Do you agree? Too much to do in so little time! I’ve learned that you can do only so much; then you have to take a breather; go for a walk; go to a movie, pick up groceries; plant a garden; take pictures of your grandkids…
So I took a breather. And what did I do? Worked on a new project! (Of course I don't listen to my inner critic. Who does!)
A primary project has been put on hold… again. I’m putting together a series of short grammar articles for eBooks, called Grammar In Your Pocket. Each article focuses on a part of speech or punctuation or writing problem. Each is short. Each tells you all you need to know — or want to — about that subject. Plans are to put out one article a week. If you download the complete set, you’ll have everything you need to know about grammar, right in your pocket, easy to carry around with you and access as you need it.
Let’s say you’re wondering about a word to capitalize. Open the series marked “Nouns” and go to the “Capitalize” section and… there you have it.
My problem? I’m learning to fine-tune work for easy reading on electronic readers. Fun and confusing. With a good wind and a lot of luck, you can look for the Introductory article next week (before Easter) and every week thereafter.
What the hell is a Grammar Anarchist? You can be one! Since we don’t have a U.S. language, feel FREE to set your own rules -- interpret grammar YOUR WAY. You’re not in England anymore. Join the anarchy of U.S. grammar! Make your choices and preserve them in YOUR STYLE MANUAL. —The Grammar Anarchist
Contact the Grammar Anarchist with your questions about grammar and language at grammaranarchist@gmail.com
Get a personal reply at Val@valdumond.com
Get a personal reply at Val@valdumond.com
Showing posts with label G-R-A-M-M-A-R. Show all posts
Showing posts with label G-R-A-M-M-A-R. Show all posts
Friday, April 11, 2014
Bizzy, Bizzy, Bizzy
Labels:
Ebooks,
Estuff,
Finding Grammar Guidelines,
Fun With Grammar,
G-R-A-M-M-A-R,
good grammar,
Grammar function,
Time and tide
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Why Grammar?
As a grammarian and word person, I am constantly asked why grammar is important. “Why do I have to understand what words go together and which ones don’t?” “What's the difference if I use double negatives?” “Why do we even have apostrophes — much less, how do we use them?”
Having order to the way we communicate by mouth and writing is as important as having some order to the way we communicate via the Internet and email. Sure there are different systems, or styles. But computer-ese makes communication between computers — and therefore between people — possible. If your computer cannot talk to mine, we cannot get together on anything.
Grammar is like the coding in computers, in that knowing how it works makes it work better. Read a good book about language: The Anarchist’s Guide to Grammar, by Val Dumond, or The Language Instinct, by Steven Pinker. I guarantee you’ll come away with more respect for the guidelines offered through the order of language.
No, it’s not British English or Australian English or Canadian English — not in the good old US of A! Which is why we in the U.S. have the most beautiful and flexible language in the world. Why? Because it is composed of all the other languages — with all their styles and systems in one room, together.
Bless us all, everyone, for our language and knowing how to order it!
Having order to the way we communicate by mouth and writing is as important as having some order to the way we communicate via the Internet and email. Sure there are different systems, or styles. But computer-ese makes communication between computers — and therefore between people — possible. If your computer cannot talk to mine, we cannot get together on anything.
Grammar is like the coding in computers, in that knowing how it works makes it work better. Read a good book about language: The Anarchist’s Guide to Grammar, by Val Dumond, or The Language Instinct, by Steven Pinker. I guarantee you’ll come away with more respect for the guidelines offered through the order of language.
No, it’s not British English or Australian English or Canadian English — not in the good old US of A! Which is why we in the U.S. have the most beautiful and flexible language in the world. Why? Because it is composed of all the other languages — with all their styles and systems in one room, together.
Bless us all, everyone, for our language and knowing how to order it!
Labels:
British vs. U.S. Grammar,
Choose Your Words,
Computers and Grammar,
Finding Grammar Guidelines,
Fun With Grammar,
G-R-A-M-M-A-R
Monday, March 25, 2013
Where’s the Camera?
I’m here, Mr. Demille, for my closeups! The Anarachist's Guide to Grammar is receiving great reviews and more notice than I expected. However much I am proud of this book — the best grammar book you’ll ever need — I wasn’t that sure that anyone was reading much grammar lately.
The U.S. language is different from all those other “Englisher” languages out there. Don’t even call it “American” (There are too many other Americans — everyone from Canadian through Mexican and Guatamalan to Argentinian and Chilean). We’re special!
If we take pride in our country, we ought also to pride ourselves on our language. Yes, it’s different.
It’s free, it’s flexible, it’s original, it’s creative. But most of all it belongs to the U.S. and the U.S. alone! Don’t ever forget that.
Show your pride in your respect for all things grammary!
The U.S. language is different from all those other “Englisher” languages out there. Don’t even call it “American” (There are too many other Americans — everyone from Canadian through Mexican and Guatamalan to Argentinian and Chilean). We’re special!
If we take pride in our country, we ought also to pride ourselves on our language. Yes, it’s different.
It’s free, it’s flexible, it’s original, it’s creative. But most of all it belongs to the U.S. and the U.S. alone! Don’t ever forget that.
Show your pride in your respect for all things grammary!
Labels:
Americans or USers,
Anarchist’s Rant,
G-R-A-M-M-A-R,
Language
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Partitioned Writing
Partitioned Writing is what she called it. “I write memos and notes without thinking about g-r-a-m-m-a-r; I write to my friends as if I’m speaking to them; I write my newspaper column using the language of the paper’s style manual; I write my books with my own writing style — my own flair. I partition my writing to fit the occasion and the reader.”
That’s exactly what Writing is all about; that’s what Grammar is all about.
That’s exactly what Writing is all about; that’s what Grammar is all about.
Think: Reader;
Think: Occasion.
Then W-R-I-T-E!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Gramma’s G-R-A-M-M-A-R
Grrrr! I keep receiving emails asking me questions about “grammer”. Grrr! Wouldn’t you think that word would be spelled “right”? Wait-a-minute...maybe it is. Spelling changes with the times. Your dictionary may show the word “grammar” comes from gramere (Middle English), gramaire (Old French) and even from gramma and grammat, meaning “letters”. Is it any wonder we wonder about our wonder-ful language?
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