Comments for The Writing Rag http://writing-rag.com How to write well Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:27:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on More small mistakes by rogersgeorge http://writing-rag.com/975/more-small-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-1492 rogersgeorge Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:27:29 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=975#comment-1492 Um, yes. At least if you are asking why I said "tore" instead of "tearing." The reason is to keep the parallelism. They cut and tore. You wouldn't say they cut and tearing. Um, yes. At least if you are asking why I said “tore” instead of “tearing.” The reason is to keep the parallelism. They cut and tore. You wouldn’t say they cut and tearing.

]]> Comment on More small mistakes by Nellie Dee http://writing-rag.com/975/more-small-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-1491 Nellie Dee Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:44:41 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=975#comment-1491 "They cut the lettuce for the salad instead of tore it." Did you do that on purpose? “They cut the lettuce for the salad instead of tore it.”
Did you do that on purpose?

]]> Comment on Fancy punctuation by Evan Brown http://writing-rag.com/930/fancy-punctuation/comment-page-1/#comment-1476 Evan Brown Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:03:53 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=930#comment-1476 Thanks for the comic shout out! I appreciate it. Keep up the great work on the blog. Thanks for the comic shout out! I appreciate it. Keep up the great work on the blog.

]]> Comment on Three small mistakes by Joanne http://writing-rag.com/901/three-small-mistakes/comment-page-1/#comment-1473 Joanne Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:56:21 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=901#comment-1473 I always thought those introductory phrases like "I just want to say" - in speech, not in writing - served the same purpose as an overture at an opera: signal the audience to shut up so everyone can hear the real message. I agree they are superfluous in writing. I always thought those introductory phrases like “I just want to say” – in speech, not in writing – served the same purpose as an overture at an opera: signal the audience to shut up so everyone can hear the real message. I agree they are superfluous in writing.

]]> Comment on Four-letter words by Robin http://writing-rag.com/826/four-letter-words/comment-page-1/#comment-1471 Robin Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:46:13 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=826#comment-1471 Well said! It's not the use of profanity but the "overuse" that disturbs most of us. Your example of "The King's Speech" was perfect. Here's a really good movie/documentary that takes a look at our most 'profound' profanity: http://www.fourletterfilm.com/ Well said! It’s not the use of profanity but the “overuse” that disturbs most of us. Your example of “The King’s Speech” was perfect.

Here’s a really good movie/documentary that takes a look at our most ‘profound’ profanity:
http://www.fourletterfilm.com/

]]> Comment on Four-letter words by Jim Murray http://writing-rag.com/826/four-letter-words/comment-page-1/#comment-1470 Jim Murray Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:10:38 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=826#comment-1470 Hi, Rogers! As you know, I often read your musings and see the other side. Profanity and obscenity are a good example; I think these are honorable parts of our language, perfectly worthy and acceptable forms of expression. When you want to generate a little shock, nothing does it like an old Saxon classic! That said, an entire treatise laced with them quickly becomes tiresome, and a writer who cannot generate surprise or tension without them isn't much of a writer, in my opinion. (And I'm still chuckling over "Ten Suggestions." Thanks) Hi, Rogers!

As you know, I often read your musings and see the other side. Profanity and obscenity are a good example; I think these are honorable parts of our language, perfectly worthy and acceptable forms of expression. When you want to generate a little shock, nothing does it like an old Saxon classic!

That said, an entire treatise laced with them quickly becomes tiresome, and a writer who cannot generate surprise or tension without them isn’t much of a writer, in my opinion.

(And I’m still chuckling over “Ten Suggestions.” Thanks)

]]> Comment on One resolution by Dick D'Biker http://writing-rag.com/791/one-resolution/comment-page-1/#comment-1468 Dick D'Biker Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:28:51 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=791#comment-1468 Rogers: I do a lot of my writing via iPhone, which has an annoying habit of changing wordson the fly. This often produces thoughts I never had nor attempted to communicate. The machines are winning! Rogers:
I do a lot of my writing via iPhone, which has an annoying habit of changing wordson the fly. This often produces thoughts I never had nor attempted to communicate. The machines are winning!

]]> Comment on The parrot is correct by rogersgeorge http://writing-rag.com/774/the-parrot-is-correct/comment-page-1/#comment-1466 rogersgeorge Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:39:34 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=774#comment-1466 LOL. Sometimes the vernacular is right! Besides, I want to write about <em>something</em>... And yes, it's "for goodness' sake." LOL. Sometimes the vernacular is right! Besides, I want to write about something…

And yes, it’s “for goodness’ sake.”

]]> Comment on The parrot is correct by Barzilai http://writing-rag.com/774/the-parrot-is-correct/comment-page-1/#comment-1465 Barzilai Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:25:51 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=774#comment-1465 It's interesting. though a little incongruous, to read an expert's observations on vernacular usage- it's a comic, for goodness sake. Or would that be for goodness' sake? It’s interesting. though a little incongruous, to read an expert’s observations on vernacular usage- it’s a comic, for goodness sake. Or would that be for goodness’ sake?

]]> Comment on Poem rejected by rogersgeorge http://writing-rag.com/737/poem-rejected/comment-page-1/#comment-1453 rogersgeorge Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:14:17 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=737#comment-1453 You haven't met my kids. They all have perfect marriages. You haven’t met my kids. They all have perfect marriages.

]]> Comment on Poem rejected by Michelle http://writing-rag.com/737/poem-rejected/comment-page-1/#comment-1452 Michelle Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:52:24 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=737#comment-1452 I have never met a couple more perfect for each other besides my own parents. You both are an inspiration to couples out there that true love does exist. May you spend many more wonderful years together. You have a beautiful wife and family! I have never met a couple more perfect for each other besides my own parents. You both are an inspiration to couples out there that true love does exist. May you spend many more wonderful years together. You have a beautiful wife and family!

]]> Comment on Poem rejected by Lorin Walker http://writing-rag.com/737/poem-rejected/comment-page-1/#comment-1451 Lorin Walker Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:00:32 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=737#comment-1451 Wow. Love the treacle! Even more meaningful now that I have met your sweet companion...and you know what was said in Il Postino--poetry does not belong to the one who wrote it, but to the one who needs it...so there may be re-purposing! Wow. Love the treacle! Even more meaningful now that I have met your sweet companion…and you know what was said in Il Postino–poetry does not belong to the one who wrote it, but to the one who needs it…so there may be re-purposing!

]]> Comment on Where do adjectives go? by rogersgeorge http://writing-rag.com/713/where-do-adjectives-go/comment-page-1/#comment-1449 rogersgeorge Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:57:32 +0000 http://writing-rag.com/?p=713#comment-1449 Ulp! You got me! Just fixed it. Thank you. (It's also nice to know that people actually read this humble site, too.) Ulp! You got me! Just fixed it. Thank you. (It’s also nice to know that people actually read this humble site, too.)

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