tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post8619425906847890872..comments2023-06-12T17:08:36.320+01:00Comments on How Publishing <i>Really</i> Works: Grammar: Essential ReferencesJane Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-43872443094754456072009-04-15T21:47:00.000+01:002009-04-15T21:47:00.000+01:00Jane,
The original edition of Strunk's Elements o...Jane,<br /><br />The original edition of Strunk's Elements of Style is available for free online here:<br /><br />http://www.bartleby.com/141/<br /><br />it's not necessarily the best resource for looking up a particular rule, but it's a very quick read with lessons that can last a lifetime.<br /><br />Some of the subjects, especially in the slang section, are dated, but Strunk's emphasis is on clarity -- the main purpose of grammar is the clear relaying of information and emotion. As long as you keep sight of that, many grammar problems will seem to simply slip away.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03438359874787679885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-22154309951972669762009-04-08T20:15:00.000+01:002009-04-08T20:15:00.000+01:00Hi Jane,I am absoultely rubbish at spelling and gr...Hi Jane,<BR/>I am absoultely rubbish at spelling and grammer.I have mentioned this in a very small place on my blog- i'm not the writer in our house-and i don't profess to be a writer...only the wife.<BR/>If i feel the need i sometimes get The Writer to check over stuff i've written. But that means he reads my inner most darkest thoughts. And that's not good. Because they are mostly about him.<BR/>SHxxShakespeare's Housekeeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04968403409072725481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-59948398173011791512009-04-06T23:16:00.000+01:002009-04-06T23:16:00.000+01:00Well, today I liberated a book called "Description...Well, today I liberated a book called "Descriptionary: A Thematic Dictionary" from languishing unloved in an Oxfam shop. Bless.nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-40951449904485278412009-04-06T19:48:00.000+01:002009-04-06T19:48:00.000+01:00Oooh, new grammar toys. Thanks!Oooh, new grammar toys. Thanks!Pepper Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00088936125225559789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-63070491825976480932009-04-05T21:09:00.000+01:002009-04-05T21:09:00.000+01:00Being a grammarian, or the Lynn Truss stylee "Stic...Being a grammarian, or the Lynn Truss stylee "Stickler", I wholeheartedly approve of these recommendations!Chicklit Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00790097953094655110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-38870334996714053032009-04-05T14:11:00.000+01:002009-04-05T14:11:00.000+01:00They're really good, I'm sure, but not so useful f...They're really good, I'm sure, but not so useful for dyslexics like me. I've yet to find one that fits the bill. Perhaps I'll write one with a navy background and white fonts - perfect for dyslexics or as I like to call us, curly thinkers:)Fiona Mackenzie. Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669889070557241716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-4177447381794044332009-04-04T23:33:00.000+01:002009-04-04T23:33:00.000+01:00No Fowler's? Heresy! :DMy dad bought it for me, a...No Fowler's? Heresy! :D<BR/><BR/>My dad bought it for me, along with Eats, Shoots and Leaves, and another grammar book whose title escapes me. Bless.<BR/><BR/>(word ver: uncleast -- someone who doesn't own a Fowler's ;).nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-25179953455984659922009-04-04T22:48:00.000+01:002009-04-04T22:48:00.000+01:00My favourite is "A communicative grammar of Englis...My favourite is "A communicative grammar of English" by Leech and Svartvik - bought years ago when I was still only an adolescent kitten. It is probably out of print but it was designed to teach TEFL students. Are cats TEFL students?<BR/>Seriously, it is excellent!catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-25279763717310370272009-04-04T18:00:00.000+01:002009-04-04T18:00:00.000+01:00Buffy, I shall tell this to you but to no one else...Buffy, I shall tell this to you but to no one else. I don't own a copy of <I>Fowler's.</I><BR/><BR/>WW, I've always thought of the Chicago manual as being suitable and useful for editors, but not strictly necessary for writers: it's several house-bricks in size, and more detailed than most writers need, I'd have thought: add to that its cost and I'll admit, I don't own a copy of that one, either. <BR/><BR/>DG, I'm not familiar with this one: go to Absolute Write (link on the right if you've not been there before), and search the "Bewares and Background Checks" for a thread on this person or agent. If there's not one there already, then perhaps you should start one. Dave of P&E posts there regularly, and so does Victoria Struass (I tag along sometimes too). But you're more likely to find people there who know about the agency concerned, and who know their way around publishing, than you are anywhere else.Jane Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-57170558697130900512009-04-04T17:37:00.000+01:002009-04-04T17:37:00.000+01:00Although it takes some serious wading to refresh m...Although it takes some serious wading to refresh my brain on a specific grammar topic, I really prefer wading through my Chicago Manual of Style. <BR/><BR/>But I probably could use a quick reference book, too.writtenwyrddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02280711822302493122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-6605939567300341902009-04-04T17:35:00.000+01:002009-04-04T17:35:00.000+01:00Sorry this is a question, rather than a comment (t...Sorry this is a question, rather than a comment (though I have to say, I'm rather fond of Lynn Truss's 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' funny and informative).<BR/><BR/>I now have an agent, but when looking approached John King. <BR/><BR/>www.brandon-associates.co.uk<BR/><BR/>Something about them didn't smell right and I withdrew my submission. They seem to be agents AND publish work... <BR/><BR/>But, after reading Kristin's post today over at Pub Rants, I was struck with guilt. What if they are dodgy and someone else got scammed. Do you know anything about them? They're not on P and E. <BR/><BR/>Thanks Jane! You are a superstar.DGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-50454045335206720572009-04-04T11:55:00.000+01:002009-04-04T11:55:00.000+01:00I have Fowler's English Usage (updated version) an...I have Fowler's English Usage (updated version) and a TEFL grammar book that I bought to find arguments to justify me when I know I'm right :D.nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5519912440753252776.post-36900734081140098102009-04-04T11:13:00.000+01:002009-04-04T11:13:00.000+01:00They both look really useful. My 'how-to-writing-...They both look really useful. My 'how-to-writing-books' shelf is bending in the middle but another couple won't hurt, surely.HelenMWaltershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16182100572365505905noreply@blogger.com