Month: July 2015

Anymore, or Any More? Which One To Use, and When To Use It!

Angela3 Comments

The lovely English language has several words that can be written two ways, and mean two different things, when used properly, in two different ways. (Yes; more comma-abuse by yours-truly!)

Store Image Pictures 008

Anymore, or any more? Awhile, or a while?

Anymore is considered a misspelling by many readers, writers, and editors. Most feel that any more is only interchangeable with any longer, and that anymore is an adjective that should never be used. Because they feel it is not a real word.  As a note, when I am reading something and see this, it doesn’t make me cringe.  When I am editing and see it, I change it to any more.

Awhile should only be used when it can be substituted with ‘for a while’, and still make sense.

“We waited awhile before getting our table.” or “We waited for a while before getting our table.”

This is considered an adverb.

The word ‘while’ can be used as a noun, and in this case you need to say ‘a while’, and not ‘awhile’.

“I just talked to him a while ago.” Saying “I just talked to him for a while ago,” does not make sense. This lets you know it is a noun in this sentence, and not an adverb.

I think most difficult English language situations can be figured out by substituting the word/phrase that is in question, and see if it still makes sense.

What ones trip you up?

For My New FB Friends ~

Angela4 Comments

Thank you for all of the friend requests, and the friend accepts, and the likes on my page. I have been trying for days to get into my account, but Facebook has locked me out. Because No, my name is not Angelas Opinions, but my website is booksandopinions.com, and my name is indeed Angela.

So they are demanding Proof of my name, which after having my bank account hacked last Tuesday night, and being locked out of all of my money when I was leaving for vacation in less than 36 hours, I gave them my real name, and now they will not let me prove it. They will also not let me submit a picture of my drivers license, but are blocking me because I won’t.

WHAT????

So anyhow….I am working on it, and can still at least accept your friend requests, although I cannot do anything else with my page. Which is really putting a crimp in my business-side of it.

I will get it fixed.

Or I will be creating another account, and asking you all to be my friends again…I am so very sorry…

Go Set A Watchman – Harper Lee

Angela3 Comments

I want to tell you I loved it; but I can’t. I am not ready to tell you I hated it, either. I tried my best to ignore all of the spoilers and media-hype as I was reading this story, and I think I was fairly successful.

photo courtesy of http://pastemagazine.com
photo courtesy of http://pastemagazine.com

But; life goes on as it always goes on, and I was well beyond distracted with work, daughters, school-things, editing, and oh, yeah: I have not been feeling well for 6+ days now.

So, I will absolutely cut Ms. Harper Lee some slack here. But I do feel that even in my most focused state of mind, I would have found this a bit difficult to read.

When I first started it, it was like a breath of fresh air: someone who wrote because they had to, and it all came natural and nothing sounded forced. But then the point-of-view was changing faster than my teenage daughters change their clothes, or minds, or attitudes; truth-be-told.

At this point I am looking forward to hearing what you thought of it. One passage that I absolutely have to share:

‘Why doesn’t their flesh creep? How can they devoutly believe everything they hear in church and then say the things they do and listen to the things they hear without throwing up? I thought I was a Christian but I’m not. I’m something else and I don’t know what. Everything I have ever taken for right or wrong these people have taught me – these same, these very people. So it’s me, it’s not them. Something has happened to me.’ (Ms. Jean Louise Finch, pg 167, Go Set a Watchman).

Did you love it, or did you hate it?

They’re on their way, and will call you when they get there.

AngelaLeave a comment

How difficult is that to say? Try writing it. Possessive nouns, adjectives, and verbs will drive you mad.

They’re is means they are…. But how did we get won’t from will not? How did we make that leap?

The English language is the most difficult language to learn. And now try writing a story in it.

While dealing with your crazy-nutcase-editor who tells you I-before-E and pay attention.

I have 4 pages full of these instances and how to learn them fast, so you can write your book and let your editor do the hard work.

More to come tomorrow!

Darkness Surrenders – AJ Spencer

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The third book in the Darkness Trilogy was fantastic! AJ Spencer once again delivered a great book that I could not read fast enough.

