I'm not embracing the pronoun changes. I'm curious to see if they're a problem in other languages. So far, I haven't noticed a problem in Mexico. Interesting world we live in.
Although I've been reading from the age of 5 years old, I only started taking writing seriously - in my mid-40's. Before then, I didn't really think too much about HOW to write stories. At that early stage, I just consumed them.
For this reason, I don't think there is any writing rule from my schooldays that messed me up as a writer.
Language is constantly evolving! It will be interesting to see what happens in the next decade or so...
I think it's a good thing that what once seemed iron clad is shifting because the language must always evolve. However, for some reason the "fewer/less" thing really grinds my gears. "There were less stars in the sky" just feels wrong!
It irritates me when a writer is writing dialog, and they don't separate the name of someone who is being spoken to with commas. Oh, and quotes across paragraphs... It's funny how those specific writing rules are the ones I notice (or it might just be that I'm reading books that weren't properly line edited).
Me and him/her? Euw. Not a fan of that new shift. However, I am on board with most of those that you listed. It will be interesting to see what shifts take place in the future.
Very interesting comments. I'm still struggling with singular "they." Google just told me the pronoun refers to – is unknown, irrelevant, or nonbinary, or where gender needs to be concealed.
Something else I learned, the meaning of "descriptivist."
This dinosaur hopes your book comes out in hard copy soon. Yesterday would be good. And yes, I hear you on changing rules. I do still wrestle with pronouns though - and am a firm believer in needing to know the rules before I break them.
You're not a dinosaur at all. I prefer a paper book to a kindle unless I'm traveling. There's something about holding it and being able to quickly refer back without leaving the page I'm reading that is comforting. Well, maybe we're both dinosaurs, but we're nice ones. :-)
Things do change, and there are some things I'm stubbornly sticking to... such as literally means literally, not figuratively!
Ha! Indeed it does.
I'm not embracing the pronoun changes. I'm curious to see if they're a problem in other languages. So far, I haven't noticed a problem in Mexico. Interesting world we live in.
I'm with you, and you make an interesting point about similar changes in other languages.
'Me and him (her)' hurts my ears! Surely, that can't be the norm now, can it?
Although I've been reading from the age of 5 years old, I only started taking writing seriously - in my mid-40's. Before then, I didn't really think too much about HOW to write stories. At that early stage, I just consumed them.
For this reason, I don't think there is any writing rule from my schooldays that messed me up as a writer.
Language is constantly evolving! It will be interesting to see what happens in the next decade or so...
I think it's a good thing that what once seemed iron clad is shifting because the language must always evolve. However, for some reason the "fewer/less" thing really grinds my gears. "There were less stars in the sky" just feels wrong!
Me, too, Nick. I love your image of grinding gears. That's exactly how I feel when I hear less stars, men, people, milk...whatever!
It irritates me when a writer is writing dialog, and they don't separate the name of someone who is being spoken to with commas. Oh, and quotes across paragraphs... It's funny how those specific writing rules are the ones I notice (or it might just be that I'm reading books that weren't properly line edited).
Me and him/her? Euw. Not a fan of that new shift. However, I am on board with most of those that you listed. It will be interesting to see what shifts take place in the future.
The rules certainly are changing!
Congrats again on the latest book!
Yvonne V
I can't recall any writing rules in school that messed me up, but I was more an art nerd than an English nerd so my priorities then were elsewhere.
Very interesting comments. I'm still struggling with singular "they." Google just told me the pronoun refers to – is unknown, irrelevant, or nonbinary, or where gender needs to be concealed.
Something else I learned, the meaning of "descriptivist."
Thanks for your thought provoking post.
Lynn
https://la-vita.us/insecure-writers-support-group/
I hadn't thought about those changes. Fewer and less is a odd one. I think it's 'cause no one could remember which one to use. 😕😅
This dinosaur hopes your book comes out in hard copy soon. Yesterday would be good. And yes, I hear you on changing rules. I do still wrestle with pronouns though - and am a firm believer in needing to know the rules before I break them.
You're not a dinosaur at all. I prefer a paper book to a kindle unless I'm traveling. There's something about holding it and being able to quickly refer back without leaving the page I'm reading that is comforting. Well, maybe we're both dinosaurs, but we're nice ones. :-)
I don't use 'they' as a singular pronoun in my writing, and it irritates me to find it in the books I read. Sadly, it became very popular lately.
Yep. Another grammatical switch up to keep us on our toes!
Ending a sentence with a preposition. I'm sure I've violated that one a few times!
It's almost impossible not to.
That's great that book clubs want a paperback of your book. It's so true we need to know the grammar rules you mention.
My retired-English-teacher mom still holds me to those rules. LOL
English teachers are tenacious!