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1 month ago
Bisexual Cis Male, 35
0 miles · Scotland
Forum
Clumeleon
Quote by Gurlyboy
What about using ellipsis and exclamation marks at the same time? I've never wanted to do this myself but have seen it done. Personally, I'd say it's a no-no, but others may disagree. So what's your opinion, Sir?
I would say absolutely not (and I've just added ellipses to my list). The two objects convey conflicting tones - an exclamation mark is final and strong where as an ellipsis gives the impression of incompleteness. There are probably examples where it might be considered acceptable but I am hard-pressed to think of one right now.
I would avoid it unless you're really sure that it works.
Clumeleon
Welcome, once more, to one of Clum's crash courses in punctuation.
This evening we will delve into the exciting and often surprising world of the exclamation mark (!) and, with a few examples, find out how to use it to best effect.
An exclamation mark should be used in place of, not in addition to, a period (full stop) and should therefore immediately follow the last word of the sentence, i.e., without a space in between.
The correct use of the exclamation mark (I am not fond of the expression, "exclamation point") is difficult to properly define and comes down to, in many situations, a matter of taste. A lot of what I express here is actually personal preference but would also be considered my many writers as being in line with "good practice".
In Dialogue
Exclamation marks will most often be found, and should primarily be used in direct speech to emphasise what the character is saying. The character may be expressing shock, surprise, anger, excitement or any number of other, strongly felt emotions.
Example 1
"Holy shit!" she exclaimed as his monstrous cock entered her. "You better slow down or you'll split me in half."
In this example, the exclamation mark replaced a comma rather than a period (I must do a more thorough post on punctuating dialogue). We really get a sense of not just what she is saying but how she is saying it. Observe how I did not include an exclamation mark at the end of the second piece of dialogue. This has the effect of contrasting the tones and hence heightening the impact of the first use.
The exclamation mark can also be used to denote something being said more loudly than usual. This hardly needs an example but I've already thought of a good one.
Example 2
He was just about finished shaving his scrotum when he heard, "Hurry the fuck up, this cunt is ready and waiting!"
Lovely.
In Regular Text
An exclamation mark, in my opinion, should only be used outwith (a wee Scottish word for you there) dialogue as a deliberate literary technique. This may be to draw a certain emphasis to a phrase or to compliment onomatopoeia (spelt correctly on one attempt). I rarely do this myself but that's just my style.
Example 1
There was only one word to describe the way she felt when he walked through that door: wet!
It may also be desirable to use exclamation marks when writing in the first person. Since such stories often read like a monologue, it is similar to dialogue.
Example 2
I barely grazed it with my finger before it erupted and sent out lashings of come. Fuck!
Again, don't overdo it and it could have a very pleasing effect on your work.
Commands
In German, every sentence that is a command ends with an exclamation mark; it may be one of the reason that the language seems so brutish and forceful. This is not something that has been adopted in English so please do not work on that assumption.
Example
"Stop!" She looked down at his sodden face while she caught her breath, smiling. "Okay, carry on."
Although both piece of dialogue were commands, only one ended in an exclamation mark. This allows for the writer to create a greater sense of urgency in certain commands. In German, a simple phrase like 'sit down' will read more like an order than an invitation.
How Many?
Very often I see people using multiple exclamation marks in an attempt to really emphasise something. This doesn't work. In my experience, it looks messy and thoughtless. The best-crafted pieces, the most professional-looking ones, use single exclamation marks in every case. This is my strong recommendation to you all.
If you absolutely insist on using more than one then I always stand by 'The Rule of Three'. If nothing else, strive for consistency. A story looks rather slap-dash if it has exclamation marks scattered throughout in varying quantities. Remember: more exclamation marks doesn't make the orgasm more intense!
A Final Note
In the case of an exclaimed question, the exclamation mark should precede the question mark and one of each is all that is required (I abhor seeing '??!?!!?' at the end of a sentence).
Example
"You did what with my new vibrator!?"
In conclusion, the exclamation mark is to be avoided if you don't know what you're doing with it (much like a vibrator). Use them sparingly and with caution. Don't just fling them around all over your story!
Thank you for listening, my darling Lushies.
This evening we will delve into the exciting and often surprising world of the exclamation mark (!) and, with a few examples, find out how to use it to best effect.
An exclamation mark should be used in place of, not in addition to, a period (full stop) and should therefore immediately follow the last word of the sentence, i.e., without a space in between.
