Discussions about creativity, growing old, growing young, self-publishing, freedom, the craft of writing, art, and many other topics. Part confessional, part thinking out loud, I write what interests me at the moment. BTW, I write my books under the pen name R. Patrick Hughes.
Old school said: "Don't you dare have a preposition at the end of a sentence." New school says, "But it sounds so stuffy and formal!" For most writing the new schoolers probably are winning the argument, but for very proper occasions, the old guard still keeps its hand in the game.
And rightly so, Michelle. I write city council minutes in my day job, and they are formal by their nature. We don't go as far as some cities with their legalize, but when you're paraphrasing people's comments, it ought to at least sound like a lay person said it.
I remember in a linguistics class the discussion about how language changes. It seems that the boundaries around what's proper get looser and looser all the time. It's sort of hard to keep up with. :-)
Good question, Richard. I tend to be influenced by my point of view character. If he/she would end with a preposition, then I do, even in the narration, as that is still in the MC's point of view. Likewise if they are formal, then I am.
bTW, with your love of Paris, check out my recent post, sharing books I've been reading during my recuperation -- all of the taking place at sow point in Paris. :-)
8 comments:
Old school said: "Don't you dare have a preposition at the end of a sentence." New school says, "But it sounds so stuffy and formal!" For most writing the new schoolers probably are winning the argument, but for very proper occasions, the old guard still keeps its hand in the game.
And rightly so, Michelle. I write city council minutes in my day job, and they are formal by their nature. We don't go as far as some cities with their legalize, but when you're paraphrasing people's comments, it ought to at least sound like a lay person said it.
Thanks for the shout out, Richard.
Thanks for direct to her site, it's always a nice place to visit!
I read that one. It was great :D
I remember in a linguistics class the discussion about how language changes. It seems that the boundaries around what's proper get looser and looser all the time. It's sort of hard to keep up with. :-)
Good question, Richard. I tend to be influenced by my point of view character. If he/she would end with a preposition, then I do, even in the narration, as that is still in the MC's point of view. Likewise if they are formal, then I am.
bTW, with your love of Paris, check out my recent post, sharing books I've been reading during my recuperation -- all of the taking place at sow point in Paris. :-)
The iPad strikes again! That was supposed to be "at some point".
What a great blog she has. Thanks for the link!
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