Writing properly in English

[Cleveland Rock]

The English language is very complicated; even moreso than most other languages, it would seem. Fortunately, I'm one of those obsessive nerds who has spent more time doing English homework than hanging out with friends. If anybody ever needs help with proofreading, I'm the person to call. I've played so many games with a great and creative story, but poor grammar and spelling ("All your base are belong to us", anyone?). This topic will (hopefully) address English issues that may arise. If you have any ideas on how I can improve this topic, please let me know. Enjoy!

"A lot" of people make this mistake:

Spoiler

"Alot" is not a word; it's two words.

Good example:
A lot of hard work went into my new game.

Bad example:
Alot of people visit this site.

Check "your" grammar:

Spoiler

"Your" is a possessive word that is used in the same sense as the word "my." "You're" is short for "you are" and should be used like "I'm."

Good examples:
Your game is awesome!
Don't spam or you're going to get flamed.

Bad examples:
Who is you're favorite musician?
Your an idiot.

"There" is a trick to this:

Spoiler

"Their" is a possessive word used like "my" and "your." "They're" is short for "they are." "There" is usually used when describing a place.

Good examples:
Their names are Randy and Andy.
They're going to kick your butt.
Don't go there.

Bad examples:
The baseball bat is over their.
Have you heard they're new song?
I've seen all three movies, and their all great!

Also note that "your's" should never be used; use "yours" instead.

"It's" a good idea:

Spoiler

"Its" is a possessive word used like "my," "your," and "their." "It's" is short for "it is."

Good examples:
Its sharp teeth make the shark a deadly predator.
It's best to stay away from sharks.

Bad examples:
The game is amazing with it's flashy graphics and everything.
Its a shame about the terrible music, though.

A "capital" idea:

Spoiler

The following should ALWAYS be capitalized:
-Proper nouns (people's names, "I," titles, names of countries, etc.)
-Abbreviations (RPG, RMXP, RGSS, USA, NASA, FF7, etc.)
-The first letter in a sentence
The following should NEVER be capitalized:
-Prepositions in titles (to, from, at, in, on, and so on, unless it is the first or last word of the title)
-Various other words in titles (the, a, an, of, and, etc., unless it is the first or last word in the title)
-Everything else

Good examples:
How is Jim doing?
I play World of Warcraft.
RMXP is really cool.

Bad examples:
I really enjoy Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time.
Do you play the Sims 2?
Where am i?
the internet is for porn.
How are you, ted?
Have you seen my latest Script?

A "n00b's" guide to apostrophes:

Spoiler

Apostrophes are used in place of letters that are taken out of shortened words (I'm, can't, they're, etc.) and are used in place of the word "of," to show possession. Plural, possessive nouns ending in the letter "S" have an apostrophe on the end. All other plural nouns and all singular nouns, including singular nouns ending in "S," have an apostrophe and an "S" added to the end.

Good examples:
They're going to the movie theater.
I'm going to Charles's house.
The women's bathroom is down the hall.
The games' graphics were amazing!

Bad examples:
I cant do that.
Jesus' cross was heavy.
I joined the mens' basketball team.
I have two Blue Man Group CD's.

"And" here are more tips:

Spoiler

When listing three or more things, do it in the following format: blah, blah, and blah.

Good example:
You may have the green one, red one, or pink one.

Bad example:
I'll have a cheeseburger, small fries and a medium milkshake.

"I wonder" if anyone will even bother reading this:

Spoiler

Sentences beginning with "I wonder" are not questions and should be ended with periods.

Good example:
I wonder what Billy is up to.

Bad example:
I wonder if the mail came yet?

I pity "da foo'" who doesn't read this:

Spoiler

When shortening words, be sure to replace letters with either another letter, multiple letters, or an apostrophe.

Good examples:
Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?
Y'all are a bunch o' foo's.

Bad example:
Ey, homes. Hows it hangin?

Read this one, "too":

Spoiler

"To" is a preposition, such as "from" and "at." "Too" is a way to say "as well" or "also." "Too" can also be used to show excess, such as "too many" or "too few." "Two" is the number between one and three.

Good examples:
I'm going to the mall.
I, too, am going to the mall.
The two of us are going to the mall.
Is your brother coming, too?

Bad examples:
You are to kind.
I am going too the store.
I have to many apples and not enough oranges.
I played that game too! (Note: there should be a comma before "too")

"To" read this is "to" know this:

Spoiler

You should never end a sentence with a preposition. Try rewording the sentence.

