Treatise on Grammar
Moderators: saskia, Maeve, Meridiuz, Syra
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Guest
Treatise on Grammar
Articles in this treatise are designed to provide information regarding the technical aspects of the English language. Some of this treatise directly deals with writing in Tazlure, but some of it is also for general use. In a community that uses a common language, it is vital that everyone uses the language correctly so there is no miscommunication. The very building blocks of creative writing are technical writing. Although you will break the rules for fiction, you must be able to back up why you did so. Writers are artists of words and without the right tools, the work cannot be understood.
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Guest
A Question of Style
A Question of Style
article written by Maeve
Tazlure is in fact nothing more and nothing less than creative writing in the English language. While you do not have to be a native speaker a player and especially a moderator should have a firm grasp of English so ideas, fun and creativity can be clearly communicated. In the past we have refused players (both native speakers and non-native speakers) whose English was not up to our standards.
Tazlurians write in both American and British English, and everything in between. We do not greatly worry ourselves over this lack of consistency. There are a few golden rules however that might improve your writing.
Use a Spelling Checker
The number one type for writing online is doing your posts before hand in a word processor, which enables you to check it for spelling and other wise proofread it. The later Word versions even check for the amount of passive sentences and readability.
Absolutely No Chat Slang or Shortcuts
Players that use short cuts like "u w8 for me 4ever?" or chat codes like putting actions between:: are never tolerated. Tazlure uses normal English sentences. Also be sure to ask for a capital at the start of each sentence and a point at the end. Interpunction is the start of readability.
Avoid Passive Sentences
Create action in your writing. Often confusing to inexperienced writers, passive sentences are where the focus is on the object receiving the action and not the person/thing performing the action.
IE:
Passive Case - The ball was hit by Roger. BAD
Active Case - Roger hit the ball. GOOD
This is a simple example but active case is always more fun and alive and communicates more clearly. There are very rare times when passive works better usually in a long sentence with several clauses, but 99% of the time, the active case is what you want to use and always use active when it is a short sentence with no other action in it.
Vary the length of Your Sentences
By varying short and long sentences, as well as short and long paragraphs, your writing gains more natural speed and interest. Don't be tempted to keep it to just short sentences.
Words to Avoid
Never, ever, ever begin a sentence with the words And or But...they are conjuctions that bind a run on sentence together. Chances are that the sentence can stand on its own without these words....if you can't tell, try reading it aloud to yourself without the sentence before or after it to see if it makes sense by itself. If it needs something to begin the sentence, please think of some other word; such as: Finally, Next, or some kind of adjective.
Words that are extremely overused and overrated and should be replaced with something better:
• more
• and
• but
• as
• that
• though
• most
• very
• seems to be
Show, Don't Tell
Don't tell players what it looks like. Invoke such a strong image that they automatically come to that conclusion based on the clues you are providing.
Verbs that are often used to tell instead of show are
• Seem to be
• Look like
• as if
Example
Sean seemed angry when he said "That was totally uncalled for"
Sean's eyebrows were drawn together and there was a dangerous glint to his eyes. "That.. was totally uncared for," he said in a low baritone voice.
Don't Overuse Anything Ending on –ly
There is a time and place for everything. You do not need an adjective to every verb. It becomes very boring indeed. Instead try to vary what verbs you use by using a thesaurus on synonyms and acronyms. It makes your writing more powerful, active.
Compare the following:
She said softly, she said loudly, she said angrily
She whispered, she screamed, she fumed
Commonly Confused Words
Especially non-native speakers have a tendency to mix up words that sound the same: affect/effect, there's/theirs, which/witch. So check your writing for this before posting. Does it really say what you want it to say?
Use Synonyms
Widen your vocabulary. Often there are other words available that have a better flavor, or mean something that is just a tad more applicable in that exact context. Make it a regular habit to check a thesaurus on whether you are using the most appropriate word available.
Try not to use the same description for your NPC time and time again. referring to your NPC as Talor or he without variation is boring. Use synonyms to add a bit of spice. He can also be the Rose, the silverheared man, the rakish gentleman etc. This also reveals extra character.
Keep Your Writing in the Same Tense
As obvious as this might be it is very easy to mix up past and present tense. It jars the senses. Most writing in Tazlure is kept to the past tense, though that is not an official rule. Some players and moderators very successfully use the present tense to convey a certain immediancy.
Make BB codes work for you
You can use the bb codes to highlight, put into italics or to underline text. There are several ways you can use this to improve the readability of the text. For instance:
• Use bold to highlight the name of the player you are posting an action for. Especially in larger group threads this will prevent a player overlooking part of the post that was aimed at him.
