What can I do to perfect my grammar?

Question

Let me start off by saying that my grammar isn't atrocious. In fact it's quite good. I graduated as valedictorian of my class, so I'm not exactly clueless when it comes to these things. However, the problem I find is that because I started learning English when I was eleven (I moved to the U.S. then), there seem to be a lot of instincts people possess as far as grammar that I'm not sure I have.
The main reason for my wish to perfect my grammar is that I want to be a published writer. So far I've only completed my high school education, and I'm not sure when I will go to college/university. I would like to study history while there. What I'm apprehensive about is the fact that many of my favorite authors have gone to college and studies literature there.
Can I be a genuine writer without having studies Literature in university. What about if I have not yet attended university (due to money issues)?
Thanks

P.S. I thought I should point out a few things that I find most difficult:
-when I am writing dialogue, I get confused with grammatical rules
-I tend to overuse comas, and then correct myself and not use enough (does this sentence even need a coma. It feels like it should.)
- When do you use a coma to set something out in a sentence, and when do you use these things: - -
- Is it a problem that I don't know the names of these things? ;)

Answer 1

The best way to acquire the instinct you refer to is to read lots of good writing and you will develop an ear for what sounds like convincing dialogue and what doesn't. There are lots of books (Fowler's Modern English Usage) which explain the rules - but as you will see from this site there are lots of arguments about correct grammar. I use more commas than most, usually when I pause for breath - it is a matter of style. Above all you need to produce writing which does not confuse the reader - so you just need to decide whether adding or omitting commas helps the sense or not.



If you become a published writer or journalist you have subeditors who tweak your work so I wouldn't worry. I don't think JK Rowling had any formal qualifications - all she needed was a wizard idea.

Answer 2

First off, you spelled "coma" wrong. It is spelled C-O-M-M-A. A Coma (koh muh) is when you are unconscious for a long period of time.



You said, "Does this sentence even need a coma." And you ended with a period. But, you should've ended with a question mark because you asked a question.

You use a comma when:

- you are making a list. (Example: ball, bat, glove and base)

- you can use a comma before the word and.. but you don't have to.

- for me, I just use a comma to break up a sentence. (Example: After the hospital had completed its fund-raising campaign, an anonymous donor contributed an additional $10,000.) Notice how if you read it out loud, you take a breath after the comma. You seem to be able to use commas just fine.



This - is a dash. It does not have one specific usage. It can be used to replace a colon which is this : and a comma , Here is an example where a dash could've been used: There are three things every good baker must have: flour, sugar and eggs. The colon is used in a more formal way. Usually dashes replace commas and colons when the sentence is informal and needs more emphasis.

A dash is 1. stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than a parentheses, which is this ( ). It can also be used to make a list, like what I did above.



I don't think it's a problem that you don't know what those punctuation marks are, (I think that's what they're called) I don't know what the thing is that puts two words together like this: weren't. I don't know what the ' is.



The first source I gave is on dashes. I summarized the article basically. The next source is about commas, there were some parts of the article I didn't understand, so I will leave it up to you to figure it out.



Hope that helps!

Answer 3

It's alright, I'm 14 and I'm not very good at dialogue either! It's hard.



It's called commas, not comas btw. Commas aren't bad, but if you do use to many, it can cause a run-on sentence. I think you should be ok without having to study in a university. You could always start out your writing career by writing for a newspaper or something small and work your way up.

Answer 4

Not sure what the first answer is on about but perhaps you shouldn't be too worried about needing to get qualifications to become published. If any story you write has good enough plot or story surely a proof reader or editor would be able to iron out any serious problems. Also there are many authors who cna't wirte a good book even if their lives depended on it - even those from the U.S.A.

Do more reading (of print on paper) & less worrying.



p.s. what part of punctuation is a coma?

Answer 5

I had Robert's rules of Order tattoo'd upon my arms till the blood flowed like rivers, and needles decried the shortcoming of area in the innumerable and rare parsings of recurring shortcoming's obsession which flung themselves upon my international-weary techniques. In that day I foretold of fantastic things forward for Mick Jagger if in basic terms he might use extra suitable grammar. da baby coulda been somebody