bad grammar

**Catriona Tudor Erler c*@gardenvista.com**

Not only are sentences poorly constructed, but there are all sorts of
basic grammatical and spelling errors that slip through such as the
following (my pet peeves):
    1) a long ways (ways should be singular since the word "way" is
defined (probably not the right word) by the singular article "a")
    2) me and so and so (rather than so and so and me - the trend to put
oneself before others socially is showing up on our patterns of speech and
writing as well); also using "I" when it should be "me" because the
pronoun it is the object of a preposition (e.g. He gave the blooming
gardenia to Wanda and I. - although usually the sentence structure is a
little more complex to make the error slightly less glaring).
    3) alot, alright
    And so on...
    Catriona

Sandie Parrott wrote:

> Fran,
>
> I agree!  I set aside a (fiction) book recently to write a scathing
> letter about the editing, or lack of.  (But, I've been too busy to do
> it :>)  Yes, it was a famous author and the problems were every few
> pages.  It really interupts the flow when you have to stop and figure
> out what was meant.  When I read a fiction book (especially), I expect
> it to flow so flawlessly that I forget I'm reading!  Poor punctuation,
> spelling grammar, etc. just stops the whole fantasy.
>
> Ok, the other thing that drives me up a wall is using huge words no
> person in their right mind would ever use in conversation.  You are
> reading along and...BAM...what the heck does that mean?  Why couldn't
> they just say...?  Boy does that break the flow...and if it is a
> mystery or suspense novel, it breaks the whole mood you are supposed
> to feel!
>
> My 2 cents...
>
> Sandie Parrott
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "fran gustman" <fgustman@juno.com>
> To: <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2003 4:29 PM
> Subject: [GWL] Editing issues
>
> > Am I just noticing bad editing more because I am in the field or is
> > editing actually getter poorer? Today I was reading a book by a
> well-know
> > writer and I had to reread constantly for lack of punctuation. It
> seems
> > that semi-colons are no longer the in-punctuation but periods
> haven't
> > taken their places; this leads to a certain free-flow on the rapids
> of
> > verbiage, which I, for one, find it difficult to navigate. (How do
> you
> > like them metaphors? And just imagine that last sentence without
> > punctuation.) Not only that, but there are poor phrasings and bad
> > transitions which I wouldn't allow to be printed in my newsletters!
> >
> > What gives?
> >
> > Fran
> >
> > Fran Gustman,  fgustman@juno.com
> > Boston, MA
> > Editor, HortResources Newsletter, www.hortresources.org
> > Upcoming Editor, Holly Society Journal, www.hollysocam.org
> > _______________________________________________
> > gardenwriters mailing list
> > gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters
> >
> > GWL has searchable archives at:
> > http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters
> >
> > Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
> > at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos
> >
> > Post gardening questions/threads to
> > "Organic-Gardening" <organic-gardening@lists.ibiblio.org>
> >
> > For GWL website and Wiki, go to
> > http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters
>
> _______________________________________________
> gardenwriters mailing list
> gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters
>
> GWL has searchable archives at:
> http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters
>
> Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
> at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos
>
> Post gardening questions/threads to
> "Organic-Gardening" <organic-gardening@lists.ibiblio.org>
>
> For GWL website and Wiki, go to
> http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters