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Are You Sure You are Right About What You Are Writing?

AngelaLeave a comment

Or is this just a rite of passage you are trying to get through, and it does not matter if you are right, or wrong?

Because I can write about these (not)interchangeable words all day long, but that does not mean I am right.

Oh. My. Goodness. I am not right-handed, I like to write in my journal, and I have never had to do a rite of passage. And if you would like to get technical, we always have the Wright Brothers. But usually you will see this one as part of a word; such as playwright.

I wish I could give you some great cheats and hints to keep these words straight, but I really have nothing.

If you are writing something, think “W”. If you are correct about something, think “R”.

These seriously have to be some of my least favorite words in the English language.

Your Only Alternative, is to Find an Alternate…

Angela1 Comment

…or you cannot compete in the contest.

Seems easy enough, right? We have a verb, and an adjective. But enough of that boring English lesson stuff. When I have seen these two words interchanged, it is because the writer used the verb as an adjective, and the adjective as the verb.

Some ideas to help all of us out. You can be an alternate in the spelling bee. You can alternate turns of who washes the dishes.

If you do not want to wash the dishes at all, you need to find an alternate, or better yet, come up with an alternative plan. Such as eating out. Then no one is washing the dishes. Well; no one except the employees at the restaurant.

Alternative is a substitution; a different choice besides the one proposed.

Alternate means take turns, and alternative means a different choice.

Catacomb: An Asylum Novel – Madeleine Roux

Angela1 Comment

Book 3 in the Asylum series, this installment was as enjoyable as the first two. You can find my review of Asylum here: https://booksandopinions.com/2015/03/01/asylum-madeleine-roux/

My review of Sanctum can be seen here: https://booksandopinions.com/2015/03/10/sanctum-madeleine-roux/

I apologize for the links not working as they normally do; I need to investigate why my website is having a bad day.

Catacomb cover image

This story picked up with Dan, Abby, and Jordan making one last summer trip before they all head their separate ways for college. It seems as if once again, the troubles they found at Brookline are still following them and not ready to let them live in peace.

If you haven’t read these stories yet, I think they are a great story that is easy to read with lots of action, suspense, and some pretty creepy photographs scattered throughout.

I would love to hear what you thought of any (or all) of them if you have had the chance to read them!

We Were Not All Meant To Be Writers…

Angela7 Comments

…because if it was not for us readers, you would all be working for nothing!

Reading Glasses Image

And that is just my way of saying Thank You to all of the authors who have been so kind to share the stories, the triumphs, the heartbreaks, and the challenges; all with me. Me being someone who wanted nothing more than to read what they had to write.

I look forward to another horrible Winter in West Michigan, with lots of coffee, Earl Grey tea, and great books to keep me comfy!

Write on my friends; write on!

Where Are You Going To Wear That Outfit?

Angela2 Comments

There is a third “ware”, but is generally not used any longer, so I just decided to leave it out of this post. But back in the day, before retail stores were on every corner, people used to go door-to-door to sell their wares.

Now, I have also seen people use we’re when they should have used where, but since that is so far beyond even being related to where, I will discuss that in another post as well.

So what exactly are these two words? One is a verb, and one is an adverb. You can wear something, which is an action, or verb. You can wear a frown, you can wear a jacket, and you can wear your hat.

But you cannot where you hat. Unless if you lost your hat. Then you need to know where your hat is. Where is an adverb. Where is a destination, a place, or somewhere you want to be.

B&O 9-18-2015

This is a Perfect Example of What is Wrong With Our Education System

Angela6 Comments

I am sure you have already had a good laugh from this image. Unfortunately, it is one of many examples of people trying to make points about how they are in control of their education, and know what is going on, yet they cannot spell simple words.

Unfortunately, this embarrassment will follow this hopefully-not-teaching-your-children person for the rest of her life.

Test Score Image

I am pretty sure I know what your test score is going to be…

So, my whole point here, was than versus then.

