Neverminding?

maddythemad · Jan 3, 2007

Can you say, "She punched him, neverminding the fact that he was her boss?" That's not the actual sentence, but I'm wondering if you can use "neverminding" in that way. Is neverminding even a word? I've received mixed answers on this (some say it's not a word, some say it is, and some say it is only when there's a space between the "never" and the "minding".)

I'd be grateful if anyone could straighten me out about the matter.

~ Maddy

BruceJ · Jan 3, 2007

Can you say "despite" or "disregarding" or are you stuck on "neverminding." If it's receiving mixed reviews by writers, is it worth likely having readers stumble over it, too?

Sweetlebee · Jan 3, 2007

I would write it as "Never mind the fact that he was her boss, she punched him anyway."

Higgins · Jan 3, 2007

Ambiguous

maddythemad said:
Can you say, "She punched him, neverminding the fact that he was her boss?" That's not the actual sentence, but I'm wondering if you can use "neverminding" in that way. Is neverminding even a word? I've received mixed answers on this (some say it's not a word, some say it is, and some say it is only when there's a space between the "never" and the "minding".)

I'd be grateful if anyone could straighten me out about the matter.

~ Maddy

Somewhat ambiguous. "not minding" would refer to a definite instance..."neverminding" implies a certain lack of consciousness as in forgetting about an action while in progress...

Notwithstanding?
"Nevertheless and notwithstanding her boss' stature, she punched him."

maddythemad · Jan 3, 2007

Thanks guys! Hmm... maybe I should give you the real sentence? Okay, here it is:

She slammed the door behind her, neverminding that Josh was trying to follow her out, and that she nearly chopped his nose off.

The reason I like "neverminding" in the sentence is because it kind of implies that she doesn't really care, and as my character is a total brat, this is fitting of her.

What do y'all think?

CaroGirl · Jan 3, 2007

maddythemad said:
Can you say, "She punched him, neverminding the fact that he was her boss?" That's not the actual sentence, but I'm wondering if you can use "neverminding" in that way. Is neverminding even a word? I've received mixed answers on this (some say it's not a word, some say it is, and some say it is only when there's a space between the "never" and the "minding".)

I'd be grateful if anyone could straighten me out about the matter.

~ Maddy

Um, no. I don't believe you can say that. As far as I know, nevermind is not a verb so it can't be used as a gerund.

Also, try to never say "the fact that". It's wordy and usually unnecessary. Try: "She punched him, not caring that he was her boss."

Jamesaritchie · Jan 3, 2007

maddythemad said:
Can you say, "She punched him, neverminding the fact that he was her boss?" That's not the actual sentence, but I'm wondering if you can use "neverminding" in that way. Is neverminding even a word? I've received mixed answers on this (some say it's not a word, some say it is, and some say it is only when there's a space between the "never" and the "minding".)

I'd be grateful if anyone could straighten me out about the matter.

~ Maddy

Is it a word? Well, it's certainly been used as a word often enough, but it isn't in any of my dictionaries, and I've yet to see a case where it was the best word. I'd go along with those who say you should write "never minding." Two words. But even at this, there are better words to use.

CaroGirl · Jan 3, 2007

maddythemad said:
She slammed the door behind her, neverminding that Josh was trying to follow her out, and that she nearly chopped his nose off.

Still no.

She slammed the door behind her, not caring that she nearly chopped Josh's nose off as he tried to follow her out.

Sweetlebee · Jan 3, 2007

"She slammed the door behind her, nearly chopping off the tip of Josh's nose. He had too much nose anyway."

Have her make light of it and her callousness will come through that way.

maddythemad · Jan 3, 2007

OK, thanks for the suggestions, guys! Yeah, it definitely wasn't the best word choice. This is why having a fresh pair of eyes is so great! *Big hug to AWers*

Jamesaritchie · Jan 3, 2007

maddythemad said:
Thanks guys! Hmm... maybe I should give you the real sentence? Okay, here it is:

She slammed the door behind her, neverminding that Josh was trying to follow her out, and that she nearly chopped his nose off.

The reason I like "neverminding" in the sentence is because it kind of implies that she doesn't really care, and as my character is a total brat, this is fitting of her.

What do y'all think?

Try "She slammed the door behind her, not caring that Josh was trying to follow her out, or that the door nearly chopped off his nose."

It's usually best to just say what you mean, rather than infering it.

Zolah · Jan 3, 2007

No. It's not a word, and it just makes you stop in the middle of the sentence and think: 'What? That's not a word!'

maddythemad · Jan 3, 2007

Okay, I've done a kind of mix between a bunch of people's suggestions. I combined Jamesartchie's suggested sentence with CaroGirl's suggested sentence, and then stuck on Sweetlebee's "He had too much nose anyway" at the end. I'm pretty satisfied with it, so huzzah! Thanks again, everyone.

Arkie · Jan 3, 2007

"the fact that"

"THE FACT THAT is an especially debilitating expression. It should be revised out of every sentence in which it occurs."

The Elements of Style, Strunk & White, Fourth Edition, Allyn & Bacon/2000(24)

Jamesaritchie · Jan 3, 2007

Nose.

maddythemad said:
Okay, I've done a kind of mix between a bunch of people's suggestions. I combined Jamesartchie's suggested sentence with CaroGirl's suggested sentence, and then stuck on Sweetlebee's "He had too much nose anyway" at the end. I'm pretty satisfied with it, so huzzah! Thanks again, everyone.

I really like the "He had too much nose, anyway." Adds a nice touch.

Celia Cyanide · Jan 3, 2007

Zolah said:
No. It's not a word, and it just makes you stop in the middle of the sentence and think: 'What? That's not a word!'

It makes me think of Nirvana, but you're right--either way, it takes me out of the story.

GPatten · Jan 3, 2007

Despite the fact, is a better word.

cinders23 · Jan 4, 2007

What I do is just check the dictionary. If the word is not in there...then it's not a word and someone is bound to complain.

However, an exception occured to me. If you're writing in first person and this is the language the persons thinks to themselves in (full of slang and such) then it might be okay. I'd have to read it to decide.

Cindy

C.bronco · Jan 4, 2007

My Websters lists "nevermind" as a noun, meaning attention or heed.

Mind, however, can be a verb. i.e. "Mind your manners." or "He never minds his manners."

DeadlyAccurate · Jan 4, 2007

C.bronco said:
Mind, however, can be a verb. i.e. "Mind your manners." or "He never minds his manners."

The past tense is, of course, "mound."

"He never mound his manners, so he died for it."

(It's entirely possible I'm making that up.

)

Neverminding?

maddythemad

BruceJ

Me and my Muse

Sweetlebee

Higgins

maddythemad

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Jamesaritchie

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Sweetlebee

maddythemad

Jamesaritchie

Zolah

Over the hills and far away

maddythemad

Arkie

a reader's ear and a writer's heart

Jamesaritchie

Celia Cyanide

Joker Groupie

GPatten

Dang...

cinders23

C.bronco

I have plans...

DeadlyAccurate

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