Good examples:
At which store will I find this item?
To whom does this item belong?

Bad examples:
Where's the dog at?
Mary, are where you going to?

"Who" cares? I do:

Spoiler

Just read the examples.

Good example:
Who is doing the action?
To whom is he doing the action?

Bad example:
I don't know whom you think you are.
Who did you give it to?

How to "intelligently" use adverbs:

Spoiler

An adverb modifies verbs and adjectives. Adjectives should not be used to describe verbs.; that's incorrect and gets on my very obsessive nerves. XD

Good examples:
The number of people named Jacob seems to have greatly increased.
This couch is perfectly ridiculous.

Bad examples:
I need to make a thousand dollars fast.
When I ask you to do something, I want you to do it good.

Use punctuation; "period":

Spoiler

Periods are used to end statements and commands. Question marks end questions. Exclamation points are used at the end of sentences to denote excitement. Commas denote pauses. Using a semicolon is like linking two similar sentences together. I like to use two dashes at the end of an incomplete sentence when I'm trying to make it a point that the person saying the sentence was interrupted (--). A lot of games (Japanese games especially) use a tilde (~) at the end of a sentence to show that the person saying it is drawing out the sentence. As a guideline, try not to use more than three of the previous punctuation marks in a row.

Good examples:
Today is a good day for volleyball.
Are you up for a game of volleyball?
I hope so!
How about you, Jack?
The last time you played, you lost.
I have an idea; let's go over to--
Why did you do that?!

Bad examples:
Buy somethin' will ya!
What.
You jerk...........
You stole my bike!!!!!!!!!

Please reply with comments or suggestions. I hope I didn't p*** off too many people with my grammar obsessions. XD

And, when you flame me, be sure to say, "you're an idiot," as opposed to "your an idiot."

 

[djzalzer]

Finally, someone did this. I get sick of people doin' the whole Net-speak. But, uh, the puns are (ack) horrible.

 

[Norris]

This topic aims to address an area often overlooked. I mean we get so many people complaining over a writer’s incompetence towards proper writing, yet few (if any) are half-arsed enough to actually do something about it. This is commendable.

Also as a side note, I've grasped more knowledge about the 'technicalities' behind proper English structure from topics such as these, then I did in my Year 12 English class (I basically failed that subject). I have no doubt in this topic’s ability to enlighten those who struggle to learn the fundamentals of the English language, especially considering how this topic pertains to a hobby that have captivated many into joining this forum. It is much more enticing to learn from someone when they share a common interest.

 

[Despain v.1]

Finally, someone did this.

Finally, my ass. I did it like a year and a half ago.

But this is good. We needed something new that people could actually see and use.

But..

When listing three or more things, do it in the following format: blah, blah, and blah.

In modern writing, both formats (comma or no comma) are usually acceptable.

Also, focus more on people being lazy. And WHY they should follow the grammar rules. Most people know them, they're just too fucking lazy to follow them.

It's useful for the games, though, which this is about- though it's the idiots posting like asshats that annoy me more than the occasional small mistake in a game.

 

[Rye]

In modern writing, both formats (comma or no comma) are usually acceptable.

Wouldn't that get confusing though? I've never actually heard of it being right without the commas though.

 

[Durastik]

The only thing I don't agree with you about on this is that you say that::

I need to make a thousand dollars fast.

Is bad, but people actually talk like that.

I agree that basuc things such as capitalisation and punctuation should be used, aswell as the right words, but if we follow all of the grammatical rules the world that our games are set in will seem to stilted, there are other people then hobos and 'gangstas' that use bad english.

Good to see someone actually made something like this though, some games around here make you wonder if we are on an english speaking forum.

Peace

 

[Tdata]

The game is amazing with it's flashy graphics and everything.

Is proper english. It is using "it" to be posesive. Thus in this case "it's" doesn't mean "it is".

Its sharp teeth make the shark a deadly predator.

Is the bad example Its isn't proper.

 

[darkiewonder]

Is proper english. It is using "it" to be posesive. Thus in this case "it's" doesn't mean "it is".

Is the bad example Its isn't proper.

What you said isn't correct . you're confusing yourself now.

http://www.stormloader.com/garyes/its/#top

What Cleveland Rock has written is correct actually.

 

[Tdata]

Ah, but my college English book begs to differ.

"It's" Can be used the same way you would add "'s" to your name or to an object's name to denote possession.

 

[Despain v.1]

Ah, but my college English book begs to differ.

Your college English book is fucking wrong.

