by Isabo Kelly
I am not now, nor have I ever
been, a grammar expert. Because of this, I find myself checking on grammar
questions and rules all the time—especially when one editor “corrects”
something that another editor doesn’t. The thing I’ve discovered in all this
checking is that often people mistake style preferences for grammar rules. I
still mistake the two with great frequency (thus, this article).
So first, some definitions:
Grammar is the basic syntax and structure of our language. It
allows us to communicate in predictable ways. Language came first. Grammar was
the attempt of linguists to define the rules of that language. For most native
speakers of any given language, the grammar rules are so ingrained, they are
used automatically and without thought. When discussing grammar in relation to
the written word, we’re talking about those most basic rules that allow the
conveyance of information in a consistent manner. Some good examples of grammar
“rules” revolve around sentences and sentence structure. For example:
*Sentences
start with a capital letter and end with a punctuation mark.
*In
English, basic sentence structure consists of subject, verb, object. Disrupting
this order will make a sentence sound weird to a native speaker.
*A
sentence needs to express a complete thought, otherwise it’s a dependent
clause.
*A single subject requires a
single verb (or predicate). For example: The dog is cute. If you use
“the dog are cute”, you’ve broken a basic grammar rule.
Style, on the other hand, is a collection of suggestions on
ways to use language so as to refine and improve the readability and
understanding of the written word. That sentence, by the way, was grammatically
correct but maybe not the best choice stylistically. It’s long and could cause
confusion. Sentences that are grammatically correct aren’t automatically the
best ways to convey information. That’s where style choices come in. They fill
in the gaps left behind by grammar and help refine language to improve
understanding. Style is flexible and can depend on a particular house,
publication, field, or editor. It also takes reader expectations and context
into consideration.
Style changes—sometimes
rapidly—while grammar only changes very slowly. Some good examples of stylistic
issues are:
*Whether
one or two spaces are included after a sentence within a paragraph (this
changed to one with the rise of computers and word processing programs).
*Ending
a sentence with a preposition—this actually isn’t a grammar rule.
*Whether
or not to begin sentences with conjunctions is also a style question; there’s
no grammatical prohibition against it.
*Use of active voice versus
passive voice—active voice might be preferred in most cases, but passive voice
isn’t grammatically “wrong”.
One place where I see grammar
and style often confused is in comma usage. One hotly debated “comma rule” is
the Oxford comma (also known as serial comma or series comma)—this is the comma
that comes before the conjunction in a list. For example: dogs, cats, and pigs.
In my school days, this comma was always
used and taught to us as a rule. Years later, this comma was dropped by
many publications (the story, as I heard it, was that newspapers dropped it to
save valuable column space, and this passed on to other types of publications).
Adherents to this new “rule”
are adamant that the comma before the conjunction is no longer correct. Except
it isn’t a rule. It’s a style choice. Whether to use it or not differs
depending on the guide you consult.
So how does this affect the
average writer?
First, writers should try to
learn the difference between basic grammar and style choices. This will save
you many headaches and heartaches. It will also give you some perspective when
an editor insists something needs to be written a certain way. If it’s grammar,
you should probably listen. If it’s style, you’ll need to decide if the change
is in keeping with your voice and/or changes the meaning of your prose.
Comma style choices can often
change meaning and so must be watched. You might be using passive voice on
purpose and changing to active voice would destroy the point you’re trying to make.
Splitting your infinitives could have a better dramatic effect and therefore be
better stylistically (“…to boldly go where no one has gone…” just sounds more
exciting than “…to go boldly…”).
Second, if you’re
writing for a publisher or a particular publication, knowing their house style
will make your life easier and your work look very professional. It’s important
to remember, though, that no one style is “right” or “wrong”. These guides are
put together to make things consistent within house. But again, the “rules” are
choices made by the publication, not necessarily “rules” of grammar.
Third, when in doubt, default to a commonly used style
reference book (for example, The Chicago Manual of Style’s most recent edition
is frequently used for book publishing style questions). This will get you
close to the style most editors are expecting to see.
Finally, if you choose the self-publishing path, understand
that for consistency, and your own piece of mind, you will have to make style
decisions which may or may not adhere to other style guides. This will be a
particular issue when hiring editors. These style decisions might just be
preferences (like whether or not to use the comma before a “too” at the end of
a sentence—some editors hate that comma; others consider it required). The
decisions might also affect your voice in a serious way. The last thing you
want is to have your voice destroyed by a well-meaning editor. In fact, it
might behoove you to write up your own “house style guide” which will not only
keep you consistent but will be something you can share with anyone you hire.
This will make their jobs easier as well as save you a lot of STETing and/or
rejecting in Track Changes.
For any writer trying to ensure readers “get” the picture
they’re attempting to convey, both style and grammar are extremely important.
However, it’s also important to know the difference between the two. Grammar
“rules” should generally be something you adhere to so that readers can easily
decipher your prose. Style is flexible and will change. Understanding both, will allow you to tell stories
in the clearest language so that readers can immerse themselves in your worlds.
And when you choose to break a “rule”, be it style or grammar, you’ll know
exactly what you’re doing.
For more on this topic, start with these two articles: ♥
Isabo
Kelly is the author of multiple fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal
romances. Most of her work, including her most recent fantasy romance WARRIOR’S
DAWN, has benefited greatly from someone else having a style guide in place.
For more on Isabo and her books, visit her at www.isabokelly.com, follow her on Twitter @IsaboKelly, or friend her on Facebook www.facebook.com/IsaboKelly.
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