#writing refresher

[literaryvein-reblogs]

a few more commonly confused words

Afflict - to cause suffering or unhappiness (something a disease does) Inflict - to force pain or suffering (like if you smack someone) (Both cause pain)

Allude - to refer to something in an indirect manner Elude - to evade

Alone - no other person is with you Lonely - you are alone, and sad as a result

Amicable - a friendliness or goodwill between people or groups Amiable - friendly disposition

Arise - happen or occur Rise - to go up

Assent - refers to agreement Ascent - a climb

Aver - to affirm Avow - to openly declare

Correlation - a relationship Corollary - more like a consequence

Disassemble - to take something apart Dissemble - to hide your true self

Discreet - under the radar, careful Discrete - individual or detached

Disinterested - unbiased; out of the loop Uninterested - don't give a hoot; bored

Disperse - to scatter Disburse - to pay

Eminent - famous Imminent - refers to something about to happen Immanent - inherent

Exalt - to glorify or elevate something Exult - to rejoice

Expedient - something helpful Expeditious - speedy

Extant - still here Extent - the range of something

Faze - to disturb, bother, or embarrass Phase - a stage or step

Fictional - literary Fictive - specific Fictitious - just plain fake

Imply - to hint at something Infer - to make an educated guess

Ingenious - smart and clever Ingenuous - innocent and naive

Insidious - something that lies in wait to get you Invidious - something offensive or defamatory

Loath - unwilling or reluctant Loathe - to hate

Morbid - describes something gruesome Moribund - the act of dying

Paradox - a logical puzzle that seems to contradict itself Oxymoron - a figure of speech—words that seem to cancel each other out (e.g., instant classic)

Parameter - a limit that affects how something can be done Perimeter - the outline of a physical area

Practical - sensible Practicable - possible

Pragmatic - you're practical Dogmatic - you follow the rules

Premiere - the first public performance of something Premier - the very best

Prescribe - to recommend Proscribe - to forbid

Rebut - to try to prove something isn’t true Refute - to actually prove it isn’t

Reluctant - resisting or unwilling Reticent - quiet, restrained, or unwilling to communicate

Sources: 1 2 ⚜ More: Writing Basics ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs ⚜ Part 1

[literaryvein-basics]

Writing Basics

will update this every few weeks/months. alternatively, here are all my tagged writing basics/refreshers

Basic Grammatical Terms ⚜ Improve your Vocabulary

Parts of Speech ⚜ Punctuation Marks ⚜ Poetic Meter

Adjective or Adverb ⚜ Conjunctive Adverbs ⚜ Tips on Adverbs

IPA Symbols ⚜ "i.e." & "e.g." ⚜ Lexical Universals

Prepositional Meanings ⚜ Prepositional Phrases

Questions Part 1 2 3 ⚜ Avoid Wordiness

Words

Commonly Confused Words Part 1 2 3

"Troublesome" Words Part 1 2 3 ⚜ Transition Words

Word Alternatives Part 1 2 3 4 ⚜ Nonsense Words

all posts are queued. send questions/requests here ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[literaryvein-reblogs]

some more commonly confused words

Aggravate - make something worse Irritate - to annoy

Alternate - to take turns Alternative - an option

Ambiguous - something unclear or vague Ambivalent - about something, you can take it or leave it

Aural - refers to the ear or hearing Oral - refers to the mouth or speaking Verbal - expressed in words, either spoken or written

Definitely - for emphasis Definitively - for the final say

Didactic - teaches a lesson Pedantic - just shows off the facts

Envy - when you want what someone else has Jealousy - when you’re worried someone’s trying to take what you have

Fortunate - lucky Fortuitous - by chance or accident

Gambit - a kind of sacrifice* Gamut - a range

Gibe - to sneer or heckle Jibe - to agree** (but, jibe is a variant spelling of gibe)

Historic - has a great importance to human history Historical - something is related to the past

Holistic - treatment of the whole person Holy - having a divine quality (e.g., related to a god)

Partially - implies bias in favor of one or the other Partly - more precise when portion or proportion is meant

Rob - focuses on the place or person from which the thing is taken Steal - focuses on the thing that is taken

Sound - something which you can hear Noise - when a sound is unwanted or unpleasant

Tortuous - marked by repeated twists, bends, or turns Torturous - describes something painful

Voracious - describes someone super hungry Veracious - means truthful

Who - acts (like "he" or "she") Whom - receives (like "him" or "her")

Wreck - to ruin something Wreak - to cause something to happen Reek - to smell bad

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ⚜ More: Writing Basics ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

EDIT

*specifically: Gambit - a chess opening in which a player risks one or more pawns or a minor piece to gain an advantage in position

**in sailing: Jibe (US) or Gybe (Britain) - a sailing maneuver whereby a sailing craft reaching downwind turns its stern through the wind, which then exerts its force from the opposite side of the vessel

Thank you to @introvertia & @anumberofhobbies for these additions!

