Grammar and Style
Book Review: Polishing the PUGS
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Before I became a writer, I thought a PUGS were dogs. But now, thanks to author Kathy Ide, I know that PUGS is a mnemonic device for Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling.
How should I describe Polishing the PUGS? It is the CliffsNotes of style books for writers seeking to get their work published. As an editor, Kathy Ide has been on the front lines correcting PUGS errors for years. She has compiled the most common mistakes writers make into one easy-to-use resource, and it’s available in CD format or as a book.
Are commas a problem for you? Go to the table of contents, find the “Commas” chapter, and get a quick punctuation lesson. Because The Chicago Manual of Style is the standard for book publishers, Kathy gives the Chicago rules first. The Associated Press Style Manual is the standard for newspapers and magazines. She provides AP Style rules that disagree with Chicago in a text box on the same page.
In the front matter, you’ll find a list of the style/reference books used by professional publishers. Don’t miss the “Ten Reasons to Polish Your PUGS” article, either. Read it and take it to heart. Your PUGS must be polished if you want to be published!
This is the second edition. Although I had the first edition, I knew I didn’t want to be without the new one because of changes in the style manuals themselves. AP Style changes occur constantly, and they publish a new book annually. The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition, was published in 2010.
If you don’t have Polishing the PUGS, you need to get one for yourself. Consider giving it as a gift to other aspiring writers. Visit Kathy’s Web site for more information and to buy the book. Click here to purchase on Amazon.
Kathy offers online classes through The Christian PEN, a professional support organization for those who do proofreading and editing work for the public and for publishing companies. See details about the classes here.
Grammar and Style Link Roundup
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For the past few weeks, posts on Blog4writers have dealt with grammar and style. This week, I’ve spent some time locating online grammar and style resources and tutorials. Keeping your grammar and style skills in shape is a necessary discipline for writers wanting to publish their work.
Tutorials and Resources:
General Grammar and Style Resources
Easily Confused or Misused Words
Clichés: Avoid Them like the Plaque
University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) Style Handout
Free English Grammar Tutorials
Grammar, Usage, and Style Cheat Sheet
Blogs:
Blog for Writers. Kathy Ide, author of Polishing the PUGS, has a blog on her site where she posts grammar and style pointers regularly.
Daily Grammar Lessons. This one features a grammar quiz (with answers) in each post.
I recommend that you subscribe to both of these blogs. Neither offers e-mail subscriptions, but you can subscribe by RSS feed. If you need help with that process, see my article on the subject here.
Style Errors That Scream “Amateur”
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Maybe a better title for this post would be “Grammar Rant.” Recently, I’ve noticed obvious grammar and style errors in both print and online publications. I wonder whether these publishers are short-handed in the editorial department or just not using editors at all. At any rate, here’s a list of grammar and style errors that are most common in the writing I’ve evaluated lately.
If you are trying to get your writing published, make sure your work is free of these marks of the amateur. (more…)
Guest Post: Pass on the Passive
1Tracy Crump is a writer and speaker whose work has been published online and in numerous print periodicals. She also presents workshops at conferences and team-teaches workshops on writing for the Chicken Soup compilation books. She publishes an e-newsletter for writers entitled “The Write Life.” Subscribe here.
Which of the following sentences arouses more righteous anger?
- The World Trade Center was destroyed in 2001.
- The World Trade Center was destroyed by terrorists in 2001.
- Terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center in 2001.
Though all three sentences are grammatically correct, the last uses the active voice or construction which conveys more power, emphasizes the actor, and is clearer and more direct. The first two use the passive voice which generally expresses an idea in a weaker, less straightforward manner.
To understand passive versus active voice, simply remember: In the active voice, the subject performs the action; in the passive voice, the subject receives the action. The passive voice always combines a form of to be with a past participle. Sometimes the direct object acts upon the subject (as in the second example), and sometimes the actor vanishes from the sentence altogether (as in the first example). Your sentences will carry more clout and communicate better if you use the active voice. (more…)
In-Style Writing
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Recently, I posted a book review of Alpha Teach Yourself Grammar and Style. Read the entire post here. If you choose not to read the review, I’ll refresh your memory. Grammar, the mechanics of language, is not the same as style. “Style” means “a distinctive manner of expression,” according to Merriam Webster online dictionary. As you ground yourself in grammar, you should also work on developing a unique personal style that adheres to the style guides for your intended market.
Magazines and newspapers usually follow Associated Press style. Book publishers, however, use the Chicago Manual of Style. Check out the following style guides, and, if you’re not familiar with them, now’s the time to enlighten yourself. Public libraries might have some of them in their reference sections. (more…)
Book Review: Teach Yourself Grammar and Style
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Full title: Macmillan Teach Yourself Grammar and Style in 24 Hours, by Pamela Rice Hahn and Dennis E. Hensley, Ph.D., published by Pearson Education Macmillan USA, 2000.
Have you wanted to attend a writers’ conference but couldn’t afford it? Have you considered online courses but passed on them for the same reason? Consider getting a copy of this book, and give yourself a thorough workshop on the basics of writing. Although the title may intimidate you, the book is not boring and pedantic. It’s designed for anyone needing a review of grammar basics, but it also targets those who need to improve their writing.
You may be wondering what’s the difference between grammar and style. The first sentence in the first chapter explains, “Grammar is the study of sentence structure and the rules that govern it.” “Style” means “a distinctive manner of expression,” according to Merriam Webster. The first 12 chapters give you grounding in grammar, while the rest of the book helps you develop your style.
The title says you can accomplish your study in 24 hours. Sounds amazing? Well, you won’t be able to do it overnight, unless you just don’t sleep at all. Each chapter is constructed so that you can study and absorb the material in one hour. Then you take the multiple-choice test. If you do one chapter a day, you can finish in 24 days. Do two chapters a day and be done in 12 days. Maybe it’s not “quick and easy,” but it is effective.
The book offers several appendices with tables, resources, lists, and a detailed index. If you’re a published writer or one who wants to get work published, this book will be a good refresher course. It’s available both new and used on Amazon.
Preview the book on Google books.
