Creative Writing Which annoys you more? (A poll, dudes~)

Which annoys you more? (A non-poll, dudes~)

What's more annoying to you: bad grammar or a bad story? (And if you want me to be more specific about the meaning of "bad story", I mean... bad storytelling by the author and/or obvious inexperience in narrating something well, however trite the subject matter may be.)

If you read original fiction (online or from actual published books), answer in relation to that. If you read fanfiction, may your vote be based on that.

Maybe both irritate you, and that's okay, too. And if neither, more power to you.

 

Both irritate me, but I won't hate a story with good ideas if the story-telling is bad. However, I can't respect a story where there's a lot of bad grammar. A mistake or two that the author or their beta reader didn't catch is just fine- that kind of thing happens, but when I begin to have difficulty understanding, that's my limit.

 

Bad grammar means bad storytelling.

The inability to put your ideas and store them in a COHERENT sentence is what drives me mad.

When I read a story with a bad storytelling but a good grammar, I just skip it and say "I didn't like it. You need to improve in this and that".

But when I read a story with bad grammar ALL OVER THE STORY, I just say: "It sucks! Go back to school, boy!"

I won't even mention when both elements are present. Just go to fanfiction.net and read the newbies' stories

 

I'm gonna agree with luvweaver here. If the grammar is poor enough to seriously detract from the story, then that's a clear lack of ability or experience with decent narration. Obviously, someone who's a "good" storyteller (or even a mediocre one) will have the presence of mind to spellcheck, proofread, or get a beta reader.

Now, what gets to me is the use of chatspeak. Poor sentence structure with decent spelling shows a need for practice, but actual chatspeak or obvious mistakes (like, say, complete neglect of punctuation or capitalized letters, or ALL CAPS, or CaPs EvErY oThEr LeTtEr) is just obnoxious, and it drives me up the wall.

In general, bad storytelling goes with bad grammar. It doesn't necesarily work the other way around. I've seen a lot of fics which simply didn't flow well, where the characters weren't believable or likable, or where the plot was unengaging - but the actual mechanics of the writing were basically fine. Overall, horrendously bad grammar will piss me off because it's just... stupid. XD Bad storytelling, well, eh. I don't have to read the fic.

 

Excessively bad grammer in a story drives me up the wall, but I don't mind a little from time to time. But if the story's bad in the first place I just end up getting really frustrated and then it bugs me for ages afterwards

 

Although both annoy me, I can surprinsingly live with bad spelling, if the story is decent.

When it's to the point it takes me a few minutes to decipher some 'words', however, that's when it's over for me.

 

My own spelling and stuff isn't the greatest, so as long as its a good story, I won't even notice any errors and if I do I get over them quickly. I just hope the story I've been putting up on here doesn't have too many errors and none of you will read it. :sweat2:

 

Well that could be a typo. i.e. hiting the "e" before the "l".

But a spelling error is something like "They went immedietly" (instead of immediately) or "She must of (instead of have) done it". Or how about? "I did it, to." (instead of too - or hey, even worse: "I did it, two".

I know, typos are bad. But spitting (pardon me, spelling) mistakes due to bad learning are the no-no.

ARGH! Sigh. This is an obvious sign of people watching TV much more time than reading well-written books.

Something I really appreciate about being a native spanish speaker is that you had to learn GRAMMAR and SPELLING to pass english. ^_^

 

Bad spelling leaves you tring to figure out what the person is trying to say or to figure out were the story is going. If the authers grammer is that bad it really makes you wonder why they are writing in the first place.
Most stories have a point to them but i have come across a few that make totally no sence whatsoever.
But the worst is a story that makes absalutly no sence, and i don't mean a story where you have to tyhink a little to realise whats going on. I mean that are totally off the wall and make no sense, if i come a cross these type of stories i just stop reading after a few lines.

 

Trying*
where*
author's*
grammar*
I*
sense*
absolutely*
sense*
think*
realize*
what's*
I*
I*

[EDIT]
across*
types*
[/EDIT]

Think that about covers it... anyways... I'm a stickler for spelling and grammar. Hell, even when I make a simple typo I feel like just spiraling downwards into some self-pitying pool of wallowing-regret and suicidal despair. But, y'know... it's not really all that big of a deal in the end as long as the story is decent. I mean, my brother SUCKS at grammar and spelling (in fact, he gives his stories to me to edit ;P) though he's a very talented writer and I have yet to see it actually take away from his story.

Although, as I said, I'm a stickler for spelling and grammar... I'd have to say that I find a bad story more annoying (there is NOTHING more annoying than a fan-fiction story that in no way, shape, or form resemble the characters they are trying to portray).

 

Naturally a bad story is worse. Why read it if the story sucks? However I've found that those who can use proper grammar generally don't write stories that suck.

