on a bridge in Londinium. The truth is, none of the places I just mentioned exist — not by that name, anyway, or not as political entities. Great Britain … Read more
The preposition with is one of the workhorses of the English language, performing multiple functions, but it’s not a very powerful beast of burden. Writers often put it to work at the wrong task, employing it to link one phrase or another when a stronger word or phrase, or a form of punctuation, is much … Read more
Descriptions of or references to your characters, their belongings, and their immediate surroundings say much about the people. Here are five aspects of personality that deserve some thought as you develop characters before and during the completion of your novel or short story. 1. Appearance Writers are naturally inclined to make their main characters especially … Read more
Em dashes are handy little items for setting phrases apart for special attention, but be cautious when employing them, because when misused, they can obscure rather than assist in comprehension: 1. “For the most part, this water comes from aquifers — that’s groundwater — or from surface waters — that is, rivers and lakes.” When … Read more
One of my mottos is “Mean what you say, and say what you mean.” I try to write by the same standards, but it’s harder than it looks. What appears to be a reasonable sentence often isn’t — and “I understand what the writer meant to write” is a poor excuse for “I understand what … Read more
During the recent Congressional gridlock regarding the federal budget, the word draconian has become a common epithet used to preface the words “budget cuts,” in the way the epithet “powerful” usually precedes “Ways and Means Committee.” How appropriate is the use of draconian to describe budget cuts? It depends. Asking the Pentagon to cut some … Read more
Similes, metaphors, and analogies are turns of phrase that help readers conjure images in a narrative, whether in fiction or nonfiction, but it is in the latter form that they bloom more profusely. And what’s the difference between each of the three literary devices? A simile is a comparison between one thing and another. If … Read more
When referring to an entity — anything from an object to an organization — writers often confuse the name of the thing for the thing itself. Beware of the following types of composition confusion: 1. “GRID, an acronym for Generating Renewable Ideas for Development, offers job training for low-income individuals.” The acronym doesn’t offer job … Read more
Pity the poor semicolon — so often misunderstood, so seldom asked to dance because he is seen as stiff, formal, and pretentious. But he’s such a practical, useful fellow whose talents should be appreciated that I would like to reintroduce him to you. A semicolon has two primary functions, exemplified in two labels attached to … Read more
Now that you’ve decided what your character’s motivation is, it’s time to actually construct the vessel in which this purpose will reside. Just how do you build a person? By creating a life where none existed. Start at the base, and work your way up: 1. Childhood How was the character’s early life? What was … Read more