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A Quiz About Quotation Marks - DailyWritingTips


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A Quiz About Quotation Marks

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 01:45 AM PST



Use of quotation marks for dialogue is fairly straightforward; several posts on this website that deal with the topic can by found by searching for "quotation marks." This quiz deals with other uses of these emphasis markers.

Read the following sample sentences, determine the problem with the use of quotation marks, and devise a solution. (Note that I use single quotation marks rather than double quotation marks because of my custom of framing the entire sample sentence in a pair of the latter.) Then, take a look at my revisions and explanations at the bottom of the page and see how they compare with your changes:

1. "The IQ evaluation provides a 'snapshot' of a child's cognitive skills at a particular point in time."

2. "Perry is connecting with a growing number of Republicans because of his uncompromising rhetoric and his back-slapping, guy-who-married 'the first girl I dated' persona."

3. "Consider the glass 'half full and not half empty.'"

4. "The old fixer-upper looks like it was designed by "The Amityville Horror" house architect." (This example is from a newspaper; many such publications use quotation marks, rather than italics, to denote titles of films, books, and other self-contained compositions.)

5. "They reviewed cross-border reproductive care, or "medical tourism," as an increasing phenomenon in respect to egg donation."

6. "Our waterworks have reached the classic 'run to failure' moment."

7. "He used scientific reasoning to show that singing and dancing could cure melancholy by stirring up the 'secretions' in the human 'machine.'"

Answers and Explanations
1. The informal usage of a word need not be excused with what are sometimes called apologetic quotation marks (what I refer to frequently in these posts by a more common label: scare quotes): "The IQ evaluation provides a snapshot of a child's cognitive skills at a particular point in time."

2. This sentence attempts to allude to erstwhile presidential candidate Rick Perry's pride that he married the first girl he dated, but the writer, after a promising start in which they began stringing the relevant words together in an extended hyphenated phrasal adjective, fumbles by attempting to employ a direct quote. The best solution would be to abandon the attempt at direct quotation and fold a paraphrase into the adjective string: "Perry is connecting with a growing number of Republicans because of his uncompromising rhetoric and his back-slapping, guy-who-married-the-first-girl-he-dated persona."

3. This reference to the idiomatic metaphors for optimism and pessimism implies that there is an idiom consisting of the phrase "half full and not half empty." However, only the distinct antonyms "half full" and "half empty" are valid, and there is no reason to enclose them in quotes (also, a comma seems more effective than the conjunction and): "Consider the glass half full, not half empty."

4. Here, the writer is attempting to employ the first word of the movie title as a direct article for the framing sentence, but it cannot serve double duty. In this case, it is acceptable to transfer the to duty with the sentence and leave the title temporarily bereft of the direct article that begins it ("The old fixer-upper looks like it was designed by the 'Amityville Horror' house architect"). However, the sentence would read more smoothly if it were relaxed, including the insertion of a couple of additional direct articles and the retention of the full movie title: "The old fixer-upper looks like it was designed by the architect who designed the house in 'The Amityville Horror.'"

5. This sentence is doubly irritating. As in the first example above, the scare quotes are extraneous. In addition, it seems illogical to me to introduce the gloss (brief definition) of the phrase "medical tourism" before it; why, then, bother introducing the idiom at all? Use a term-then-gloss structure: "They reviewed medical tourism, or cross-border reproductive care, as an increasing phenomenon in respect to egg donation." (A compromise is to explicitly identify the idiom as such following the literal description for the topic in question: "They reviewed cross-border reproductive care, known popularly as medical tourism, as an increasing phenomenon in respect to egg donation.")

6. The phrase "run to failure" may be a partial quotation from someone, but unless it is a clever coinage heretofore unfamiliar to readers (and even then, use the explanatory solution in the fifth example, above), the phrase should simply be strung together as a phrasal adjective: "Our waterworks have reached the classic run-to-failure moment."

7. Trick question — in the original context, as least, it's clear that "secretions" is a direct quote. Sometimes, it's best to indicate that an unusual word was actually written or spoken by the source, and sometimes, scare quotes are helpful (as in the case of those framing machine, which may well have also been a direct quote). In this case, I'd leave the sentence as is.



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Original Post: A Quiz About Quotation Marks
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25 Subordinating Conjunctions - DailyWritingTips


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25 Subordinating Conjunctions

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 03:20 AM PST



If you're having trouble developing sentences with sufficient variety to keep your writing fresh, take a ride on A WHITE BUS.

No, I'm not shouting at you; A WHITE BUS is a mnemonic initialism that reminds you about a set of conjunctions with which you can begin dependent clauses. (A dependent clause is a phrase that must be attached to an independent clause — a series of words that can stand on its own as a sentence — to make grammatical sense.) Below, you'll find the words or phrases that the letters in A WHITE BUS represent, and sample sentences in which they're employed.

A
1. "After dinner, we'll go see a movie."

2. "Although I'd rather not, I'll make an exception."

3. "As you know, she's rather eccentric."

W
4. "When we're done, let's get some ice cream."

5. "Whenever I go, I try to see something I've never seen before."

