Grammar-O

Welcome to grammar day on Seriously Write. Ready to test your skills? The following sentences may contain grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other writing misdemeanors. Your job is to find the infraction and set it right. Try not to look at the answers below.

Have fun!

Sentences to correct:

1)   A beautiful ballad flowed from the radio, as I drove to my destination.   No matter where the singer traveled, how much he acomplished, or how many people surrounded him he felt alone and acked to go home.

2)   Maybe “home” is where you grew up. No matter how old we became, our parents may still ask, “When are you coming home”?

3)   Maybe home is a “safe place to land” for you, family, and friends. A place where everyone can find warmth, comfort, encouragment, aceptance, and unconditonal love. It’s been said that “home is where the heart is” which means your true home is with the person or place you love most.

4)  Everyone deserves to have a home. Whether its a mansion or a shack, a home should provide shelter and protection not only the elements, but the stress, struggles, and pain that can be expereinced in the outside world.

5)   As followers of Christ, we know that an eternal home is being prepard for us. John 14:2 says, In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepar a place for you (NIV).”

6)   But, there’s also another kind of home to be found. One that we can live in today. “Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14;23 NIV) We can find the truest sense of home—of being where were supposed to be—in our relatoinship with our Lord.

Corrected sentences:

1)   A beautiful ballad flowed from the radio as I drove to my destination. No matter where the singer traveled, how much he accomplished, or how many people surrounded him, he felt alone and ached to go home.

Note: No comma is needed after radio.

Note: There were two extra spaces between the first and second sentence in the incorrect set above. There should only be one space in-between sentences.

2)   Maybe “home” is where you grew up. No matter how old we become, our parents may still ask, “When are you coming home?”

3)   Maybe home is a “safe place to land” for you, family, and friends. A place where everyone can find warmth, comfort, encouragement, acceptance, and unconditional love. It’s been said that “home is where the heart is,” which means your true home is with the person or place you love most.

Note: A comma is needed between “home is where the heart is,” and the word “which.”

4)  Everyone deserves to have a home. Whether it’s a mansion or a shack, a home should provide shelter and protection from not only the elements, but also the stress, struggles, and pain that can be experienced in the outside world.

5)   As followers of Christ, we know that an eternal home is being prepared for us. John 14:2 says, “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you” (NIV).

Note: In the example above, quotation marks proceed and follow the quote. The period comes after the reference.

6)   But, there’s also another kind of home to be found. One that we can live in today. “Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him’” (John 14:23 NIV). We can find the truest sense of home—of being where we’re supposed to be—in our relationship with our Lord.

Note: When a quote is contained within a quote it’s surround by single quotation marks. In this case, because the inside quote also ends the quote, both single and double quotation marks are used at the end of the sentence.

Note: A colon, not a semi-colon, separates the Bible chapter and verse. The period follows the reference, not the quote.

How well did you do?

Like anyone else, I’m not perfect. I use The Chicago Manual of Style, The Christian Writers Manual of Style, and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources.

Grammar-O Wednesday

Welcome to grammar day on Seriously Write. Ready to test your skills? The following sentences may contain grammar, punctuation, spelling, or other writing misdemeanors. Your job is to find the infraction and set it right. Try not to look at the answers below.

Have fun!

Sentences to correct:

1) Isn’t the five senses of touch, taste sight, hearing, and smell fabulous? To often we take them for granted.

2) During the summer I enjoy working in the yard, digging in soil warmed by the sun, and inhaling the pleasent earthy scent.

3) The breeze carries the fresh and slightly sweet fragrance of blooming flowers. Some times, the tempting aroma of meat being cooked on a barbegue drifts through the neighborhood, turning our thoughts and stomaches to food.

4) In writing, it’s important to include the sense of smell. Scents have the ability to invoke memories and feelings.

5) For example, think of the following smells; cinamon rolls baking, turkey roosting in the oven, chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven, a thunderstorm brewing in the air, and fresh pine bows brought into the home.

6) Concider the scent of a wet dog, sour milk, rotten eggs, or sewage. They’re affects are usually more negative than pleasant.

7) People have various concepts of how heaven will look. But, have you ever wondered about the cents you’ll experience? To breath them could be amazing!

Corrected sentences:

1) Aren’t the five senses of touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smell fabulous? Too often we take them for granted.

2) During the summer, I enjoy working in the yard, digging in soil warmed by the sun, and inhaling the pleasant, earthy scent.

