Grammar. Why is it so hard???

[azraelz_angel]

Grammar. Why is it so hard????

Commas, semi-colons, oh my!

My head hurt already this morning and now it hurts more.

I have an issue with a particular author at Twisting the Hellmouth. And by issue, let me clarify that to she has a horrific sense of grammar, sentence structure and spelling, and when I quarantine her stories she gets pissy and feels like she is being personally attacked. And yes, I will be the first to admit that I do look at her account to see if she has posted anything new, and if it violates the site's grammatical rules I then quarantine it.

But one would think that she would figure out punctuation and sentence structure. And she has "improved" with the help of betas, but her betas aren't catching the mistakes either and I don't understand that. What is the point of a beta if they don't help you???

And now she has deleted all her stories from the site and I thought that would be the end, but then she reposted one story. And the prologue...it has punctuation problems.

Examples (that I am making up on the fly here rather than copy her work - again):

Jane walks; the dog.

Jane walks the dog ; and sees her neighbor walking his dog.

Jane wanted to walk the dog ,but she couldn't find the leash.

Jane wanted to walk the dog but, she couldn't find the leash.

All four of those sentences are clearly made up but the grammatical use of semi-colons and commas is INCORRECT in each and every one of them.

I think I need to take some Tylenol. I feel like sitting down and betaing her work to show her exactly what she is missing. However, I'm fairly certain that my efforts will be a waste of time (mine and hers) and fall upon deaf ears.

Comments

[sams1ra.livejournal.com]

Ya know, I'm the last person to comment about bad grammar, English not being my first language and all, but seriously - how hard is it not to confuse you're from your? That just makes me want to pull my hair out...
Thank goodness I found an awesome beta. *hearts my beta*

[exposed1.livejournal.com]

I just love how people always jump to the wrong conclusion. When someone is trying to help them out they assume it's an attack. I think I may know who you are talking about and that whole thing is just a endless tunnel of frustration. If I had a beta that wasn't doing a good job and people were consistently pointing out mistake after mistake in a piece I had beta'd I'd be finding a new one.

*passes Tylenol*

[feeferj.livejournal.com]

I will be the first to admit I use commas to death. At least I have a valid excuse! Children. I have child brain. Dealing with a three and a half year old, and a nine month day in and day out- yeah. No. No proper brain function here.

[blue-icy-rose.livejournal.com]

I have to confess that I clicked on your authors tag to see if it was the same person that I have issues with and then I about died of laughter because it was. I know exactly what you mean! Pointing stuff out doesn't do anything. Hell, I even tried to help her with a whole chunk of a chapter when she asked and typed up an entire example for a scene and then...well, then she changed up some of the punctuation and gave me credit for it when posting. *facepalm* Not what I was going for.

But yes, I have much of the same issues. (And I'll make another confession and say that I got completely frustrated with one of her stories after one sitting and decided to write my own damn version as a response to the challenge. And it's now being typed up. Um, yes, that's apparently my solution to things. Bah, I don't know! I know I'm not the best writer out there because I've seen stuff that has me wondering why the person isn't getting paid to write, lol, but yes. That was my response.)

I did wonder who it was that said something to her since I've noticed in discussion threads on one of the boards we're both on that she had this whole post about what she considers personal attacks and constructive criticism. Of course, now I can't find it. *makes face*

Maybe I should just follow in the steps of some of my friends list and make that "Bwahahahaha" filter for rants and WTF moments. Because if I don't stop now, this entire comment will turn into a rant! (Like how not everyone writes fic just so for the characters to hook up. Sometimes there's this plot thing and something called character development and....argh. Nevermind.)

*holds out bottle of extra strength Tylonel* And to help...here! Have Jared and Jensen in towels. *nods at icon*

[avamclean.livejournal.com]

She's made some corrections in the first chapter already but now it lacks a disclaimer. *facepalm* So I left a private review reminding her.

Though now I have the urge to work on my own Dark Angel/Buffy crossover fic. Just 'cause. ;)

The author in question

[(Anonymous)]

I was sure that there was a reason why you harrassed Sassy. And now I can tell her. She is too nice to say this to you but I am not. You are a bitch. You write stories with the passion of a piece of cardboard. If i was stranded and all I had were stories to read of yours. I would rip my eyes out. Its good that you have perfect grammar cause otherwise no one would read your shit. I also suspect with your lack of ability to remember you are not queen of the internet. That other people just so happen to like her stories. Oh by the way she is welcome to post at my website anytime she freaking feels like it without worries of being harrassed by bitches like you.

So even more WOW.....

[bunneysworld.livejournal.com]

For the love of TACOS!!! What is wrong with both sides of this bad melodrama? I mean really, I feel like channeling Martin Luthor King here. My question to you is when you commented on her issues in her writing did you write it in the same tone that you have been writing here?? Cause frankly i wouldn't listen either as it makes you sound like you have a personal issue with JUST her. I mean I read a far worse story in Buffy/Dean last week that was just one big sentence and I know it is still there. I found it easier to just be polite and encouraing to the author while making suggestions. I understand the posting rules , but why Sassy's are so bad when there are worse offenders and they are okay makes you seem petty.

On the other hand I am pissed at the person above me that cussed you out for just being a super wuss. Get some balls and put your name on it! If you can't stand by your comments don't say it!!!

So like i was saying I am offically a fan of the "As the Fanfic Turns" plot we have going here. So i will bust out my popcorn and continue to read and comment :)

Later and Love
Bunney

BTW I help out sassy as far as plot disscussion as I do all kinds of ppl, but i suck ass at spelling so i pass the buck there. lol