A few weeks ago, on an online writer’s forum, a user posted a request for a “Grammar Nazi” to beta read their manuscript. I knew what they meant. They wanted someone with a sharp eye, a good grasp of grammar and a brutal approach to editing to specifically check for language errors in their writing. However, I did not expect the response this poor user’s post evoked.
Speaking of commas…
As she was busy making us some sandwiches for dinner the wife asked me, “What’s an Oxford comma?” This, of course, in reference to my closing lines in yesterday’s post. To her great consternation I burst out in laughter, not because I thought the question silly (two years ago I did not know of the Oxford comma, and I’d taught high school English for five years), but because at that moment I was reading a rather entertaining discussion of the serial comma (to use it’s more humble name) by Mary Norris, Comma Queen and copy editor at The New Yorker.
Holy Writ is a long read, but very much worth it. Thanks to R.A.B. over at You Knew What I Meant for sharing this.
Also, four for four. I’ve no idea what’s going on this week. I appear to be slipping back into my blogging habits from back when I started out. Let’s see how long I can keep it up. Tomorrow there will be a quiz (unless there isn’t 😉 )
Happy Grammar Day
Three posts in three days. I know, right? Better not make this a habit. But how could I let National (not my nation, but who cares?) Grammar Day pass without a tip of the proverbial hat? Especially after coming across this totally cool grammar quiz on the Grammarly Blog via Grammar Girl’s Twitter feed? (Goodness! I’ll stop typing “grammar” now. Okay, a couple more times: grammar; grammar. I’m done now. Promise.)
I lied. I’m not done. But you need to click here to see the rest.
One of a kind
My country is messed up. Our rivers run bright green with sewage (I would know – I live next to one), you can seriously damage your car if you hit a patch of asphalt between all the potholes in the road, we have a president that makes Nixon look like a boy scout but keeps getting away with it, and a few weeks ago we managed to break democracy when half the opposition was thrown out and the other half walked out during the State of the Nation address.
But at the same time we have an amazing country with amazing people.
If all else fails…build a puppet
Or two.
The girl-puppet was simple enough:
But for her brother I wanted a specific hairstyle and had no idea how to achieve said hairstyle. They say necessity breeds invention, and so the wife suggested we make a tapestry, like this:
I spent more time making the hair for one puppet than the total time the wife and I spent assembling them both, but I’m so happy with the end result, the new method for making hair is becoming part of the permanent toolbox:
It was tough letting these two go for adoption, but I know their new mom will take very good care of them and they’ll bring hours of pleasure to the children she works with every day. That’s why we do this, after all.
if all else fails...use a hammer 