3) The breeze carries the fresh and slightly sweet fragrance of blooming flowers. Sometimes, the tempting aroma of meat cooking on a barbeque drifts through the neighborhood, turning our thoughts and stomachs to food.

Note: Using “being cooked” is okay, but using “cooking” is better.

4) In writing, it’s important to include the sense of smell. Scents have the ability to evoke memories and feelings.

5) For example, think of the following smells: cinnamon rolls baking, turkey roasting in the oven, chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven, a thunderstorm brewing in the air, and fresh pine boughs brought into the home.

6) Consider the scent of a wet dog, sour milk, rotten eggs, or sewage. Their effects are usually more negative than pleasant.

7) People have various concepts of how heaven will look. But, have you ever wondered about the scents you’ll experience? To breathe them could be amazing!

How well did you do?

I use The Chicago Manual of Style and Webster’s Dictionary as my sources.

Grammar-O Wednesday

Hi Readers, welcome to another grammar day here on Seriously Write. Today, I’ve decided to try Ocieanna’s and Dawn’s method and test our grammar skills with sentences. You’ll find mistakes in the following four paragraphs. Then, you’ll find the correct versions below. Try not to peek at the answers until you’re through the test. Enjoy!

~~~~~

I cannot wait until we have spring like weather here. We’ve had rain, rain and more rain. The grass is growing like crazy, even without sun shine.

Warmer days full of sonshine will draw out the neighbors. People taking walks, doing yardwork catching up on house related up keep.

Sunshine offers Vitamin D. Sometimes I wonder about the defficiencies which come from living in a cloudy rainy place.

Our tempratures have also dropped here, lately. My husband remarketed yesterday that it feels like Febuary. Face book friends mention summer whether; while we’ve regressed to Winter. Is that fare?

~~~~~

ANSWERS:

I cannot wait until we have spring-like weather here. We’ve had rain, rain, and more rain. The grass is growing like crazy, even without sunshine.

Warmer days full of sunshine will draw out the neighbors. People taking walks, doing yard work, catching up on house-related upkeep.

Sunshine offers vitamin D. Sometimes I wonder about the deficiencies that come from living in a cloudy, rainy place.

Our temperatures have also dropped here lately. My husband remarked yesterday that it feels like February. Facebook friends mention summer weather, while we’ve regressed to winter. Is that fair?

I use CMOS as my main reference tool. As with any editor, I’m imperfect. This exercise is just for fun. How’d you do?

Semicolons

It’s Grammar-O Wednesday, dear readers. As you probably know, Ocieanna is recovering from a cardiac arrest in early January. Please continue to pray for her. She is doing better. While her health improves, Dawn and I are taking turns covering grammar.

Today let’s talk about semicolons. This is sometimes challenging for writers, so let’s dive in and then test ourselves.

First, when to use them. There are two main times to use semicolons.

1. For items in a series which also include commas.
2. To separate two independent and related clauses. (Note: use before adverbs between independent clauses)

Let me give you some examples.

Series examples:

Matthew 6:30, 33; 12:18; Mark 2:2, 19

She called her mother, whom she hadn’t spoken with in two whole days; her brother; and her best friend.

Two independent but related clauses example:

He couldn’t give up now; victory had to be right in front of him.

Notice in this example, the two clauses could be separate sentences with periods and still be correct. The key is they have to be independent or complete clauses (subject and verb) not just phrases (fragments).

Got it? Now, let’s test ourselves.

Where should we place semicolons in the following sentences:

Cora grabbed her sunglasses, the ones with the scratch, her beach bag, her purse, and her car keys.

Could you look up Matthew 6:30, 33, Psalm 42:11, and John 14:27?

Trey needed to get his head on straight. Maddie was counting on him.

As her father, he needed to at least act like he had his act together, indeed he’d better pray and ask for a fresh download of wisdom.

If I had to choose, I’d pick the black one, the red one, or the green one.

Answers. Now, here come those semicolons:

Cora grabbed her sunglasses, the ones with the scratch; her beach bag; her purse; and her car keys. (Note: you could also write tight here and avoid the semicolon all together: Cora grabbed her scratched sunglasses, her beach bag, her purse, and her keys.)

Could you look up Matthew 6:30, 33; Psalm 42:11; and John 14:27?

Trey needed to get his head on straight; Maddie was counting on him.