6. "Whether or not you agree, I think it looks fine."

7. "Where I go, they always have sales."

8. "Wherever I go, I try to enjoy myself."

9. "While I'm there, I play music on a jukebox."

H
10. "How is it that even though you go there all the time, you've never noticed that before?"

I
11. "If you find out, please let me know."

12. "In case you hadn't heard, I couldn't care less."

13. "In order to enjoy your trip, take your time and enjoy the sights."

T
14. "That I like wearing red — that has never been in dispute."

15. "Though I'm flexible, I draw the line about that."

E
16. "Even if it is true, I'll forgive him."

17. "Even though I'd heard the song before, I hadn't known who sang it."

18. "Ever since I met her, I haven't been able to think about anything else."

B
19. "Because I've been there before, I'd rather go somewhere else."

20. "Before I saw the house, I was ready to just rent an apartment."

U
21. "Unless you're willing to wait, you'll have to come back tomorrow."

22. "Until we find it, we can't leave."

S
23. "Since then, I've had a different opinion of him."

24. "So sure were you of your theory about them, you ignored evidence that you were wrong."

25. "So that I'm sure I understand you, please repeat what you said."

Sometimes, ON, representing "only if" ("Only if I get to drive will I go with you") and "now that" ("Now that we understand each other, things are much better") precedes A WHITE BUS in the mnemonic phrase.

Note, too, that the order in which the dependent and independent clauses appear can be reversed (though often, the comma separating the clauses is then not necessary). However, because the independent clause generally contains the essential information, the sentence is usually more effective when the independent clause trails the dependent clause.



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Original Post: 25 Subordinating Conjunctions
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A Quiz About Expletives - DailyWritingTips


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A Quiz About Expletives

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 08:26 PM PST



One easy solution for getting sentences off to a strong start is to make them more active by eliminating what is called an expletive, or a dummy subject, such as "There is" or "There are." It is not necessary to eradicate all expletives from your writing, but minimize them by identifying the real subject of the sentence and reconstructing the sentence with that focus — with the added benefit of a more concise statement.

Each of the sentences below contains an expletive. Recast each sentence as necessary to omit it, then compare your revisions with mine (there's usually more than one right way to excise an expletive) at the bottom of the page:

1. "There are several vicious cycles that facilitate the progression of alcohol abuse."

2. "There are federal and state legislators who want to bring government into the picture."

3. "All across the country, there are numerous private facilities that have figured out the breeding techniques."

4. "At the same time, there are also motives and pressures toward normalcy."

5. "Unless there is significant progress soon, we'll have to cancel the program."

6. "He wants to know if there is life on other planets."

7. "At the other house, there is an outdoor patio."

8. "I think there is a good chance that the proposal will be accepted."

9. "I am concerned that there is a false impression about our objectives."

10. "According to recent studies, there is a tendency for the syndrome to worsen over time."

11. "But then there is John Smith, who has another take on the matter."

12. "There is a considerable range of expertise among so-called experts."

13. "Nevertheless, there are numerous private facilities that have figured out the techniques."

14. "At the same time, there are also motives and pressures toward normalcy."

15. "To make matters worse, there are several vicious cycles that facilitate the progression of alcohol abuse."

16. "His understanding is that there are still countless such volumes in existence."

17. "Ultimately, there are sensitive implications about the issue that remain."

18. "He adds that there are numerous ethical concerns raised by this practice.

19. "Each year, there are more and more workshops, seminars, and conferences for practitioners in this field."

20. "As I see it, there are two lines of logic that follow from this premise."

Answers
1. "Several vicious cycles facilitate the progression of alcohol abuse."

2. "Some federal and state legislators are itching to bring government into the picture."

3. "All across the country, numerous private facilities have figured out the breeding techniques."

4. "At the same time, motives and pressures toward normalcy present themselves."

5. "Unless significant progress occurs soon, we'll have to cancel the program."

6. "He wants to know whether life exists on other planets."

7. "The other house has an outdoor patio."

8. "The proposal has a good chance of being accepted."

9. "I am concerned that they may have developed a false impression about our objectives."

10. "According to recent studies, the syndrome tends to worsen over time."

11. "But John Smith has another take on the matter."

12. "So-called experts demonstrate a considerable range of expertise."

13. "Nevertheless, numerous private facilities have figured out the techniques."

14. "At the same time, motives and pressures toward normalcy present themselves."

15. "To make matters worse, several vicious cycles facilitate the progression of alcohol abuse."

16. "His understanding is that countless such volumes still exist."

17. "Ultimately, sensitive implications about the issue remain."

18. "He adds that this practice raises numerous ethical concerns."

19. "Each year, practitioners in this field have the opportunity to attend an increasing number of workshops, seminars, and conferences."

20. "As I see it, two lines of logic follow from this premise."



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Original Post: A Quiz About Expletives
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75 Synonyms for "Hard" - DailyWritingTips

75 Synonyms for "Hard"
Posted: 03 Feb 2012 08:31 PM PST



It's easy to write about how hard something is, because so many synonyms exist for that vague word and its more formal cousin difficult. Many of these terms are somewhat interchangeable (that's why they call them synonyms), but even then, the senses are often slightly distinct; do a little more research on usage when you find a promising variation for that abstract (or is it abstruse?) phrasing you're attempting to finesse.

