Rules of grammar you find yourself defying?
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I put the question mark inside the quotes when the question mark is part of a spoken question.
"Is dinner at five?" she asked
If the question is not the quoted material, you put it outside. For instance: Do you agree with people who say, "live and let live"?
Isn't this when one is supposed to put question marks inside quotes on both sides of the pond?
However, US and UK rules differ with regards to periods, for some reason.
With parentheses, the punctuation is generally supposed to go outside, unless it would be inside quotes for some reason.
As for other rules? Well, with fiction writing, some are rather flexible. I use fragments in my narrative occasionally for voice or emphasis, at least when writing in a limited third or first person pov.
Others are not so flexible. I try to use commas correctly.
One "rule" I dislike on the US side of the pond is the so-called serial comma comma, however. I was taught back in school (in the 80s in the US) that it was becoming optional, except when needed for clarity, and that you should pick a system and stick with it.
But lately, I've learned that unless you are doing journalistic writing, the serial comma is still the expected norm in the US (thirty years after I was told it was becoming optional) but not in the UK. So I kind of rebel there by default. But I've been having to polish my MS up, and so am fixing the missing serial commas.
Sigh, I think they are ugly.
I use the gorgeous serial comma in my own works, but I don't believe it's the "norm." Half of my clients use it; half do not. It's strictly their choices until their publishers make changes to suit them. I only make reminders about consistency.
It's a tempest in a teapot, another example of a rule for novelists that's more in the realm of style, so I think your method works well, R-mom.
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In English you can. The alleged rule that says the infinitive is not to be boldly split is bollocks. You can't split it in Latin because it's one word.
When a language forms the infinitive by using an auxiliary preposition such as "to", then obviously, splitting it's a possibility.
I commit all kinds of horrors. Sentence fragments, plays on words, split infinitives and *gasp* ending sentences with prepositions. Can't seem to stop myself.
Commit away to your wild heart's content! None of the above are against rules in my grammars for writing short stories and novels.
I think it's considered *correct* in the US to have the punctuation inside the quote mark, no matter what the usage. But I disagree. I think what you said here - Do you agree with people who say, "live and let live"? is easier to understand and, as others have said, more logical.
DO NOT disrespect the Oxford comma!
A lovely part of the Spanish language, with question marks and exclamation marks put on both sides of the sentence. Makes sense to me ...
I write "traveled" and "signaled" but "kidnaped" looks wrong - now I know why. Thanks for the explanation.
My biggest *flaw* is syntax at times - let me think of an example - hmm, may have to come back to this ...
Oh, and I agree with craze ... I like ellipses ...
I prefer the "outside comma", not inside.
I prefer the "outside period". Not inside.
I do lists like A, B and C (not A, B, and C).
I prefer capitalizing some words that are usually not capitalized in "title case", such as "Gone With The Wind", not "Gone with the Wind".
I prefer the "outside period". Not inside.
I do lists like A, B and C (not A, B, and C).
I prefer capitalizing some words that are usually not capitalized in "title case", such as "Gone With The Wind", not "Gone with the Wind".
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I tend to enjoy writing fragments, and, conversely, run-on sentences. Though I usually try to balance them out.
And because I've written a lot of poetry, I tend to use punctuation as more of a pronunciation guide than anything. Period's a full stop, Comma's a little breather, Semicolon's a larger pause. Clauses and technicalities be damned.
And I should also mention starting sentences with "and". I'm told that's a no-no.
(Well, not really. I am trying to change these habits. And I'm getting better at it.)
And because I've written a lot of poetry, I tend to use punctuation as more of a pronunciation guide than anything. Period's a full stop, Comma's a little breather, Semicolon's a larger pause. Clauses and technicalities be damned.
And I should also mention starting sentences with "and". I'm told that's a no-no.
(Well, not really. I am trying to change these habits. And I'm getting better at it.)