Comments for TheWritersBag.com http://thewritersbag.com Writing tips for the real world. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:26:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on The Angels and Demons of the Rules of Writing by Jenny http://thewritersbag.com/writing-rules/the-angels-and-demons-of-the-rules-of-writing#comment-494 Jenny Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:08:39 +0000 http://thewritersbag.com/?p=233#comment-494 The second Sally sentence took me ages to figure out although I imagine it wouldn't be so bad if it were in context. The second Sally sentence took me ages to figure out although I imagine it wouldn’t be so bad if it were in context.

]]> Comment on Honest Words About Semicolons by Steve Osborne http://thewritersbag.com/writing-rules/honest-words-about-semicolons#comment-488 Steve Osborne Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:47:49 +0000 http://thewritersbag.com/?p=237#comment-488 Good example of the intelligent use of a semicolon. Thanks, VF. Good example of the intelligent use of a semicolon. Thanks, VF.

]]> Comment on Honest Words About Semicolons by Van Flicke http://thewritersbag.com/writing-rules/honest-words-about-semicolons#comment-487 Van Flicke Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:40:04 +0000 http://thewritersbag.com/?p=237#comment-487 I respectfully disagree. I think the semi-colon holds a respectable place and has a valuable role in our language. In fact, I used it this weekend in a memo: "While the product manager is responsible for the success or failure of the product, the authority to make the product a priority to the rest of the organization is not given; the product manager must marshal the resources and manage other’s priorities to impact the successful results. " Yes, it's not poetry and prose, but the point is reinforced by the semi-colon; the sentence builds toward the semi-coloned clause, not just another blank statement that suggests my 3x5 notecards were in order. Given the right situation, the semi-colon emphasizes where a period is a bland stop. BTW, I thoroughly enjoy your short essays/columns/blogs. Please keep it going. All the Best, VF I respectfully disagree. I think the semi-colon holds a respectable place and has a valuable role in our language. In fact, I used it this weekend in a memo: “While the product manager is responsible for the success or failure of the product, the authority to make the product a priority to the rest of the organization is not given; the product manager must marshal the resources and manage other’s priorities to impact the successful results. ”

Yes, it’s not poetry and prose, but the point is reinforced by the semi-colon; the sentence builds toward the semi-coloned clause, not just another blank statement that suggests my 3×5 notecards were in order.

Given the right situation, the semi-colon emphasizes where a period is a bland stop.

BTW, I thoroughly enjoy your short essays/columns/blogs. Please keep it going.

All the Best,

VF

]]> Comment on Speedwriting for the Rest of Us by Andreas http://thewritersbag.com/writing-techniques/speedwriting-for-the-rest-of-us#comment-485 Andreas Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:40:41 +0000 http://thewritersbag.com/?p=194#comment-485 Cool list - I wish there would be such a list for German language... Cool list - I wish there would be such a list for German language…

]]> Comment on Honest Words About Semicolons by Monday Morning Link Roundup for 7/21/08 | PureBlogging http://thewritersbag.com/writing-rules/honest-words-about-semicolons#comment-483 Monday Morning Link Roundup for 7/21/08 | PureBlogging Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:52:33 +0000 http://thewritersbag.com/?p=237#comment-483 [...] the Writer’s Bag, there’s a brand-new post about semicolons which does two things: Settles a discussion I had with commenter PS3 after my comma post, and makes [...] [...] the Writer’s Bag, there’s a brand-new post about semicolons which does two things: Settles a discussion I had with commenter PS3 after my comma post, and makes [...]

]]> Comment on Honest Words About Semicolons by Chris http://thewritersbag.com/writing-rules/honest-words-about-semicolons#comment-482 Chris Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:56:47 +0000 http://thewritersbag.com/?p=237#comment-482 I'm inclined to agree too. In your second example, I'd think two different sentences would carry more impact too. I’m inclined to agree too. In your second example, I’d think two different sentences would carry more impact too.

]]> Comment on It Won’t Kill Your Cat, But It Will Get Their Attention by Rebecca http://thewritersbag.com/writing-strategies/it-wont-kill-your-cat-but-it-will-get-their-attention#comment-480 Rebecca Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:59:05 +0000 http://thewritersbag.com/?p=231#comment-480 Thanks for the tip! I've been searching the internet day and night for advice on headlines and how to drive people to a website. I will add your advice to my list and let others know about your website. Thanks again! Thanks for the tip! I’ve been searching the internet day and night for advice on headlines and how to drive people to a website. I will add your advice to my list and let others know about your website. Thanks again!

]]> Comment on Split Hairs, But Don’t Split Infinitives by Denise http://thewritersbag.com/writing-rules/split-hairs-but-don%e2%80%99t-split-infinitives#comment-474 Denise Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:14:28 +0000 http://thewritersbag.com/?p=193#comment-474 Thank you for the clear description. I will use this in my Adult Education class and will let my students know about this site. Thank you for the clear description. I will use this in my Adult Education class and will let my students know about this site.

]]> Comment on The Angels and Demons of the Rules of Writing by Mark Tosczak http://thewritersbag.com/writing-rules/the-angels-and-demons-of-the-rules-of-writing#comment-447 Mark Tosczak Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:50:28 +0000 http://thewritersbag.com/?p=233#comment-447 Good post -- this is an issue all writers struggle with (or should). My 'rule' on this is pretty simple: Never let a rule get in the way of clarity, power or poetry in your writing. The other thing to keep in mind is that some rules, such as not splitting an infinitive, are just kind of silly, imported into English from Latin but not really required for English. Keep these good posts coming! Good post — this is an issue all writers struggle with (or should). My ‘rule’ on this is pretty simple: Never let a rule get in the way of clarity, power or poetry in your writing.

The other thing to keep in mind is that some rules, such as not splitting an infinitive, are just kind of silly, imported into English from Latin but not really required for English.

Keep these good posts coming!

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