1. Abstract: disassociation from a practical reference that would aid in comprehension
2. Abstruse: difficult because of technical considerations
3. Arduous: great physical exertion
4. Augean: unpleasantly, overwhelmingly hard (a classical reference to the Augean stables, cleaned by Hercules as one of his legendary twelve labors)
5. Backbreaking: tiring and often dispiriting physical effort
6. Bruising: physically wearing and damaging
7. Brutal: unpleasantly difficult
8. Burdensome: physically or emotionally difficult
9. Challenging: requiring special effort; may have a positive or a negative sense depending on context
10. Complex: difficult because of multiple interrelated factors
11. Complicated: see complex
12. Convoluted: see complex; with an additional connotation of twisting or intertwining
13. Cruel: marked by uncompromising difficulty that disregards the worker's welfare
14. Daunting: inspiring a feeling of great difficulty
15. Demanding: suggestive of a great commitment of time and effort
16. Distressing: causing emotional anguish
17. Effortful: requiring effort
18. Elusive: difficult to comprehend, or evasive
19. Exacting: requiring meticulous attention to detail, or requiring relentless effort
20. Exhausting: difficult in terms of physical or mental exertion
21. Formidable: discouraging because of expected difficulty; also has a positive connotation of impressiveness
22. Frustrating: producing feelings of hopelessness or defeat
23. Grievous: causing pain or suffering
24. Grim: evidencing unyielding difficulty or severity; can also mean "grim," "gloomy," or "sinister"
25. Grueling (also spelled gruelling): requiring unrelenting or extreme effort
26. Hairy: difficult (informal)
27. Harsh: excessively difficult
28. Heavy: involving great effort
29. Herculean: suggestive of great difficulty
30. Inhuman: so difficult as to seem beyond human capability
31. Insoluble: seemingly too difficult to be solved or resolved
32. Intimidating: so difficult that the task or prospect inspires fear or hopelessness
33. Intricate: see complex
34. Involved: see convoluted
35. Knotty: see convoluted
36. Labored: requiring wearying physical or mental exertion
37. Laborious: see labored
38. Merciless: marked by effort that seems to be required with no regard for the welfare of the worker
39. Moiling: requiring much effort
40. Murderous: suggestive of risk of physical or mental harm (informal)
41. Onerous: see burdensome
42. Opaque: difficult because of a lack of clarity or communication
43. Oppressive: harshly difficult
44. Overwhelming: too hard to do or bear without suffering
45. Painful: causing physical or mental discomfort or harm
46. Pick-and-shovel: suggestive of great manual effort
47-48. Problematic/problematical: difficulty in solving a problem
49. Punishing: difficulty heedless of consequences of physical or mental strain
50. Recondite: difficult to comprehend because of obscurity or the need to possess more knowledge
51. Rigid: inflexibly difficult
52. Rigorous: difficulty caused by conditions of inflexibility or requirements of great precision
53. Rugged: suggestive of conditions requiring strength and stamina
54. Serious: requiring a great deal of effort
55. Severe: difficult because of the nature of requirements or constraints or because of the need to expend great effort
56. Spiny: replete with difficulties
57. Sisyphean: suggestive of relentless, repetitive toil (a classical reference to Sisyphus, tormented in Hades by having to repeatedly roll a boulder up a hill, then retrieve it when it rolls down again)
58. Stiff: see rigid
59. Strenuous: see arduous
60. Stressful: so difficult as to cause tension or nervousness
61. Strict: difficult especially because of standards imposed
62. Stringent: see strict
63. Stubborn: persistently difficult
64. Sweaty: suggestive of great physical exertion, causing perspiration
65. Tall: see formidable (informal)
66. Taxing: see burdensome
67. Testing: calling for great effort, as if to test one's abilities
68. Thorny: see spiny
69. Ticklish: difficult because of the problem's sensitive nature
70. Tight: hard because of a lack of flexibility
71. Toilsome: see labored
72. Tough: physically or mentally demanding (informal)
73. Tricky: see ticklish
74. Trying: requiring great endurance
75. Uphill: see labored

Original Post: 75 Synonyms for "Hard"
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20 Pairs of One-Word and Two-Word Forms - DailyWritingTips
A Quiz on Treatment of 75 Compound Words - DailyWritingTips


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A Quiz on Treatment of 75 Compound Words

