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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.

I Am Too Tired to Bring the Two Dishes to the Cookout…

Angela5 Comments

Now that is a mouthful! This is also one of those spelling errors that makes me want to scratch my eyes out every time I see it.

Two. It is a number. That is it. Nothing more, and nothing less. It is Two. Not one, or three.

The Number Two Image

Too means in addition to, or also. “We will go too.” “I want to see it too.” If more than one person is involved, you can likely use “too”, and not make me scratch my eyes out. Think many people. Or think just overwhelmed. Too tired, too stressed, too busy. It is too much.

To is nothing more than a preposition that sets up a sentence. It can be before a noun, or a verb. “I want to go to Chicago.” I want to dance.” “I want to not ever see the words to, too, and two misused in public.”

People Always Ask Me…

Angela3 Comments

…at least twice a week.

Why I read, edit, and review books, but I do not write.

I actually do write. I write a lot. I have stacks of stories, some spilling over into sequels. I have fiction, and I have personal stories that I know would fly off the shelves. But I cannot share those. Not yet.

I like reading stories because it is my escape. My chance to go somewhere else other than my crazy 50-hour-work-week-three-girls-still-at-home-no-one-knows-how-to-do-chores life 🙂

I like editing because I have always had a love for the English language (as ridiculous as it is, and it is ridiculous), and I want to share what I know with new authors so they can be the best writer possible.

I have met so many amazing writers, and am glad that I am able to share in their success, even if it is behind the scenes. I have new friends, and I have read stories that I may not have otherwise found.

Nothing beats a good story!

From a Buick 8 – Stephen King

Angela3 Comments

Yes, this is what I was finishing up yesterday. I am not positive on the number, but this has to be at least the 8th time I have read this story. I still pulls me in now the same way it did when I first read it.

From a Buick 8 cover image

I consider this “classic” Stephen King. We tend to hear that a lot, and say it often. We compare stories we read now to the first stories Mr. King wrote. We even try to find the timeline of his “drunk” writing, and his “sober” writing. We want him to explain to us how he dare to write something we did not like.

Have I read stories he wrote that I did not like? Absolutely. But it does not mean it is time to put the pen down and do something else. I read a story that he wrote that literally made me cry, it was romantic and horror all at once. I cannot remember the name of the book, and I do not own it. I just remember a man being in love with a younger woman and she was killed in the end…

From a Buick 8 is intense, supernatural, and all about family and friends. A young man is struggling with the death of his father, and it seems like no one can give him the answers he needs. The answers that will allow him to accept what happened, and move on with his life.

No spoilers here, as usual, but we are talking about a car that showed up out of nowhere, with a driver that disappeared, and became the unfortunate property of Pennsylvania State Police Troop D.

It spit out horrors, and tried to pull them each in. And friendships lasted, friends died, and life moved on, with or without answers that one young man so desperately needed.

If you have read this story, I would love to hear what you thought of it!