Comments for Writing Power http://blog.writingpower.net write better, live better Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:31:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 Comment on (Writing) Style Wars: A New Hope by Ken http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForWritingPower/~3/8AQAt_Q1zfA/ Ken Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:21:41 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/07/08/writing-style-wars-a-new-hope/#comment-6902 If "Hopefully I'll leave on the noon plane" is wrong, then is "Unfortunately, the rain arrived five minutes later" also wrong? An adverb used in this way is called a disjunct, and it's a perfectly respectable (not to say, elegant) usage that allows the user to indicate their emotional stance towards the subject under discussion. But for reasons that are deeply mysterious to me, "hopefully" seems to have been singled out as one adverb that must never be used this way. I'm willing to stick my neck out and say that in this case, Mr Strunk is plain wrong. If “Hopefully I’ll leave on the noon plane” is wrong, then is “Unfortunately, the rain arrived five minutes later” also wrong?

An adverb used in this way is called a disjunct, and it’s a perfectly respectable (not to say, elegant) usage that allows the user to indicate their emotional stance towards the subject under discussion. But for reasons that are deeply mysterious to me, “hopefully” seems to have been singled out as one adverb that must never be used this way.

I’m willing to stick my neck out and say that in this case, Mr Strunk is plain wrong.

]]> http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/07/08/writing-style-wars-a-new-hope/#comment-6902 Comment on (Writing) Style Wars: A New Hope by Ainsley http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForWritingPower/~3/lkegPdfSHuk/ Ainsley Sat, 16 Apr 2011 23:42:18 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/07/08/writing-style-wars-a-new-hope/#comment-5922 <i>It’s interesting that you used comma splices as an example of a construction people are nervous about identifying. Whenever I join critique groups, I encounter at least one person who does commas entirely “by feel”, and takes more out or puts more in according to what they feel the “pace” of the sentence should be. The usual result is that they have run-on sentences spliced together by commas. A little formal education and a (metaphorical) rap on the knuckles could well be useful for them.</i> +1 It’s interesting that you used comma splices as an example of a construction people are nervous about identifying. Whenever I join critique groups, I encounter at least one person who does commas entirely “by feel”, and takes more out or puts more in according to what they feel the “pace” of the sentence should be. The usual result is that they have run-on sentences spliced together by commas. A little formal education and a (metaphorical) rap on the knuckles could well be useful for them.
+1

]]> http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/07/08/writing-style-wars-a-new-hope/#comment-5922 Comment on Meta-Diction: Find Your Passion? by Wesley http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForWritingPower/~3/TfTqhQh4bUw/ Wesley Sun, 16 Jan 2011 03:43:52 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/04/08/meta-diction-find-your-passion/#comment-5005 Hi Loren, I just found your website while looking for ways to improve my general writing and critical analysis ability. Your approach to the topic is refreshing and I've enjoyed the posts of yours that I've read so far. Please keep posting. Best, Wes Hi Loren,
I just found your website while looking for ways to improve my general writing and critical analysis ability. Your approach to the topic is refreshing and I’ve enjoyed the posts of yours that I’ve read so far. Please keep posting.

Best,
Wes

]]> http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/04/08/meta-diction-find-your-passion/#comment-5005 Comment on Getting Your Writing To Flow, Part 1 by Alex Sanchez http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForWritingPower/~3/QdQnWyVbA2c/ Alex Sanchez Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:13:57 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/02/08/getting-your-writing-to-flow-part-1/#comment-3883 Thank you so much! I still haven't read the other articles. Who needs college with this information? jk I was the one who emailed you becuase your article showed up on www.urbanmonk.net Thank you so much! I still haven’t read the other articles. Who needs college with this information? jk
I was the one who emailed you becuase your article showed up on www.urbanmonk.net

]]> http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/02/08/getting-your-writing-to-flow-part-1/#comment-3883 Comment on How To Write An Effective Summary by Basil White http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForWritingPower/~3/HYQKMOTjlPY/ Basil White Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:18:55 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/02/16/how-to-write-an-effective-summary/#comment-2249 How To Summarize, as a recursive flowchart - - http://basilwhite.com/images/HowToSummarize.png How To Summarize, as a recursive flowchart - -

http://basilwhite.com/images/HowToSummarize.png

]]> http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/02/16/how-to-write-an-effective-summary/#comment-2249 Comment on Awaken Your Inner Storyteller, Part 2 by coursework http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForWritingPower/~3/CNv9Ab5_YXs/ coursework Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:08:35 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/03/27/awaken-your-inner-storyteller-part-2/#comment-2139 Good points raised. Its so hard to envision stories with your readers or listeners. Good points raised. Its so hard to envision stories with your readers or listeners.

