Key Grammar Tricks
This topic cannot be posted in. If you have any special tricks or tools of your own, please go post in Tools of the Trade topic. Thank you (: Mind you I'm no expert I just know the basics.
In the topic there will be a total of six posts to help you learn the basics.
Ending the sentence with punctuation mark.
Using Punctuation Marks and using :Bold, Italic, and Underline correctly.
Paragraphs
Word Play
Past and Present Tense
Detail and Description
For more on developing a story plot or characters, visit the Character and Plot Development Topic.
Extra random advice.
When your writing, read it out loud in your head, or even out loud if that works better for you.
Always reread your work for mistakes and if you make additions, make sure to go over them for mistakes before moving on. Spellcheck is one of your best friends. You may also request a Beta Reader.
Captials should only pertain to things such as a persons name, place (like a country or city or kingdom) or title.
I may add more on other things, but you can always go post about it in Tools of the Trade and share your own advice.
4/17/2012 . Edited 4/17/2012 #1 ReportAfter every sentence, you need to have a cut off.
.
…
!
?
. After a normal sentence.
(I.E.)
Luna looked around for a quick escape but was dismayed when she couldn't find one.
… Could be used at the end of a sentence, at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle. Think of this as a slow pause when your reading outloud.
(I.E.)
Luna looked around for a quick escape… but she was dismayed when she couldn't find one.
…it was gone. She looked around for an escape, but she knew she wouldn't be able to find one…
! Is often used after shouting so some form of surprise or anger.
(I.E.)
"Help!" Luna cried desperately.
"Help!" Luna shouted in anger, her tail twitching furiously.
"Help!" Luna called surprised. It was so sudden!
? Is after any form of question.
(I.E.)
"What happened?"
"How did that happen?"
"When did that happen?"
"Why did that happen?"
"Who was is?"
"Where did that happen?"
It doesn't need to be specifically like that either.
"Is she the Princess?" Luna wondered.
"Princess Serenity was Usagi?" Luna questioned to herself, astonished.
, is not used to end a sentence with, ever.
MIND you that … is similar to , in which is comes off being read or sounds like a pause, but it also separates things such as lists and such. If you have two of the same words next to each other, etc.
(I.E.)
She had many things. Money, fame and beauty.
She was confused, she was annoyed. She didn't deserve any of this!
"So, when are they going to get here?"
"When, when did you get here?" How, how could this be!
4/17/2012 . Edited 4/17/2012 #2 ReportBold, Italic, Underline
I often see many people using these three things very differently, but it is best to use them the way they were made for.
"" These are best used for speech.
'' are best used for thought. I happen to preferItalicwhen writing out thoughts or flashbacks. When a flashback is written completely inItalicthen it would be good to also use '' for thoughts.
Italic
is best used for thoughts or flashbacks. Also good for adding drama to a word.
(I.E.)
Luna was stunned to see Artemis standing before her, as a human.
Bold
is best used as an additive to create drama to the written experience.
(I.E.)
WHAM! The tail of the monster had struck at her so fast she had no time to dodge as she was sent flying in the matter of a mere seconds.
She couldn't believe it. It was Impossible. It couldn't be…
Underline
It is best used for titles. I rarely use this in any story I write. Instead I use it to underline my title, or an important sentence I want read, or under author names or story titles.
The best way to get used to these things is read it in your head at least once, and out loud at least once, until you get the gift of where the placement is best. What sounds write.
4/17/2012 . Edited 4/17/2012 #3 ReportParagraphs
Reading a giant paragraph, especially one on a computer screen, is extremely annoying and often makes me want to not read a story.
If you character is talking, that in itself is it's own paragraph. If a new character is going to talk, they get their own paragraph. Remember to add detail and description.
(I.E.)
Luna looked around in confusion, her ruby eyes were conflicted as she thought to herself. "We need to do something…"
Artemis frowned, worried. "What can we do?"
(If you have a smaller sentence, with little description and your character speaks twice but you want to break it up to add a bit more description…)
(I.E.)
Luna looked around in confusion, her ruby eyes were conflicted as she thought to herself. "We need to do something…"
Artemis frowned, worried. "What can we do?"