As I like to not get into the rules-and-regulations of my AP English classes eons ago when I was in high school, or the APA and Purdue formatting rules. I am going to keep this simple.

Then = next, after, also, as well

Than = instead of, in place of, not to be confused with.

Confused? Me too. Some examples…

I would rather sleep in than get up early to go fishing.

I am going to go fishing, and then come home and have breakfast.

I will fix the sink for you, then I am going out.

I would rather eat dirt than have this conversation with you.

Do these two words get you caught up? What words get you caught up that drive you mad?

Let me know, and I will post some solutions!

Happy writing, and happy reading!

ZOO – James Patterson

Angela1 Comment

For having 3 bookshelves full of Mr. Patterson’s books, I can say I liked this, but I did not love it.

I loved the premise of it, and I loved the fact that at some point, all of these animals we have been “taming and training”, could someday turn on us.

I had a quick flash of my favorite man eating me to the bone…. Thanks James Patterson 🙂

this is what I image Bare-Bottom-Benjamin doing after he scraped my bones clean!
this is what I image Bare-Bottom-Benjamin doing after he scraped my bones clean!

So is this possible? Likely. This is also a new television series that Debuted on CBS in June. I have not seen it. Yet. I may watch it. But I probably won’t have the time to.

It Smelled Funny; That Smelt I Caught…

Angela10 Comments

I reviewed a book a few months ago that every single time the main character smelled something (which oddly, for any story, was a lot), he smelt it.

The first time I saw it, I chuckled…the 6th time I saw it, I knew this writer had no idea how to find and hire an editor.

The story was great; but I could not get past the smelt-situation. There were other spelling and sentence errors, but they seemed like nothing compared to this.

This, my friends, is why you should not trust your spell-checker 100%.

Funny Smell Image

You can smell something (verb), or something can smell. You can never smelt something, because it is a fish, and I am not a veterinarian, but I believe the sense of smell in a fish has something to do with the gills, and amount of oxygen in the water. Honestly, I am not even sure if they can “smell” anything.

Just save yourself the hassle, and your readers the pain, and find a great editor. We really are nice people who only want to help 🙂

Do You Accept, or Except?

Angela4 Comments

This is another set of words that I see misused often. In news media, magazines, and yes, even in print. Your editor really is your best friend!

Instead of explaining the ridiculous English rules, I try to find ways to help you, and me, remember how to use these words correctly. They are not interchangeable.

Accept means you allow something; you agree; you take it as it is.

Except means “only if”; it is a type of condition you set upon someone or something.

I accept your proposal. I cannot accept this gift.

(If you said “I cannot except this gift”, it would make no sense). 

You can either accept, or not accept, something.

I agree, except for the part where I do not get paid.

Everything looks good, except for your references.

Most of this looks good, but there is an exception. There is a part I do not agree with.

Accept means to agree (mostly), and except means you agree, but for one part.

Unfortunately, they both seem to be interchangeable. The best way I remember is accept means yes, and except means no. It will not work in every situation, but it will work in most.

The White Princess – Philippa Gregory

Angela2 Comments

Although this is normally not the type of story I would pick up and read, once again the sale shelves at Barnes and Noble had me stacking random books into my arms. Now that I have read this one, I need to go find the rest of the stories in “The Cousins’ War” novels.

The White Princess Cover Image

This story is fiction, but it does revolve around facts, and several rumors, about the British Monarchy and how it operated in the very early years. 1400’s early.

Henry Tudor comes to the crown by killing the King, and therefore gets to marry the Princess of York. Because he won the Monarchy through violence, and not being a rightful heir, he begins a life of fear, doubt, and mistrust of everyone around him.

The Queen stands by him through all of this, vowing to always be on his side defending him, whether or not she believes he deserves the crown he stole.

This is a great period drama, and although it took me a bit to get it finished (a week to read a book for me is a long time!), it was well worth the read.