PSA: Loose Cannons
Lately, I keep seeing a handful of spelling and grammar errors pop up all over the internet. And, I'm not the only one noticing them; I've discussed this with people in a few different places now, but it's usually in comments on a journal entry that has little or nothing to do with the topic, and that's solving nothing. So, I figured I'd do something constructive, and make a clear, simple reference. I hope this doesn't come across as snobby, since that's not my intent. I'm not claiming that I never make grammar or spelling errors (including with regards to character names), and I'm terribly guilty of using internet abbreviations and word manipulations. However, I'm also aware that most of the mistakes on this list are entirely unintentional when made, and I'm hoping that posting these explanations will help-- which also means, feel free to link to this post elsewhere. Knowledge is power, the more you know, et cetera. :)
loose - not tight
lose - misplace
cannon - large gun
canon - established in the show/book/movie/comic/etc. a fandom is based around
there - a location
their - belonging to them
they're - they are
its - belonging to it
it's - it is
than - compared to
then - point in time; afterward/next
desert - expanse of sand
dessert - yummy after-dinner treat
past - bygone time; beyond
passed - went by (action/verb); did not fail (as in, "passed an exam")
reins - what you use to steer a horse
reigns - rules over
weather - what's happening outside your window
whether - a conditional word, often used along the lines of "whether or not"
accept - take something that's offered; agree to
except - excluding; but
access - approach; get to
excess - more than is needed
affect - influence (usually a verb)
effect - result (usually a noun)
role - a part played in something
roll - single-serving-sized bread product; to move by revolving
two - 2
too - also
to - pretty much any other use of what sounds like "to" (here's dictionary.com's definition)
specific - particular
Pacific - an ocean
supine - laying on your back
prostrate - laying on your front
prostate - a male organ
defiantly - with defiance
definitely - certainly
definitely, not "definately"
cemetery, not "cemetary"
should have = should've, not "should of"
et cetera = etc., not "ect."
supposedly, not "supposably"
regardless, not "irregardless"
e.g. - for example
i.e. - in other words
"I" is for the subject of sentences (usually, at the beginning).
"Me" is for the object of sentences (usually, at the end).
Pete and I went to the beach. The seagull flew over Pete and me.
He and I went to the beach. The seagull flew over him and me.
The seagull did not fly over "Pete and I," nor did "Me and Pete" go to the beach. (Always list the other person first.)
[Quick explanation: The SUBJECT of a sentence does the verb action. The OBJECT of a sentence is whom or what the verb action affects.]
Who is for the subject of a sentence.
Whom is for the object of a sentence.
Good describes a noun.
Well describes a verb.
I'm doing well. My health is good.
Also, a quick list of commonly-misspelled character names for Robin Hood BBC fanfic writers, according to the show's end credits:
>>---> Marian
>>---> Gisborne
>>---> Allan A Dale
(Also, the show was co-created by Foz Allan, hence the spelling of the character's name; and the Sheriff was played by Keith Allen.)
>>---> Scarlett
>>---> Djaq
>>---> Legrand
>>---> And, while this was never written in the show, credits, or on the website, and thus is not really canon, I've been told that "Vaizey" is the spelling reportedly given by show co-creator Dominic Minghella.
I'm sure there are points I've missed; if anyone has something to add, comment here and I'll edit it in!! :)
loose - not tight
lose - misplace
cannon - large gun
canon - established in the show/book/movie/comic/etc. a fandom is based around
there - a location
their - belonging to them
they're - they are
its - belonging to it
it's - it is
than - compared to
then - point in time; afterward/next
desert - expanse of sand
dessert - yummy after-dinner treat
past - bygone time; beyond
passed - went by (action/verb); did not fail (as in, "passed an exam")
reins - what you use to steer a horse
reigns - rules over
weather - what's happening outside your window
whether - a conditional word, often used along the lines of "whether or not"
accept - take something that's offered; agree to
except - excluding; but
access - approach; get to
excess - more than is needed
affect - influence (usually a verb)
effect - result (usually a noun)
role - a part played in something
roll - single-serving-sized bread product; to move by revolving
two - 2
too - also
to - pretty much any other use of what sounds like "to" (here's dictionary.com's definition)
specific - particular
Pacific - an ocean
supine - laying on your back
prostrate - laying on your front
prostate - a male organ
defiantly - with defiance
definitely - certainly
definitely, not "definately"
cemetery, not "cemetary"
should have = should've, not "should of"
et cetera = etc., not "ect."
supposedly, not "supposably"
regardless, not "irregardless"
e.g. - for example
i.e. - in other words
"I" is for the subject of sentences (usually, at the beginning).
"Me" is for the object of sentences (usually, at the end).
Pete and I went to the beach. The seagull flew over Pete and me.
He and I went to the beach. The seagull flew over him and me.
The seagull did not fly over "Pete and I," nor did "Me and Pete" go to the beach. (Always list the other person first.)
[Quick explanation: The SUBJECT of a sentence does the verb action. The OBJECT of a sentence is whom or what the verb action affects.]
Who is for the subject of a sentence.
Whom is for the object of a sentence.
Good describes a noun.
Well describes a verb.
I'm doing well. My health is good.
Also, a quick list of commonly-misspelled character names for Robin Hood BBC fanfic writers, according to the show's end credits:
>>---> Marian
>>---> Gisborne
>>---> Allan A Dale
(Also, the show was co-created by Foz Allan, hence the spelling of the character's name; and the Sheriff was played by Keith Allen.)
>>---> Scarlett
>>---> Djaq
>>---> Legrand
>>---> And, while this was never written in the show, credits, or on the website, and thus is not really canon, I've been told that "Vaizey" is the spelling reportedly given by show co-creator Dominic Minghella.
I'm sure there are points I've missed; if anyone has something to add, comment here and I'll edit it in!! :)