As in a unbroke horse- My editor ( who is wonderful!)keeps wanting to change it to unbroken- Have I been saying it wrong my entire life? Or could this possibly be a local thing?
Unbroke or unbroken
- Thread starter sheadakota
- Start date
It would be unbroken down here. If anyone cares 
ETA: And not to derail, but just while we're on the subject of horses broke or unbroken, can I give an unbridled recommendation for Gillian Mear's just-released "Foal's Bread" ?
God, it's a wonderful book.
There's a bit of it here and a link to an extract.
Watch out you don't cry.
ETA: And not to derail, but just while we're on the subject of horses broke or unbroken, can I give an unbridled recommendation for Gillian Mear's just-released "Foal's Bread" ?
God, it's a wonderful book.
There's a bit of it here and a link to an extract.
Watch out you don't cry.
Last edited:
I knew it was just me 
Must be rural slang-ha-or maybe I'm a hill-billy-
I'll have to check it out Mccardey!
Must be rural slang-ha-or maybe I'm a hill-billy-I'll have to check it out Mccardey!
Captcha
Banned
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2010
- Messages
- 4,456
- Reaction score
- 637
I know it's not proper English, but I'd say unbroke. It's a term of art, maybe.
See, for example...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P9HGJE/?tag=absowrit-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001I9SKVS/?tag=absowrit-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008788U4/?tag=absowrit-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1416586288/?tag=absowrit-20
ETA: So, for me, it would depend on how you were using the term. If you were using it in dialogue, or in a narrative with other colloquialisms, I'd say it's good. If it's meant to be a more precise, 'proper' voice - yeah, 'unbroken' is probably a good correction.
See, for example...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P9HGJE/?tag=absowrit-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001I9SKVS/?tag=absowrit-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008788U4/?tag=absowrit-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1416586288/?tag=absowrit-20
ETA: So, for me, it would depend on how you were using the term. If you were using it in dialogue, or in a narrative with other colloquialisms, I'd say it's good. If it's meant to be a more precise, 'proper' voice - yeah, 'unbroken' is probably a good correction.
Last edited:
Yeah that's where my confusion is from. I'm far from a grammer nazi so I have no problem admitting i'm wrong, but I have been around horses my entire life and I have always said unbroke- not broke, Green-broke ect. It just sounds so wrong to me to say it the other way. I asked because I don't want to argue the point if I'm way off base.
If you've got specialist knowledge, that's the kind of thing you can take up in editing - but I think you're right in asking people what the general feeling is, because your agent or publisher is going to have a general understanding.
Generally.
ETA: Ah - I see you're already up to the editing and discussing it with the editor. My bad - sorry.
Not going to get into that argument.... forget I was ever here....
Generally.
ETA: Ah - I see you're already up to the editing and discussing it with the editor. My bad - sorry.
Not going to get into that argument.... forget I was ever here....
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2007
- Messages
- 6,449
- Reaction score
- 1,321
Massachusetts here, and "broke" is always used, at least orally, as an adjective for horses. A horse that you have broken is a broke horse; a horse that has not yet been broken is unbroke.
I would look up some standard reference books in the horse-training field and see what their usage choice is.
I would look up some standard reference books in the horse-training field and see what their usage choice is.
Jeannette Walls has a book out entitled "Half Broke Horses." Of course book titles are not held to any particular grammatical standard. I've read the very good book, and believe in Ms Walls case, the title probably stems from a regional useage.
Unless you're using cowboy vernacular, either in dialogue or first-person narrative, it ain't "unbroke". It's "unbroken". Period.
caw
caw
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2008
- Messages
- 1,485
- Reaction score
- 165
- Location
- Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Website
- www.bkedits.com
I'd understand either one. I think "broken" is perhaps more correct, but the advantage of "broke" is that it avoids ambiguity. There's a difference between a horse that's broke to saddle and one that's broken in spirit, or broken down with work.
