Grammar

[RubyRedLips]

I am regrettably accustomed to seeing comments on decent stories rip the author for poor grammar and/or spelling. And I get that. I understand that some folks have triggers that bring out the demon-beast in them, but I don't understand someone with a love of reading downgrading an otherwise good story to a two-star, because of grammar. It just makes no sense to me.

Anyway, in another life, I wrote for a living, and, though I haven't posted on this site, I continue to compose something every day. I have personally found that the free app Grammarly, especially when used as an Add-In to MS Word, is an invaluable tool. It tracks errors of both spelling and grammar in a separate pane alongside the document, and allows you to make changes, or if it was an intentional variation from proper grammar, you may choose to mute the suggestion.

Just a suggestion, but I'd love to see everyone who writes for Literotica try it out. (Ha, the app just flagged "Literotica" as a usage error)

 

[KeithD]

Oh, this program is suggested to writers about every two weeks here. A good suggestion. Hardly a new one, though.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I use the free version on the pc. It's pretty good, but sometimes you have to tell it who's the boss. The Android and iOS version is pretty horrible.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

It depends on how bad the grammar is and whether it gets in the way of a good story (and if there is a story there - the main problem I find with Lit stories is often they aren't really a story, just a scene - and I include some of my own in that!)

Often an author would be quite capable of some editing themselves, just haven't bothered. If I offer to edit anyone again, I'll insist they go through it first, starting from the end and going backwards, checking 1) it's all in the same tense except for short flashbacks or memories, and 2) checking what every single pronoun refers to and whether it could be confusing.

I suspect anyone who's bothered to do that won't need much editing but more importantly would be a pleasure to work with.

 

[NoJo]

Does Grammarly do a good job with creative writing? I assumed it, like MS Word's annoying checker, was mainly for precision in resumes, letters, etc

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Does Grammarly do a good job with creative writing? I assumed it, like MS Word's annoying checker, was mainly for precision in resumes, letters, etc

Grammarly does okay as long as you keep control and don't mind skipping over the false errors generated by erotic phrases, such as using the word "cum" or "cumming" instead of "come" and "coming".

It seems to work pretty well at recognizing words between quotation marks as dialog versus narrative, but it's not perfect.

 

[GinnyPPC]

ProWritingAid is another option and it allows for the selection of various English dialect versions: American, British, Australian, or Canadian.

 

[GinnyPPC]

ProWritingAid is another option and it allows for the selection of various English dialect versions: American, British, Australian, or Canadian.

Oh, forgot, there is also a free version as well.

 

[SyleusSnow]

Oh, forgot, there is also a free version as well.

It's also got an explicit setting for Creative writing and many tools specific to creative writing, unlike Grammarly which is focused on business writing.

The paid version of ProWritingAid is well worth it, and is cheaper than grammarly.

(insert standard disclaimer that no robot can replace a human editor, etc.)

 

[NoJo]

I checked ProWritingAid's website. The testimonials are full of glaring grammatical errors and poor English! Hm...

As I don't want to post any of my smut into the free Chrome extension version, and am still loath to pay for it, I'd be keen to hear of a specific, non-obvious improvement it made to anybody here's writing.

 

[KeithD]

Just for the record, today is National Grammar Day.

 

[SyleusSnow]

As I don't want to post any of my smut into the free Chrome extension version, and am still loath to pay for it, I'd be keen to hear of a specific, non-obvious improvement it made to anybody here's writing.

They have a one-week free trial of the full version... give it a try for yourself!

 

[missyunderstanding]

Stories about poor grammar

I don't really like stories about poor grammar. It makes it seem like women get weak and broken just because they are mature. And why is it always stories about poor little grammar and never about poor old grampa? I hate all the gender bashing against women! Amen and Awomen!

 

[SimonDoom]

I think Grammarly is a useful tool, as are some other grammar checkers.

My feeling about grammar in Literotica stories is this. It makes a huge difference for my personal enjoyment of a story. A few mistakes are OK. Many stories, including my own, have mistakes, on account of the fact I do my own proofreading and I'm not a perfect proofreader. But persistent errors that show the author is not trying much to conform punctuation, spelling, and grammar to basic rules bother me and make the story much less enjoyable. That doesn't mean I'm going to lower the score from a 5 to a 2. I won't do that. But I think it's fair to point out to an author that their work would be much better received if they took just a little bit of time to bone up on basic conventions. Something like Grammarly can do a lot to clean up a story.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Just for the record, today is National Grammar Day.

