Comments on: Reading as the best way to learn writing—and perhaps make money along the way http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:49:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: rochelle hartman http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-726574 rochelle hartman Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:21:12 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-726574 I'm with Mr. Gray. I can't diagram a sentence to save my life, and even though I'm a fairly decent editor, cannot explain my edits using the language of grammar. My knowledge of grammar is adequate for a rousing game of MadLibs, but I'm lost beyond that. I was a voracious reader as a kid, and seem to have just absorbed and internalized the rules of writing, without being able to articulate those rules. I've thought about and rejected higher degrees in writing because I'd probably have to take remedial grammar classes. Because I was such a strong writer, my high school teachers suggestion I skip grammar/comp, and I've been waiting to be outed as a fraud ever since. My "grammer" story: I purposefully mispelled it in our 5th grade class spelling bee, just so I wouldn't have to move ahead to the school-wide spelling bee. I’m with Mr. Gray. I can’t diagram a sentence to save my life, and even though I’m a fairly decent editor, cannot explain my edits using the language of grammar. My knowledge of grammar is adequate for a rousing game of MadLibs, but I’m lost beyond that. I was a voracious reader as a kid, and seem to have just absorbed and internalized the rules of writing, without being able to articulate those rules. I’ve thought about and rejected higher degrees in writing because I’d probably have to take remedial grammar classes. Because I was such a strong writer, my high school teachers suggestion I skip grammar/comp, and I’ve been waiting to be outed as a fraud ever since.

My “grammer” story: I purposefully mispelled it in our 5th grade class spelling bee, just so I wouldn’t have to move ahead to the school-wide spelling bee.

]]> By: Joseph Gray http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-726231 Joseph Gray Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:12:05 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-726231 I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way. - Mark Twain :-) I don’t give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way. - Mark Twain :-)

]]> By: Joseph Gray http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-726227 Joseph Gray Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:06:45 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-726227 I don't believe that I was criticizing anyone's spelling in my original post. However, I did spell grammar incorrectly. Sometimes when I am in a hurry, I do make mistakes. Perhaps you don't? I don’t believe that I was criticizing anyone’s spelling in my original post. However, I did spell grammar incorrectly. Sometimes when I am in a hurry, I do make mistakes. Perhaps you don’t?

]]> By: Al http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-726160 Al Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:01:33 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-726160 "I believe that reading exposes the mind to the patterns of correct sentence structure, grammer, spelling, etc. Having these patterns on-tap is what makes it easier to produce good writing. In my own case, I started reading everything I could get my hands on when I was very young. In school, I always hated being force-taught grammer. However, I always did very well with my writing assignments. Just don’t ask me what a dangling participle is :-)" One would think that if one is to criticize some bad spelling that one would want to make SURE that their comment has good spelling, particularly since the word that is misspelled gets a red line under it. At least it is consistent. ;-) “I believe that reading exposes the mind to the patterns of correct sentence structure, grammer, spelling, etc. Having these patterns on-tap is what makes it easier to produce good writing.

In my own case, I started reading everything I could get my hands on when I was very young. In school, I always hated being force-taught grammer. However, I always did very well with my writing assignments. Just don’t ask me what a dangling participle is :-)”

One would think that if one is to criticize some bad spelling that one would want to make SURE that their comment has good spelling, particularly since the word that is misspelled gets a red line under it. At least it is consistent. ;-)

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-726063 David Rothman Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:39:18 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-726063 <a href="http://merryscribbler.blogspot.com/2006/12/diagramming-sentences-its-coming-back.html" rel="nofollow">Diagramming</a> -- that helped me <em>a lot</em>, Joe. Anyone feel the same? It was different from the usual grammar--it helped me understand how sentences were put together. But the main thing is, yes, to read! Thanks, David (who sins constantly with fragments but at least knows what's going on) Diagramming — that helped me a lot, Joe. Anyone feel the same? It was different from the usual grammar–it helped me understand how sentences were put together. But the main thing is, yes, to read!

Thanks,
David
(who sins constantly with fragments but at least knows what’s going on)

]]> By: Joseph Gray http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-725893 Joseph Gray Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:55:26 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/02/29/reading-as-the-best-way-to-learn-writing-and-perhaps-make-money-along-the-way/#comment-725893 I believe that reading exposes the mind to the patterns of correct sentence structure, grammer, spelling, etc. Having these patterns on-tap is what makes it easier to produce good writing. In my own case, I started reading everything I could get my hands on when I was very young. In school, I always hated being force-taught grammer. However, I always did very well with my writing assignments. Just don't ask me what a dangling participle is :-) I believe that reading exposes the mind to the patterns of correct sentence structure, grammer, spelling, etc. Having these patterns on-tap is what makes it easier to produce good writing.

In my own case, I started reading everything I could get my hands on when I was very young. In school, I always hated being force-taught grammer. However, I always did very well with my writing assignments. Just don’t ask me what a dangling participle is :-)

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