It's been a little over a week, and I am almost positive that you have written a short story by now, if not you still have time, but we must move on to our next lesson.
Proof
reading anything that you create is an important step in the writing
process. Without proof reading, the work
you make can make you look like a fool.
Some mistakes you should be able to correct automatically while you
write some you won't. Don't rely on the
spell checker feature, it is good, but it won't correct all of the mistakes.
Below is
an excerpt reprint from a 40-paged little book (3x3-in. sq.) I wrote in
2004. It contains a gathering of common
mistakes and frequently misspelled words.
As writers we have a duty to create polished works.
It's
All About The Grammar: The Perfect Pocket Grammar Guide
copyright
2004 Manus Publishing - http://www.manuspublishing.com
Forward
--
Grammar
is everywhere. When you read the morning
paper, the instruction of the back of your favorite lunchtime snack, even in
spoken languages, grammar is everywhere. This is
the excellent pocket sized fact checker for all of your writing projects.
Spelling --
Here is
a list of the most commonly misspelled words:
fulfill, iridescent, siege,
separate, misspell, lavender, paralleled, noticeable, occurrence, maneuver,
excerpt, heighten, embarrass, dilemmas, conscience, accommodate, minuscule, subtle,
myer, noticeable, privilege, rhythm
Apostrophes --
Use an
apostrophe to show that something is possessive (belongs to something or
someone)
1.
The
most common form is an apostrophe 's.
2.
The
apostrophe as an contraction, I.E.: can
not = can't, it is = it's, who is = who's, of the clock = o'clock, did not =
didn't, I will = I'll, are not = aren't, I have = I've, let us = let's, I am =
I'm
Spelling Rules 103 --
When
adding a prefix or suffix-
1.
Keep
the (y) if it is after a vowel, when adding a suffix. I.E.: display+ing
2.
For
words ending in (y) if it is after a consonant (not a vowel), change the (y) to
an (I) then add the suffix. I.E.:
merry+ly = merrily
Quotation Marks & Writing
Dialogue ---
When
writing a conversation between two or more people, start a new paragraph
everytime someone else starts speaking.
I.E.:
"Mike," He said,
"Why is it gone?"
"It should be there."
Paul replied.
"Are you sure?" Mike asked.
"I didn't move
it!" Paul screamed.
How Do I Combine A Sentence --
The best
way to combine two sentences is by using: and, but, or, for, yet, & so.
I.E.:
I have change for that
twenty.
Can I get two tens back?
(corrected)
I have change for that twenty,
but can I get two tens back?
Spelling Rules 102 -- Plural
Nouns --
1.
Add
a (s) to most nouns.
2.
Nouns
ending in z, x, sh, ch, or s, add an (es)
3. Nouns
ending in a vowel and y, add an (s)
4.
For nouns ending with a consonant
and y, change the (y) to an (i) and add (es)
5.
Nouns ending in (o) add an (s)
6.
Nouns ending in (f, fe) add an
(s).
This
only represents seven out of thirty topics that It's All About The Grammar:
The Perfect Pocket Grammar Guide by
bd manus, covers. We are currently in
the stages of up-dating and writing this book in both English and Spanish. It will be available for sale in mid-November
2013.
Next
week: How to build an E-book Cover.