As her father, he needed to at least act like he had his act together; indeed he’d better pray and ask for a fresh download of wisdom.

If I had to choose, I’d pick the black one; the red one; and the green one.

Note: I used CMOS as my reference material for this post.

Metaphor and Simile

Hey everyone, it's Grammar-O Wednesday again. Annette here. Please continue praying for Ocieanna as she regains her strength following a cardiac arrest in early January. She's doing better and really appreciates your prayers.

Last time I filled in for O, we discussed rhetorical devices at large. Today, let’s break down two specific forms—metaphor and simile. These are similar in that they both have to do with comparison. Let’s define them and then practice using them.

Metaphor “compares two different things by speaking of one in terms of the other” (From Virtual Salt’s rhetorical device handbook.) This rhetorical device “asserts that one thing is another thing” not just like something else. Basically, you're making a comparison in order to paint a clear picture for the reader.

Example: “I am the Light of the world.” Jesus speaking in John 8:12, 9:5

Example: "Your baby is an angel."

Simile “is a comparison between two different things that resemble each other…” Similes are often rendered using “like” (for comparing a noun to a noun) or “as” (for comparing verbs or phrases to other verbs or phrases).*

Example: “And he looked up and said, ‘I see men like trees, walking.’” Mark 8:24, NKJV

Example: “As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.” Psalm 103:15, NKJV)

Example: "You sing like an angel."

Now, let’s test ourselves, shall we?

___ Metaphor or Simile — Jesus said, “I am the Bread of life.” from John 6:35

___ Metaphor or Simile — Sometimes on hot, summer days I nap like a cat near a sunny window. (notice the alliteration with “s,” as well)

___ Metaphor or Simile — Some drivers crank their music so loud, their cars become stereos on wheels.

___ Metaphor or Simile — “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” ~ Jesus from John 14:6

___ Metaphor or Simile — The sunflower opened toward the sun like a smiling face.


ANSWERS:

M
S
M
M
S

How'd you do? Feel free to add examples in the comments below.

* Definitions adapted from Virtual Salt's rhetorical device handbook. See this link for more information on rhetorical devices.

Rhetorical Devices

Hey everyone, Annette here this Grammar-O Wednesday. Thanks for praying for Ocieanna. Please continue as she recovers from a cardiac arrest in January.

Are we ready to glean some great grammar tools? (Ooooh, I just demonstrated a rhetorical device. Can you name it?) Let's dive into today's topic.

I sat in on a workshop a few years ago and learned about anaphora, a rhetorical device of purposely repeating the same word or phrase. You've no-doubt seen this or used it in your own writing:

She didn’t see how choosing surrender could lead to life. She didn’t see how dying could mean living. She didn’t see how losing herself in Jesus could mean finding herself.

[Note, if you only repeat twice, your editor may wonder if you’re just fond of a specific word (weasel word) and have you find a synonym or rework your sentence.]

The discovery of anaphora led to study of rhetorical devices in general. You may be asking, how are these grammar relevant? Well, grammar is defined as: the study of the way the sentences of a language are constructed, so since rhetorical devices affect sentence structures (they’re really just strategic ways of communicating in writing or speaking), this is a great topic for this Grammar-O Wednesday.

You run into rhetorical devices everywhere. Here are a few examples:

Alliteration: using words with the same initial consonant sound: She slipped swiftly down South Hill (A little overkill, but you get the idea. The use of two words applies, as well. The point is to cause the phrase to remain in the reader’s mind.)

Onomatopoeia: pronunciation of a word demonstrates the sound the word describes: crash, ring, buzz

Personification: to depict inanimate objects as having human traits: The truck sputtered and choked.

Which ones are your favorites? Raise your hand if you know more than twenty. Thirty? I’m guessing we could all use a refresher course on these literary devices we’ve likely seen before but have been unable to name. Why not study rhetorical devices (I’ve included a link below) and begin using more of them in your own writing? Of course, don’t overdo it. But you have to know what they are and how to use them before you can use them accurately. By the way, simile and metaphor are also rhetorical devices.

Here’s a link to a handy guide of sixty rhetorical devices. I like this site because it seems thorough, and they often use Scripture as examples. Yesterday, remember how I spoke of freebies for writers, this link is one of them. *smile*

Challenge of the week: choose a rhetorical device (or two) and include it (them) in your WIP. Enjoy!