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 08:08 PM PST

Answers
1. Airborne
2. Antisocial
3. Audiovisual
4. Backlog
5. Blood pressure (in the dictionary, so never hyphenate, except when combined with another adjective, as in "high-blood-pressure medication")
6. Bookkeeping
7. Bull's-eye
8. Bylaw
9. Catchall
10. Checkbook
11. Childlike
12. Clearinghouse
13. Court-martial
14. Crew neck (in the dictionary, so never hyphenate)
15. Cross-reference
16. Dogsled
17. Fatherland
18. Far-reaching
19. Firsthand
20. Freestyle
21. Freeze-dried
22. Freshwater
23. Go-between
24. Great-uncle
25. Half brother (in the dictionary, so never hyphenate)
26. High school (in the dictionary, so never hyphenate)
27. Higher-ups
28. Household
29. Interagency
30. Keyword
31. Jewel-like (because of the collision of two ls)
32. Landmass
33. Life-size
34. Light-year
35. Long term (hyphenate only when the phrase modifies a following noun)
36. Lowercase
37. Mainframe
38. Mass-produced
39. Midweek
40. Mother ship (in the dictionary, so never hyphenate)
41. Multipurpose
42. Near collision (hyphenate only when the phrase modifies a following noun)
43. Northwest
44. Offshore
45. On-site
46. Oversupply
47. Pinecone
48. Pipeline
49. Policymaker (not in the dictionary, but other -maker constructions, such as winemaker, are closed; if it looks wrong, leave it open)
50. Postwar
51. Preexisting
52. President-elect
53. Pro-life
54. Pseudo-intellectual (not in the dictionary, bust pseudo- constructions in which the second word starts with a vowel, such as pseudo-event, are hyphenated; those in which the second word starts with a consonant, such as pseudopod, are closed)
55. Quasirealistic (not in the dictionary, but most quasi- constructions, such as quasiperiodic, are closed; it if it looks wrong, hyphenate it)
56. Real time (hyphenate only when the phrase modifies a following noun)
57. Record breaker (not in the dictionary, but all other compounds with breaker, such as "circuit breaker," are open)
58. Riverbed
59. Seacoast
60. Self-control
61. Semifinal
62. Shell-like (hyphenate only because of the collision of the ls)
63. Six-pack
64. Snowmelt
65. Socioeconomics
66. Stepmother
67. Stomachache
68. Stronghold
69. Toll free (hyphenate when the phrase modifies a following noun)
70. Twofold (but hyphenate with a number, as in 10-fold)
71. Underwater
72. Vice president (always open, though other compounds containing vice, such as vice-regent and viceroy, are treated differently)
73. Wildlife
74. Worldwide
75. Year-round


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Original Post: A Quiz on Treatment of 75 Compound Words
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20 Pairs of One-Word and Two-Word Forms

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 08:20 PM PST



Many common words and phrases are identical except for a strategic letter space — apart and "a part" come to mind — and though knowing which form to use in a sentence is often obvious (as in that example), the difference can be subtle. Here are some of the less clear-cut pairs:

1. Ahold/a hold: Ahold is a variant of the noun hold, used in such sentences as "I'll get ahold of you later." But when you mean to refer to an actual grip on something, use two words: "She really has a hold on you." If it's hard to decide which form to employ, try this test: If you can insert an adjective between a and hold, the two-word form is appropriate.

2. Already/all ready: Use the former when you need an adverb, as in "I told you already." The latter form is correct in sentences such as "We're all ready for the party."

3. Alot/a lot: These two forms are interchangeable except in one significant respect: The one-word version is wrong. It is used often in informal writing and may one day be standard, but until you get the official memo, refrain from using it if you want to be taken seriously as a writer.

4. Alright/all right: See item number 3.

5. Altogether/all together: The one-word form, an adverb, suffices to mean "completely" or "in total," as in "Altogether, we saved $100 on the deal." (It also means "nude" in the idiomatic phrase "in the altogether.") The phrase is appropriate for sentences such as "We are all together in this."

6. Anybody/any body: The on-word form is a pronoun used in such constructions as "He doesn't get along with anybody." The two-word adjective-noun form is applicable in limited contexts, such as in the sentence "Any body in motion responds to gravity."

7. Anymore/any more: The one-word form is used as an adverb in sentences such as "We don't go there anymore"; the two-word form consists of the adjective any and the noun more, as in "I just can't eat any more of that pie."

8. Anyone/any one: The one-word form is a pronoun, synonymous with anybody, used as in "Anyone can make that claim." "Any one" consists of the adjective any and the noun one, as in "Any one of you might be next."

9. Anyplace/any place: The adverb anyplace is a synonym for anywhere: "She won't let me go anyplace without her." The latter usage is an adjective-and-noun phrase that describes a location: "He doesn't want to go to any place he can't smoke."

10. Anything/any thing: Anything is the likely usage: "I don't remember anything." The two-word adjective-noun form is generally separated by an another adjective: "She's just does any little thing she wants."

11. Anytime/any time: To describe with what frequency something might occur, use the one-word adverbial form: "Stop by anytime." The two-word adjective-noun form is preceded by the word at: "You may leave at any time."

12. Anyway/any way: Anyway is a synonym for anyhow: "We didn't want to go anyway." The two-word adjective-noun form is preceded by the word in: "That doesn't change the results in any way."

13. Awhile/a while: The noun phrase "a while" and the adverb awhile are virtually interchangeable in a sentence, though you should precede the two-word form with the word for: "I think I'll sit here for a while" and "I think I'll sit here awhile" mean the same thing.

