Author: R. Petty

Hyphen Help

On By R. PettyIn Grammar and Punctuation, Writing for Web and Tips4 Comments

GrammarTips

Good grammar and punctuation can make or break a post. It can make or break a chance for a job interview, promotion, or even getting a date. Good grammar and punctuation show attention to detail and how much you care about your work.

I spend a lot of time explaining grammar rules. It’s especially important for professional writers and editors to know the rules, so they can improve their projects and offer good feedback. For this first grammar tip post, I chose hyphens because I’m asked more questions about them that any other type of punctuation.

Hyphen (-)

Hyphens, like commas, are tricky and have several rules. A hyphen is used to combine words to form one idea. Here is a breakdown of the rules for compound words. A later post about single words, like co-owner, will follow soon.

* An important hyphen tip is to first look up the word in the dictionary. If you can’t find it, then read these rules to see what fits.

Common terms used in this post:

Compound = two words combined to create one idea

Noun = A person, place, thing, or idea

Verb = A word that shows movement or action

Adjective = Words that describe a noun or pronoun

Adverb = Words that modify everything else (verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc.)

 

1. Is the compound noun one word or two? If you can’t find it in the dictionary, make it two words.

Examples: eye shadow, ballpark, hot dog

2. Verbs are two words, nouns and adjectives are one.

Examples: clean up (verb) vs. cleanup (noun)

3. Compound verbs either have a hyphen or are one word.

Examples: downsize, upshift, to air-condition the house

4. Hyphenate two or more adjectives when they come before a noun. However, if you can use the word ‘and’ in between the adjectives, use a comma.

Examples with hyphens: family-friendly, reddish-brown, funny-looking

Examples with commas: tall, smelly (tall and smelly); cute, sexy (cute and sexy)

5. When compound adverbs that do not end in -ly come before a noun, use a hyphen.

Examples: well-known, much-needed, top-notch

6. Hyphenate numbers twenty-one (21) through ninety-nine (99)

7. Hyphenate all spelled out fractions.

Examples: one-third, one-half, seven-eighths

 

If you have special tips or want to share more examples, do so in the comments section below!

Source: The Blue Book of Punctuation and Grammar

Best Christmas Movie: Scrooged

On By R. PettyIn Movies, Reviews1 Comment

Scrooged came out in 1988 when I was six years old. Ten years later it was on in the background at someone’s house. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I sat down to watch this hilarious version of a Christmas classic.

The movie stars the lovable Bill Murray (as Frank Cross) who is mean, selfish, and witty, which entertains those of us with a darker sense of humor. (I hold a special place in my heart for Murray because he is my favorite Ghostbuster). The plot is a spin-off of the all-time favorite A Christmas Carol, and the ghosts are a perfect fit for our Scrooge. I cannot help but watch this movie year round because it’s more than a Christmas classic; it’s just a good movie.

Here are my top reasons why this is my favorite Christmas movie:

1. Bill Murray – He’s a genius. Biting, cold, and yet childlike, you see the sparkle deep down inside that cynical heart. The Scrooge part seems very natural for him, and I never felt that he was that bad of a guy. His snide remarks to everyone around him are some of the best parts of this movie.

2. The little things – Pay attention while watching this movie. You’ll see a definition of ‘cross’ in the background, and Frank leaves his humanitarian trophy in the cab. You would have to watch this movie a dozen times to see all the small things that add to the movie.

3. The dialogue and script – The script was well-written, and all the actors did a great job and improvised where they saw fit. The story took a timeless classic and made it modern and funny with a twisted 80s-style spin. Some of my favorites are lines are, “Now, I have to kill all of you,” “Oh my gosh, does that suck,” “Come!” and “I care!,” and “Ah Haaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

4. The ghosts – The ghost of Christmas past (David Johansen) is as demented as Cross. He gets inside Cross’ head and makes him regret his past. The ghost of Christmas present (Carol Kane) is my favorite though. She beats the crap out of Cross and shows that even fairies have a dark side. Sometimes the truth is painful, and she teaches us all that lesson. The ghost of Christmas future has a small part, and the special effects are pretty cool.

5. Eliot Loudermilk – The disgruntled employee who comes back to get Cross. Eliot (Bobcat Goldthwait) is the equivalent of Bob Cratchit with more of a helpless drunkenness about him. I like his character because he’s innocent and insane at the same time.

The end is not your typical heart-felt ending either. It’s light, funny, and everything wraps up well. And as much as you love mean Frank Cross, you’re still okay with him turning into a good guy. He still has that wit and edge to him, and the final song is a lot of fun.

