A Note to Writers, RPers and Other Avid (Ab)Users of the English Language

[glittermuses]

When starting a sentence with the word "well," PUT A FUCKING COMMA AFTER "WELL."

Do not make me BEAT YOU WITH A SOCK FULL OF COMMAS. I will make the commas out of lead, or possibly adamantium. Got that? ADAMANTIUM COMMA-BEATINGS.

Seriously, it isn't that hard to remember.

Examples:

WRONG: Well now that we know you're insane...
RIGHT: Well,

Comments

[minor_ramblings]

I think the only thing worse is when they shun the humble apostrophe as well, and woefully abuse our good friend the ellipsis.

'Well now we know you're insane...' is bad. Alas, it seems to most often take the form of 'Well now we know your insane..thats different....' when I see it.

STABBY!

[glittermuses]

I will admit to occasional overuse of the ellipsis when actually having a character trail off or talk... like... Shatner, though I try not to use it outside that sort of dialogue.

And ugh, two-dot ellipsis with no space! GRAH! It's really not that difficult to remember these things, or at least spellcheck things before posting them.

My copy of Eats, Shoots and Leaves came with punctuation correction stickers. I am very temepted to start using them. I am also tempted to find the book in hardback to beat people with.

[scifispice80]

Heh, my problem is just the opposite a lot of the time. I'll put too many commas in and go back to proofread and be like 'wtf, me?