14. Cannot/can not: Cannot is virtually the only proper alternative. The second usage is wrong except in the correct awkward construction in the sentence "I can not go," meaning "I can decide not to go."

15. Everyday/every day: The one-word form is an adjective meaning "ordinary," used to describe something usual as in "These are my everyday clothes." The two-word phrase, an adverb, is used in such sentences as "I go there every day" to explain how something is done.

16. Everyone/every one: To refer to everybody, use one word: "Everyone's a critic." To emphasize a single individual or item, use two words: "Every one of them is broken."

17. Everything/every thing: Everything is the default choice: "You've ruined everything." The two-word adjective-noun form is usually divided by an additional adjective: "Every little thing she does is magic."

18. Maybe/may be: The first choice is an alternative to the adverb perhaps; the second is a verb phrase used in such sentences as "It may be that she was right after all."

19. Overtime/over time: As one word, this means word done beyond a regular shift: "I've worked overtime several days this week." As two words, it refers to the passage of time: "Over time, we've seen dramatic changes."

20. Sometime/some time: The one-word form is an adverb describing vagueness about when something will happen, as in "I'll get around to it sometime."



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Original Post: 20 Pairs of One-Word and Two-Word Forms
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A Quiz About Misplaced Modifiers - DailyWritingTips


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A Quiz About Misplaced Modifiers

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 08:17 PM PST



Modifying phrases intended to provide clarity can be counterproductive if placed in the wrong position in a sentence. Repair the improper installation of modifiers in the following sentences, then compare your solutions with my revisions at the bottom of the page:

1. "Joseph Priestley began to suspect that air was not a simple substance while he was at Leeds."

2. "It was under these conditions that Protestantism was introduced to Europe, a branch of Christianity that declared public festivities sinful and vulgar and convinced large numbers of people that their lives should be spent on disciplined labor and worship."

3. "He had accumulated millions of dollars there that couldn't be taken out of the country according to rules established after the war ended."

4. "I already had a number of books and comics under my belt I had drawn with my brother."

5. "A list of states with the highest past-year rates of driving while under the influence of alcohol among adults ages 18 or older follow."

Answers and Explanations
1. As organized, this sentence implies that the scientist limited his doubts about air's composition to the time he spent in Leeds, rather than stating that his suspicion began during his time there. To clarify the sentence, move the modifying phrase to the head of the sentence, and, for good measure, change the tense of the second verb, because air's substantive nature has not changed since Priestley's lifetime: "While he was at Leeds, Joseph Priestley began to suspect that air is not a simple substance."

2. Because Europe is the noun immediately preceding the gloss, a reader might assume that the gloss defines Europe, rather than Protestantism, the correct subject of the definition. To eliminate that ambiguity, move the reference to the continent to the end of the sentence so that the definition is a mid-sentence parenthetical: "It was under these conditions that Protestantism, a branch of Christianity that declared public festivities sinful and vulgar and convinced large numbers of people that their lives should be spent on disciplined labor and worship, was introduced to Europe."

3. This sentence is not egregiously incorrect, but the phrase beginning with according seems to modify country. It would be easier to read — and the most essential information would effectively be reserved for the end of the sentence — with the phrase inserted as a parenthetical: "He had accumulated millions of dollars there that, according to rules established after the war ended, couldn't be taken out of the country."

4. As constructed, this sentence implies that the writer and his brother had collaborated on drawing a belt, under which a number of books and comics were kept. The phrase "under my belt" should be shifted closer to the head of the sentence: "I already had under my belt a number of books and comics I had drawn with my brother."

5. This painfully contracted sentence needs to be relaxed. The impetus to avoid a weak "to be" form of a verb is admirable, but it is awkward for that verb to be located at the very end, after a confusingly extensive subject. It would be better to immediately state the location of the list, then uncoil the tightly wound phrase identifying the subject of the list: "The following is a list of states with the highest rates of adults ages 18 or older who drove within the last year while under the influence of alcohol." This is a rare instance in which the modifying phrase (in this case, the subject of the list) is more effectively placed at the end of the sentence, rather than inserted somewhere in its midst.





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35 Genres and Other Varieties of Fiction - DailyWritingTips


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35 Genres and Other Varieties of Fiction

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 08:49 PM PST



A previous post detailed synonyms for story. This entry defines words identifying various genres — categories of story types — and similar terms:

1. Adventure fiction: stories in which characters are involved in dangerous and/or exhilarating exploits

2. Airport novel: a work of fiction, generally genre fiction, so named because of its availability at stores in international airports in order to provide airline passengers with a light diversion during a flight

3. Allegory: a story using symbolism to express truths about the human condition

4. Bildungsroman: a story detailing the emotional and moral growth of a character

5. Black comedy: a story in which the humor derives from the misfortunes and/or reproachable behavior of characters

6. Comedy: a story with elements and situations intended to amuse

7. Comedy-drama: a story with both humorous and serious elements

8. Comedy of errors (farce): a story involving energetic action revolving around humorous predicaments and coincidences

9. Comedy of manners: a story that mocks class pretensions and/or prejudices

10. Crime fiction: stories based on the commission and/or investigation of wrongdoing

11. Detective fiction: stories in which the protagonist investigates a crime

12. Epic: originally a long poem celebrating the exploits of a factual or fictitious hero, but now applied to prose works on the same theme as well

