So I’m taking this grammar course. It’s necessary for the college certificate I’m aiming to get, in order to put something ‘professional’ on my resume, for me to take this course. I always thought my grammar was pretty good. Yes, I’ve learned a few things, such as the fact that if you’re quoting even the name of something at the end of a sentence, you should put the period inside the quotation marks. The same goes for a comma. That’s fine – I was bound to learn something new.
My problem is this: for my final assignment in this course, I have to write two grammatically correct paragraphs. No problem, right?
Wrong! In fact, SO wrong!
This course is making me question everything I learned in grade 7 English. Who knew there were eleven types of verbs? Now that I’m learning about all these different parts and tenses and exceptions and everything else on top, I’m almost afraid to speak, let alone write! And I have to construct something that’s going to be marked?
I’m a mess!
Advice? Anyone?
lindaghill.com 
November 22, 2014 at 6:08 am
Great work!
Another site which i really appreciate for Vocabulary is http://www.vocabulary.com . Really helpful.
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August 4, 2013 at 4:17 pm
My degree is in English Education, and I still don’t follow all the rules. I write how I speak, and I’ve found, truly proper English, particularly grammar, sets people off. Everyone’s laying around (eek) texting u and r and saying “more than me” and don’t get me started on the whoms…
Sometimes, errors read like nails on a chalkboard to me, but you’re not in that group.
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August 4, 2013 at 7:55 pm
Thanks very much 🙂 Apparently I need to work on comma placement and to figure out where to put a colon. I think I do pretty well in real life – the course is far more picky.
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July 30, 2013 at 6:31 am
How many times did you check this post for grammar ? Ha Ha… It is important for your certificate and to add to your own internal résumé; but it’s nothing if you let your internal editor take charge over your creative self.
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July 30, 2013 at 9:09 am
I actually deliberately avoided checking it for grammar, to see if anyone noticed anything wrong. haha
Thanks for the support 😀
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July 29, 2013 at 4:39 pm
Goodness, I think if I had to worry that much about the correct usage of grammar and verbs, I would be a stuttering mess! I guess I had it easy, leave it to my editors to correct as they will when I write something for publication. But with my blog, well, I don’t really think about…I write as I will….:-D
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July 29, 2013 at 5:03 pm
Yes, I’m probably worrying far too much – I’m simply trying to practice while I’m taking the course, and it’s driving me bonkers. As long as I pass I’ll be happy.
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July 29, 2013 at 8:29 am
And you’re native speaker! Just imagine how could I feel when I took my grammar book a few weeks ago, after the “nice” feedback I received! Don’t you worry, you’ll do great! I’m sure of it, Let us know!
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July 29, 2013 at 2:01 pm
I can’t even imagine what it would be like for someone learning English as a second language.
Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll post my results when I have them 🙂
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July 29, 2013 at 3:34 pm
Great! Keep your head up! And yes it’s a nightmare! Not only I have fear to speak, but also I keep correcting myself and at the same time keep worring if I said the right thing…oh dear!
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July 28, 2013 at 4:21 pm
My heart goes out to you, and I’m an English literature major, former freelance editor for social science dissertations, former technical editor for a toxicology firm, and now ad hoc editor for journal articles at a state agency. For so many grammatical issues, like where to put a comma, you’ll get as many different answers as there are books on the subject. Did your instructor not assign some kind of style manual to use in your assignments? Shame on him or her if not. When working as an editor, I always had a style manual by my side (Chicago, APA, MLA). At my workplace, we came up with our own style manual (heavily based on Roberts Rule of Order). My point is that not one style manual suits everybody, which doesn’t help you at all. I’m sorry.
I can also recommended The Transitive Vampire. I used it once in teaching and it was fun as well as informative. You might also try the Purdue OWL, an online resource for writing. Here’s a link to their presentation on commas: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/692/01/ I know many college students who have used Purdue. Good luck, Linda 🙂
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July 28, 2013 at 4:28 pm
Thanks 🙂
All my professor said on the subject of commas was to use serial commas. Past that, we’re to consult the textbook for the purposes of the course. We’ve covered the fact that there are many styles out there, and that every house will have its own – and that even then, not all the editors in that house will agree. I just want to get through this course!
