My one plea and suggestion to ALL authors

[GrammarGoddess]

"gotten" as in "I'd gotten laid last Thursday".Gotten is not a word."In back of";aargh!sorry,drunken rant over.lol Sean

What a difference an ocean makes! I think that "gotten" is a past participle of "get." Despite learning this in school, I still think that "had gotten" sounds awkward and unnecessarily wordy sometimes.

 

[Seattle Zack]

I'm with the Bard on this one. After about the third glaring grammatical error, I just backclick, rather than struggle through the whole story.

See, that's what I don't understand. I read a lot (or alot, if you prefer) and when I read something that's grammatically incorrect, I know it. It sets off an alarm bell in my head. It takes me out of the story. To categorize them as "typos" (or "typo's" if you prefer) is disingenuous. A sentence like, "We rubbed our clit's together" (aside from the anatomical difficulty of such a manuver) means that you don't understand the difference between a plural and a posessive. It's not a typo.

Read. Read. Read. Christ on a fucking pogo stick, it's not that tough. I'm hardly a grammar nazi, so I won't argue the merits of the future subjunctive in flashback sequences, but at least get the apostrophe's and quotation mark's right.

 

[thatismynoodle]

I somewhat agree with what is said. Sometimes your just completely turned off by it, but if I'm turned off by the grammer than there usually is something in the story that just doesn't do it.

I say that now, but I'm the worst example of it, generally i'm too lazy and too embarassed to even look at the story again to proof read. oh well, maybe I'll get over it.

 

[techsan]

I agree with supercheetah that bad spelling and grammar can be a turn-off and cause the reader to become disgusted and leave a story before finishing. However I'd like to point out that the author made a grammatical error in using the homonyn sight instead of the correct work site. It happens all too oten (i.e. intermixing to, too and two, there and their, and many others). That is where the volunteer editors can usually help but sometimes those things just get past us because we can't see the words for the letters. Still minimizing those mistakes makes for better reading.

 

[DJHyrrikhayne]

I agree with supercheetah that bad spelling and grammar can be a turn-off and cause the reader to become disgusted and leave a story before finishing. However I'd like to point out that the author made a grammatical error in using the homonyn sight instead of the correct work site. It happens all too oten (i.e. intermixing to, too and two, there and their, and many others). That is where the volunteer editors can usually help but sometimes those things just get past us because we can't see the words for the letters. Still minimizing those mistakes makes for better reading.

Spell Check doesn't catch those, either.

 

[falcon29]

Grammar

Here's the simple truth: Those people who know and use correct grammar will be turned off by stories that are constructed on faulty grammar and spelling. Those that don't recognize the errors won't be turned off.

The voting should carry the message. Unfortunately, sometimes it does not. Personally, I usually just click away after the third or fourth misuse or glaring error. No vote.

While it's true that even the harshest stickler will sometimes miss a true typo, it is easy to tell if it is a miss or just laziness or ignorance on the part of the author. Isn't that what we're really bitching about here? We resent the ignorance of others when the rest of us have spent years studying this shit.

It doesn't do any of us any good to complain here because it's only the people who really care about writing that read these threads. Those worst offenders probably never even look in here. We're kind of preaching to the choir, I think.

All we can do is give the story a low rating and hope the message gets through. So don't just click away when you run into a poorly written story. Vote for it, but give it a low vote and express your feelings to the author.

And, for all of you who try to claim that "there's no rules", you're full of shit. There are rules. Yes, they can sometimes be violated but only under certain circumstances. That's different than not knowing or caring about the difference between 'where' and 'were', 'your' and 'you're', etc.

Dialog is free of the rules, mostly, but not completely. I think it's great that Literotica is here and that it's free. Story ideas don't need to conform to any rules but those of the site. The writing does need to conform and the only way to combat poor writing is by voting and messages to the author.

 

[techsan]

falcon, you've really hit the nail on the head ... several times. We're preaching to the choir, mostly just venting our spleens; maybe it let's us get it off our chests so we can forget about it for a while and go ahead with whatever we do.

We're not going to change people by our message, unless they get the message via the vote. It is an unfortunate fact of life that in today's world a very high percentage of students who graduate from high school and even college are unable to read and write with a very high skill level. If people don't want to learn those skills, there is no way to bore a hole in their skulls and pour it in.

