Do writers not read?

[switch842]

I've come across sooooooooo many fics with outright HORRIBLE punctuation, it pisses me off. Especially in dialogue formatting. I know that there are some subtle differences between countries, but for the most part, these mistakes seem to be happening with the American and British population, which I understand to punctuate the same manner. And I don't get HOW they can get it so wrong! Have they never read a book? Another fic? You'd think people would just pick this stuff up by osmosis. It's not that hard. Look:

"Let's go to the park," Jake said.

This is WRONG:

"Let's go to the park." Jake said.

"Let's go to the park" Jake said.

"Let's go to the park". Jake said.

HOW HOW HOW can you keep getting it so wrong? Grrr........



Sorry....

Comments

[no-apologies-86.livejournal.com]

YES. THAT.

Thank you.

[switch842.livejournal.com]

*nods*

You're welcome.

[wraith816.livejournal.com]

This! I can understand when it's clearly a rare typo, but when it's consistent through the fic? Gah!

[switch842.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mean, we all make typos. It happens. Hopefully you have a beta to catch the ones that might slip through. Even not, one or two I'm willing to forgive (depending on fic length). But EVERY TIME? Yeah, no. Moving on...

[littleheaven70.livejournal.com]

If I see that in a fic, I give up right then and there. I don't care how good the writing is, it annoys me so much I can't get past it. Actually, I picked some up an business magazine article that went out from one of our corporate writers this week. I sit next to him, so I had to point out that its as a possessive has no apostrophe. *headdesk*

We punctuate the same way in New Zealand as England, and I can confirm it's the same as the US.

[switch842.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah. That's an immediate back button from me. For sure.

Ugh, the it's/its thing is a HUGE pet peeve. Grrr..........

[littleheaven70.livejournal.com]

Ooh, and your/you're. And breath/breathe. Actually, I have dozens of peeves when it comes to writing. It's a wonder I read at all, LOL.

[switch842.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Homonyms are the bane of my existence.

[angstbunny.livejournal.com]

That's one of the biggest pet peeves, but it's so prevalent that I've kinda thrown my hands up. Cries.

[switch842.livejournal.com]

I know. It's like every other fic has this problem. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE YOUTH OF TODAY?!?! :-P

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

the one that drives me bloody mad is when people can't tell "its" from "it's". I see that one ALL THE TIME.

[switch842.livejournal.com]

Yup. Though now I've seen it so often I pretty much just gloss over now. :-(

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

LOL That's one of my biggest pet peeves. I can overlook some things, but if a fic has those mistakes you mentioned, I will not read it.

Edited for clarity.

[switch842.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah. It's an immediate back button or exit for me as soon as I see that. There's really just no excuse.