Tools and Insights – Page 10

In Praise of the Semicolon

Stephanie Whetstone2020-01-14T14:41:17-05:00

In Praise of the Semicolon The semicolon (;) is a curious punctuation mark that could be described as neither fish nor fowl. To quote Harry Shaw’s Punctuate It Right, “It is a stronger mark than the comma, signifying a greater break or longer pause between sentence elements. But it is weaker than the period and other terminal marks (question mark, exclamation point) and cannot be used to end a sentence.” Indeed, as Shaw points out, even its name is misleading, since the semicolon does not play the introductory role of the colon and might more aptly be termed a “semi-period” or “double-comma.” [...]

In Praise of the SemicolonStephanie Whetstone2020-01-14T14:41:17-05:00

Roger Rosenblatt on “Useful” Writing

Stephanie Whetstone2020-01-14T14:41:50-05:00

Roger Rosenblatt on "Useful" Writing In Unless it Moves the Human Heart: The Craft and Art of Writing (2011), the distinguished – and exceptionally versatile – writer Roger Rosenblatt includes a parting memo to the students in his course, “Writing Everything,” at Stony Brook University. Here is an excerpt: “You may not need this postscript as much as I need to give it to you. But there is something about writing I haven’t told you, in part because it smacks of the sentimental and abstract – two of the monsters I’ve hoped to drive from your work. And yet, if I [...]

Roger Rosenblatt on “Useful” WritingStephanie Whetstone2020-01-14T14:41:50-05:00

English Pronunciation: Better to Laugh Than Cry

Stephanie Whetstone2020-01-14T14:42:25-05:00

English Pronunciation: Better to Laugh Than Cry Flip through any dictionary, and you will find a wide assortment of words that have more than one sanctioned pronunciation – words such as “schism,” which can be pronounced either SKĬZ-ǝm or SĬZ-ǝm. Interestingly, the former was once regarded as incorrect but now predominates in standard American usage. But at least the meaning is the same. Not so with heteronyms, which have identical spellings but different pronunciations and meanings. In other words, it matters greatly which pronunciation you employ. Here are a few examples: Princeton’s heavyweight crew had a row over how they should row at [...]

English Pronunciation: Better to Laugh Than CryStephanie Whetstone2020-01-14T14:42:25-05:00

“Affect” Versus “Effect”

Stephanie Whetstone2013-07-02T12:00:05-04:00

Few words separated by a single letter cause as much confusion as “affect” and “effect.” Beyond their superficial similarity, the water is further muddied by the fact that each functions as a verb and noun. None of these forms is interchangeable, so keeping them straight is important. Let’s begin with some broad definitions: Affect (ǝ-FĚKT), as a verb, has two discrete meanings: to influence or to simulate, as in “The storm affected turnout at Richardson Auditorium” or “Professor James affected the dress and manners of an Ewardian don, much to the amusement of his students.” Affect (ĂF-ĕkt), as a noun, is a psychological [...]

“Affect” Versus “Effect”Stephanie Whetstone2013-07-02T12:00:05-04:00

The Nature of Writing

Stephanie Whetstone2013-06-25T12:00:49-04:00

Writing is an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary process that stretches from grade school to the grave. We do not wake up one day accomplished writers, our apprenticeship complete. On the contrary, every day demands a new commitment to this craft, moving us forward – and sometimes backward – in incremental steps that are only apparent when we cast a long look back. To write well, we must make the written word our constant companion – inspiration, nemesis, conscience, and, above all, clay. Never stop kneading and shaping it; never claim to have mastered it, but never despair of making it your servant. The novelist [...]

The Nature of WritingStephanie Whetstone2013-06-25T12:00:49-04:00