I would like to see the site require that a submission be run through a volunteer editor before it can be submitted, but I don't think that's going to happen. I understand that the volunteer editors today, which is a rather long list, is inundated with requests and have to turn some people away. Obviously unless a lot more people volunteer, this is not the solution either.

I guess we'll just have to keep expressing our opinions by how we vote or even whether or not we finish reading a submission. Like you say, it's hard to knock it when its free. And it can't hurt to keep posting these thoughts here periodically; maybe some of those other authors occasionally read this too!

 

[phillygirl50]

Errors in Grammar and spelling

I have to agree that the stories get very confusing sometimes. i.e. The Senator - great story but the author starts out using the name Frank and then changes it to Tom. It doesn't make the stories that are really good any less of a turn on, however, all computers have spell check and there is no reason for some of the blatant errors that occur. It only takes a few minutes to run it through spell check, and for the most part 90% of the mistakes will be fixed. Granted there are times a typo is actually a real word and the spell check doesn't catch that....I just think that the authors should read back their own stories - actually print it out and read it out loud - that is how you will catch your own errors.

It's certainly not going to stop me from reading stories...but when you don't have to figure out what the author is really saying...the story flows much better as do the juices that ensue....

 

[sophia jane]

I agree with supercheetah that bad spelling and grammar can be a turn-off and cause the reader to become disgusted and leave a story before finishing. However I'd like to point out that the author made a grammatical error in using the homonyn sight instead of the correct work site. It happens all too oten (i.e. intermixing to, too and two, there and their, and many others). That is where the volunteer editors can usually help but sometimes those things just get past us because we can't see the words for the letters. Still minimizing those mistakes makes for better reading.

As a reader, I totally agree that bad spelling and grammar are turn-offs. I exit the story without voting when that happens. Obviously that doesn't get the message across to the writer, though.
As a writer, sometimes mistakes happen. I read and reread my stories, run spell check and still I might miss something. Appearantly there are typos in my most recent story, but I haven't found them. It is easy for a writer to be too close to their work and not find errors. I think we need to be tolerant of a few simple mistakes before we completely dismiss a story or a writer.
Or at the very least we should be helpful in pointing out errors(hey- if anyone sees mine, let me know! It makes me crazy that I make typos and can't find them!) or suggesting an editor.
Just my two cents.

Speaking of editing- I had to fix my typos in this post. Sheesh...

 

[Dotrice1]

I have only one plea to all authors here. It's a very big pet peeve of mine.

I only ask that all authors please look very carefully at their grammar and spelling. I have seen too many instances of poor grammar and spelling, and such instances can lead to confusion.

For example, every time a conversation is held, and the speaker changes to a different person, a new paragraph must be started! This is one of the most violated rules I see on this sight, and it is one that often leads to my own confusion as to whom is speaking.

spell checking and grammar are also important

 

[Dotrice1]

That feels better!

Now that I got that off my chest. No matter how often you review your own work, non critical errors will manifest themselves. I find it important to submit anything I consider submitting to other writers I have become acquainted with for review. Still the errors are there, must be the gremlins.
I have had the stories held up for several revisions after submitting. The only statements from management seem to be to look at spelling and grammar, so that is prevelant. They also appear not to get some professional jargon, for which I am grateful. Anything written must be readable. Switching tenses, voices, and so forth are signs of immature writing skills, and as with myself, any constructive criticism has only made me more careful.
To become mature in writing, one must write.
For the amateur writer errors are inevitible, to become more skilled will require forebearance, and humility.

 

[Xploremyworld]

Plea and suggestion to ALL authors

A story can be adversely affected by any of many factors. To me, chief among them is bad grammar (or incorrectly constructed sentences) and spelling (the word 'grammer' stands out like a sore thumb, especially when used by those who chastise others for bad spelling). Bad spelling or grammar is a big distraction to some readers. Many of us are 'automatic editors,' meaning that anything we read is subject to a subconscious spell-check, or check for sentence construction, sequence of events, etc. After several glaring errors, the subject matter is usually dismissed, because we feel that if the writer hasn't done the simple editing, the essence of the material is likely lacking, also. If he/she hasn't made the effort, why should we waste the time? Of course, not everyone thinks that way, and that's all right for them. If they can understand the plot and are willing to put up with incorrect syntax, bad 'grammer,' etc. that's their prerogative.
I noted an early comment to this thread. 'Lots of people write badly, and lots of people write well, and almost none of it has anything to do with spelling or these imaginary rules of grammar.' To me, that's just plain wrong--it has EVERYTHING to do with rules of grammar. The rules aren't 'imaginary;' they're very definitive, and for good reason. Bad grammar is always a contributing element to the works of anyone who writes badly. Free speech is fine, but it behooves the writer to pick his words carefully if he wants anyone to listen, or read.