 

[Norris]

but if we follow all of the grammatical rules the world that our games are set in will seem to stilted, there are other people then hobos and 'gangstas' that use bad english.

You point out something very worthwhile.

 

[BlackStaticWolf]

Grammar nazism is a fitting first post!

Ah, but my college English book begs to differ.

"It's" Can be used the same way you would add "'s" to your name or to an object's name to denote possession.

You need a better textbook then. :P

Because "it's" is always the contraction for either "it is" or "it has," while "its" is only the possessive of "it."

I need to make a thousand dollars fast.
When I ask you to do something, I want you to do it good.

These aren't the best examples. Not because they're correctly used. They aren't.

They're bad because they differ in sentence structure from the two good examples. This gives the reader the impression that it's only proper to have adverbs preceeding the verb when that isn't the reason that the bad example are wrong.

 

[BlueScope]

Very useful, indeed ... not that I'm making English games, but it's nice to know for the everyday post write :P (although I knew most of the things, surprisingly ... the listing thing was new for me, though ...)

 

[Cleveland Rock]

Thank goodness people took this well. I had to have someone else check the topic for me since I was afraid I started a flame war.

Anyway, a couple people commented on how certain things I used in bad examples are "accepted." I'm trying to teach proper English; not accepted English. If something is accepted, that doesn't mean it's right. That's like saying, "If smoking is legal, there must be no reason to quit."

Someone else mentioned that my first post was English Nazism. In actuality, it was my seventh post (unless you count the posts I had on RMXP.net a long time ago when I was known as DavidusEntertainment).

Finally, nobody commented that I accidentally spelled "nouns" with an "E." English "Nazis" are human, too. XD

 

[BlackStaticWolf]

Someone else mentioned that my first post was English Nazism.

I actually meant that my first post was grammar nazism. :P On account of it being in this thread about using proper english. I was, of course, being facetious.

 

[Cleveland Rock]

I actually meant that my first post was grammar nazism. :P On account of it being in this thread about using proper english. I was, of course, being facetious.

Oh, haha. Never mind. Welcome to the forum then.

 

[AceJP]

LOL, I couldn't believe it when I saw this topic!
I thought, wow, thats a pretty big claim, how to use the English language.
I'm 20 and a sophmore in college and I still got some stuff out of this, actually, only the whole lot about "There", and "To," I always mess those up big time. I usally just get into a habit of using one of the theirs or 2's and just using it for everything lol
I think this is a useful thing for everyone to just read thru it once ^_^

 

[Lunarhound]

a couple people commented on how certain things I used in bad examples are "accepted." I'm trying to teach proper English; not accepted English. If something is accepted, that doesn't mean it's right. That's like saying, "If smoking is legal, there must be no reason to quit."

Their point was valid, though. People writing dialogue should always be aware of proper English, but that doesn't mean that every character in a game should use it. For some characters, that would be out of character and, as far as I can tell, that's all they were saying. Homeless people, bumpkins, and even your average, every day joe is not going to have perfect grammar. Portraying them that way might make your game world seem a bit stiff, and unrealistic. Only those characters who would actually be conscious of such things should speak flawlessly.

Still, your post was a good one. Someone should sticky this.

 

[Anonymous]

Their point was valid, though. People writing dialogue should always be aware of proper English, but that doesn't mean that every character in a game should use it. For some characters, that would be out of character and, as far as I can tell, that's all they were saying. Homeless people, bumpkins, and even your average, every day joe is not going to have perfect grammar. Portraying them that way might make your game world seem a bit stiff, and unrealistic. Only those characters who would actually be conscious of such things should speak flawlessly.

You can see a perfect example of this in Phylomortis: AG.

Still, any writer should know the rules before they deliberately break them.

 

[BlackStaticWolf]

Their point was valid, though. People writing dialogue should always be aware of proper English, but that doesn't mean that every character in a game should use it. For some characters, that would be out of character and, as far as I can tell, that's all they were saying. Homeless people, bumpkins, and even your average, every day joe is not going to have perfect grammar. Portraying them that way might make your game world seem a bit stiff, and unrealistic. Only those characters who would actually be conscious of such things should speak flawlessly.

Very true. People do not speak using proper grammar. Even the people who would know proper grammar don't actually use it 100% of the time when speaking.

Still, any writer should know the rules before they deliberately break them.

Also very true. Even when characters aren't supposed to use proper grammar, it is definitely obvious when the writer doesn't actually know the proper grammar him or herself.