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Word List: Went

Went—past tense of go (i.e., to move on a course; proceed)

Actuate - to move to action

Avoid - to keep away from

Bolt - to move or proceed rapidly

Bound - to move by leaping

Depart - to go away; leave

Escape - to get away

Exit - to go out or away

Flee - to run away

Fly - to be moved with sudden extreme emotion; to flee

Forge - to move forward slowly and steadily; or with a sudden increase of speed and power

Hop - to move by a quick springy leap or in a series of leaps

Jaunt - to make a usually short journey for pleasure

Jolt - to move with a sudden jerky motion

Journey - to go on a journey; travel

Leap - to spring free from or as if from the ground

Leave - to go away from; depart

Lurch - to move with a lurch; stagger

March - to move in a direct purposeful manner; proceed

Mosey - to hurry away

Move - to start away from some point or place; depart

Pace - to move along

Parade - to march in or as if in a procession

Pass - move, proceed, go

Progress - to move forward

Retreat - to make a retreat; withdraw

Saunter - to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner; stroll

Scoot - to move swiftly

Skip - to move or proceed with leaps and bounds or with a skip

Split - to leave, especially: without delay

Step - to be on one's way; leave—often used with "along"

Stride - to move with or as if with long steps

Stroll - to walk in a leisurely or idle manner

Tour - to make a tour (i.e., one's turn in an orderly schedule)

Travel - to go on or as if on a trip or tour; journey

Vanish - to pass quickly from sight

More: Word Lists

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: How to Choose POV

A Quick Guideline on Choosing POV

Refresher: Definitions

First-Person Singular: First-person singular narration uses the pronoun “I” and is the most commonly used form of first-person point of view. This style is perfect for character-driven novels and creates a close, immersive connection between the reader and the story. However, this type of narration limits the author and the reader to a single character’s experiences, feelings, and knowledge.

First-Person Plural: This first-person narration style utilizes the pronoun “we” and is less commonly used. It combines the intimacy associated with first-person with the flexibility of third-person omniscient. First-person plural can be effective when done well but can be tedious and is limited to the collective voice.

Second Person: Second person utilizes “you” for the narrator but is more commonly used in short stories. This style easily fosters close bonds between the readers and the characters as you start to feel as if they are you.

Third-Person Limited: Narration in third person limited relies on she/her, he/him, they/them, etc., pronouns as well as the character’s name. This point of view limits the author and reader to one character’s perspective allowing the writer to exercise the closeness of first-person singular through thoughts and feelings while also offering the broader perspective of third person.

Third-Person Omniscient: This type of narration also utilizes the character’s preferred personal pronouns and name and gives the narrator god-like storytelling abilities as they can reveal any character’s thoughts, go to any time or setting, know information the characters are unaware of, and comment on events in the past, present, and future. The degree to which these abilities are used is up to you. Third-person omniscient is popular among novelists with large casts and complex plots. However, this style can lead to too many shifts in perspective.

Tips for Choosing POV

You may find that you have a preferred point of view and then realize it’s not a good fit once you start writing your story. Many writers worry about finding their voice, but sometimes the story finds it for you. If you’re unsure which point of view to choose, consider these tips to help you pick.

Explore your options. You won’t know which POV to use unless you try them all. Try writing or rewriting a scene from your story in each POV to see which style fits your novel best.

Establish your POV. Once you’ve picked a style, stick to it and let your audience know which character they’re experiencing the story through.

Note limitations. POV will decide what information your character is privy to and thus determine their actions and opinions. Take time to review your work with your character’s limitations in mind to keep your writing accurate.

Don’t be afraid to change. If you find yourself drifting into another POV as your novel progresses, don’t shy away from revising your work into the best perspective for your story. It’s also important to note that some books shift from first to third to second, and it may benefit you to find examples of novels with varied narration to help you learn to master this style.

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References ⚜ POV

[literaryvein-reblogs]

more commonly confused words

this time, with examples

affect vs. effect

Usually affect is a verb meaning "to influence," and effect is a noun meaning "result." But effect occasionally is used as a verb meaning "to bring about."

Example: Social activities may affect your grades, but the effect should be small!

than vs. then

Than is used to indicate a difference between two things and is usually used in the phrases “more than” or “less than.” Then indicates a sequence of events or items.

Example: The data indicates that Americans work more hours than Europeans.

Example: Add the butter then the sugar to make the cookie dough.

farther vs. further

Farther refers to additional distance, and further refers to additional time, amount, or other abstract matters.

Example: You may be further from an "A" than you think, so when you study, go no farther than the best place to concentrate.

loose vs. lose

Loose means that something is not firmly in place or could be removed easily. Lose means to no longer have something or to have misplaced it.

