Here's today's BTT question:
Writing guides, grammar books, punctuation how-tos . . . do you read them? Not read them? How many writing books, grammar books, dictionaries–if any–do you have in your library?
I have read many in my time but I do not look at them now. It feels too much like work since I have to teach these skills every day. The only exception is a dictionary. I do use one every once in a while. I keep one behind my desk at work, and we have a very good two volume one at home.
In all honesty, I rely on spell check to fix my grammar and punctuation. I also tend to throw in commas quite liberally because I can never quite remember, or care, where they really go. I also use the Internet to check words etc.
It's a short and sweet answer - basically, I have very few in my library and rely more on the Internet.
I spend so much of my time in front of the computer (especially at work) that it's so much easier to use the internet. It's right there in front of me. :-) I do have paper reference tools in the house and a couple at work that I refer to now and then, but not often.
ReplyDeleteI have realized that my spelling has become much worse since spellcheck became available. Eeks! I have a few guides that I used a lot during college and in teaching--but I also used Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL) a lot as well--especially for MLA formatting. No, I didn't go to Purdue. ;) Their online resources were just better than Texas A&Ms.
ReplyDeleteSpell check was invented by the devil.
ReplyDeleteOkay, maybe not but it sure is leading to a generation that isn't going to know the difference between things like to, too, and two.
And whenever I use my grammar check, it ends up irritating me because it keeps trying to correct things that are already correct!
cjh
Literary - I agree!
ReplyDeleteTrish - So has mine. Teaching first grade doesn't help either:)
CJ- Also, there, their and they're. I am always pointing out mistakes on signs to my husband. Our favorite is "Family Dinning" I wonder how a family dins?