]]> http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/03/27/awaken-your-inner-storyteller-part-2/#comment-2139 Comment on Become An Academic Writing Rockstar by matt http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForWritingPower/~3/7odteLxM-FM/ matt Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:44:43 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/02/19/become-an-academic-writing-rockstar/#comment-2046 Hey - just found your blog and wanted to say I really liked this post, as a grad student. thanks! :) Hey - just found your blog and wanted to say I really liked this post, as a grad student. thanks! :)

]]> http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/02/19/become-an-academic-writing-rockstar/#comment-2046 Comment on Become An Academic Writing Rockstar by My Man-Crush « sum.ology http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForWritingPower/~3/sB1fThPxgPg/ My Man-Crush « sum.ology Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:50:54 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/02/19/become-an-academic-writing-rockstar/#comment-2042 [...] enjoyment of this man.  What complicates things is this man is also an academic heart-throb.  He’s a scholarly rock-star.  He is not just my man crush.  He is my intellectual and professional man [...] […] enjoyment of this man.  What complicates things is this man is also an academic heart-throb.  He’s a scholarly rock-star.  He is not just my man crush.  He is my intellectual and professional man […]

]]> http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/02/19/become-an-academic-writing-rockstar/#comment-2042 Comment on (Writing) Style Wars: A New Hope by Mary Locksmith | Term Papers http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForWritingPower/~3/j0QeQ8ZpG2M/ Mary Locksmith | Term Papers Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:15:55 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/07/08/writing-style-wars-a-new-hope/#comment-1468 Your insights about the book is true. Strunk's straightforward approach in his book is somewhat rare for most writers. Your insights about the book is true. Strunk’s straightforward approach in his book is somewhat rare for most writers.

]]> http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/07/08/writing-style-wars-a-new-hope/#comment-1468 Comment on (Writing) Style Wars: A New Hope by Malcolm Campbell http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForWritingPower/~3/xR8pzJPKSQ8/ Malcolm Campbell Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:13:59 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/07/08/writing-style-wars-a-new-hope/#comment-903 Thanks for mentioning the Trimble style guide. I love having quality books to suggest to people who are wandering and need help. Strunk, I think, bothers us more than it bothered people when it first came out. The book's tone was intended for readers of another age regardless of the quality of the advice. Today, we are more casual about everything from wearing dungarees to church to calling people we don't know by their first names. So, Strunk just seems much too strong. Being strong sometimes intimidates people the wrong way. Great authors certainly use comma splices effectively; and they know when to start a sentence with the "and" or "however." People getting started often take everything Strunk says as gospel, never knowing that as a writer one of their first duties is learning when the most sacred rules should be broken. Very interesting post. Glad I stumbled into your blog today. Malcolm Thanks for mentioning the Trimble style guide. I love having quality books to suggest to people who are wandering and need help.

Strunk, I think, bothers us more than it bothered people when it first came out. The book’s tone was intended for readers of another age regardless of the quality of the advice. Today, we are more casual about everything from wearing dungarees to church to calling people we don’t know by their first names. So, Strunk just seems much too strong.

Being strong sometimes intimidates people the wrong way. Great authors certainly use comma splices effectively; and they know when to start a sentence with the “and” or “however.” People getting started often take everything Strunk says as gospel, never knowing that as a writer one of their first duties is learning when the most sacred rules should be broken.

Very interesting post. Glad I stumbled into your blog today.

Malcolm

]]> http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/07/08/writing-style-wars-a-new-hope/#comment-903