It's World Book Day here. Or 'oh shit I need a costume my kid is willing to wear' Day...

I have to admit that after reading a few too many stories where every single sentence had the same simple structure, creating a plodding unignorable rhythm, I was desperate to see some fronted adverbials.

Maybe this is where Michael Gove is coming from - he's read too much bad porn and is now taking it out on our children.

 

[mynameisben]

I don't use a grammar checker. My grammar is gooder than most.


Ben

 

[SamScribble]

I don't use a grammar checker. My grammar is gooder than most.

Ben

I think you mean 'gooder than moist', don't you, Ben?

 

[mynameisben]

I think you mean 'gooder than moist', don't you, Ben?

No, it could never be that good.


Ben

 

[Emirus]

A question of priority

My primary concern when considering which star is whether or not I enjoyed the story, despite the errors.

If grammar is poor I will always point it out when making a comment but make sure I word my comment to be constructive. If the writer doesn’t want to take the advice that’s up to them. A good story with not too many errors I will usually give a 4. I never score less than 3. If it’s that bad I may leave a comment but not score it.

If it’s really bad I’ll point it out and suggest they get an editor. If they already have one I’ll suggest they might like to consist changing.

I don’t use any grammar sites. If in doubt I’ll use a search engine.

A common mistake, by both new and experienced writers, is to use the word “of” when the correct word is “have.” One error which really bugs me is by American writers using the word “drug” when the correct word is “dragged.”

 

[lovecraft68]

My primary concern when considering which star is whether or not I enjoyed the story, despite the errors.

If grammar is poor I will always point it out when making a comment but make sure I word my comment to be constructive. If the writer doesn’t want to take the advice that’s up to them. A good story with not too many errors I will usually give a 4. I never score less than 3. If it’s that bad I may leave a comment but not score it.

If it’s really bad I’ll point it out and suggest they get an editor. If they already have one I’ll suggest they might like to consist changing.

I don’t use any grammar sites. If in doubt I’ll use a search engine.

A common mistake, by both new and experienced writers, is to use the word “of” when the correct word is “have.” One error which really bugs me is by American writers using the word “drug” when the correct word is “dragged.”

I've never used the word drug as a version of drag. I can't remember seeing it in anything I've read either, but not like I can remember everything I've ever read over the years. It wouldn't even occur to me to use it like that. Just doesn't seem natural

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Hmmm... when I get the "grammar/spelling get an editor" comment I just think to myself 'you get what you pay for', it's a free site, don't like what I put up here, go read someone else's works.

 

[SimonDoom]

Hmmm... when I get the "grammar/spelling get an editor" comment I just think to myself 'you get what you pay for', it's a free site, don't like what I put up here, go read someone else's works.

I see it as a matter of give and take between author and reader. Any Literotica author is entitled to take that attitude, because as you say, no one is getting paid here. But the reader is equally entitled to say to the author "Your grammar really sucks" if in fact the author's grammar really does suck. And the author is in no position to complain if, in fact, his grammar really does suck and he's being told the truth.

 

[NotWise]

A common mistake, by both new and experienced writers, is to use the word “of” when the correct word is “have.” One error which really bugs me is by American writers using the word “drug” when the correct word is “dragged.”

Maybe those are both US English. "Of" in the place of "have" is commonly spoken , and in a lot of cases using "have" would feel stilted. Using the contraction "could've" (for instance) is more natural, but sounds very much like "could of."

"Drug" (according to Merriam-Webster, hence US English) is a dialectical past tense of "drag." If your dialogue is in that dialect, then it isn't an error.

 

[KeithD]

"Drug" (according to Merriam-Webster, hence US English) is a dialectical past tense of "drag." If your dialogue is in that dialect, then it isn't an error.

That was my thought. Are we talking straight, nondialect narration or dialect quoted speech?

 

[Emirus]

Maybe those are both US English. "Of" in the place of "have" is commonly spoken , and in a lot of cases using "have" would feel stilted. Using the contraction "could've" (for instance) is more natural, but sounds very much like "could of."

"Drug" (according to Merriam-Webster, hence US English) is a dialectical past tense of "drag." If your dialogue is in that dialect, then it isn't an error.

The word “of” is commonly used in social media (the coronavirus of grammar ) in the UK instead of “have” and I can’t immediately recall it being used on this site.

I’ve checked with Merriam-Webster and can’t find any reference to “drug” being an alternative to “dragged.” It does seem to me, and I could be wrong, it’s mainly a west coast usage.