I SOLD MY FIRST BOOK ON AMAZON!
JUNE 2009
AROUND THE WORLD & 80 CONVERSATIONS
JUNE 2009
AROUND THE WORLD & 80 CONVERSATIONS
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Grammar: Pronouns & Antecedents
Pronouns are a handy way to keep from repeating nouns too much. Consider the following:
* When Big Dog snuck under the fence, Big Dog ran to the dumpster.
* When Big Dog snuck under the fence, he ran to the dumpster.
Clearly the second sentence sounds better.
A pronoun renames (takes the place of) a noun that comes before it.
An antecedent is what we call the noun that comes before the pronoun.
Two examples should be enough:
1. I get worried when the neighbors let their dog out.
2. The dog goes wild, and he always messes up my front yard.
In number 1, neighbors is the antecedent; their is the pronoun. They agree because both are plural. In number 2, dog is the antecedent, and he is the pronoun. They agree since both are singular. If you are having problems with pronoun-antecedent agreement, underline all your pronouns; then, locate the antecedent for each. Make sure that both are the same in number. That's all you have to do.
A common stylistic problem in writing, often leading to ambiguity, is the use of a pronoun for which the antecedent is not clear, as in the following example:
* I met John at Mike's party. He told me about his new friend.
Did John tell the speaker about his own new friend? Did John tell the speaker about Mike's new friend? Did Mike tell the speaker about his own new friend? Or did Mike tell the speaker about John's new friend? Generally most competent speakers would agree that "he" refers to "John."
Another issue is the use of a pronoun and anaphor which differ in number, for example "Everyone had their own sleeping bag." The words everyone and everybody are singular, meaning every "one" and every "body". Thus neither of those words should be used with the plural anaphor "their." "Each student" is singular, but requires the use of the gender-inclusive "his or her" which is often seen as awkward. The sentence "Each camper had his or her own sleeping bag" is thus correct but inelegant. This is a question of writing style rather than grammar when analyzed to this point. The sentence "All the campers had their sleeping bags" is clearer.
You can find my sources here and here and here
* When Big Dog snuck under the fence, Big Dog ran to the dumpster.
* When Big Dog snuck under the fence, he ran to the dumpster.
Clearly the second sentence sounds better.
A pronoun renames (takes the place of) a noun that comes before it.
An antecedent is what we call the noun that comes before the pronoun.
Two examples should be enough:
1. I get worried when the neighbors let their dog out.
2. The dog goes wild, and he always messes up my front yard.
In number 1, neighbors is the antecedent; their is the pronoun. They agree because both are plural. In number 2, dog is the antecedent, and he is the pronoun. They agree since both are singular. If you are having problems with pronoun-antecedent agreement, underline all your pronouns; then, locate the antecedent for each. Make sure that both are the same in number. That's all you have to do.
A common stylistic problem in writing, often leading to ambiguity, is the use of a pronoun for which the antecedent is not clear, as in the following example:
* I met John at Mike's party. He told me about his new friend.
Did John tell the speaker about his own new friend? Did John tell the speaker about Mike's new friend? Did Mike tell the speaker about his own new friend? Or did Mike tell the speaker about John's new friend? Generally most competent speakers would agree that "he" refers to "John."
Another issue is the use of a pronoun and anaphor which differ in number, for example "Everyone had their own sleeping bag." The words everyone and everybody are singular, meaning every "one" and every "body". Thus neither of those words should be used with the plural anaphor "their." "Each student" is singular, but requires the use of the gender-inclusive "his or her" which is often seen as awkward. The sentence "Each camper had his or her own sleeping bag" is thus correct but inelegant. This is a question of writing style rather than grammar when analyzed to this point. The sentence "All the campers had their sleeping bags" is clearer.
You can find my sources here and here and here
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Grammar: Possessive Nouns
Some Rules:
If two people own one thing, use an apostrophe for the second person only.
Ex. Ann and Rick's car (they own one car)
If two people don't own one thing, use an apostrophe for both.
Ex. Ann's and Rick's toes (they each have their own toes)
*Now, if a plural ends in s (boys) just add an apostrophe. Ex. The boys' jackets
*If the plural does not end in s (women, children) add an apostrophe and an s. Ex. The children's toys
If two people own one thing, use an apostrophe for the second person only.
Ex. Ann and Rick's car (they own one car)
If two people don't own one thing, use an apostrophe for both.
Ex. Ann's and Rick's toes (they each have their own toes)
*Now, if a plural ends in s (boys) just add an apostrophe. Ex. The boys' jackets
*If the plural does not end in s (women, children) add an apostrophe and an s. Ex. The children's toys
Here's a cheatsheet:
The girl's coat= one girl, one coat
The girls' coat= two (or more) girls sharing the same coat
The girls' coats = two (or more) girls with different coats
The girl's coat= one girl, one coat
The girls' coat= two (or more) girls sharing the same coat
The girls' coats = two (or more) girls with different coats
Monday, 6 July 2009
Grammar: Nouns and When to Capitalize Them
I have started a series of grammar blogs. It will discuss the basics. I need the basics.