The correct use of the exclamation mark (I am not fond of the expression, "exclamation point") is difficult to properly define and comes down to, in many situations, a matter of taste. A lot of what I express here is actually personal preference but would also be considered my many writers as being in line with "good practice".
In Dialogue
Exclamation marks will most often be found, and should primarily be used in direct speech to emphasise what the character is saying. The character may be expressing shock, surprise, anger, excitement or any number of other, strongly felt emotions.
Example 1
"Holy shit!" she exclaimed as his monstrous cock entered her. "You better slow down or you'll split me in half."
In this example, the exclamation mark replaced a comma rather than a period (I must do a more thorough post on punctuating dialogue). We really get a sense of not just what she is saying but how she is saying it. Observe how I did not include an exclamation mark at the end of the second piece of dialogue. This has the effect of contrasting the tones and hence heightening the impact of the first use.
The exclamation mark can also be used to denote something being said more loudly than usual. This hardly needs an example but I've already thought of a good one.
Example 2
He was just about finished shaving his scrotum when he heard, "Hurry the fuck up, this cunt is ready and waiting!"
Lovely.
In Regular Text
An exclamation mark, in my opinion, should only be used outwith (a wee Scottish word for you there) dialogue as a deliberate literary technique. This may be to draw a certain emphasis to a phrase or to compliment onomatopoeia (spelt correctly on one attempt). I rarely do this myself but that's just my style.
Example 1
There was only one word to describe the way she felt when he walked through that door: wet!
It may also be desirable to use exclamation marks when writing in the first person. Since such stories often read like a monologue, it is similar to dialogue.
Example 2
I barely grazed it with my finger before it erupted and sent out lashings of come. Fuck!
Again, don't overdo it and it could have a very pleasing effect on your work.
Commands
In German, every sentence that is a command ends with an exclamation mark; it may be one of the reason that the language seems so brutish and forceful. This is not something that has been adopted in English so please do not work on that assumption.
Example
"Stop!" She looked down at his sodden face while she caught her breath, smiling. "Okay, carry on."
Although both piece of dialogue were commands, only one ended in an exclamation mark. This allows for the writer to create a greater sense of urgency in certain commands. In German, a simple phrase like 'sit down' will read more like an order than an invitation.
How Many?
Very often I see people using multiple exclamation marks in an attempt to really emphasise something. This doesn't work. In my experience, it looks messy and thoughtless. The best-crafted pieces, the most professional-looking ones, use single exclamation marks in every case. This is my strong recommendation to you all.
If you absolutely insist on using more than one then I always stand by 'The Rule of Three'. If nothing else, strive for consistency. A story looks rather slap-dash if it has exclamation marks scattered throughout in varying quantities. Remember: more exclamation marks doesn't make the orgasm more intense!
A Final Note
In the case of an exclaimed question, the exclamation mark should precede the question mark and one of each is all that is required (I abhor seeing '??!?!!?' at the end of a sentence).
Example
"You did what with my new vibrator!?"
In conclusion, the exclamation mark is to be avoided if you don't know what you're doing with it (much like a vibrator). Use them sparingly and with caution. Don't just fling them around all over your story!
Thank you for listening, my darling Lushies.
Clumeleon
I didn't actually know about the serial comma but, as you can see, I'm generally against it. Those cases where the serial comma is deemed by many to be necessary are clearly some of the instances I have referred to as 'exceptions', albeit unknowingly. It just ain't how things are done where I come from.
Clumeleon
Quote by Gurlyboy
Very enjoyable thread, well written and practical too. I've always thought that I overuse commas but I do enjoy the wee buggers.
What I've found is that it isn't usually a case of too many or too few commas, they're just in the wrong place.
Certain complex sentence structures do require a lot of commas and I think people worry about using too many and cluttering up their text even when it really is necessary. At the same time, using too few usually results in sentences that don't make sense and need to be read three times before you can make head or tail of them.
Then there's poetry... Many people just forget that punctuation even exists in poetry. I am more lenient because of "poetic license" but sometimes I have to cringe my way through them. I can edit a story no problem but I feel like poets are a lot more touchy if you edit their work.
Clumeleon
I'm glad this thread has gone down well; I will certainly consider posting more (I've got exclamation marks, apostrophes and semi-colons on my list so far).
The main reason I wrote this was so that, when I'm verifying stories with atrocious comma use, I have a single source I can point to and say, "Go look at this before you resubmit, please."
@Swollen - I think I was lucky in that I had a really good English language education in primary school (although we didn't have quite the same examples). I think I was even more lucky in that I remembered it all. You'd be surprised how important good English is when writing mathematics.
