kitukwfyer

551 reputation

212

bio	website	none
	location	United States
	age	20
visits	member for	2 years, 5 months
	seen	Mar 14 at 23:14
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Now majoring in math, linguistics, and Asian studies, with a concentration in Japanese, at University of Tennessee, with minors in English, German, history, and computer science.

I read a lot, and all over the place, content-wise. I also have a bad tendency to use German grammar in my English writing...which actually works pretty well for me.

It's not my fault I was only formally exposed to grammar when I started learning German.

Calculus is totally sexy, and I would probably marry Gottfried Leibnitz if he were still alive. And just to cement my awesome dorkiness to the world: I decided I wanted to study linguistics after I read The Lord of the Rings and found out Tolkien was a philologist. That was the only reason I ever went on a language kick. Before that I was an art/history nerd, with emphasis on the art. Who knows why?

Fate is inexorable.

	551 reputation	bio	website	none	visits	member for	2 years, 5 months
212 badges		location	United States		seen	Mar 14 at 23:14

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Apr 8	comment	Why does using this “-ing” verb construction make my writing weaker? I agree in principle, but there's a lot of context to this sentence that I left out. "Trying" was meant to imply the frustration and dissatisfaction I found trying to delve my own language in that way, which is, of course, part of why the scholarship committee should give me lots of money so I can stay in college and learn linguistics! So, I ended up using "in an attempt to" to keep that level of meaning, but without the context, "in order to" is better.
Apr 8	comment	Why does using this “-ing” verb construction make my writing weaker? I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses that construction, and while I agree that on its own it doesn't necessarily help a sentence, and the one I wrote isn't the greatest anyway, I know, I still don't wholly get how/why it's a bad thing. Possibly a distinction between fiction-writing (where I picked it up) and essay-writing...? A jump like that can be useful in the right context...Thanks for answering, though. I was beginning to feel a bit unloved after half an hour. :p
Apr 8	comment	Why does using this “-ing” verb construction make my writing weaker? ...That makes a lot of sense. I have had my most "fun" writing compared to the Old Testament before. I'm guessing she said past action because I was talking about the past, but you're right. So, the main reason it's considered weaker comes down to its being less fashionable? Also, thanks for the grammatical explanation!
Apr 8	awarded	Student
Apr 8	asked	Why does using this “-ing” verb construction make my writing weaker?
Apr 8	comment	Books to improve writing skills The second I read this question, I wanted to write "All of them." Your way is better, though. ;)
Mar 30	revised	Common words to avoid when writing formally improved consistency
Mar 30	comment	Common words to avoid when writing formally @ Kelly C Hess: Ah! Thanks for pointing that out! Originally, I typed "It might be thought that..." and then I changed my mind without changing the rest of the sentence to match. Sorry.
Mar 29	awarded	Editor
Mar 29	revised	Common words to avoid when writing formally clarification, I hope.
Mar 29	comment	Common words to avoid when writing formally It's basically a style thing...If you constantly use the verb "to be" it starts seeming repetitive, almost like when you use "and" too much. Neither is a bad thing to use, but if they're overused...? Then, IMHO, it becomes a bad thing and makes the writing seem immature. I'm probably pushing it too hard in my answer because I really do think avoiding "to be" when you don't have to use it is a good habit, but it's hardly a rule, anymore than avoiding lots of "and" sentences is a rule...Hope that makes sense. I'll go edit in a disclaimer that it's a good habit, NOT some inviolable rule .
Mar 29	comment	Common words to avoid when writing formally @jae: Yeah, sometimes "to be" is the best option...and it probably would be in the death example. That's just what I get for answering on the verge of unconsciousness! Still, I think that overusing "to be" is a good way to make your writing seem simple and immature.
Mar 29	answered	Common words to avoid when writing formally
Mar 29	comment	Common words to avoid when writing formally I don't like overdosing on latin either, and I think this advice is a superficial sort of salve... but it can give a formal gloss to a paper. Always use caution, though. A lot of "synonyms" are only synonyms in the grossest sense. If you get a Germanic word that fits perfectly, use it. Don't use a less perfect smart-sounding word just because it sounds smart, especially if you're unfamiliar with it. As I said, the formality of latin is superficial, and if the latin screws up your meaning and makes you sound like an idiot...? No amount of supposed "formality" is going to rescue you.
Mar 29	comment	Common words to avoid when writing formally You could post this at the writers.stackexchange site too. This seems like something they might like.
Mar 25	comment	Where to find some good examples of combat or action scenes? Gemmell's Troy trilogy is absolutely amazing as well. The first two books, IMHO, have some of his best battle scenes...Mrs. Gemmell completed the third book after his death, and while she did an astounding job, the battles did suffer a bit...I'm afraid we disagree about Dumai Wells. It's a decent battle, but I don't remember it as well as, say, Rand holding the Stone of Tear after it fell, which was awesome...Not criticising, just sharing my opinion.
Mar 23	awarded	Commentator
Mar 21	comment	Are complex sentences uncommon or unwanted in English? Moderation/variety is key. Too many short sentences just start to seem boring, choppy, unintelligent...The point of your paper is the most important thing, obviously, but if it's not interesting linguistically, it affects the whole paper and not at all pleasantly.
Mar 21	awarded	Nice Answer
Feb 10	comment	Where can I find a good vocabulary list? I agree with almost everything here, but why no bloggers? I agree their standards can be low, but so can anyone's. I've learned a few words from the news posts at penny-arcade.com. I've learned more from various blogs, although I admit, I don't follow them as closely. My main point is that it's irrelevant what you read so much as the quality thereof, and there are some extremely intelligent, well-written bloggers, web-cartoonists, you-name-its out there. :)