sophi
Armadillo Pup
Posts: 12
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Post by sophi on Jun 1, 2011 12:21:42 GMT -5
OMG I use excessive commas! I don't really know when it's absolutely necessary to have them so I just sprinkle them in every where. I really wanted to cry when someone explained to me that, according to recent MLA standards, you are not allowed to use a comma unless it is absolutely necessary. No more creating a pace, none of this "as I read though it, I naturally pause here, so I'm going to indicate that to the reader" stuff. Bullshit. Commas are my best friend, don't you dare take them away. I am a comma WHORE. Whenever anyone asks me to edit something for them, I warn them ahead of time that they are welcome to go back and take out all of my extraneous commas, because I know that not everyone is as crazy for them as I am. |
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Post by tastyink on Jun 1, 2011 12:24:03 GMT -5
There are rules for commas?! I want to cry. I love my commas.
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Post by Silva on Jun 1, 2011 14:53:28 GMT -5
I'm not exactly an English major yet, but I still do embarrassing things.
-I haven't read To Kill a Mockingbird or A Tale of Two Cities.
-I just put semicolons where they feel natural, not where I know they go.
-When writing dramatic scenes, I use too many ellipses.
-I alternate between writing really good essays and appallingly terrible ones.
-I prefer discussing books rather than writing an analysis on them.
-I put a space after my ellipses.
There's more, I'm sure...
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Post by embonpoint on Jun 1, 2011 15:02:23 GMT -5
I'm so glad people love commas as much as I do! I want to put them EVERYWHERE. I really dislike writing in books, but oh, you can bet I will write in extra commas where I think they should go.
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alyoshka
Young Armadillo
Vous etes un chanteur des pommes.
Posts: 94
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Post by alyoshka on Jun 2, 2011 14:21:33 GMT -5
I don't know if this counts, but I hate to write (paper and pencil) I like to sometimes, but the issue is when I write for over five minutes, my hands go through excruciating pain. :/
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Post by onlyaworkingtitle on Jun 2, 2011 15:26:18 GMT -5
OMG I use excessive commas! I don't really know when it's absolutely necessary to have them so I just sprinkle them in every where. I really wanted to cry when someone explained to me that, according to recent MLA standards, you are not allowed to use a comma unless it is absolutely necessary. No more creating a pace, none of this "as I read though it, I naturally pause here, so I'm going to indicate that to the reader" stuff. Bullshit. Commas are my best friend, don't you dare take them away. I'm calling bullshit on your bullshit. Commas aren't just for pausing -- they serve a purpose in their own right, to further clarity and understanding of the sentence. And, not to step on any toes, but your argument for free use of commas would be more effective if it didn't include a comma-spliced run-on sentence. ("Commas are my best friend, don't you dare take them away," should be "Commas are my best friend; don't you dare take them away." That's the perfect home for the under-appreciated semicolon. Give them some love, won't you?) |
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Post by sandiek on Jun 2, 2011 16:28:14 GMT -5
I haven't read much Shakespeare at all, and what of him I have read, I don't remember most of it. I don't have anything against him, I just haven't read him yet. Also *stage whispers* I'm not an EM.  |
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Post by nickusp on Jun 2, 2011 18:56:58 GMT -5
I'm a bad English Major because...
- I'm kind of picky about "The Classics" and end up disliking more than I like.
-I never liked being told what to read and at what pace. I can read fast but as soon as you try to tell me to read The Golden Ass in a weekend I am going to dig my heels in deep and drag
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rayyychul
Armadillo
On ne voit bien qu'avec le c?ur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.
Posts: 159
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Post by rayyychul on Jun 2, 2011 18:59:28 GMT -5
AMEN. I had an English prof whose mantra for commas was, "when in doubt, leave it out.'
Nay, I say! When in doubt, add more!
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rayyychul
Armadillo
On ne voit bien qu'avec le c?ur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.
Posts: 159
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Post by rayyychul on Jun 2, 2011 19:01:00 GMT -5
I'm a bad English major because I can't stomach most classic literature.
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Post by Marina on Jun 2, 2011 19:20:20 GMT -5
I'm a bad English major because I never learned how to count syllables. In my defense, I think it's because the English syllable system is different the Russian one and never in the point of my English learning experience did anyone teach it to me. That's why I can't write haikus or sonnets without a dictionary open.
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Gina
Armadillo
Every second is a highlight.
Posts: 203
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Post by Gina on Jun 2, 2011 20:39:10 GMT -5
~ I am not good at class discussions. I have a lot to say, I'm just too shy to say it. This is why I hate Socratic Seminars. We get graded based on how much we say and the quality of what we say. Usually I think of a few points, but I'm not assertive enough to start a new topic or get into the discussion. ~ Sometimes, in a "Now Playing" thread, I use the ~ symbol in between the artist and song (Goo Goo Dolls~ Black Balloon). I have no clue what that symbol means, I just think it looks prettier than a dash.  I even used it as a bullet point for this list. ~ I am a TERRIBLE writer (or at least I think so). I'm really not in English for the writing, I'm in it for the grammar and the books. I would love to be an English teacher, but I feel like I would never be able to properly teach writing because my skills are so basic. ~ I mess up and say "Me and..." or "I hope I did good" ALL THE TIME. I'm really trying to work on it.  |
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Post by inarikins on Jun 2, 2011 22:07:31 GMT -5
I managed to glide through my junior and senior english classes on discussion alone. I don't usually speak up in class if I can help it, but I also always seem to be the only one in any of my classes that has any idea of what's going on. I'd pause after a question was asked because I was waiting for /anybody/ else to answer and it's just the most awkward thing ever when people turn to look at me like they're asking 'well, aren't you going to answer?'.
Also, I minivan my sentences. I've been trying to break myself of the habit, but it's hard.
When making lists, I tend to drop the 'and'. (I picked up the cat, the book, the chair.) Not sure why. :/
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alyoshka
Young Armadillo
Vous etes un chanteur des pommes.
Posts: 94
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Post by alyoshka on Jun 3, 2011 2:32:11 GMT -5
I'm also a bad English major because I dislike almost all the other English majors I cross paths with. I don't dominate class discussions either. Every time i'm forced to speak in class, I end up having a huge panic attack; thus class discussion ends from that point. hilariously terrible. Every time I make a grammar mistake, I almost always use the fact that English is not my first language as an excuse! |
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alyoshka
Young Armadillo
Vous etes un chanteur des pommes.
Posts: 94
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Post by alyoshka on Jun 3, 2011 2:32:55 GMT -5
I'm a bad English major because I can't stomach most classic literature. Like what? ): Love your quote btw! |
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I even used it as a bullet point for this list. 
