Since when did sentances start with the word "and"?Since when would you put a comma before using or after using the word "and"?Since when do we use -- instead of commas?
Hi, crazyhorse.
There's nothing inherently incorrect about beginning a sentence with "and." It's generally discouraged when you are learning grammar as a young schoolchild because of the tendency to use it improperly.
Commas aren't subject to the same hard and fast usage rules as other markings. Many quite learned people consider their use subjective, to indicate a pause in thought. That's how I was using it.
There's no way to type a proper em dash on a message board, so two hyphens is the generally accepted plain text substitution.
Should of is perfectly acceptable in Scots,which is my native language.The British government now accepts Scots as a regional language and has recognised it as such under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
Actually, I'm a Gaelic speaker (mostly Irish, but I also have a little Scots), but I presume you mean Scots English rather than Scots Gaelic. In any case, "should of" is
not considered proper in
any variety of English. The contraction "should've" is what you meant to say, and it is short for "should
have." "Should of" doesn't have any meaning.
I forgot an apostrophe,guilty as charged.I should be hung drawn and quartered.
Certainly not hung, drawn and quartered. I don't understand why people who choose to speak and write correctly, and to help others do so, are constantly subjected to such abuse! I'm generally pleased when someone corrects me on something other than an obvious typo. I'd rather know the correct form of expression than go on using the incorrect one.
I wonder if American spelling annoys people too
Not in America.
And, you won't find me correcting any legitimate regionalisms like "colour" versus "color," or "trainers" versus "sneakers"; I do know the difference between regional peculiarities and incorrect usage.
Any International message board will have several styles of writing on them.A certain amount of leeway should always be made for misunderstandings and when they are cleared up there is no reason to then blame the person who wrote the post for your misunderstanding instead of reacting on what you now know was meant.
Sure, but when writing online, one must make a special effort to be clear. I don't see what's wrong with my backing up Joe when I'd misread KoshN's note in exactly the same way; and I wasn't the only one. And I'm certainly free to disagree with someone who says, "You're an idiot who has reading comprehension problems;
this is what I meant," if in fact I understood it differently. If one person misunderstands you, it might be a simple difference of perspective; if five or ten or twenty people misunderstand you, you have to start examining your own form of expression.
As for expecting everyone to know what has been posted on several forums over the period of several years,well that is just crazy.
Huh? I've no idea what you're accusing me of with this comment.
The experts have said it is unviable to advertise the books on television.It is then revealed that they were advertised on tv.That means the experts were wrong about that at least
No, it just means that some publisher did advertise on television; it doesn't tell us anything about the efficacy of such an effort. Unless you have sales figures pre-dating the tv ad campaign, and sales figures following it, we can't determine this.
It was suggested by a poster that KoshN wanted the entire publishing industry to change how it works.This was then seized upon and used as means to ridicule his points.He never even suggested it in the first place yet gets blamed for it
Yes, I said that. That was my opinion. And it's a valid opinion based on the information presented. I don't see what the problem is. People have opinions and express them. That's how conversation happens. It was a touch hyperbolic, but in
my opinion, what KoshN was suggesting was not feasible based on the reality of the situation with regard to small niche book publishing. And a tie-in book series to a moderately successful science fiction television series is just about as 'niche' as it gets.
Stop bullying the lad
I think KoshN is perfectly capable of handling me himself. In fact, I
know he is. We've been quite friendly when we're not arguing about publishing, so I'm sure he'd tell me if he's feeling bullied.
If you have decided that you have said everything you want on a subject then say no more.If others want to carry on discussing something then let them.I will decide myself when I feel something is done and dusted,I will not let anybody else tell me.
Um... (looking around in confusion)
Did I tell you, or
anyone, that they should stop talking about this? No, in fact, if you look back through the thread you'll see that I said that
I was done talking to KoshN about it, and that I was pleased to let him have the last word. I've stuck by that; I've only replied to others since that point.
Amy
