#3. Reading The Elements of Style - Day 6

I have almost finished this book! Yay!

Today's study notes:

Rule 16. Keep related words together.

The position of the words in a sentence is the principal means of showing their relationship. The writer must therefore, so far as possible, bring together the words, and groups of words, that are related in thought, and keep apart those which are not so related.

The subject of a sentence and the principal verb should not, as a rule, be separated by a phrase or clause that can be transferred to the beginning. (except when the order is interrupted by a relative clause or by an expression in apposition, or deliberately to create a suspense)

Wordsworth, in the fifth book of The Excursion, gives a minute description of this church. 

--> In the fifth book of The Excursion, Wordsworth gives a minute description of this church.

He wrote three articles about his adventures in Spain, which were published in Harper's Magazine. 

--> He published in Harper's Magazine three articles about his adventures in Spain.

Modifiers should come, if possible next to the word they modify. If several expressions modify the same word, they should be so arranged that no wrong relation is suggested.

All the members were not present. --> Not all the members were present. 

He only found two mistakes. --> He found only two mistakes.

Rule 17. In summaries, keep to one tense.

Rule 18. Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.

The proper place for the word, or group of words, which the writer desires to make most prominent is usually the end of the sentence. (or the beginning)

Humanity has hardly advanced in fortitude since that time, though it has advanced in many other ways. -->
Humanity, since that time, has advanced in many other ways, but it has hardly advanced in fortitude.

#3. Reading The Elements of Style - Day 5

Today's lessons were very helpful. I think they will dramatically improve my writing. But of course just studying the rules does not automatically bring changes.... ;P (Practice!) Well, here are my study notes.


Rule 13. Omit needless words.

the question as to whether --> whether (the question whether)
he is a man who --> he
in a hasty manner --> hastily

owing to the fact that (I use this phrase a lot!!) --> since (because) --- Oh. Revelation.
in spite of the fact that --> though (although)
call your attention to the fact that --> remind you (notify you)
the fact that he had not succeeded --> his failure 

His brother, who is a member of the same firm --> His brother, a member of the same firm
Trafalgar, which was Nelson's last battle --> Trafalgar, Nelson's last battle



Rule 14. Avoid a succession of loose sentences


Rule 15. Express co-ordinate ideas in similar form

Expressions of similar content and function should be outwardly similar. The likeness of form enables the reader to recognize more readily the likeness of content and function.


Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method, while now the laboratory method is employed. --> Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method; now it is taught by the laboratory method.


It was both a long ceremony and very tedious. --> The ceremony was both long and tedious.
My objections are, first, the injustice of the measure; second, that it is unconstitutional. --> My objections are, first, that the measure is unjust; second, that it is unconstitutional.

#3. Reading The Elements of Style - Day 4

Yay! Weekend! I was so busy during the week doing assignments that I am really glad that my classes are over for the week. I hope I can sleep a lot, finally...

Well, today's study notes:


Rule 10. As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence; end it in conformity with the beginning.

Ending with a digression, or with an unimportant detail, is particularly to be avoided.


Rule 11. Use the active voice.

Oh yes. I have some trouble with using the active voice.... I need a lot of practice..

Example. My first visit to Boston will always be remembered by me.
--> I shall always remember my first visit to Boston. (more direct, bold, and concise)

Example. The reason that he left college was that his health became impaired.
--> Failing health compelled him to leave college.

As a rule, avoid making one passive depend directly upon another.

Example. Gold was not allowed to be exported.
--> It was forbidden to export gold (The export of gold was prohibited).

Example. Mobilization of the army was rapidly carried out. (the verb has no function beyond that of completing the sentence)
--> The army was rapidly mobilized.


Rule 12. Put statements in positive form.

Example. He was not very often on time. --> He usually came late.
Example. He did not think that studying Latin was much use. --> He thought the study of Latin useless.

Honestly, I am not sure about this rule. I mean, it is good to avoid "tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language," but I think there is a difference between "did not think ... was much use" and "useless," and also between "not important" and "trifling."
I think using positive forms sometimes fail to capture the subtlety of the situation..
But anyway, I should pay attention to the choice of words so that I don't end of being so verbose and hesitating.

Example. Did not remember --> forgot
Example. Did not pay any attention to --> ignored






I'm done for today! X-) Let there be no snow tomorrow!!

#3. Reading The Elements of Style - Day 3

Today's study notes:


Rule 7. A participial phase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.


Example 1. Walking slowly down the road, he saw a woman accompanied by two children.
--> He saw a woman, accompanied by two children, walking slowly down the road.


Example 2. Without a friend to counsel him, the temptation proved irresistible. 
-->  Without a friend to counsel him, he found the irresistible.

If you don't follow this rule your sentence will sometimes look ridiculous. But I often do that! :/



Rule 8. Divide words at line-ends, in accordance with their formation and pronunciation.


A. Divide the word according to its formation: know-ledge (not knowl-edge), de-scribe (not des-cribe. WHAT?? I've been writing like that... X/)

B. Divide "on the vowel": edi-ble, ordi-nary, espe-cial, presi-dent

C. Divide between double letters, unless they come at the end of the simple form of the word: Cincin-nati, refer-ring, but tell-ing.



Rule 9. Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic.
Yep, my professors emphasize this.