With that, I encourage you to give a little more this season and ask you to remember those who need a little miracle right now. Put a little love in your heart!

Story of the Month: Holiday Fun

On By R. PettyIn Story of the MonthLeave a comment

I hate shopping. I am not the girl who finds boutiques, tries on clothes, and I order everything I can online. However, I love buying for people I care about, but the traffic, crowds, and general population are enough to keep me at home.

A few years ago, I had to go Christmas shopping, so my amazing friend and RevPub partner offered to keep me company. And so our shopping day tradition began.

We don’t shop on a weekend because that’s even more insane, so every year in December we take a Friday off and finish our Christmas shopping. We visit open-air malls and McKay’s, and keep the same schedule as if we were at work with a lunch break around noon. On these days, we have a great time and laugh until our sides hurt. So, for story of the month I bring you two little shorts from our shopping experiences.

Look at Me…

After several hours shopping, James and I were in the car on our way to another store. I had his phone and was playing with his camera. I wanted to take his picture, but of course, he would not smile on command. In a moment of silliness I said, “Looook at meeeee…” and he erupted into laughter. Some of my favorite pics are ones with someone laughing, and this one is definitely a peach:

James laughing in the car

Bullet Proof

A few years ago we were leaving a store, and James saw one of these:

A man with a baby in a baby carrier
Photo from: barnesandnoble.com

He turned and asked me if it was a bullet-proof vest. I replied that is was something people use to carry their babies. James, being his lovable self, said, “I got news for her. That baby’s not going to stop any bullets.”

We both almost went into the floor from laughing, and what made this moment even better was the new mother overheard him. She turned and gave him a dirty look, but only I saw her and I laughed even more. We continued our day and caused a little trouble, which made it even better.

These stories remind me to have fun. No matter how much you hate something, you can make the best of it and build lifelong memories. I will always remember the laughs, the stories, and the weird looks we get from people when we are just being ourselves. Sometimes being weird is necessary.

Happy Holidays and share your fun shopping stories below!

If You Want to Write: Do It

On By R. PettyIn Books, Writing for Web and Tips1 Comment

Occasionally someone asks me ‘why’? Why I contribute to RevPub, why am I a proofreader, why I write – why, why, why? The answer is simple: I want to.

Chapters 2 and 3 in If You Want to Write discuss starting creative projects because you yearn to see your ideas come to fruition. It’s very easy to talk yourself out of a new project or change. There will be problems, you may risk security or money, and you may never be famous. My response to those arguments is: And?

People I Know

I am friends with many creative types. I have one friend who would be an excellent writer but will not push himself/herself to start a blog and put his/her stuff out there. I know others who don’t see the value because they can’t immediately make money doing it. One author I know is debuting his first novel soon and said to me, “I don’t care if it sells. It’s done, and I can move onto the next, and the next, and the next. Is it ironic he is the only published author?

There is something that stirs inside creative types. An overwhelming desire to tell your story to the world, or whoever will read it, burns in your chest and brain. If a person really wants to write, draw, paint, etc. they will because they cannot fight their passion. It’s not about the money, it’s not about being a best seller, it’s about getting a project out there and moving onto the next one.

Ueland says, “[Creativity] is like a faucet: nothing comes unless you turn it on, and the more your turn it on, the more comes.” The more we nurture our creativity and strive to release that passion, the more that comes out. When you love someone, you don’t ignore them – you show them, so why not do the same for your passions?

Our Story

I called my partner while writing this to ask him why he was doing RevPub? Completely taken off guard, he stuttered for a moment and said, “So I can do my … stuff.” I lovingly made fun of him, and after a good laugh he said, “So all of these ideas I’ve had in my head for one, maybe two decades, have a place and are out there.”

James created Revenant Publications years ago, and it was my crazy self who said earlier in 2012, “Let’s just do it. Let’s get back to our site, have a schedule, post about whatever, and produce the first issue.” My fearless nature coupled with his abilities (and patience), mixed with our drive to do something more lead us to where we are today. We may or may not make a fortune with our projects, we devote a lot of time to them, and we enjoy almost every moment. We have a strong support system and a growing fan base because people can see that we love what we do, and we do it because we are not afraid.

Don’t be afraid of what may or may not happen. People will try to discourage or manipulate you into thinking you can’t achieve your goals. Don’t listen to them, and at the very least, prove them wrong. Do whatever you can to achieve your goal, because at the end of the day, they are not living your life. If you want to start or continue a creative project, then do it. If you want to make a life change, then go for it. The only person who can really hold you back is yourself.