Thanks for the recommendations. I’ve been looking for a good resource, though I do have to get one that focuses on the Canadian way of doing things.
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July 28, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Oh dear, I just overlooked that “minor” detail of national language. There has to be a Canadian version of Purdue. But I suspect you’ll get through the course just fine, even if a little worse for the wear 😉
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July 28, 2013 at 5:03 pm
I do hope so. I’m walking around the house at the moment looking like Einstein – eyebrows and hair all askew.
hehe
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July 28, 2013 at 7:49 am
It is not how well you speak that is important, It is how well you are understood.
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July 28, 2013 at 1:54 pm
I hope my professor agrees! haha
Thanks for the comment 🙂
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July 28, 2013 at 1:29 am
I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out. — Oscar Wilde
Ellespeth
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July 28, 2013 at 1:53 pm
Yep, that sounds like me. Good idea with the simple stuff. I’ll probably do that. 🙂
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July 28, 2013 at 1:22 am
Write the two paragraphs and put them away for a day. Write them straight through without consulting the textbook. Pick an easy topic – lile how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Ellespeth
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July 28, 2013 at 12:25 am
You’ll do fine. I do understand your feelings, though. Just communicate as you usually do. I think you express yourself well. You can do it!
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July 28, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Thanks for the encouragement! 🙂
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July 27, 2013 at 11:48 pm
I can only say that which is inane. Here’s a parable: when I took my TEFL course I’d already had a couple of degrees, was one of those oddballs who loved writing papers while others groaned, and had, without all that, always been exceptional with English in general and grammar in particular. Nothing phased me when it came to English. By the time I was done with the course and was taking my final for certification I felt like a grammar nit-wit. I passed just fine and have my certificate. You’ll make it, trust me and trust your skill.
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July 28, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Thanks for that. It’s good to know I’m not alone 🙂
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July 28, 2013 at 2:00 pm
As I was told by another author who drops me a line from time to time: “you are never alone” 😀
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July 28, 2013 at 2:03 pm
I suppose that’s very true. 🙂
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July 28, 2013 at 2:09 pm
I have to get used to that one myself, but it’s one of those good things to keep reminding yourself of… just for a change.
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July 27, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Do what the professor says and get the certificate. When you’ve got the certificate you turn your writing into a living language and do what you jolly well like! They’re quite wrong about putting the full-stop (period) inside at all times. It goes on the outside if the quotation is only part of the sentence. But in the meantime, just do as you’re told, O Obedient One! P.S. I got 40 in an IQ test because I argued with the questions…
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July 27, 2013 at 10:41 pm
Problem is, I’m consulting the damned textbook every time I write a sentence these days because I’m self-conscious and questioning everything I write. I was fine before this stupid course! But I will take your advice and behave myself for the next two weeks. After that, I’ll start writing everything in a combination of English, French, Japanese, and Sign Language, and to hell with ’em all! 😀
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July 27, 2013 at 10:45 pm
You’ll go a long way!!!
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July 27, 2013 at 10:47 pm
😀
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July 27, 2013 at 10:13 pm
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GVJVT4/ref=kinw_rke_rti_1
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July 27, 2013 at 10:19 pm
Haha! Yep, that’s me. Innocent, eager and most definitely doomed. Thanks for that. 🙂
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July 27, 2013 at 11:40 pm
I just love vampires, even transitive ones – I’m adding this to my shopping cart….
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July 27, 2013 at 10:01 pm
with the comma; when in doubt leave it out. that is the extent of my english.
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July 27, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Probably good advice, unless they’re asking for serial commas. Then it’s the more the merrier. It’s very confusing.
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July 27, 2013 at 9:58 pm
As a member of the grammar police, I can tell you how important grammar is to a writer AND a reader. Good luck.
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July 27, 2013 at 10:00 pm
Thanks! Like I said, I’m pretty good already… this course has me on edge though. It’s making me over-think everything.
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