13. Epistolary fiction: stories constructed as a series of letters exchanged between characters

14. Fantasy fiction: stories involving imaginary beings in the real world or in an alternate reality and assuming suspension of disbelief about magic and/or supernatural powers

15. Fictional autobiography: a story purporting to be a first-person account of someone's life

16. Fictional biography: a story structured to resemble a factual life story

17. Genre fiction: stories intended to appeal to readers because of adherence to a specific formula (such as adventure fiction or detective fiction), rather than on their literary merits

18. Gothic fiction: stories often taking place in an isolated setting and involving strange and/or perilous happenings

19. Horror fiction: stories incorporating supernatural and/or inexplicable elements and intended to arouse fear and dread

20. Melodrama: a story that emphasizes action over characterization and features exaggeratedly dramatic plot elements

21. Mystery fiction: stories that detail the solution of a crime or other wrongdoing

22. Pastiche: a story that imitates one or more established works, or consists of episodes of such works

23. Picaresque: an episodically structured story featuring a rogue or an antihero as the protagonist

24. Parody: a story mocking the pretensions or weaknesses of a particular author,
style, or genre

25. Romance: a love story; also a tale taking place in a distant time and place and involving adventure with often supernatural or mysterious elements

26. Romantic comedy: a lighthearted story detailing a romance and its complications

27. Romp: a boisterously comical tale

28. Satire: a story that pokes fun at human shortcomings such as arrogance, greed, and vanity

29. Science fiction: stories focusing on how science and technology affect individuals and civilizations

30. Screwball comedy: a fast-paced story involving improbable situations and antics from which the humor derives

31. Swashbuckler: an adventure story in which the hero accomplishes great feats to aid a noble cause

32. Thriller: a dramatic story punctuated with action, adventure, and suspense

33. Tragedy: a story with a catastrophic and/or unfortunate outcome

34. Tragicomedy: a story with both humorous and heartbreaking aspects

35. Travelogue: a story with a plot centering on a significant amount of travel



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Original Post: 35 Genres and Other Varieties of Fiction
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The Best of Daily Writing Tips in 2011
Posted: 01 Jan 2012 08:06 PM PST



First of all happy new year to all the Daily Writing Tips readers! Rest assured we'll keep sending you our best writing tips in 2012.

Below you'll find a compilation of the most visited posts we published in 2011. Make sure you haven't missed any!

100 Mostly Small But Expressive Interjections
7 Grammatical Errors That Aren't
100 Beautiful and Ugly Words
10 Latin Abbreviations You Might Be Using Incorrectly
100 Whimsical Words
Should You Self-Publish?
50 Problem Words and Phrases
20 Classic Novels You Can Read in One Sitting
Who Cares About "Whom" Anymore?
How Spelling Diverges Between American and British English
10 Words That Don't Mean What You May Think They Do
10 Comma Cases in Which More Is More
10 Pairs of Similar-Looking Near Antonyms
150 Foreign Expressions to Inspire You
Is "They" Acceptable as a Singular Pronoun?
50 Redundant Phrases to Avoid
10 Intensifiers You Should Really, Absolutely Avoid
The Other N-Words
7 Editing Pet Peeves
8 Steps to More Concise Writing
Original Post: The Best of Daily Writing Tips in 2011
Your eBook: Click here to download the Basic English Grammar ebook.

40 Synonyms for "Lie"
Posted: 30 Dec 2011 08:48 PM PST



Humans may not be the only species capable of deception, but we're probably the most sophisticated animals when it comes to lying, and our languages contain many words to describe variations of untruth. Here's a roster of synonyms in English for referring to lies and similar creations:

1. Bluff: a statement intended to deceive or confuse
2. Canard: an unsubstantiated story or report
3. Deceit: a deceptive statement
4. Deception: A statement or action intended to mislead
5. Distortion: a deviation from the true meaning, or an overstatement of proportion
6. Equivocation: a misleading or confusing statement based on the possibility of differing interpretations
7. Exaggeration: an overstatement or overemphasis
8. Fable: a fictitious statement or story, in the sense of something made up to explain or justify an unmerited action or state of affairs
9. Fabrication: a made-up fact or incident
10. Fairy tale: a misleading story, especially a simplistic one that would not be expected to deceive anyone
11. Fallacy: a deceptive or erroneous statement; also, a false idea or a flawed argument
12. Falsehood: something untrue or inaccurate
13. Falsification: an alteration of facts in order to deceive
14. Falsity (see falsehood)
15. Fib: a simple, perhaps transparent lie
16. Fiction: an invented statement or story
17. Half-truth: a statement with some basis in truth that nevertheless serves to deceive
18. Humbug: a false, deceptive, or nonsensical statement
19. Invention: a statement crafted to deceive
20. Jive: a deceptive, insincere, or nonsensical statement
21. Libel: a written or similarly presented lie that defames a person
23. Mendacity: an act of lying
23. Misconception: a poor understanding, perhaps deliberate, of a fact
24. Misinformation: a purported fact presented with the intent to deceive
25. Misinterpretation: a deviation from the facts or from a reasonable analysis of them
26. Misreport: an inaccurate account
27. Misrepresentation: an erroneous or unfair interpretation of facts
28. Misstatement: an inaccurate or erroneous comment
29. Myth: a perpetuated notion, belief, or tradition that is suspect or unfounded
30. Obliquity: a deviation from the truth to obscure or confuse
31. Perjury: a lie presented under oath
32. Pose: a false or deceptive position or self-representation
33. Pretense: an unsupported claim, an insincere purpose or intention, or a superficial effort
34. Prevarication: a deviation from the truth
35. Slander: an injuriously false statement about a person
36. Story: a lie, or a rumor
37. Tale: a false representation
38. Taradiddle: nonsense (also, see fib)
39. Untruth: a deviation from truth or the facts
40. Whopper: an outsized lie