For a special treat, check out my friend, Kevin Litwin. We send a huge congrats and look forward to getting a signed copy!

Nashville’s Top Worst Drivers

On By R. PettyIn Opinions1 Comment

I am an expert on Nashville drivers. For the last nine years, I have driven on average 40 miles a day, most times more. Last year, I sat in traffic for almost six hours due to inclement weather to travel 20 miles. A few years ago, it took me four hours to get to work due to a wreck. I know Nashville’s traffic and driving habits.

What inspired me to do this list are years of observation and experience. There are common stereotypes that women and the elderly can’t drive, and those with sports cars drive reckless. I disagree. I find the stereotypes of poor drivers lie within the driver, and specifically with the car they drive. So, here’s my list of Nashville’s top worst drivers, and although there are always exceptions, I challenge you to pay attention to the following makes and models:

Black-1995-Honda-Accord-LX-Front-Left-View
1995 Honda Accord
Photo: zuoda.com

Honda Accord – Like to go fast even though they have little power. They will cut you off and pass you just to be first.

Jeeps – Get out of the way.

Saturn cars – Oblivious drivers who think they are the only ones on the road.

Ford Mustang – The only sporty car on the list. Coincidence? No, these drivers have an ego so huge it barely fits in their car. They speed, cut you off, and think they are awesome.

2000 For Mustang Red
2000 Ford Mustang
Photo: americanmuscle.com

Tahoe, Suburban – Over compensation. These big vehicles take up lots of space, and the drivers don’t look when merging.

Ford F150, F250, big trucks – See above. I have one who likes to regularly honk at me because I won’t pull into oncoming traffic. We have exchanged hand signals several times.

Civics – The ones that are cheaply modified. These drivers want a reliable car that is cheap to mod, and they drive like they have a sports car. I cannot count how many Civic drivers have tried to race me.

Mini Van/Vans – Guaranteed to go at least 5 mph. under the speed limit. Notorious for getting into fast lanes and slowing everyone down. Be careful to pass though because they swerve, too.

Group of 2005 minivans in desert
2005 Minivans
Photo: autobytel.com

RVs – Too big to handle. People should have to take special classes to drive these. I was rear ended in a parking lot by one and almost killed on the interstate by another that was merging. Be very careful around these.

Pontiac GrandPrix – Speed and are impatient. Friday morning I had one pass me on my street to save him two seconds.

Dodge Strattus – Huge egos and reckless. They love to bully other drivers and start races.

Waste Management/Dump trucks – Will try to run you over and spray rocks. And they don’t care. Good luck reporting them because I have never seen a dump truck with a license plate.

Out-of-state drivers – There’s an unwritten rule in Nashville: Drive 5 mph. over the speed limit everywhere except for school zones. Out of towners are very slow and often drive in fast lanes under the speed limit. If you visit Nashville, be prepared to keep up!

Those are my picks! Do you have any model specific bad drivers in your area? Feel free to share in the comments below!

Want to Write? Introduction

On By R. PettyIn BooksLeave a comment

We are a creative class. We want to express ourselves, whether it’s drawing, speaking, writing, or painting or photography. For those of us who enjoy writing, finding inspiration and motivation isn’t always easy.

For that reason, I chose If you Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence, and Spirit by Brenda Ueland to review. I’m not sure what to expect, but I know it will be less technical than the last one and focus more on what’s inside of us, the writers.

I knew I was in trouble when I read that Ueland believes such things as rules, teachers, and grammar are discouraging to the imagination. And maybe that’s true, but this may be the most challenging book I will read. I am a sucker for the rules, and I find comfort in the years of classes and proofreading that taught me those rules.

In order to get started, there are a few things we must keep in mind from the first chapter.

1. Ueland believes that anyone can write.

2. We are all original, and science proves that no two people are the same, so we are automatically original and unique.

3. We must be honest and write from our hearts and intelligence.

4. Also, try to surround yourself with people who support and encourage you. Spend time with those who want to hear your stories and push you to tell more.

5. Practice. Practice makes anyone better at anything, so let’s practice writing together. This book seems to focus on creative writing, which I have not done in years, and I am excited to open my mind to it again.

It may be difficult to shut off my rule-driven brain, but I look forward to writing again, and I hope you all will join me on the journey. Three cheers for the creative spirit and independent mind and bringing them back!