I know; I know. I’m being persnickety with today’s post. Some may accuse me of being a grammar Nazi. My reply: read this post about why I dislike the term “grammar Nazi.” Now I may continue with my persnicketiness.
grammar
Why Do You Obsess about the Writing Rules?
“Why do you obsess about the writing rules?” The question wasn’t phrased exactly like that, but it was asked of me. I was asked why I’m concerned with the writing rules.
I had to pause before answering. The rules are so innate (even though I don’t and won’t ever know them all) that I can’t recall when I became fascinated with them. I know they weren’t always a part of it; like anyone else, I had to learn the building blocks of sentences. I learned new spelling and vocabulary words, diagrammed sentences, memorized prepositions. Even then I enjoyed the way words sounded and the way they could be put together to form sentences, paragraphs, and stories. Did the rules become a part of my writing life during those years?
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Why I Write about the Writing Rules
While I do have a penchant for the writing rules, my love for them is not the primary reason why I write about them. I write about them because they are a means to an end. More effective writing and better communications are found in knowing the rules.
Why I Dislike the Term “Grammar Nazi”
I am not a fan of the term “grammar Nazi.” I refuse to use it in reference to myself or others. The term may be meant as a jest, but I’m not sure that it is. It smarts just a little too much. Even if it is a jest, it’s not a flattering one. I know I joke about wielding a red pen, but such jokes are meant in good fun. No one gets hurt when I say I wield a red pen. While I am serious about writing better and encouraging others to write better, I’m equally serious about poking fun at my own obsessive-compulsive behavior when it comes to finding the right word or punctuation mark.
Write Right: At Around
Today’s lesson is a practical one. It’s one that marketers and content writers can put into action immediately. It won’t hurt too much, either. All it will involve is choosing one word or the other.
Watch Out for Those Progressive Verbs
It’s always a good idea to let other people, especially editors, review and critique one’s writing. I’m no exception; one of my recent pieces received a good thrashing. Although the thrashing was done in the kindest of ways, it still smarted a little. Some of the points were things I know and try to follow. For instance, I know to use active verbs – they make for stronger writing – but, for some reason, progressive verbs plagued this particular piece. I felt ashamed and vowed to do better in the future.