10 Types of Hypercorrection - DailyWritingTips


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10 Types of Hypercorrection

Posted: 04 Jan 2012 08:41 PM PST



Well-meaning writers and editors sometimes mangle the language they're trying to manage — a fault called hypercorrection. Errors of this class are the result either of adherence to a spurious superstition about proper form, a misunderstanding about a point of grammar, or an attempt to fit a square idiom into a round pigeonhole. Here's a list of some of the categories of hypercorrection:

1. "A Number Of" Followed by a Singular Verb
Occasionally, a superficial understanding of what constitutes proper grammar leads writers to create a disagreeable subject/verb agreement such as "A number of members is supporting reform." But longstanding idiom trumps strict correctness: "A number of members are supporting reform" is correct, because the focus is on the members, not on the proportion of them supporting reform. The same commonsense rule holds for handful, majority, and similar terms.

2. As in Place of Like
Writers averse to like as an alternative to "such as" are also prone to replace like with as in such sentences as "He charges as a bull." "He charges as a bull would do" is correct but stilted; the shorter form implies "He charges in the capacity of a bull," rather than "He charges in the manner of a bull." What's not to like about like?

3. Double Adverbs
Avoid the urge to append an -ly ending to an adverb that doesn't require it. Flat adverbs do just fine without the suffix, and so do doubtless, much, seldom, thus, and others.

4. Foreign Articles Preceding Foreign Terms
When a noun phrase is temporarily borrowed from another language, writers might be tempted to precede it with an article from that language, as in "At the countess's wedding, she served as le fille d'honneur" ("maid of honor"). The term alone merits both the emphasis of italicization and the retention of the other language's form: "At the countess's wedding, she served as the fille d'honneur."

5. I Substituted for the Object Me
Some people, when they learn that the object in such constructions as "You and me are the same height" and "Me and John are the candidates" should read "You and I are the same height" and "John and I are the candidates," generalize that me is an undesirable pronoun, even when used in a sentence's subject, but "There's no difference in height between you and me" and "The candidates are John and me," unlike the sentence versions ending in the word I, are perfectly correct.

6. Latin Plurals Formed Incorrectly
The plural forms of words derived from Latin that end in -us are -uses or -i. Sometimes, the -uses ending is preferred over the alternative (for example, octopuses); sometimes, the reverse is true (as with foci); and sometimes only one form is correct (prospectuses). When in doubt, check the dictionary. When not in doubt, double-check anyway.

7. Prepositions Prevented from Ending a Sentence
Despite admonitions from numerous sources, including a previous post on this site, to ignore the pedantic prohibition against sentence-ending prepositions, some writers, in order to adhere to this fallacious "rule," persist in uncomfortably trussing sentences up. For example, "What did you do that for?" need not be twisted into "For what reason did you do that?" One could easily write "Why did you do that?" but that kind of cleanup is not always a viable alternative.

8. Unsplit Compound Verbs
There is a curious misunderstanding about compound verbs — phrases consisting of an auxiliary verb (a form of "to be") and another verb — analogous to the spurious "rule" about infinitives discussed below: Some writers mistakenly believe that adverbs should not be inserted between one verb and another, but that syntax is preferable. Nevertheless, they prefer the clumsy construction "They quietly were calling her name" to the perfectly acceptable wording "They were quietly calling her name."

9. Unsplit Infinitives
The persistent belief that the elements of an infinitive — to followed by a verb — should not be separated by an adverb can result in an ambiguous sentence, such as "I was preparing quickly to depart," which could mean "I was hurrying to prepare to depart" or I was preparing to depart hurriedly" — which are not the same thing. The former meaning should be expressed "I was quickly preparing to depart" and the latter should be written "I was preparing to quickly depart" (yes, it's acceptable to separate infinitives with an adverb) or "I was preparing to quickly depart."

10. Whom in Place of Who
The troublesome pronoun whom entangles many writers, not only at the head of a sentence but also when leading off a subordinate clause, as in the erroneous example "The top vote-getter is Smith, whom Jones knows is a poor choice." Whom, here, is not the object of knows; it is the subject of is, and who is the correct companion of a linking verb.



