Grammar Guide

The primary purpose of writing in a role-play setting is to have fun, but it also is a very good way to improve one's writing skills. To assist our members to grow and develop as writers, we provide this Grammar Guide, which covers the most common mistakes made by Triad Weyrs Shared Timeline members.

Homonym Confusion

They're, their, there - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• They're going to the store. [Contraction for 'they are']
• Their puppy is housebroken. [Possessive - must have an object]
• The rock is over there. [Location]

Bear, bare - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• The load was more than he could bear. [Endurance level]
• The baby's bottom was bare. [Nakedness or a lack of covering]

Which, witch - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• Which bag is yours? [???]
• The witch brewed a potion. [A Terran female spellcrafter]

Where, wear, weyr - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• Where are the children? [Location]
• She will wear a toga to the party. [Putting clothing upon one's body]
• The stress will wear one's nerves to snapping. [Eroding something]
• The dragon landed on the ledge to her weyr. [A dragon's home - LOWER CASE]
• The Weyr is full of dragons of all colors. [The location that houses many dragonriders - UPPER CASE]

Whine, wine - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• The girl will whine about her punishment. [Complaining childishly about something]
• The man drank his wine. [A drink made of grapes or other fermented fruit juices]

Affect, effect - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• The rain will affect the crop's growth. [Something will be changed by the action]
• The rash is a side effect of the medication. [The cause of something]

Altar, alter - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• The altar was the centerpiece of the church service. [Furniture in a place of worship]
• The dye will alter the color of the fabric. [To change]

Beat, beet - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• The beat of the drum was heard for miles around. [Hitting something]
• The beet was Lucy's favorite vegetable. [A red edible vegetable]

Board, bored - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• The board was nailed over the door. [A plank of wood]
• The child was bored in class. [Disinterested]

Aloud, allowed - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• The man spoke the words aloud. [Audibly]
• The dragon allowed the children to cover his tail with sand. [Permitted]

Desert, dessert - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• The camel plodded through the desert. [Arid wasteland]
• The children eagerly awaited their dessert. [Sweet treat at the end of a meal]

Dying, dyeing - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• The elderly man was dying. [Near death]
• The weaver was dyeing the cloth. [Changing the color]

Ensure, assure, insure - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• The man tried to ensure that the mistake would not occur again. [To make certain]
• She will assure him that she will behave properly. [To give confidence to someone]
• The extra knots will insure the load doesn't fall. [To protect from loss]

Hear, here - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• I hear the birds chirping. [To perceive by ear]
• He left the box over here. [Location]

Wait, weight - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• She was willing to wait for her turn. [Remain ready]
• He lost weight after his wife died. [Amount of heaviness]

Who's, whose - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• Who's in charge of the lesson? [Contraction for 'who is']
• The girl wanted to know whose mittens were left behind. [Possession - belonging to whom]

Threw, through - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• He threw the ball. [Propelled by hand]
• She ran through the mud puddle. [From front to end]

Stairs, stares - see the proper usage in each sentence:

• The boy tripped on the stairs and fell. [Steps]
• The baby stares at the new toy. [Looks intently]

Common Spelling Errors That Escape the Spellcheck

• Layed - incorrect. Use laid.
• Breath/breathe. Breathe is the verb. Breath is the noun.

Apostrophe Errors

Apostrophes are only used to show possession, or to contract two words into a shorter one. They are never used to make a word plural.

• Incorrect: The canine's went hunting.
• Correct: The canines went hunting.
• Incorrect: The dragons flame seared the Thread.
• Correct: The dragon's flame seared the Thread.

Past Tense/Present Tense

Use past tense, third person to refer to what your persona is doing in the post. First person, present tense is only used in speech.

• Example: George went to the office and sat down. "I need to talk to you," he said. "I feel sick."