In previous posts, I addressed random capitalization and the incorrect use of a possessive apostrophe to denote a plural. I enjoyed the fun reaction I got from readers, so here I go again with the grammar thing.
I spend a lot of time checking out various online forums for writers, especially those for aspiring or independently published authors, and sometimes I scan the websites of those who regularly contribute to the discussions. I like to see what people are talking about with regard to writing, publishing, and marketing their books, and I'm always looking for a good read!
Unfortunately, however, I'm regularly disappointed by the number of grammatical errors I see.
If your writing is sloppy in these very public arenas, it makes me think that your writing is also sloppy in your book. As a result, I don't want to read your book, and you've lost a possible sale. Here are some other common grammar issues/errors that drive me nuts:
- To vs. too
- Their vs. there vs. they're
- You're vs. your
- It's vs. its
- I.e. vs. e.g. (i.e. means "that is," and e.g. means "for example")
- Hyphens after adverbs (e.g. "highly-motivated" is incorrect)
- We're vs. were
- Who vs. that vs. which
- Affect vs. effect
- Periods outside quotations marks (e.g. "I like you". is incorrect)
You may be surprised at my list because the usages are quite basic, but I see these errors a lot. I mean a LOT. It may be nothing more than simple carelessness on the writer's part, but if I don't know that writer, I think otherwise. I think, "This person doesn't know how to write." And in a digital world where you can reach thousands of people with a single post, and where you're competing with millions of other writers to grab the attention of readers, it's important to make the right impression every time you put something out into cyberspace.
-Maria
Maria Murnane writes romantic comedies and provides consulting services on book publishing and marketing. Learn more at www.mariamurnane.com.
This blog post originally appeared on CreateSpace.com. Reprinted with permission. © 2012 CreateSpace, a DBA of On-Demand Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.
I have to join in with this one. All of yours, Maria, plus "would of", "should of", "alot" and "ahold" are pet peeves of mine. The first two obviously come from the way some people pronounce the contractions, but the other two? He does that a lot, not alot; and I tried to get hold of him, not ahold.
Not trusting "Word" as your grammar checker would be a good place for some to start. Although forgetting to turn it off, the supposed *grammar corrections* can bring some giggles.
I'm a Brit, therefore double quotes for quotes, single quotes for speech :)
The examples you've listed are some of my pet peeves too and I'm sure there are people who claim to be writers but don't know the difference between due and do. I honestly think though that most writers know the difference and their books reflect that.
It's extremely easy when you write something in a hurry - a comment on someone's blog or an email - to make some of those mistakes, even when you know better. The trick is to slow down and proofread everything.
@Kiersi, touche! Ha ha I just fixed that. :)
I meant typos, not errors...though they are errors too. I just perfer to call it a typo if I know the difference of what made 'it' an error.
haha... Kiersi, and great post(s) Mapia. I think about (too) these errors which I catch in simple three sentence emails, where I'm typing fast...even in a post where I am commenting like now, and imagine what happens when shelling out something like 70,000+ words. This is all I ever want out of a proofreader. Please...please I snivel, just look for, and find, these 'common' errors. I 'dunno', maybe the story was too grapling to catch them:-(
When quoting, use a comma before the quote, e.g. in your post the text should read, "I think, 'This person doesn't know how to write.'"
(Hahaha, sorry Maria, I had to hassle you for that because it's a post about grammar.)
The one that drives me bananas is "lose" vs. "loose." If you're giving fashion advice, it's "lose that scarf," not "loose that scarf." How did that one become so commonplace? I've never been able to figure it out.