• Use italics to indicate emphasize, like "that… was totally uncalled for"
• Use italics to indicate direct surface thoughts from the first perspective. A player may not use these thoughts unless he can mindread, but it will give more depth to the post.
• Use underline to indicate the name of an establishment if you want to call attention to it.
article written by Maeve
Tazlure is in fact nothing more and nothing less than creative writing in the English language. While you do not have to be a native speaker a player and especially a moderator should have a firm grasp of English so ideas, fun and creativity can be clearly communicated. In the past we have refused players (both native speakers and non-native speakers) whose English was not up to our standards.
Tazlurians write in both American and British English, and everything in between. We do not greatly worry ourselves over this lack of consistency. There are a few golden rules however that might improve your writing.
Use a Spelling Checker
The number one type for writing online is doing your posts before hand in a word processor, which enables you to check it for spelling and other wise proofread it. The later Word versions even check for the amount of passive sentences and readability.
Absolutely No Chat Slang or Shortcuts
Players that use short cuts like "u w8 for me 4ever?" or chat codes like putting actions between:: are never tolerated. Tazlure uses normal English sentences. Also be sure to ask for a capital at the start of each sentence and a point at the end. Interpunction is the start of readability.
Avoid Passive Sentences
Create action in your writing. Often confusing to inexperienced writers, passive sentences are where the focus is on the object receiving the action and not the person/thing performing the action.
IE:
Passive Case - The ball was hit by Roger. BAD
Active Case - Roger hit the ball. GOOD
This is a simple example but active case is always more fun and alive and communicates more clearly. There are very rare times when passive works better usually in a long sentence with several clauses, but 99% of the time, the active case is what you want to use and always use active when it is a short sentence with no other action in it.
Vary the length of Your Sentences
By varying short and long sentences, as well as short and long paragraphs, your writing gains more natural speed and interest. Don't be tempted to keep it to just short sentences.
Words to Avoid
Never, ever, ever begin a sentence with the words And or But...they are conjuctions that bind a run on sentence together. Chances are that the sentence can stand on its own without these words....if you can't tell, try reading it aloud to yourself without the sentence before or after it to see if it makes sense by itself. If it needs something to begin the sentence, please think of some other word; such as: Finally, Next, or some kind of adjective.
Words that are extremely overused and overrated and should be replaced with something better:
• more
• and
• but
• as
• that
• though
• most
• very
• seems to be
Show, Don't Tell
Don't tell players what it looks like. Invoke such a strong image that they automatically come to that conclusion based on the clues you are providing.
Verbs that are often used to tell instead of show are
• Seem to be
• Look like
• as if
Example
Sean seemed angry when he said "That was totally uncalled for"
Sean's eyebrows were drawn together and there was a dangerous glint to his eyes. "That.. was totally uncared for," he said in a low baritone voice.
Don't Overuse Anything Ending on –ly
There is a time and place for everything. You do not need an adjective to every verb. It becomes very boring indeed. Instead try to vary what verbs you use by using a thesaurus on synonyms and acronyms. It makes your writing more powerful, active.
Compare the following:
She said softly, she said loudly, she said angrily
She whispered, she screamed, she fumed
Commonly Confused Words
Especially non-native speakers have a tendency to mix up words that sound the same: affect/effect, there's/theirs, which/witch. So check your writing for this before posting. Does it really say what you want it to say?
Use Synonyms
Widen your vocabulary. Often there are other words available that have a better flavor, or mean something that is just a tad more applicable in that exact context. Make it a regular habit to check a thesaurus on whether you are using the most appropriate word available.
Try not to use the same description for your NPC time and time again. referring to your NPC as Talor or he without variation is boring. Use synonyms to add a bit of spice. He can also be the Rose, the silverheared man, the rakish gentleman etc. This also reveals extra character.
Keep Your Writing in the Same Tense
As obvious as this might be it is very easy to mix up past and present tense. It jars the senses. Most writing in Tazlure is kept to the past tense, though that is not an official rule. Some players and moderators very successfully use the present tense to convey a certain immediancy.
Make BB codes work for you
You can use the bb codes to highlight, put into italics or to underline text. There are several ways you can use this to improve the readability of the text. For instance:
• Use bold to highlight the name of the player you are posting an action for. Especially in larger group threads this will prevent a player overlooking part of the post that was aimed at him.
• Use italics to indicate emphasize, like "that… was totally uncalled for"
• Use italics to indicate direct surface thoughts from the first perspective. A player may not use these thoughts unless he can mindread, but it will give more depth to the post.
• Use underline to indicate the name of an establishment if you want to call attention to it.
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Guest
Comma Usage
Comma Usage
article written by Shaeliana
Note, this is punctuation dealing with sentences, not the details of a letter such as date or salutation.
