Gooder writing tip #11 (supplement)

Some instances when the passive voice is *gasp* preferred:
When the object is what's important, and the actor (subject) is not important or is unknown, as in scientific text or police reports.

Examples.
Juvenile dispersal is seen in black-capped chickadees.

That juvenile dispersal occurs among black-capped chickadees is what's important. If I write, "The ornithologist witnessed juvenile dispersal in the chickadee population," I've made the ornithologist the topic, which I did not intend.

The victim was stabbed three times in the leg.

The victim having been stabbed is the important information in this sentence. Especially because the stabber is unknown, it is best to write the sentence passively. This sentence is better than writing, "Somebody stabbed the victim three times," because, as with the ornithologist, I've placed the attention on "somebody," and this is not the sentence's focus. Later, when the stabber is discovered, feel free to give him or her credit for the acccomplishment. "Jerkhead McAhole stabbed the victim three times in the leg."

Gooder writing tip #10

The correct use of only

I spend a lot of time during my workday moving the word "only" to the correct spot. "Only" is a modifier; it modifies the word that follows it. Here is my advice: when you write the word "only," take a second to read the word after it. Is it the word you want modified? I bet it's not. This is one of the most common mistakes I find.

Let's analyze.

1. I only love Hugh Jackman.
2. I love only Hugh Jackman.

1. Only love = I've belittled love! I only love Hugh, nothing more.
2. Only Hugh = Ah, this is what the writer meant. His or her love belongs solely to Hugh. (I am not the writer, of course; I love only my husband.)

The correct use of "only" is easy to achieve. It takes only awareness and a few seconds of thought. For this previous sentence most people would have written "It only takes awareness...." Luckily, the intended meaning would have still been clear, but why not just write it correctly to begin with?

For all of you future copy editors: Exceptions can be made with dialogue. Since the incorrect use often sounds more natural, it's okay to let a character use "only" incorrectly. Dialogue allows for many exceptions since it is a character speaking, not the author, so it is the character using incorrect grammar. Sometimes the incorrect grammar is intentional, and it's best to assume this (and this assumption will benefit your relationship with your author). If the character's grammar error glaringly changes the intended meaning, ask the author before you change it. You're welcome.

Gooder writing tip #9

Punctuation and quotation marks

First tip: When in doubt, put the punctuation INSIDE the quotation marks. Inside is where those oft-used periods and commas go. Not-so-oft-used semicolons and colons go outside. Question marks and exclamation points go inside or out depending on context; with these buggers you’re going to have to make a decision—but don’t worry, I’m here to help.

Examples

Correct: The book editor said, “Johnny Depp is attractive.”
Incorrect: The book editor said, “Johnny Depp is unattractive”.

Correct: Johnny Depp has been described as “smart, funny, and handsome”; “dark and mysterious”; and “hot.”
Incorrect: Johnny Depp has been described as “dumb, dull, and ugly;” “light and fluffy;” and “fugly”.


Now onto question marks and exclamation points. These depend on whether they belong with the quoted material. Inside if the quote is a question or exclamation, outside if not.

Examples

When I asked her if I could have her Captain Jack Sparrow poster she said, “No you can’t!”
Why would she say “no you can’t”?
She asked me, “why would you want to take him away from me?”
She looked at me as if I’d said “give me your first born”!

Tell all of your friends. You're welcome.

Gooder writing tip #7.

Topic: ie versus ei.
Say it with me: i before e except after c.
Very good.

"Then what about neighbor? And weigh? And freight?"

Well, smartass, I'm not finished yet.
This rule applies to the words in which ie or ei makes the "ee" sound, as in "feet."
Receive.
Conceive.

Now for the real exceptions:
Weird, protein, leisure, seizure, either, codeine, sheik, weir.

I'm sure others exist, but these are enough to know to make you the hit of every party you attend. No need to thank me.

Gooder writing tip #6.

Okay. This one is starting to drive me a little bananas.
Bee eh en eh en eh ess.
(Sorry--couldn't help myself.)
(Actually, I could help myself and just didn't want to.)

Topic: single quotation mark versus double quotation mark.

When quoting, or putting a word in quotes, always use DOUBLE quotation marks.

Only when the quote is within a quote is the single quotation mark okay (unless the quote is an extract, which is not enclosed in quotes to begin with; a quote within an extract also gets double quotation marks).

