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Started this discussion. Last reply by David Bowman Dec 31, 2009. 2 Replies 0 Likes
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David Bowman posted a blog postThe Confusion of And vs. To
The Confusion of And vs. ToEnglish can be a difficult language to learn, not because English grammar is tricky (though it can be) but because the language can be vague. Word choice, in particular, can be very confusing, particularly when more than one word is possible.Here’s a question I received recently about the nuances of the English language.Question: Which of the following is correct:a. I would like to send Peter an email AND give him my regards.b. I would like to send Peter an email TO…See More
David Bowman posted a blog postDiet and Exercise Plan for Your Writing
Does your writing have that bloated, overstuffed feeling? Do you have the habit of packing in more words than needed for clear communication? Are your readers easily fatigued by your writing? Do you send out your documents without first subjecting them to rigorous and strenuous editing? Do you run out of breath when reading aloud? If you…See More
David Bowman posted a blog postGood Subjects for Writing
Choosing the Right Type of SubjectWhen deciding what the subject of your sentence will be, you have three types of nouns from which to choose: creatures,…See More
David Bowman posted a blog postIrony and Poetic Justice
Is It Ironic? Case 1. You’re walking down the street with a friend. Ahead of you, you see a man stumble on a crack in the sidewalk. Your friend laughs at the man. A moment later, your friend trips on the same crack. “Oh,” you say, “that’s so ironic!” No, it isn’t. That’s not ironic. Case 2. Later, you go home and turn on the television. You see a news story about a politician getting hauled into court for lying under oath. That same politician had recently accused fellow politicians of being…See More
David Bowman replied to Carlo Tagliano's discussion 'sentence formation' in the group Writing Resources"The sentence, though awkward, is correct. If you structure it more normally, the use of "were" becomes obvious:
"His eyes were open as wide as his mouth."
"Were" applies to "eyes," not to "mouth."…"
David Bowman posted a blog postCommas with That and Which
I’ll answer two questions at the same time. Do you use that or which? Do you need commas with that and which? To answer both questions, you need to understand restrictive and non-restrictive phrases and clauses. Here are the answers in brief.1. Use which and commas with non-restrictive phrases and clauses.2. Use that and no commas with restrictive phrases and clauses. Now, let find out why. Restrictive phrases and clauses: A restrictive phrase or clause points out which thing you are writing…See More
David Bowman posted a blog postSubject–Verb Agreement
The basics of subject–verb agreement. The number of the subject determines the number of the verb. In other words, if the subject is plural, the verb, too, must be appropriate for plural subjects. The following samples demonstrate singular and subject verbs.Singular Noun Samples: cat, I John, flowerPlural Noun Samples: cats, we, John and Bob, flowersSubject–Verb agreement causes problems only in the present tense. Unlike verbs in other tenses (e.g., past tense, future tense), present tense…See More
David Bowman posted a blog post12 Major Comma Uses Explained
Commas are confusing because they are used in many ways. However, the basic principle to using commas is simple: Use commas to separate clauses and phrases within sentences that have their own meaning.The “rules” for commas below are broadly, but not universally, accepted. However, a careful writer considers two central issues:Reader understanding andConsistency.The comma guidelines below will help readers understand your message in many cases. However, even if they are not necessary to improve…See More
David Bowman posted a blog postMaking Long Paragraphs Work
Paragraph quality is not determined by its length, long or short. Rather, quality is determined by how well the paragraph communicates a single idea. Long paragraphs, however, can be difficult simply because they are long.The following 2 strategies will help you write long paragraphs that work.Day 137: Use topic…See More
David Bowman posted a blog postThose Doggoned Sentences
I love dogs, and I love a good mystery. So when I came across the Chet and Bernie mystery series, I was ecstatic. The books are narrated from the perspective of Chet, the dog. I really enjoyed this as too many times in books and movies, animals are overly anthropomorphized. I cuddled up at night with books one and two, Dog on It…See More
Brian L Thompson commented on David Bowman's blog post 'The 3 Cs of Effective Paragraphs'"I am in search of an MD or PhD that wants to make good money and do little work, assisting me on a great book that I am writing about tools and treatments for mental health."
David Bowman posted a blog postThe 3 Cs of Effective Paragraphs
Every well-written paragraph needs three parts: context, content, and conclusion. These three parts are known collectively as the 3 Cs. When you use the 3 Cs, you present information logically, you help the reader understand your message, and you demonstrate the relevance of your idea.Context. The first sentence (or two) of a…See More
J. Helen Elza commented on David Bowman's blog post 'Action Verbs Good. Nominalizations Bad.'"David,
Thank you so much for this. I never expected to get great instructors for free when I joined this group. Please join my group of friends. Learning is my thing and you are well equipped to teach.
Happy…"
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The Confusion of And vs. To
Posted on April 3, 2013 at 11:47pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
The Confusion of And vs. To
English can be a difficult language to learn, not because English grammar is tricky (though it can be) but because the language can be vague. Word choice, in particular, can be very confusing, particularly when more than one word is possible.
Here’s a question I received recently about the nuances of the English language.
Question: Which of the following is correct:
a. I would like to send Peter an email AND give him my regards.
b. I…
Diet and Exercise Plan for Your Writing
Posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:16am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Does your writing have that bloated, overstuffed feeling? Do you have the habit of packing in more words than needed for clear communication? Are your readers easily fatigued by your writing? Do you send out your documents without first subjecting them to rigorous and strenuous editing? Do you run out of breath when reading…
Irony and Poetic Justice
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 1:02am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Is It Ironic?
Case 1. You’re walking down the street with a friend. Ahead of you, you see a man stumble on a crack in the sidewalk. Your friend laughs at the man. A moment later, your friend trips on the same crack. “Oh,” you say, “that’s so ironic!” No, it isn’t. That’s not ironic.
Case 2. Later, you go home and turn on the television. You see a news story about a politician getting hauled into court for lying under oath. That same…
ContinueComment Wall (3 comments)
- At 1:56pm on November 6, 2009,
scribbler said… - Nice to meet you David. Welcome to Authors.com. :) I hope you enjoy being amongst us and I’ll look forward to hearing more about your likes and dislikes when it comes to books.
- At 2:19am on November 8, 2009,
Kay Elizabeth said… - Hey I know you! :) Great to see you here, David. I'm glad you found time to come by to check it out. Take care!
- At 5:21pm on April 4, 2011,
Lisa R.Brereton said… Hi David,
Welcome, so nice to have you here. I am an Author of self-help guide books, and I plan on having 6 series in all. what books do you like? it would be nice to learn more about your writings.
Lisa Brereton
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