Example: This bracelet is loose on my wrist; I hope I don't lose it again.

its vs. it’s

Its is the possessive of “it,” and unlike other possessives, does not use an apostrophe. It’s is the contraction of “it is” or “it has” and is never used to mark the possessive. 

Example: It’s been many decades since the college changed its graduation requirements.

less vs. fewer

Less refers to bulk amounts and uncountable items, or nouns that can’t be quantified by just putting a number in front of them. Fewer refers to countable items, or nouns that can be quantified just using a number.

Example: After inventory, there are fewer guavas and less flour than we ordered.

entitled vs. titled

Entitled means to have a right to do or have something. Titled refers to the name or label of something.

Example: I feel entitled to own this book, because it is titled “Dimitri” and that’s my name also.

between vs. among

Between is used when two things are concerned (the word comes from "by twain" in Middle English), while among is used when more than two things are concerned.

Example: Between you and me, these mistakes are common among all of us.

feel vs. think

In common usage, feel means to sense, to be emotionally affected by something, or to have a general or thorough conviction. Think means to use reason or to examine with the intellect.

Example: I think that you can write better than you have, though I feel encouraged by the improvements in your writing.

which vs. that

Use that in restricting (limiting) clauses: "The rocking chair that creaks is on the porch." In this sentence, one rocking chair is singled out from several – the one that creaks.

Use which in nonrestrictive (in effect, parenthetic) clauses: "The rocking chair, which creaks, is on the porch." In this sentence, the fact that the rocking chair creaks is tossed in; it is not added for the purpose of identifying the one chair out of several. 

Important Note: Use who for people, in both restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses.

A technique that can improve your writing is proofreading, which can show you unintentional errors.

since vs. because

Since is often used to mean because: "Since you ask, I'll tell you." Its primary meaning, however, relates to time: "I've been waiting since noon." Most people now accept since in place of because; however, when since is ambiguous and may also refer to time ("Since he joined the navy, she found another boyfriend"), it is better to say because or after, depending on which you mean.

Example: Because you are intelligent and careful, your writing has improved since the beginning of this course.

commonly confused words part 1 ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Sentence Types

There are 4 types of sentences in English. Each has a specific purpose.

4 Types of Sentences

DECLARATIVE SENTENCE

The purpose of this sentence is to make a statement.

It is the most common sentence in writing, and it ends with a period. Examples:

"Larry ate chocolate ice cream covered with almonds."

"Susan was declared class president at the pep rally."

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE

The purpose of this sentence is to ask a question.

The sentence ends with a question mark.

There are 2 kinds of questions in English:

1. The "yes/no" question

Places the helping verb in a declarative sentence before the subject in the interrogative sentence. Example:

"I can go to Jamaica this summer." (declarative)

Is transformed to: "Can I go to Jamaica this summer?" (interrogative)

2. The "wh-"question

Begins with a question word: who, what, when, where, why, and how. These words always appear first in the interrogative sentence. Examples:

Who is that student?

What are Mary and Robin doing?

When will you be home?

Where is Mark going?

Why are you sad?

How does that work?

IMPERATIVE SENTENCE

The purpose of this sentence is to issue a request or command.

It has no written subject; however, the subject is implied, and it is always "you." Examples:

"Go to school." = (You) Go to school.

"Don't drive too fast." = (You) Don't drive too fast.

EXCLAMATORY SENTENCE

The purpose of this sentence is to express a strong feeling.

Exclamatory sentences always end with an exclamation point. Examples: 

"That is an unusual color!"

"John sounded brilliant!"

Source ⚜ More: Writing Basics & Refreshers

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Refresher: Prepositional Meanings

The diagram shows the chief prepositions which express spatial meanings.

Most prepositions can be used in several different ways.

Over, for example, is found in:

the sense of position (The picture was over the door),

movement across (They climbed over the wall),

accompanying circumstances (We’ll talk over dinner),

orientation to the speaker (They live over the road), and

other meanings.

Other types of meaning include:

time (e.g. during the night),

cause (e.g. because of the fog),

method (e.g. with a spoon), and

possession (a pianist of talent).

In addition, there are many figurative uses involving prepositions:

He’s in a hole may literally mean what it says, or it may not (R. Quirk, et al., 1985).

A preposition - expresses a relationship of meaning between two parts of a sentence, most often showing how the two parts are related in space or time:

We sat on the bench.

They left at three.

Most of the common prepositions consist of only one word; they have no distinctive ending, and do not vary.

Several prepositions consist of more than one word.

Single-word prepositions include:

about, at, before, by, down, for, from, in, of, on, out, over, round, since, through, to, under, up, with

Multi-word prepositions include:

(two words) ahead of, because of, due to, instead of, near to; (three words) as far as, by means of, in accordance with, in spite of, on behalf of. The words in these prepositions do not vary freely, as they would in other circumstances. In spite of, for example, cannot change to *out spite of or *in spite for.

Source ⚜ More: Prepositional Phrases ⚜ Writing Basics & Refreshers