spelling

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

The Words I Struggle To Spell

Angela17 Comments

There are about 4 words that I cannot ever spell right. (Maybe less, maybe more. We will see after I remember them all, and yes, I am not changing the start of this paragraph).

Immediately. Seriously. Every time I have to spell this word, I have to question myself.

Cemetery. Here is how I spell it; every, single, time. Cemetary.

Bethlehem. Yep. I have read the Bible so much it is ridiculous that I can’t spell this word. But here is how I do spell it: Bethleham.

(I have to say, all of these red-squiggly lines under my misspelled words is traumatizing).

Eligible. Yep, I will be eligable all day long for spelling this wrong.

Okay, there are 3. And it is too painful for me to go on. But as I come across the others as I am at work, writing emails and trying to act like an adult; I will take note and let you know!

Editing For Dialect

Angela8 Comments

My biggest concern when editing a story that uses a specific dialect, is that not everyone may understand that is what is going on, and think I am a terrible, hack-job editor.

I am currently editing a story that uses dialect different than you find in the majority of English written books. The dialect being used is not a heavy accent that portrays someone who lives in the Deep South, or New England, or the likes. It is not a play on the words so much, as it is that there are words missing.

Words are missing because the characters in the story use English as a second language. I am sure we have all had the pleasure of meeting an interesting person who did not use English as their main way of communicating. So you have a conversation that seems almost abbreviated, with the ‘extra’ words that are used in the English language not being used when someone is using English as their second language.

Have you heard that the English language is the hardest language to learn? It is true. More than any other language, the English language has so many “rules and regulations” concerning the use of it, that it can be difficult for pretty much anyone to use it correctly, even if it is the only language they know.

So for an example, what you might read is the following; “She found him at bus station.” If I were writing the story, I would say “She found him at the bus station.” I see nothing wrong with writing a story this way, when it is necessary to set the scene and make it authentic.

I am currently editing a story by a very talented author, and it took about 3 sentences into the second chapter where the characters were having a conversation for me to realize that what I thought were errors, were intentional. The main characters use English as their second language. I think if the author did not write it using this dialect, it would take away from the story.

Which brings me back to my main concern; will everyone who reads this story understand that it is supposed to be written in that style? I think I am pretty safe, as it is a very in-depth story and one that will interest a specific genre.

If you are a writer, do you use dialect in specific novels you write to lend authenticity to your story?