#3. Reading the Elements of Style - Day 2

Today I studied about punctuation. Because I frequently confuse semicolons and commas, today's exercise was pretty helpful. :)

So, here are my study notes today. 

Rule 4. Place a comma before and or but introducing an independent clause.

Example 1. The early records of the city have disappeared, and the story of its first years can no longer be reconstructed.

Example 2. The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.

Problem: The second clause seem to be an afterthought. Also, and is very unspecific and only indicates a relation between two clauses.

--> 1. As the early records of the city have disappeared, the story of its first years can no longer be reconstructed. 

OR: Owing to the disappearance of the..., the story of its...

--> 2. Although the situation is perilous, there is still one chance of escape.

OR: In this perilous situation, there is still...

Note: A writer does not need to make sentences too uniformly compact and periodic. Loose sentences   gives an informal air and a certain relief to the reader.

Rule 5. Do not join independent clauses by a comma.

If two or more clauses, grammatically complete and not joined by a conjunction, are to form a single compound sentence, the proper mark of punctuation is a semicolon.

Example 1. Stevenson's romances are entertaining; they are full of exciting adventures.

Example 2. It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark.

You can also write two sentences.

--> 1. Stevenson's romances are entertaining. They are full of exciting adventures.

But if the conjunction is inserted, the proper mark is a comma.

--> 1. Stevenson's romances are entertaining, for they are full of exciting adventures.

If the second clause is preceded by an adverb, such as accordingly, besides, so, then, therefore, or thus, and not by a conjunction, the semicolon is still required.

Example 3. I had never been in the place before; so I had difficulty in finding my way about.

But it is best to avoid using so and replace it with as.

--> 3. As I had never been in the place before, I had difficulty in finding my way about.

Rule 6. Do not break sentences in two.

Example 1. I met them on a cruise several years ago. Coming home from Liverpool to New York.

--> replace the first period with a comma.

Note: it is okay to make an emphatic word or expression serve the purpose of a sentence.

Example 2. Again and again he called out. No reply.

#3. Reading The Elements of Style - Day 1

For my third seven-day project, I chose to read William Strunk & E. B. White's The Elements of Style.
Stephen King recommends this book in his On Writing.
And it is also very short and concise! I can study three chapters a day and will take only about five to ten minutes to do that. Since I am getting busy with the schoolwork, I think it is not a bad idea to choose a project that is not so time-consuming. :)

I wish I can improve my English a bit this way. :P

You can read the 1999 edition here: http://www.bartleby.com/141/
(Apparently there are many editions since it was first published in1919.. I'm using 2011 Kindle edition.)

For now, I decided to jot down the points I find confusing or notable.


Achilles' heel --> could be replaced by: the heel of Achilles
Moses' laws --> could be replaced by: the laws of Moses

In 1769, when Napoleon was born, Corsica had but recently been acquired by France.
--> includes two statements that could be made independently:
Napoleon was born in 1769. At that time Corsica had but recently been acquired by France.

Nether Stowey, where Coleridge wrote The Rime of the Ancient mariner, is a few miles from Bridgewater.
--> Coleridge wrote The Rime of the Ancient Mariner at Nether Stowey. Nether Stowey is only a few miles from Bridgewater.


I tend to make my sentences long and include more than one statement per sentence...
I need more practice (actually, I could try to edit what I just wrote here), but..... well, enough for one day. :)

#2. A Character A Day - Day 7 HyeonSook

Final day of my second seven-day project: develop a character a day!

Today I took a break from Pierce and made a rough drawing and basic concepts for the main character in a completely different project.

How nice to just pick up a .7mm pen and draw your way without any means to correct previous lines or ideas! Yes, it creates a rather crude (??) form, but I kinda missed doing things this way.

...After making a drawing like this, which took me 3.5hrs...

Pen is definitely quicker, and as long as I get the basic idea, no prob. ;)

So his name is HyeonSook (현숙). Haven't made his surname yet. Maybe he usually goes with his given name.

HyeonSook is an extremely unusual name for a guy in his twenties or early thirties. Actually it is for women, and it is kinda old-fashioned as well. It was the 10th most popular name in 1958 and 1968 in Korea. 

(http://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%9D%98_%EC%84%B1%EC%94%A8%EC%99%80_%EC%9D%B4%EB%A6%84. I got the name from the list. Fufu.)

(So you see I am the world's greatest colorist ever... fufu)

He looks placid and ordinary-looking. 

He wears vintage (I mean, kinda timeless) check shirts and a worn pinkish- jumper that looks rather.. vintage or ridiculous.....

Actually, you know what, I just realized that I might have gotten the idea of a pinkish jumper from Drive (2011), where Ryan Gosling wears that kind of jacket. All right, I'll give HyeonSook something different then. :) He can go green. Or orange. Or fuschia. Or lime. OH, LIME.

A couple of other pictures: 

A note where I calculated what genres I create. (from 2010 till today)

Thrillers - 36

Drama/psychology - 21

Fantasy - 19

Crime - 18

Romance - 11

Family - 11

Etc. - 5

So..... it seems I love thrillers, huh?

HyeonSook is in a fantasy drama, not a thriller, though. :)

And my room last night. 

Full of notes and pictures.

But not quite so full of them yet.

I need to create more and more stories! :)