Luna frowned. "Nothing." Her heart broke. "We can do nothing."
4/17/2012 . Edited 4/17/2012 #4 ReportWord Play
A thesaurus is the best friend of any writer along with spellcheck. Don't let your stories have words that are too constant.
Like saying "Usagi said". There are many words to show speech. (Also, you don't always need to have their name and form of speech, especially when it's a conversation between just two people.)
You can use said, reply, questioned, pondered, shouted, screamed, cried, demanded, sobbed, and many many more.
Also be weary of using words wrong.
There. Their. They're. These are three words that sound EXACTLY the same. Say this word out loud or in your head to get it right. There refers to places and such. Their refers to possession, as in it's not mine it's theirs, when writing they're say the sentence out loud or in your head as THEY ARE so as not to get them confused.
Your and you're. Your refers to a form of possession. The card is yours. When writing you're, think YOU ARE. You're so silly! You are so silly!
4/17/2012 . Edited 4/17/2012 #5 ReportPast and Present Tense
I have a lot of trouble with this my self. That is why you should always read and edit your work before posting, or have a beta reader.
(I.E.)
It was happening so quickly she couldn't believe her eyes!
(I.E.)
It had happened so suddenly, she didn't believe what her eyes had seen!
Do not combine these two methods u_u I have done that, unfortunately. Again reread your work for mistakes before posting.
4/17/2012 . Edited 4/17/2012 #6 ReportDetail and Description
To add more detail to your story, try to picture what your writing in your head. Ask yourself questions.
What does the scenery look like? Are they inside? Outside? Underground? In the water? In space? What does that place look like? What kind of weather is in this place?
What day is it? What's your character wearing? What does your character look like? Is their expression angry? Happy? Are they scowling? Smiling? Crying? What does their crying look like?
You don't want to go overboard with too much detail or description, it can overwhelm a story to the point it is not enjoyable to read. Do not UNDER develop your detail or description as it has the same effect.
Here is an example.
(I.E)
Serenity's long silver tresses were billowing in a desolate breeze. Her silver eyes were lowered and misty. An immense and painful grief seemed to over her pale features as she fell to her knees and cried. The sobs racked her body and she quickly threw her fist against the ground. She punched the dirt and rocks with a fierce and overwhelming sorrow, and her pain became maddening as she let a scream shake her body to it's core.
She steadily quieted down, her silent form rocking back and forth slowly as she clutched her knees around to her chest tightly.
"No." She whispered brokenly. "No… this… this can't be happening!" Another cry racked her form and she fell over onto her side, where she saw the Stone Sword in her dead friends hand.
Her slim hand clutched Sailor Venus's death grip on the sword, lingering for a second at the cold empty feel of the Leader of her inner court, before she withdrew the sword from her friends dead grasp.
Looking at Endymoin and then to the sky, she brought the sword with both hands in front of her chest, a lingering thought escaped her as she pledged the sword through her heart. We'll be together again.
(Example Over)
I added description to Serenity's looks. I didn't overwhelm it by going from head to toe. That kind of description is okay, every once and awhile in a story, and still… don't over due it.
In a short but sweet way I gave you an idea that her hair is long, it's the color silver and that her eyes are also silver.
I also gave a description on what her facial expression was like but adding detail to her emotions.
I added that their was a desolate breeze to add depth to the surrounding, and the current situation.
I add what Serenity was doing in her actions, I made her speak and I made her think. I wrote in what was around her and what it meant to her, and what she did.
When you want to add more detail or description, question yourself. Picture what is happening in your head and write it down.
Is it sunny? Is it raining? What does she look like? What does he look like? What are they thinking? What are they saying? What are they doing? Does it make her skirt swish? Is his tie to tight? Does he loosen it? What is his expression?
Ask yourself quesitons aboout your own story, and ANSWER them in the way you write it.
Add depth to your scenes. It will transform your writing into a more enjoyable piece of work.
AS ALWAYS the best form of having correct grammar and such, is to reread your work before you post it, or get a beta reader to do it for you.
Also, very important is your character and plot development, please visit that topic in the forum and any others you wish to look at.
4/17/2012 . Edited 4/17/2012 #7 Report Reply 
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