 Short Stories: October 30, 2024 Issue [#12817] |
This week: Trouble Spots in Writing Edited by: Quilli ☕  
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Let’s eat kids. Let’s eat, kids. Punctuation saves lives!
I try to keep an open mind about everything except grammar and punctuation.
I wish correcting the grammar on public signs wasn’t considered vandalism.
Tense? Moody? Irregular? You must be a verb.
Theiyr’re. Take that, Grammar Police. |
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Troublespots often appear in our writing, whether we recognize them or not. This week, let's discuss a few common troublespots and possible solutions.
 Can a sentence begin with 'and' or 'but'?
Short answer: occasionally, it can be done
Long answer:
Writers sometimes start a sentence with 'and' or 'but', either for stylistic purposes or to close a previous, already-too-long sentence.
Because 'and' and 'but' are conjunctions typically used to join two sentences or independent clauses within a sentence, some people will frown on this. However, as with any other stylistic device, it is wise not to use these words often.
When should 'who', 'which', or 'that' be used?
Short answer: ask yourself if you're writing about a person or a thing
Long answer:
Who, whom, which, and that are relative pronouns. Therefore, your choice of pronoun will depend on three factors:
a. The function of the relative pronoun in its clause
b. Whether the relative pronoun refers to a human or nonhuman antecedent
c. Whether the clause is restrictive or nonrestrictive
Are you thoroughly confused about 'c'? Ok, here are some examples:
The two types of relative clauses, restrictive and nonrestrictive, serve different functions and require different punctuation.
 Restrictive example:
The people who live in the apartment mine make a lot of noise at night.
A restrictive relative clause provides information essential for identifying the antecedent.
Nonrestrictive clause:
The Sullivans, who live in the apartment mine, make a lot of noise at night.
Do you see the differences in these two sentences? Notice the punctuation in the second - the relative clause has been set apart with commas.
When discussing human antecedents, who, whom, or whose should be used.
With nonhuman antecedents, that, which, of which, or whose should be used.
Examples:
Human antecedent:
The teachers who challenge us are the ones we tend to remember.
Nonhuman antecedent:
We stayed in a picturesque town whose name escapes me.
There is so much more we can learn about relative clauses, but that may need a separate newsletter. Also, I'm afraid I've given you a big enough headache for today, lol.
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Comment(s) from my last Short Stories Newsletter, "Words You Can Use!" :
foxtale  wrote:
Svengali - After the 1894 publication of Trilby, the word "svengali" has come to refer to a person who, with evil intent, dominates, manipulates, and controls another.
 Great trivia word! Thanks for sharing.
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