Tutorial: Grammar and Spelling

Grammar and Spelling

Written by Captain Malcolm Lysander

The best way to avoid grammar and spelling errors is to use the following rule: Read your sim out loud from start to finish at least once. If you can’t read it out loud, then read it from start to finish, in your head, three times, slowly. AND, if you have a spell-checker, USE IT!! It will, at first, catch a lot of words that aren’t normal like "Bajoran". Just click the "ADD" button, and it will add those words that you know are correct to the dictionary. So, if it gets the word "StarBase" and you KNOW that’s correct, then push ADD, and next time, it won’t point that out as a problem.

Good spelling and grammar are imperative to making your sims readable. When one spelling problem becomes twelve in your sim, it makes it hard to follow what you’re trying to say, thus making the whole experience of reading the sims not enjoyable. So PLEASE PLEASE read your sims back to catch these problems!

Here are some common errors that people make, and how to fix them:

it’s = Contraction of "It is".

• "It’s cold out here!" / "It is cold out here!"

its = The possesive form of "it".

• "Its value cannot be measured."

you’re = Contraction of "You are".

• "You’re very silly." / "You are very silly."

your = The possesive form of "you".

• "Your dog is blue."

their = The possesive form of "they".

• "Their car broke down today."

they’re = Contraction of "They are".

• "They’re crazy, aren’t they?" / "They are crazy, aren’t they?"

there = A place.

• "Your book is over there."

to = The first part of any infinitive.

• "Let’s go to town."

too = Means: besides, also, or to an excessive degree.

• "I want to go too!"
• "Too many dogs here!"

than = Indicates a difference in manner or identity.

• "He’s taller than she is."

then = A function of time.

• "Let’s go to the Academy, and then to the StarBase."

e.g. = Latin for "for example".

• "Pick up any writing utensil, e.g., a pen, then dip it in the ink."

i.e. = Latin for "that is".

• "Wise writers use them sparingly, i.e., primarily when documenting resources and then only parenthetically."

a lot = Two words!

• "We need a lot of money."