1. Introductory dependent clause/phrase, followed by the rest of the sentence/idea.
Upset by the turn of events, Cassie swallowed hard and stepped up to the gate.
2. Sen-, oppositive| non-essential clause/phrase, -tense.
As Cassie glanced around the room, heart beating wildly in her chest, she noticed a dark man standing in the corner.
3. Sentence: listings.
(Colons are ONLY used after a complete thought/sentence.)
Dignitaries from many countries sat around the table watching the king: Count Loedred of Synchburg, Lady Gatherly of the House of Cards in Wynnchester, and Duke Isick of Port Charles.
3b. Sentence: sentence. (where the two thoughts are closed linked together)
Dignitaries from many countries sat around the table watching the king: the results of the king's investigations were paramount to their plans.
4. Sentence, conjunction sentence.
(Conjunctions are - and, but, for, or, yet, so, and nor.)
5. Sentence; transition (conjunctive adverb), sentence.
Cassie had come with the intent of taking his life; unfortunately, his charm was making that difficult for the young woman.
6. Sentence, list of things in a series.
(These days the comma preceding the and is considered optional.)
A scan of the room's contents revealed a large wooden chest, a small table with two chair, and a side table containing a washbowl.
article written by Shaeliana
Note, this is punctuation dealing with sentences, not the details of a letter such as date or salutation.
1. Introductory dependent clause/phrase, followed by the rest of the sentence/idea.
Upset by the turn of events, Cassie swallowed hard and stepped up to the gate.
2. Sen-, oppositive| non-essential clause/phrase, -tense.
As Cassie glanced around the room, heart beating wildly in her chest, she noticed a dark man standing in the corner.
3. Sentence: listings.
(Colons are ONLY used after a complete thought/sentence.)
Dignitaries from many countries sat around the table watching the king: Count Loedred of Synchburg, Lady Gatherly of the House of Cards in Wynnchester, and Duke Isick of Port Charles.
3b. Sentence: sentence. (where the two thoughts are closed linked together)
Dignitaries from many countries sat around the table watching the king: the results of the king's investigations were paramount to their plans.
4. Sentence, conjunction sentence.
(Conjunctions are - and, but, for, or, yet, so, and nor.)
5. Sentence; transition (conjunctive adverb), sentence.
Cassie had come with the intent of taking his life; unfortunately, his charm was making that difficult for the young woman.
6. Sentence, list of things in a series.
(These days the comma preceding the and is considered optional.)
A scan of the room's contents revealed a large wooden chest, a small table with two chair, and a side table containing a washbowl.
Last edited by Guest on Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Guest
Language Consistency
Especially in first drafts, it is easy to forget what point of view, perspective, and tense you are writing in. In fact, you will find that switching from past tense to present tense is very easy to do, even in a sentence: e.g. He went to the store and gets some bread. While these are technically grammar corrections it is easy to miss when you are checking for spelling and verb-subject agreement.
Never change tense mid-sentence or paragraph and if you do in a single piece, have a very good reason. Choose a tense you are most comfortable writing in and make sure that all of your sentences comply with that tense. Present tense tends to create urgency within a work, whereas past tense creates a sense of permanence. Likewise, never change your point of view. If you start in third person, end in third person.
Possibly the most difficult language inconsistency to spot are problems with perspective. To keep flow and avoid looking like an inexperienced writer, never ever change perspective during a scene. For example, if you are writing from John's point of view, do not suddenly switch to Susie's point of view in the same section. Changing perspectives is absolutely okay as long the changes are separated by section marks or chapters.
Example of shifting perspectives in a section:
John loved cars. He really, really loved cars. In fact, John remembered one time he bought a car after saving money for three years. Finally saving enough money, he bought the car and was thrilled. Against his better judgment, John let Susie drive the car and she got into a car accident. It was a complete accident and Susie felt terrible, but she didn't think John should have cared about the car more than her.
The writer is taking this from John's perspective and then suddenly at the end it is written from Susie's perspective. This is disruptive to a reader and inconsistent in the language. It would be better to phrase the last sentence in a way that John perceived that Susie felt terrible, etc.
If you choose to write third-person omniscient, then you really cannot bring the writer's opinion or the character's opinion into your narrative. Writing from this perspective detaches the writer from the character's thoughts and only reports facts. You can certainly convey a character's thoughts by using facial expressions and gestures, but thought must be completely avoided, signified in italics or with section breaks. Many writers will move from third-person omniscient to a person's perspective, but like any perspective change, you must separate the two so the reader is not confused.