We say it all sorts of ways. Hasn't been broken, or hasn't been saddle broke, are both common Can't remember hearing "unbroke", and even "unbroken" is pretty darned rare. I'm pretty sure I haven't used either, but I'm sure many here and there do.
Sometimes good grammar is the worst grammar you can use. When I write something, I write the way it's used by whoever, wherever. I've been all over hell and gone, and proper here is often improper there.
Sometimes good grammar is the worst grammar you can use. When I write something, I write the way it's used by whoever, wherever. I've been all over hell and gone, and proper here is often improper there.
I googled horse terms, and broke came up more than broken. If that's the form you want to use, I think it's entirely justified. As someone who is not a horse expert, I have no problem with either form in this context.
My editor is pretty flexable so I'm sure if I pushed the issue with her she would go with broke. (did I mention she is wonderful and is making my book so much better than it was!)Thank you all for the opinions- its one of those grey areas. The term comes up in both dialogue and narritive so I would want to be consistent but every time I see Broken I cringe a little because, well it's just not what I'm used to saying. Maybe I'm too much of a cowboy for my own good I also had to convince her that straw hats and chaps really are used is western riding.
I think you can get by with broke/unbroke if you character(s) are from the part of the country where such terminology is commonly used. I've heard it before--it's rural/Western.
If your novel is set anywhere else, then it may be a problem.
If your novel is set anywhere else, then it may be a problem.
FWIW, I just did a google search and it corrected "broke in" to "broken in" ... I had to force it to search for "broke in" once I did that I got: About 259 results (0.12 seconds) versus About 20,000 results (0.19 seconds) for "broken in".
Also, most of the results for "broken in" on the first page were from horse-specific sites. The ones for "broke in" were youtube, ebay, asf.
I will also say that I'v heard both ... and not only for horses but for machinery as well. The "broke in" is usually considered more "hick" and often said in jest with an accent.
I hav a good friend who is a farrier and his wife gives riding lessons, I'v never heard them say "broke in".
I would say that "broke in" might work for cowboys or countrylike folks for flavor ... or if yu're writing a western, but not for equestrians. It hinges on yur characters and yur intended audience.
Also, most of the results for "broken in" on the first page were from horse-specific sites. The ones for "broke in" were youtube, ebay, asf.
I will also say that I'v heard both ... and not only for horses but for machinery as well. The "broke in" is usually considered more "hick" and often said in jest with an accent.
I hav a good friend who is a farrier and his wife gives riding lessons, I'v never heard them say "broke in".
I would say that "broke in" might work for cowboys or countrylike folks for flavor ... or if yu're writing a western, but not for equestrians. It hinges on yur characters and yur intended audience.
In...
the UK and Commonwealth generally the expression is broken in. A horse is broken in to harness, saddle, plough etc.
the UK and Commonwealth generally the expression is broken in. A horse is broken in to harness, saddle, plough etc.
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2010
- Messages
- 93
- Reaction score
- 3
- Location
- southern wisconsin
- Website
- www.kimberlycreates.com
Or you could sidestep the question entirely and say "green" instead. I personally prefer green or even simply untrained to broke, especially if this is in a contemporary setting. "Broke" is old school to me, and implies breaking the horse's spirit.
You are grammatically correct and I can't argue at all, BUT I've come to the conclusion that it depends heavily on where you're from. No one in my circle of rider/horse friends would ever say a horse is broken- they say the horse is broke- or unbroke. Thus my original question- I wasn't sure if we were all just plain wrong or if it is a colloquialism. Pretty sure now that its the latter. My editor has allowed it to stay as broke/unbroke in the MS (has a lot of horse terminology, circ 1970's) Thank you very much to all you contributed their opinions. It is very appreciated!
Last edited:
It's great that your editor agreed to keep it that way - was just going to vouch for 'unbroke'....just sounds more right in relation to the subject.
Meh ... unbroke for unbroken wouldn't make me come out of my seat. OTOH, "hone in" for "home in" would really grate on me unless yur characters are benighted hicks.