Or a single quotation mark is correct if you are talking about a cultivar.
You write: She told me it was the 'truth.'
You're saying: truth is an organism of an agricultural or horticulural variety originating and persistent under cultivation. And if this is the case, truth should be capitalized.
'Truth.' Cultivar of champions.

Maybe if we change keyboards so that the "shift" keys make the quotation mark single, then the problem may not be as bad. And it may stop the disgusting overuse of misplaced apostrophes. (Yes--the Oakland Athletics jerseys should read "As." They should have thought of that before they abbreviated their name. Now they have to go out every game with a fragment on their shirts. I don't know how they live with the shame.)

The lesson: Use double quotation marks. Your odds are far better.

Gooder writing tip #5.

Topic: who versus that.

WHO is for people.
THAT is for not people.

Hugh Jackman is the actor that plays Wolverine. NO.
Hugh Jackman is the actor who plays Woverine. YES.
Hugh Jackman. Yes.

Gooder writing tip #4.

Today’s lesson: The addition of the unnecessary s.

This usually occurs in words that end in –ward.

outwards
inwards
towards
backwards

I see the s and I delete it.
By Webster’s it’s offered as an acceptable variant only when used as an adverb. But since it’s a variant, meaning it deviates from the standard (read: correct), its use is discouraged. It just makes you look like you were too lazy to look up/care to use the correct spelling. Save your deviation for more important issues.

And please, please do not say "somewheres."

And, while we're at it, don't say:
sept for except
exscape for escape (but I forgive you Jimmy Wayne)
prolly for probably
gay for anything other than happy or homosexual

Amen.

Gooder writing tip #3.

Today's lesson: each other vs. one another.

Each other is used when referring to only two people.
One another is used when referring to more than two people.

Two's a party. Three's a bigger party. Amen.

Gooder writing tip #2.

Today's lesson: Phrasal adjectives and hyphens

Fancy words: Phrasal adjectives are also known as compound modifiers.

What I'm talking about:
Sometimes two words appear before a noun that describe the noun, a two-word adjective. To avoid confusion often a hyphen needs to be added to these two words to signify that together they make up the adjective. Most of the time little confusion exists, but sometimes it does.

For example:
Crazy cat lady vs. Crazy-cat lady. The first tells the reader that the cat lady is crazy; the second says that she is a lady who likes crazy cats.

Nasty looking glass vs. nasty-looking glass. The first tells the reader that the mirror is nasty; the second says that the glass looks nasty.

Fast moving van vs. fast-moving van. The first tells the reader that the moving van is fast; the second says that a van is moving fast.

Fancy pants store vs. fancy-pants store. The first tells the reader that the pants store is fancy; the second says that the store sells fancy pants.

Exceptions to this rule are proper nouns and verbs ending in "ly."

Proper nouns
I like Cyber Cafe coffee.
I like Hugh Jackman movies.
These do not need hyphens. Ambiguity is basically nonexistent.

Verbs ending in "ly"
Fiscally-conservative Republican = wrong. (The hyphen, not the person).
The "ly" already modified the "fiscal," so no need for a hyphen. It's redundant, such as saying it was 2:00 a.m. in the morning. (Bleeding-heart liberal needs the hyphen.) And ambiguity is once again unlikely.

Correct: Exceptionally beautiful wife

If you think of a good phrasal adjective whose lack of a hyphen would be detrimental, please leave a comment and share! I mean, really, can you think of anything more exciting to do with your time?

Hyphens are important. Amen.

Gooder writing tip #1.

While responding to an author's query this afternoon regarding the correct use of "which" and "that," I thought the following thoughts:

Hey! Maybe others are wondering the same thing!
Hey! Maybe I should share this kind of information with these others!

Thus begins my series of writing tips. Solicited or not.

Today's lesson: Which vs. That.

Easiest indication: which usually follows a comma; that doesn't.

Which most often refers to the subject brought up in the first part of the sentence.
For example: I like coffee, which I get at Starbucks.
This sentence says that I like coffee in general, and I get it at Starbucks.

Now, if I liked ONLY Starbucks coffee, I would use that.
For example: I like coffee that I get at Starbucks.
This sentence allows me to like no other coffee besides Starbucks.

Fancy talk: that is a restrictive clause; which is an unrestrictive clause.

More examples:
I like Johnny Depp movies that are good.
True, but this allows me to like only his good movies.

I like Johnny Depp movies, which are good.
More true. I like Johnny Depp movies of all grades. Johnny Depp is in the movie, then it is good.

Word choice is important. Amen.