When I read through fanfics, I keep a text file noting all the errors I've found, and on which page. I pretend that I will send it to the author, but I never get around to it. I do the same with published books. I don't usually find more than five, but they are there. Seriously, why don't they pay me to be an editor instead of the idiots they have doing it? OK, that is harsh. I should be the second level editor to catch all the junk the first ones miss.

Anyway, If you are writing, please write correctly. And spell correctly too for the love of heaven. Learn what apostrophes are for and where to put them. One doesn't use apostrophes in plural nouns. "One dog, many dog's" is wrong. Please don't use who's when you mean whose.. Who's = who is. The apostrophe takes the place of the 'i' and the space.

It's sad though, society has such ever slipping standards of grammar. The Village was cool., but "those who we do not speak of" should more properly have been "those of whom we do not speak." Oh well, it's a lost cause.

 

Maybe it is because they DO study? And if they want to improve their grammar, that says a lot, don't you think? i.e. they may want to improve other areas. Like researching science for sci-fi stories, or psychology for mindf***ing stories (heh as some friend calls them), you get the idea.

Of course, you can't just compare an artist who tries to share his feelings and write for the public, than just some fanfic kiddy who just wants to fulfill a stupid anime fantasy of his own.

Hey, I _COULD_ use that! Mind proofreading my fics? They're just about 100 chapters, nothing to worry about ^^;;;

Nevermind.

Maybe because you don't give yourself the publicity you deserve?

Make a webpage about writing. Publish your commentaries on some books. Open a blog. Trust me, it'll work.

Hey, why not make a STICKY thread entitled "Worst grammar errors"?

Lime:You can do it, Otaru!!
Cherry: Shhhh shut up , Lime! You're taking away his concentration!

Maybe it could be "those whom we do not speak of"?

And the of at the end makes it sound medieval.

What do ye think. Yeah, or nay?

 

That would be as follows: What do ye think: yea or nay? (^_~)

Generally, if the story I'm reading (in fanfiction, mostly) is promising enough, I'll ignore the occasional grammar errors. If it's really bad, though, I'll go away and mourn for the future of the world. ("Would of been" instead of "would have been" is by far the error that irritates me the most. I feel like chucking my monitor on top of the person's head. x_x And the plural thing.)

I'm breaking out of the parentheses now because... this may go on for a bit. ^^;; I apologize.

There are people who mess up family name plurals. Take the family name Thomas, for example. "I'm going to the Thomas's" is commonly used (or "Thomas' " if the author is like me and doesn't usually double the s's) where it should be "Thomases' " (or "Thomases's"). And what is it with people messing up "its" and "it's" (and "whose" and "who's", too, while I'm at it... x_x). Its = possessive of it; it's = contraction for it is.

The reason it bothers me so much is because for most of these fanfiction authors English is the only language they speak/know. It's my second and I know the grammar rules better (than some people). I think that's weird. x_x; It's like... blasphemous. ^^;; It shouldn't happen. Ay. >.>;

 

Yeah, if the grammer is extremly bad, i find it utterly iritating and imposible to read. I can stand some gramatical errors, as long as it is understandable. . for i am no "grammer king" ^^;; (same goes for spelling) But, on the otherhand, if the story is bad i have to stop reading all together, and i cant force myself to read anyfurther. I have no reason or urge to continue reading.

 

as long as the story is good i wouldnt mind the grammar

 

I have a friend who is really bad with grammar. And I mean REALLY bad. Most the words I really can't understand. *watches her own grammar and spelling* It really peeves me off too!

I'd say, most probably, that a story with bad grammar is worse than a bad story. Even though they're both irritating to the point of rage (at times). I've read bad stories before, and I can usually stand them, but when the grammar is appauling (sp? not sure ^_^;;;;...) I just feel like strangling the author! So I've blocked my friend.

I think that when people make errors in spelling, the most possible reason it could occur is through rushing a post, or just being plain lazy. I'm not sure which fits Kain though.. [He made a "rules" post in my forums and put a spelling and grammar rule, then at the end announced to the public that he is aware of his bad grammar and spelling, and asks they ignore his contradictary actions. Ha, funny! I laughed.]
Anyhoo, also on the subject of spelling, and as mentioned, there are little shortcut words people have made up that seem to peev people off as well. Eg. pls, lil (possibly..), etc. Like when I put 'anyhoo' at the beginning of this paragraph. I don't classify that as a spelling mistake and I completely ignore that in fanfic, because I see fanfic as 'creative writing', and what's more creative than fun, little made-up words?

I noticed that, in this thread, there are two different ways people are spelling grammer. With an E (grammer) or with an A (grammar). I had them all with an E but changed them. Which is right? Are they both right in different places..?

Well, there's my two cents... I write too much, time for me to head off. Ciao!