Darkness Surrenders Cover Image

Natasha Stoltz has learned the identity of the Serial Killer known as Grimm. What she does with that information will change her life forever.

The first two books were like a game of cat-and-mouse, with Grimm always one step ahead of her. Always taunting, and always getting away.

Natasha will go from FBI agent to living in a world much different than she could have ever expected.

Thought about? Yes. Expected? Never.

This book will have you in its grip right through to the very last page. I personally think it is a wonderful trilogy, but also feel there is an opportunity for some of the characters in these stories to weave their own new stories for us to read.

(The violence in this book is kept to a bare minimum compared to the first two books in the series. It does contain graphic sexual content, so enter at your own risk. But you really want to enter!)

Do I Use an “A”, or Do I Use “An”? And Does It Really Matter?

Angela9 Comments

Yes, it really does matter. Especially to whomever is reading your writing.

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One of the most common errors I see when reading online comments, stories, blog posts, etc. is the incorrect use of “a” and “an”.

A very simple rule can help you remember which one to use when. If the word following it starts with a consonant, you use “a”. If it starts with a vowel, you use “an”. Simple enough, right? Except for if the word starts with a consonant that is silent, so the word sounds like it starts with a vowel.

Are you still with me? Good. It will all look clear in a minute. 

Such as, “I will be over in an hour.” Or, “I would like an honest answer.”

This also makes sense: “Can I have a pencil?”

Saying “Can I have an pencil?” is painful to read. And yes, I have read this very sentence.

In a book.

That was published.

An editor can be your best friend 🙂 (Did you see what I just did there?)

But then there is also the issue of initials and numbers. In that situation, you will choose “a” or “an”, depending on the way it is sounded out.

“An FDA employee arrived.” The sound of “ef” is why you would use “an”.

“A United States tour.” The sound of “yoo” is why you would choose “a.”

“He gave me a $50.00 bill.” It is the same rule here. You want to choose based on how it sounds, not necessarily how it is spelled.

The more you see these being used incorrectly, the easier it is to tell when you are using it correctly.

What are some issues you have with the very difficult English language and writing rules? Is there something you would like me to address here? Let me know and I will get a post put up covering your questions and concerns!

Until next time…happy writing, and happy reading!

Go Set a Watchman: Chapter One – Harper Lee

Angela1 Comment

Am I the only one anxiously waiting for this new book to come out on Tuesday? It has been a long time since I waited for a book release. Like Harry-Potter-midnight-lines long time.

The Guardian has published the first chapter to this new story, and you can read it here: Go Set a Watchman Chapter One.  (If my link will not work for you, like it is not working for me, copy and paste this: http://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2015/jul/10/go-set-a-watchman-read-the-first-chapter )

photo courtesy of http://pastemagazine.com
photo courtesy of http://pastemagazine.com

There is a major spoiler, or update from To Kill a Mockingbird, right from the start of this story. So if you do not want to know what that is until you have the book-in-hand, avoid anything online related to this story.

Hoping your Saturday is full of good weather, good memories, and great stories!

In The Unlikely Event – Judy Blume

Angela4 Comments

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I think it has been about 20 years since I have read a book by Judy Blume. As always, she did not disappoint. I will be honest and say it took a few chapters before I really began having a vested interest in the characters and plot, but once I got to that point, it was difficult to put it down.

This is a fictional story, with the main action of the story revolving around real events that happened in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where Mrs. Blume grew up. There were 3 airplane crashes within a span of 58 days during the 1951-1952 school year, and Judy was an 8th grade student at the junior high school when these crashes took place.

She easily pulls together a story that spans 35 years, and many characters are introduced that play a significant role from beginning to end. The main characters are Miri, Henry, Natalie, Mason, Rusty, Irene, and Corinne, just to mention a few. Okay; just to mention several.

There is drama, suspense, romance, fighting, and all of the struggles that boys and girls go through as they become adults. No spoilers as usual, but it is definitely a story worth investing a few days of reading on.

Have you read it already? Let me know what you thought!