 

[sophia jane]

A story can be adversely affected by any of many factors. To me, chief among them is bad grammar (or incorrectly constructed sentences) and spelling (the word 'grammer' stands out like a sore thumb, especially when used by those who chastise others for bad spelling). Bad spelling or grammar is a big distraction to some readers. Many of us are 'automatic editors,' meaning that anything we read is subject to a subconscious spell-check, or check for sentence construction, sequence of events, etc. After several glaring errors, the subject matter is usually dismissed, because we feel that if the writer hasn't done the simple editing, the essence of the material is likely lacking, also. If he/she hasn't made the effort, why should we waste the time? Of course, not everyone thinks that way, and that's all right for them. If they can understand the plot and are willing to put up with incorrect syntax, bad 'grammer,' etc. that's their prerogative.
I noted an early comment to this thread. 'Lots of people write badly, and lots of people write well, and almost none of it has anything to do with spelling or these imaginary rules of grammar.' To me, that's just plain wrong--it has EVERYTHING to do with rules of grammar. The rules aren't 'imaginary;' they're very definitive, and for good reason. Bad grammar is always a contributing element to the works of anyone who writes badly. Free speech is fine, but it behooves the writer to pick his words carefully if he wants anyone to listen, or read.

I absolutely agree with everything you said. Just thought you'd want to know. (not that my opinion means much, but I always like to hear people agree with me)

 

[davidwatts]

*Sigh* I run my stories through Spellcheck, through grammer check and by at least one friend. Invariably the first time I look at one when its posted I find errors. It drives me crazy, I'm sure it does other people too.

I don't have either of those check things (maybe I do and I'm too ignorant to know) but I go over mine carefully too and the same thing happens to me as well, and it certainly does make me crazy.


Readers can tell the difference between writers that make an effort and those who don't. There are totally unreadable stories here, that's true. People should do what I do, and not read them. You can usually tell right away. A rare typo or a misspelling should not be held against anyone here, although refunds are still cheerfully given.

 

[aussie_101]

Hey guys,

Now, I'm not usually one for tooting my own horn...

...but if you're in need of a good grammar'n'spelling fix, have a look at one of my stories. I'm pretty happy with my style at the moment, and I have received a few pats on the back from some readers on this site; I've copped one or two criticisms over my use of semi-colons, but that's more a matter of taste. Some people like 'em; some people don't. I love 'em.

Just bear in mind I'm an Australian, we spell some words (like centre and metre) different to you yankee-type people. Queen's English, I think they call it, though I doubt old Queen Lizzie can spell her own name.

So yeah: you need a grammar fix, look me up. Just got the two stories for now but there's more on the way.

 

[sweetness83]

I'm a self-confessed spelling/grammar nazi and I'm not ashamed That is not to say that I don't make mistakes myself, but then, I'm not a writer and I'm not expecting people to spend their time/money reading what I've written.

My friends don't understand how it riles me so, but I just can't respect any writer that doesn't carry out the necessary checks (spelling, grammar, common sense) on their work before expecting people to read it. To be fair, many writers won't care about earning my respect, because I don't fall in their target audience, and that's fine, I'll just click away. True, I should probably stop long enough to give them a low vote, but I usually save those for poor stories. I feel it would be unfair of me to punish someone's culmination of ideas because my preference dictates they wrote them down in a specific way.

I'd hate if a good, original piece of thought-provoking work was not submitted because the author got bogged down in matters of grammar, but that is what editors are there to help with. I'd offer myself up as a volunteer editor, but my studies just don't allow me the time at the moment, though perhaps I will, come summer.

I'll finish this random collection of thoughts here by agreeing that one of the worst things an author can do is forget the names of their characters halfway through the story! I've seen this happen far too many times! That or forgetting who is speaking at one time, mixing up he/she, him/her, it completely ruins the story for me.

Signed,
One very relieved spelling/grammar 'freak' who's happy to know there are others with similar feelings out there!
xx