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Original Post: 10 Types of Hypercorrection
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75 Synonyms for "Talk"

Posted: 05 Jan 2012 08:36 PM PST



Talk, talk, talk — it's all the same. Or is it? There are many ways to talk, and each has its own word (or words) for it. Here's a noncomprehensive roster of many synonyms for the noun and verb forms of talk (I had to stop somewhere):

1. Babble: enthusiastic or excessive talk, or meaningless sounds or nonsense words; to talk in this manner
2. Back talk: a disrespectful response; to respond disrespectfully
3. Backchat: see back talk, badinage, and gossip
4. Badinage: light, witty talk
5. Banter: see badinage, with a connotation of good-natured teasing or arguing; to engage in such talk
6. Barb: a hurtful and/or critical comment
7. Blandish: see cajole
8. Blandishments: see cajolery/cajolement
9. Blarney: nonsensical talk
10. Bluster: boastful or threatening talk; to speak boastfully or threateningly
11. Cackle: see chatter (verb only)
12. Cajole: to persuade with soothing or flattering remarks
13-14. Cajolery/cajolement: talk with the intent to persuade
15. Causerie: see chat (noun only)
16. Chaff: see badinage; also, to tease good-naturedly
17. Chat: an idle or inconsequential conversation; to engage in such talk
18. Chatter: quick, extensive, and/or aimless talk; to talk in such a manner
19. Chin music: see chat (noun only)
20. Chinwag: informal talking; to talk informally
21. Chitchat: see badinage
22. Circumlocution: evasive or verbose talk
23. Comment: an opinion or observation; to say something of this type
24. Confab: see chat (also, a formal meeting)
25. Confabulation: see chat and confab (also, something made up)
26. Confer: to exchange opinions or seek advice
27. Conference: a meeting, or an event consisting of presentations and/or meetings
28. Confess: to admit to a thought or action considered improper or shameful
29. Conversation: a talk between or among two or more people
30. Converse: to speak back and forth with one or more people
31. Crack: an uncomplimentary comment; also, to quickly say something, as when spontaneously telling a joke pertinent to a situation
32. Dig: see crack
33. Discuss: to engage in serious talk
34. Discussion: a serious talk
35. Dish: see gossip
36. Double-talk: intentionally confusing or ambiguous language, or talk that is at least partially meaningless; to engage in such talk
37. Fast-talk: to persuade or influence by deceptively authoritative and/or flattering speech
38. Flibbertigibbet: see gossip
39. Gab: see chatter
40. Gabfest: talking consisting of gab
41. Give-and-take: an exchange of ideas or comments
42. Gossip: see chat, with an additional connotation of talk or talking about the personal lives of one or more other people (also, someone who engages in such talk)
43. Jangle: see chat
44. Jaw: see chat
45. Jest: a humorous or mocking statement; to make such a statement
46. Natter: see chat
47. Negotiate: to talk in order to reach an agreement
48. Negotiation: a talk in which the speakers seek to reach an agreement
49. Palaver: a discussion or conference, especially one between unequal participants, or deceptive speech, or see chat; to talk idly, try to persuade or deceive, or come to terms
50. Parley: see confer, with the possible connotation of talk between antagonists to agree to terms to cease hostilities; to engage in such talk
51. Patter: quick or monotonous speech, as in delivering a humorous speech or in rote delivery of prayers; to speak in this manner
52. Pillow talk: romantic talk, such as would be engaged in while the speakers are in bed
53. Pleasantry: polite, inconsequential talk, or see banter and jest (nouns only)
54. Quip: a spontaneous observation or response; to say something of this type
55. Raillery: see banter and jest
56. Rap: see chat and patter
57-58. Recital/recitation: public delivery of read or memorized material, or of details or answers
59. Recite: to deliver read or memorized material, or details or answers
60. Remark: a statement of judgment or opinion, or a reference to something notable; to comment in this manner
61. Repartee: an exchange of clever, witty statements, a single such response, or skill in talking in this manner
62. Schmooze: see chat, with the connotation of one conducted so as to gain personal or professional advantage; to talk in this manner
63. Small talk: see badinage
64. Spit: to talk about things or opinions a listener disagrees with or disapproves of
65. Straight talk: frank, straightforward talk
66. Sweet nothings: flattering talk intended to charm a potential or existing romantic partner
67. Sweet talk: talk intended to persuade, or to endear oneself to the speaker; to engage in this kind of talk (the verb form is hyphenated)
68. Table talk: informal talking such as that heard during a dinner party
69. Tete-a-tete: an intimate or private talk
70. Waggery: see banter and jest
71. Wisecrack: a clever or sarcastic comment; to make such a comment
72. Wordplay: witty, playful talk
73. Yack: to talk at length
74. Yammer: to talk relentlessly, or to complain
75. Yap: excessive talk (also, slang for mouth)

I'll follow up with a list of more elaborate idioms about talk and talking like "shoot the breeze," but let me (and other site visitors) known which synonyms I missed.



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Original Post: 75 Synonyms for "Talk"
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