Rules:
1) Names of specific people: Ann, the Altman family, Roger
2) Days of the week, months, and holidays
3) Ranks and titles used with particular person's name: Doctor Handslip, Auntie Social, General Lee
4) Geographic Areas: Mexico, Ohio River, Pacific Ocean
5) Regions: North, Midwest
6) Historical Periods: World War II, Civil War
7) Religions, Nationalities, Races, Languages: Christians, Asians, English, German measles
8) School courses: Algebra 101, History of Rome
9) Names of schools, businesses, organizations, brand names, clubs and their members
10) Planets
11) Letters that stand alone: T-shirt or X-ray
12) Titles of movies, books, articles
1) You capitalize "Dad" and "Mom" when you call them but not when you say, "my dad"
2) You don't capitalize the seasons
3) You capitalize North when you are referring to a region but not when you are giving directions.
4) Do not capitalize the sun or moon. Do not capitalize the word earth unless you are referring to it as a planet.
5) In title names, do not capitalize "a, an, the, and, but, in, of, with, etc." unless they are
First Lesson: Nouns and When to Capitalize Them
Rules:
Capitalize:
1) Names of specific people: Ann, the Altman family, Roger
2) Days of the week, months, and holidays
3) Ranks and titles used with particular person's name: Doctor Handslip, Auntie Social, General Lee
4) Geographic Areas: Mexico, Ohio River, Pacific Ocean
5) Regions: North, Midwest
6) Historical Periods: World War II, Civil War
7) Religions, Nationalities, Races, Languages: Christians, Asians, English, German measles
8) School courses: Algebra 101, History of Rome
9) Names of schools, businesses, organizations, brand names, clubs and their members
10) Planets
11) Letters that stand alone: T-shirt or X-ray
12) Titles of movies, books, articles
When do you not capitalize?
1) You capitalize "Dad" and "Mom" when you call them but not when you say, "my dad"
2) You don't capitalize the seasons
3) You capitalize North when you are referring to a region but not when you are giving directions.
4) Do not capitalize the sun or moon. Do not capitalize the word earth unless you are referring to it as a planet.
5) In title names, do not capitalize "a, an, the, and, but, in, of, with, etc." unless they are
a) the beginning word or
b) they are part of the verb: Hold Up
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Poem: Three Hours
If I had three hours to live
I would make sure I was good
with two:
my son and God.
If I had three weeks to live
I'd record a video message for my family and friends,
I'd forget house-cleaning, laundry and debt,
I'd hug my son a lot and stop to smell the roses,
And I would make sure I was good
with two:
my son and God.
If I had three months to live
I'd quit my day job and finish that book,
I'd travel to England and cry a lot,
I'd eat what I wanted and die obese,
And I would make sure I was good
with two:
my son and God.
If I had three years to live
I'd work part-time
and do something meaningful with my remaining years,
I'd let the dirt build up in the corners,
I'd take out credit to travel the world,
But before I die I would make sure I was good
with two:
my son and God.
If I had forever
I'd sleep the first year.
What else?
Let me get back to you later,
how does a thousand years sound?
If I just didn't know how long I had,
I'd probably continue to work at my job
even though I hate it.
I'd tirelessly clean my house
and fret over what people thought
even though they drove me nuts.
Why write today what you can write tomorrow?
I wouldn't stop and smell the roses or water them.
They'd die and I'd buy another pot.
I'd never get to England.
And I'd probably forget to tell my son that I loved him
and felt so proud of him.
I'd forget to make sure I was good
with two:
my son and God.
Again.
Poem by Ann Elle Altman
Poem: The Theory of Monet
I love art
That comes in all forms.
I could draw a decent stick man
Since the time I was born... five... twenty. (Hell, I still can't draw one.)
Anyway...
Because of my expertise
I really must say...
What the hell were people thinking...
Praising Monet?
I have seen his self portrait,
His cap and large ties,
But, I think something was missing
In front of his eyes...
I can see how it went
A day long, long ago...
Claude decided to paint
At the river that flowed...
He sat down on the bank
laid out things he had brought,
I forgot them again,
is what ran through his thoughts.
Back at home his father
Watches as time passes,
Why would Claude go paint
without taking his glasses?
He leaves the house
in such a hurry.
No wonder he comes home
with his paintings so blurry.
Claude, no one will buy it,
What will you do now?
I have been thinking father,
And I think I know how.
Marketing dad,
it will be a great hit!
An impressionist work
is what I'll call it!
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