Mrs. Write Right, Word Therapist (aka Writer-Editor)

I’m in the process of upgrading the blog so we will be returning you to your regularly scheduled theme soon.

Mike
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Posted in Uncategorized on April 21st, 2008
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So I didn’t get a post up earlier in the week as I had hoped. In fact, I’ve been swarmed with a few gigs that are going to keep me working 9-5 pretty much until the end of the month.

I’m finishing up edits on one manuscript today, and have two more large editing projects due before April 1st. Additionally, I have a magazine deadline coming up on March 27th, but that’s pretty much finished, and only needs some formatting. I’m also taking an online course that I’m working furiously to keep up with, and that will end in a few weeks.

I’m pretty much booked up for the rest of the month, and a new contract editing gig with a regional construction company will begin in April.

I’m also getting ready for my mom to visit! Yay! She’ll be coming to stay with us for a week in the middle of April, and I am absolutely thrilled! I think this may be the break she needs after my father’s recent death, and, well, I just miss her.

How distracted can I be? Well, I’ve had my husband block access to Twitter from 8am-5pm, so I can work without refreshing Twitter every five minutes. (It was very tempting during SXSW, when I was reading all the b5media participants’ posts.)

So, I’ve got another post coming up to inspire some conversation this weekend/next week. I’ll be around, but the next two weeks are going to be busy!

Posted in Personal Life, Writing Work on March 14th, 2008
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Oooh, boy. Have I got some posts for you. We’re talking about some doozies!

Between typos in grocery stores and e-mail inquiries from people who obviously aren’t reading my website before they send me e-mail… I’ve got about half a dozen posts in the works. Gah!

I need a massage. I’m all tense. This is what dealing with certain clients does to me.

Stay tuned for Monday! In the meantime, Calgon, take me away!

Posted in Grammar Check!, Peeves, Venting on March 8th, 2008
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Today is National Grammar Day!

The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar (SPOGG) and MSN Encarta have designated March 4, 2008 as National Grammar Day.

How can you participate? Here’s what Martha Brockenbrough, founder of the National Grammar Day website, had to say:

Speak well! Write well! And on March 4, march forth and spread the word. If you see a sign with a catastrophic apostrophe, send a kind note to the storekeeper. If your local newscaster says “Between you and I,” set him straight with a friendly e-mail.

Want to wear your support for grammar? Check out the great goodies offered from the SPOGG gift shop!

In honor of National Grammar Day I’ve created a Grammar & Punctuation blogroll on the right side of my blog. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally there.

Do you have some grammar pet peeves? I have a few, but one that sticks with me is nauseated versus nauseous. Blame that one on my college roommate, S, who is an absolute grammar snob!

Grammar Girl on nauseated versus nauseous:

It’s common to hear people say they’re nauseous when their stomach is upset, but language sticklers hold that nauseous means to induce nausea, whereas nauseated means you feel sick. So when you’re describing how sick you feel, you should say you are nauseated; when you’re describing something that makes you sick, you should call it nauseous.

Strunk and White agree that the adjective nauseous means “sickening to contemplate,” and the adjective nauseated means “sick to the stomach.” Strunk goes on to say:

Do not, therefore, say, “I feel nauseous,” unless you are sure you have that effect on others.

(I’m not a grammar snob, but rather a grammar educator, so I understand that “nauseous” may indeed become the more acceptable term in years to come. Still, because of my roommate, I can’t help but think of Strunk & White’s definition every time I hear someone use the word.)

My husband is a bit dyslexic, and calls me his built-in spell-check. I’m always helping him with distinguishing between “there, their, and they’re” and “too and to.” Misuse and abuse of apostrophes bothers me, too — I catch examples of these all the time on store signs (e.g., its and it’s). Also, “could of” instead of “could have.” It’s “have,” not “of”!

What’s your “favorite” grammar goof or pet peeve?

Which grammar goof is your pet peeve?

(Edited to add: Good catch on the “favorite peeve,” Lori! Least favorite doesn’t seem to work, either. Hmm. How about “most irritating”? See my edit above.)

Mrs. Write Right, Word Therapist, is a proud partner with the official National Grammar Day website.

Posted in Big Questions, For Writers, Grammar Check!, Peeves, Words in the News, Writing Quotes on March 4th, 2008
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I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to write a come-back post.

First of all, I want to thank everyone who so graciously shared condolences upon the death of my father. He died very suddenly on January 6th, only a few days after my husband and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. I also want to thank my dear husband Michael for posting and letting you all know about it, when I was too overcome with grief to update.

Thankfully we were already near my family, having spent the first few days of our anniversary vacation with them, before we traveled to Orlando to spend the remainder of our time there. We had planned to spend a few more days with my family afterwards, too.

We got the call about my dad the day before we were to return to visit them again. My husband and I spent the duration of that week with my mom, and then my husband traveled back without me. I stayed on with my mom for another week.

I returned toward the end of January, but it took me another week or two after that to get back to work. I slowly adjusted, first returning to work at WEGO Health, and then to Hollywood Birthday at b5 media.

Now it is time I get back to posting here and at All About Musicals.

So much has been happening, and I have so much to share with you about the writing world.

Thank you for your kindness as I grieve for my father. Thank you for being patient while I took some time off from posting, and thank you for welcoming me back with open arms.

Bless you all!

Posted in News, Personal Life, Updates on February 23rd, 2008
5 Comments