One way to cultivate your perspectives is to write the piece in first person. You will find that you no longer shift perspectives to someone else and end up with more colorful thoughts, opinions and characterizations. After you've written it that way, simply change it back to third person and you will not only have eliminated perspective shifts, but probably added more depth to your narrative as well.
Especially in first drafts, it is easy to forget what point of view, perspective, and tense you are writing in. In fact, you will find that switching from past tense to present tense is very easy to do, even in a sentence: e.g. He went to the store and gets some bread. While these are technically grammar corrections it is easy to miss when you are checking for spelling and verb-subject agreement.
Never change tense mid-sentence or paragraph and if you do in a single piece, have a very good reason. Choose a tense you are most comfortable writing in and make sure that all of your sentences comply with that tense. Present tense tends to create urgency within a work, whereas past tense creates a sense of permanence. Likewise, never change your point of view. If you start in third person, end in third person.
Possibly the most difficult language inconsistency to spot are problems with perspective. To keep flow and avoid looking like an inexperienced writer, never ever change perspective during a scene. For example, if you are writing from John's point of view, do not suddenly switch to Susie's point of view in the same section. Changing perspectives is absolutely okay as long the changes are separated by section marks or chapters.
Example of shifting perspectives in a section:
John loved cars. He really, really loved cars. In fact, John remembered one time he bought a car after saving money for three years. Finally saving enough money, he bought the car and was thrilled. Against his better judgment, John let Susie drive the car and she got into a car accident. It was a complete accident and Susie felt terrible, but she didn't think John should have cared about the car more than her.
The writer is taking this from John's perspective and then suddenly at the end it is written from Susie's perspective. This is disruptive to a reader and inconsistent in the language. It would be better to phrase the last sentence in a way that John perceived that Susie felt terrible, etc.
If you choose to write third-person omniscient, then you really cannot bring the writer's opinion or the character's opinion into your narrative. Writing from this perspective detaches the writer from the character's thoughts and only reports facts. You can certainly convey a character's thoughts by using facial expressions and gestures, but thought must be completely avoided, signified in italics or with section breaks. Many writers will move from third-person omniscient to a person's perspective, but like any perspective change, you must separate the two so the reader is not confused.
One way to cultivate your perspectives is to write the piece in first person. You will find that you no longer shift perspectives to someone else and end up with more colorful thoughts, opinions and characterizations. After you've written it that way, simply change it back to third person and you will not only have eliminated perspective shifts, but probably added more depth to your narrative as well.
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Guest
Word Choice
article written by Maeve
1. Be sure that your words are an exact match for what you want to say.
Everyday speaking language sometimes contains roundabout, vague ways of describing things, that should not be used in a novel as it interferes with the flow of the reading. Word should be used with precision.
Red Alert words are:
2. Be sure you know all your words are appropriate for the setting.
Be aware of anochronisms if you are writing fantasy or historically based novels.
3. Don't use words or even whole dialects that you are not familiar with
Avoid the thee's and thou's if you cannot do it realistically. Be careful with scottish or lowbrow dialects. If you are not sure how to do it, but are set to use it for flavor research first! Especially in fantasy, sci-fi and historical genres many readers are self appointed experts on the subject, and your mistakes will rudely awaken them from their supsension of disbelieve, making them unable to escape in your book while they mutter about your errors.
article written by Maeve
1. Be sure that your words are an exact match for what you want to say.
Everyday speaking language sometimes contains roundabout, vague ways of describing things, that should not be used in a novel as it interferes with the flow of the reading. Word should be used with precision.
Red Alert words are:
- similar to
- almost
- kind of
- sort of
- just
- really
- only
2. Be sure you know all your words are appropriate for the setting.
Be aware of anochronisms if you are writing fantasy or historically based novels.
- Arrows are loosened not fired, nor do medieval commanders shout "Hold your Fire" (no gunpowder is used)
- Adrenaline, hormones and the working of the brain are all recent discoveries, as are modern medicine concepts like bacteria. So don't let them slip accidentally in the dialogue of your characters.
- The concept of equality was a post renaissance invention, and to a medieval mind was an alien thought. "Nobility is not a Birthright" is there for a ridiculous quote from the movie Robin Hood, prince of thieves
3. Don't use words or even whole dialects that you are not familiar with
Avoid the thee's and thou's if you cannot do it realistically. Be careful with scottish or lowbrow dialects. If you are not sure how to do it, but are set to use it for flavor research first! Especially in fantasy, sci-fi and historical genres many readers are self appointed experts on the subject, and your mistakes will rudely awaken them from their supsension of disbelieve, making them unable to escape in your book while they mutter about your errors.
Last edited by Guest on Mon Jan 10, 2005 2:07 am, edited 1 time in total.