|
|
 |
09-15-2006, 11:03 AM
|
#1
|
Status: Super Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,873
Current Game: Guild Wars 2, VtMB, TOR
|
Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation Resources
machievelli and I talk a lot about spelling, punctuation, and grammar. That's not because we're trying to be mean or snobby. It's because problems with spelling and punctuation make it much harder for people to read and understand your fics. If we have trouble understanding what you're trying to say, we can't enjoy your writing. We want you to make your story the very best you can. So, I thought I'd post some resources for everyone.
How often do I use a dictionary and thesaurus? Every time I sit down to write. The thesaurus in particular gives me alternatives so I don't repeat words. I have both references sitting on my bedside table. I also use some online resources if I'm just not finding what I want in the books I already have. If I don't find something I like at one site, I'll go to another. Sometimes entries are a bit different on the different sites.
Here are some websites for dictionaries and thesauri:
The Merriam Webster Online Dictionary and Thesaurus
Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Roget's Thesaurus Online-Yahoo! Education
The Free Dictionary
PM Hallucination and/or igyman--just kidding!!! 
Quotation sources--while you wouldn't necessarily want to quote Sir Winston Churchill in your fic, you might get some dialogue ideas from famous quotes. I think they're also fun to read, but then again you all know I'm a little weird, so what can I say.
Bartlett's Quotations
Quoteland.com
Creative Quotations
Quotations Home Page
Where do you go to find out about punctuation and grammar? Well, here are some helpful sites:
LEO Write Place Catalogue
Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
Online Writing Lab
11 Rules of Writing
Online English Grammar
A Concise Guide to Grammar and Style
If you've found useful grammar, punctuation, or spelling resources, feel free to post them here.
Last edited by stoffe; 02-05-2007 at 06:14 PM.
|
|
you may:
quote & reply,
|
|
09-15-2006, 12:05 PM
|
#2
|
|
Left and may not return
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,850
|
Good Thread Jae. I admit that some Fics are hard to read with bad grammar etc. I agree with both you and mach. The one Fic I have trouble reading sometimes is connor's. He has a great story, but sometimes his spelling and grammar can put me off. Nonetheless I still read it.
Consider letting connor knowing that in one of his threads. --Jae
Those links look good too.
Last edited by Jae Onasi; 09-16-2006 at 09:55 AM.
|
|
|
you may:
quote & reply,
|
|
09-16-2006, 06:27 AM
|
#3
|
|
Liquidious Fleshbag
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,447
Current Game: SW:TOR
|
actually, Jae, we have Hall for any assistance we may need 
on a more serious note, those links are useful. i could use the theasaurus for any new words i may need. thanks for them, Jae
Duct Tape is ALWAYS the answer
|
|
|
you may:
quote & reply,
|
|
09-16-2006, 10:40 AM
|
#4
|
Status: Super Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,873
Current Game: Guild Wars 2, VtMB, TOR
|
Heh, I changed the dictionary section accordingly.
If you all find any good sites, I'll add the urls to the list above (with credit to whoever finds them) so that everything's in one place and people don't have to search through the thread to find the additional links. Don't go nuts though--I'm not trying to make this an exhaustive list of sites. I just cited some of the most common ones.
If you google 'thesaurus', 'dictionary', and 'quotations', you'll get pages of links to different sites.
RC, I don't know what I'd do without a thesaurus. It is such a tremendous help for creative writing because it provides alternative words that mean very much the same but evoke different feelings or images.
|
|
|
you may:
quote & reply,
|
|
09-16-2006, 12:46 PM
|
#5
|
|
App Off
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: White City
Posts: 3,343
Current Game: The Knife of Dunwall (PC)
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by RC-1162
actually, Jae, we have Hall for any assistance we may need. |
And me.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jae Onasi
PM Hallucination and/or igyman--just kidding!!!
|
Sure, why not? But I doubt our services will be needed after all those dictionary links.
Last edited by igyman; 09-18-2006 at 07:37 AM.
|
|
|
you may:
quote & reply,
|
|
10-23-2006, 05:32 PM
|
#6
|
|
Lurker
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: I don't know, I'm lost...
Posts: 9
|
I can help out too if anyone needs a beta reader, or even just some advice!
May the Force be with Moo. 
\m/(>.<)\m/
|
|
|
you may:
quote & reply,
|
|
06-25-2007, 09:19 AM
|
#8
|
|
Modder
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tatooine
Posts: 1,575
Current Game: KotOR: EotF
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jae Onasi
If you've found useful grammar, punctuation, or spelling resources, feel free to post them here.
|
Well, in that case, I found that SpellCheck.Net is a cool online spelling checker. Whether one needs to see if a single word is spelled correctly or if a body of text (Up to 20,000 characters) is spelled correctly.
|
|
|
you may:
quote & reply,
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Forum Jump
|
|
|
|
|
|
From MST3K's spoof of "Hercules Unchained"--heard as Roman medic soldiers carry off an unconscious Greek Hercules on a 1950's Army green canvas stretcher: "Hi, we're IX-I-I. Did somebody dial IX-I-I?"
