Common Grammatical Errors
Moderators: ISLANDGIRL5, Forum Moderators
Re: Common Grammatical Errors
"Younger than me" is correct in that sentance because "me" is the object of 'than.'
If it was written "younger than I was," then you would use I because I is the subject of the phrase "I was".
If it was written "younger than I was," then you would use I because I is the subject of the phrase "I was".
Re: Re:
If it's dialogue, as you've shown, then you don't always need to use correct grammar unless your characters are all grammar teachers. If your character uses colloquialisms, sentance fragments or other bits of sloppy grammar, then you can write it the way you hear them talking.CandyDreamQueen wrote:Here is an error that my beta always has to correct me on. I often use the word “that” when I should use the word “who”.
For example, I will write: “Max is the guy that saved my life.” Instead of, “Max is the guy who saved my life.”
I believe the rule is that when you’re referring to a person you should use the word “who”, and when you’re referring to an object you should use the word “that”, but my brain always forgets to apply that rule. I’m getting better though. lol
<<<Candice>>>
Re: Common Grammatical Errors
That's true. The flipside to writing grammatically correct dialogue is that it is almost unreadable. Nobody, or very, very few people (and they're mostly not American teenagers), speak without using contractions, slang or imperfect grammar. Sadly people do say 'then' instead of 'than' and 'would of' when they mean 'would have'.If it's dialogue, as you've shown, then you don't always need to use correct grammar unless your characters are all grammar teachers. If your character uses colloquialisms, sentence fragments or other bits of sloppy grammar, then you can write it the way you hear them talking.
- Heavenli24
- Obsessed Roswellian
- Posts: 587
- Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:41 am
Re: Common Grammatical Errors
One misspelling that has been bugging me lately is the use of 'due' to mean 'do' (or vice versa):nibbles2 wrote:Sadly people do say 'then' instead of 'than' and 'would of' when they mean 'would have'.
i.e. "I'll have to make due with it", when it should be "I'll have to make do with it".
or "do to unfortunate circumstances..." instead of "due to unfortunate circumstances...".
I understand that in the US 'due' and 'do' have the same pronunciation ('doo'), but it's weird to read it as a Brit because they have different pronunciations here - 'doo' (do) and 'jew' (due) - and it makes me wonder how the two words could even get mixed up in the first place .
Re: Common Grammatical Errors
Oh! Yes, that makes sense. Thanks! I guess Charlaine thought the "was" was implied. Perhaps this is a case where either usage might be correct.isabelle wrote:"Younger than me" is correct in that sentance because "me" is the object of 'than.'
If it was written "younger than I was," then you would use I because I is the subject of the phrase "I was".
- tequathisy
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 292
- Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2003 8:49 pm
- Location: I'm behind you.
- Contact:
Re: Common Grammatical Errors
I'm not sure if it's a grammatical error, but Isabel's name is spelled with one S, one L and no E at the end.
I. S. A. B. E. L.
no Isabelle or Issabell.
I. S. A. B. E. L.
no Isabelle or Issabell.
- chanks_girl
- Obsessed Roswellian
- Posts: 514
- Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2006 4:49 pm
- Location: with the WHITSTAR
Re: Common Grammatical Errors
tequathisy wrote:I. S. A. B. E. L.
no Isabelle or Issabell.
You're my new hero. I can't say how much I hate whenever her name is spelled wrong.
Speaking of names: did you realize it somehow became a trend to spell MICHAEL as MICHEAL?
If there are areas where the name is spelled with -eal alright. Nevertheless we talk about a character we know his name to spell. I also don't spell Liz as in Lis.
It bugs me.
- tequathisy
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 292
- Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2003 8:49 pm
- Location: I'm behind you.
- Contact:
Re: Common Grammatical Errors
If, like me, you have trouble remembering the correct usage of an apostrophe This might help
- tequathisy
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 292
- Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2003 8:49 pm
- Location: I'm behind you.
- Contact:
Re: Common Grammatical Errors
Ten words you need to stop misspelling.
They should put this poster in every class room in every school.
They should put this poster in every class room in every school.
- jbangelo
- Administrator
- Posts: 758
- Joined: Fri May 07, 2004 2:19 pm
- Location: North Carolina
- Contact:
Re: Common Grammatical Errors
Okay, I kind of want that poster.
“You know you’re right for someone when they force you to be the best version of yourself.”
avatar credit
avatar credit