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Grammar Police Monday - Don't Make Your Readers Cry Foul

Get your usage right and make them cheer! :)
 

Fawn vs Faun
Fawn can mean a young deer, a light-brown color, or to seek favor with servant-like demeanorto fawn over.


A faun is a mythological creature with the torso and head of a man and the hind quarters of a goat. (Think Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia.)

Foul vs Fowl
Foul means (adj.) offensive or dirty or (n.) a violation of the rules of a sport.

Fowl is another word for bird.

Dribble vs Drivel
Dribble (v.) means to trickle or drip.

Drivel (n.) can be saliva flowing from the mouth or mucous from the nose, but is more often used to mean something that is childish, foolish or nonsensical.

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My first blogiversary (and next post) is on Thursday.

If you haven't entered the giveaway yet, 
you can do so here.
Hurry! Time is running out!

Thanks for visiting. :)

Comments

  1. New lesson learned. Thanks! I will come back for the anniversary party.

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  2. I *love* the word drivel. :) I use it whenever I can. But I never knew the part about drool. Oh! More chances to use it! Can I apply it to my St. Bernard? Yes - yes I can!

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  3. Never seen dribble and drivel mixed up. That's probably a good thing!

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  4. This wasn't a bunch of drivel, that's for sure. Thanks for another installment of GPM. I actually made it on a Monday.

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  5. The fowl had nothing but driveling excuses for his misbehavior. So, I ate him. The end. :D

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  6. I've got one for the grammar police.
    Home in vs. Hone in
    You'd be surprised at how many people today believe the wrong answer. This has been a thorn in my side in one of my books. Every critique I received, except one, told me to change it.
    So, what is the grammar police answer to this one?

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    Replies
    1. I looked it up, thinking they would have different meanings. Wow. 'Hone in' is a misspelling of 'home in.' I didn't expect that.

      http://grammarist.com/eggcorns/home-in-hone-in/

      Thanks for stopping by. :)

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    2. Yes, but every critique partner and beta reader tells me 'home in' is wrong. LOL What do you do?

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    3. You find a reputable source (or two or three) and send them the link with a polite comment of enlightenment. :)

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    4. Two other things to consider...
      If it's in dialogue, you can make 'mistakes' if they suit your character and his/her speech.

      If the truth/proper way is likely to be viewed as an error by the majority of your readers (this goes for words and other facts/details), then you may want to humor them and write it wrong rather than have them ding you on your 'mistake' in the reviews. (I personally would use the correct version in this instance, but it's something to consider.)

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  7. Release me, officer! Please! I'll never dribble and faun over foul again. I promise!

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    Replies
    1. You blog visitors are in rare form today, le'me tell ya. hahaha

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  8. All words it's important to distinguish.

    Happy blogiversary! Things are much nicer with you here.

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  9. Congrats again on the blogiversary! That is awesome. And I love this grammar stuff. It's funny to watch the kids at school use different words. I ought to share this sight with them :)

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  10. Dribble is also keeping the ball in motion, like in basketball, bouncing it as the player moves down the floor. I love the word 'drivel'. Almost as much as I love 'sluice'.

    I read the comments. Isn't 'hone' what you do when you sharpen a knife?

    I love these grammar police days.

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  11. I encourage everyone to go enter that giveaway. Melissa's critiques are priceless!

    Happy Early Blogiversary! <3

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  12. lets hope the refs won't want more money for being on your post and do a lock out...:D i love these, and i will sign up for the giveaway!!

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  13. Thanks, guys. You never fail to make my Mondays special. :)

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  14. Too funny.. I've been called all those words as a negative - in my earlier life :)

    SUPER CONGRATS on making it a year - how awesome :)

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    Replies
    1. No fowl play in this post... sorry, couldn't resist :)

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  15. Those words can be confusing. :D An early congrats on your one year anniversary!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  16. I didn't mean to comment on Mark's post! Should stop trying to speed comment, lol. Anyway, congrats on the upcoming blogiversary!

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  17. Those pesky homophones!! Congrats on your 1 yr soon:-) blogging is a wonderful community, isn't it?!

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  18. Hah hah the fawn/faun and the dribble/drivel ones get me every time! Thanks for that!

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  19. Super excited for your upcoming blogoversary! I enjoy your post.

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