Featured Books
Lionel should have been here before Christmas; however, I took a break and Lionel had Christmas presents to wrap, so we’re both a bit late. Okay, shoot us! But Christmas will come again and very soon. So here’s a lighthearted and sweet book to tuck away for next year. And Paul R. Hewlett has other–not so seasonally specific adventures for Lionel. Check out his other books as well. And READ A SAMPLE. Enjoy!
Her Grammarness
I had a special request from Marcia for this week’s post, and, so–all right– here we go! Is that all right with everyone? Her Grammarness doth love getting it all right, so if it’s all right with you I’ll proceed. Of course, I realize that it’s not that big OF a deal, these nerdy Grammar Issues. Oops! Just made a bit of a flub there, Marcia.
It may not be that [NEVER USE OF HERE WHEN WRITING UNLESS YOUR CHARACTER SPEAKS THAT WAY. “IT’S NO BIG OF A DEAL” IS SPOKEN ENGLISH, NOT STANDARD WRITTEN ENGLISH.] big a deal, but I like to know where I stand in the all right v. alright discussion because I’m a writer. All right is the standard English synonym for adequate or permissible. Alright has moved from being a misspelling, to having slightly different meaning, to maybe. . .just maybe becoming a word in its own right. In any case, check out the publisher/editor/agent you’re subbing to and find out what they set as “standard.” I’m sticking with all right because of this crown.
Do you have any burning questions for Her Grammarness? If I can’t answer them I have an army of linguists to tap into. They love grammar, phonological and semantic questions. Makes them feel needed.
Ciara says
All right. I was nailed for this once. 🙂
LynNerdKelley says
What a cute book trailer, and how right you are, Lee, about Christmas coming around again real soon! I love your new Her Grammarness feature. Awesome. I'm sticking with 'all right,' too!
Charmaine Clancy says
I'll check to make sure it's all all right from now on 🙂
michelle says
Thanks for clearing that up for me!
Elizabeth Seckman says
Alrighty, I think I've got it all right now…I hope!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Perhaps we must explain to those "alright" people that we've decided to be prescriptivists. [Insert raspberry here!] And "all right" is the right and proper way of doing things. Here. Here.
The Golden Eagle says
I don't see a problem with "alright", though I tend to use "all right" myself.
M Pax says
My local crit partners don't believe me that alright is not a proper modern word. It was in days of yore… but unless your book takes place in times of yore, it should be avoided.
Jennifer R. Hubbard says
I can't bring myself to use "alright" although I see it everywhere.
Your next task is to get the good folks on Top Chef to stop saying "restauraNteur." Love the show, but that's my peeve!
Jemi Fraser says
I only use 'all right' as well 🙂
Southpaw says
I use all right too. Though I don't really think I write it that often.
Marcia says
Long live the queen!
Now if you could only get people to stop saying "nu-cu-lar," but that's not a grammar or even a spelling issue.
Oh, and that person who lists your house for sale is a RE-al-tor, not a RE-lit-tor.
Okay, I'll stop now. :X 😉
Natalie Aguirre says
I just use all right now too because alright shows on Word as being spelled wrong. Doesn't seem worth having to check with a publisher to use alright vs. all right. Thanks for the tips.
Barbara Watson says
Interesting. Such debate. I use the standard English when I know it but didn't realize alright wasn't all right.
Ink in the Book says
I use all right. I don't think I have ever used alright???
Al Diaz says
All right then. I have cleared another doubt. Thanks!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I only use all right.