Comments on: Are You a Word Nerd or a Grammar Rebel?

By: Flip your Self Doubts as a Writer

Flip your Self Doubts as a Writer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:58:11 +0000

[...] are rules, and it often behooves us to follow the rules. But rules can be broken, and sometimes it’s all for the [...]

By: Are You a Word Nerd or a Grammar Rebel? | Drakz Free Online Service

Are You a Word Nerd or a Grammar Rebel? | Drakz Free Online Service — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:36:30 +0000

[...] link: Are You a Word Nerd or a Grammar Rebel? Share and [...]

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:55:13 +0000

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This post was mentioned on Twitter by Writeitsideways: When Is It Okay To Be A Grammar Rebel?(@Writeitsideways) http://bit.ly/ioCzy…

By: Suzannah

Suzannah — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:01:21 +0000

Jessica,

I really like your philosophy of "You have to know the rules before you break them." I completely agree. Breaking rules because you don't know any better is totally different to breaking rules where and when it serves your purpose.

Thanks for contributing!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:18:18 +0000

I'm definitely a Grammar Geek (or Word Nerd as you call it), but was surprised to find that I do break most of the rules listed in the Grammar Rebel section, particularly when I'm trying to write with any kind of voice (my own for my journals or blogs or a characters). Rules that were based on trying to follow structures from romance languages like not splitting infinitives or ending with a preposition are silly. This is English, not Latin!

I do not break the last one, though, about using 'they' as a singular pronoun. In fact, it drives me a little nuts when people do it! However, since English is lacking any kind of singular gender neutral pronoun, I try to be forgiving of others.

Thanks for this great summary. As I tell my fourth graders:
1) You have to know the rules before you break them.
2) It only works if it works.

They always find the second one to be funny, and we read their writing aloud and determine together whether the rule-breaking works or not!

By: Suzannah

Suzannah — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:11:13 +0000

Hi Adam,

Thanks for your kind comments and subscribing here. It's always nice to hear that my articles are helpful to readers. And by all means, please do refer your writer friends! I love getting comments too, so do share your thoughts when you feel compelled. Thank you!

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:53:30 +0000

Well, you didn't gain a new subscriber from the recommendation, but only because i subscribed a few weeks ago after coming here from one of your posts on Larry's blog. I don't comment on many blogs, but i'll make an effort to be a little more vocal here.

Thanks to both of you for giving so much quality information for those of us who decided long after our composition classes that we wanted to write. Blogs like yours have been one of the few affirmative resources i've found, and i appreciate all you do to help those like me.

i don't have many writer friends, but the few i do have will be sent here as well.

By: Suzannah

Suzannah — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:01:06 +0000

Hey Larry,
Thank you so much for recommending this article and my blog to one of your readers. I still can't believe how well-received my articles on grammar seem to be. I guess there are a lot of us word-lovers out there. You can self-serve here anytime–it's great to have you as part of the discussion