@LM - Yes, you did get it right. Also, LOL!
The main reason I wrote this was so that, when I'm verifying stories with atrocious comma use, I have a single source I can point to and say, "Go look at this before you resubmit, please."
@Swollen - I think I was lucky in that I had a really good English language education in primary school (although we didn't have quite the same examples). I think I was even more lucky in that I remembered it all. You'd be surprised how important good English is when writing mathematics.
@LM - Yes, you did get it right. Also, LOL!
Clumeleon
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.
This afternoon we will be discussing the use of the comma (,) in the English language. By following just a few simple guidelines, you'll be writing better stories and giving the Story Verifiers fewer headaches in no time. Throughout, please observe my own use of the comma as an additional example of correct usage.
General Use
The comma is mainly used to break up sentences into smaller, digestible sections without fragmenting it into many short sentences. This has the effect of prompting the reader to pause momentarily as one would when speaking. When proofreading something you have written, place a comma in the places where you instinctively pause; this method will rarely fail you.
Example
I pushed his face into my moist pussy, forcing his tongue in deeper, smothering him with my womanly wetness.
Notice how the commas improve the fluidity of the sentence (no pun intended). Try reading it as though it had no commas. Now imagine it read,
I pushed his face into my moist pussy. I forced his tongue in deeper. I smothered him with my womanly wetness.
Although there is technically nothing wrong with it written like that, I think you'll all agree that my original sentence has a much better "feel" to it.
Lists
When writing a list, one should almost always use commas to do so. There are few things that irritate a Story Mod more than a sentence with the word 'and' in it twelve times. We could be talking about a list of nouns, a list of verbs, a list of adjectives or just about any other kind of list you can think of; the comma will work nine times out ten.
Example 1
I went to the Lush Store yesterday to buy a leather whip, steel handcuffs, a massive tub o' lube and a shiny new butt plug.
Such a list should typically have 'and' or 'or' before the last item on it. Again, the key is to read it through and insert commas where there is a natural rest.
Example 2
He ran his tongue up my outer lips, swirled it around my throbbing clit and then nibbled gently, sending me to a new world of ecstasy. I was squirming, writhing, thrusting and screaming all at once.
This second example shows how the comma can be used to describe a sequence of events and then again, in the second sentence, to list verbs.
There are other ways to more complex things with lists but this should suffice for now.
Subordinate Clauses
Another common way to use the comma is to insert sub-sentences which give additional information. This works in a similar way to parentheses without the implication that what is contained within is somehow an aside. When you use the comma in this way, an easy way to check if it is correct is by removing the section between the commas. If the sentence still makes sense then you're fine.
Example
He lowered his shorts to reveal the biggest, and I mean biggest, cock this side of the Atlantic. He grabbed it in one hand and, grinning at the amazement on my face, shoved it forcefully into my mouth.
I find this can be a nice little technique to enhance the quality of your writing. However, be careful not to overdo it.
Before Conjunctions
When a conjunction ('and', 'but', 'or', etc.) separates two independent clauses (parts of a sentence that can stand alone as a sentence in their own right), a comma usually precedes it. Such a comma may not be necessary for simple sentences.
Example 1
She came over to the house to watch the film with me, but it took me a full hour to build up the courage to jump her bones.
Notice the comma before 'but' because, "She came over to the house to watch the film with me," and, "It took me a full hour to build up the courage to jump her bones," are independent clauses. On the other hand...
Example 2
She came over and we fucked like crazy.
In this case, because the sentence is not in the least complicated, one needn't necessarily place a comma before 'and'.
In Speech
This is something which is commonly done incorrectly (and really gets up my nose). If you are writing a piece which includes dialogue, please make sure it is punctuated correctly. There are several other resources on Lush Stories which you can use for this, as well as many all over the interwebs. I cannot go into great depth here but I will give one explanatory example.
Example
"Drop your drawers," he ordered, smirking, "And give me a taste of that sweet, tender pussy."
Take note of where I have placed the commas. For more on formatting dialogue, click HERE.
That concludes today's lesson. If you're all very good boys and girls, I might do one on the mysterious semi-colon (one of my favourite pieces of punctuation and sadly often mis- or under-used).
Have a nice day.
This afternoon we will be discussing the use of the comma (,) in the English language. By following just a few simple guidelines, you'll be writing better stories and giving the Story Verifiers fewer headaches in no time. Throughout, please observe my own use of the comma as an additional example of correct usage.
General Use
The comma is mainly used to break up sentences into smaller, digestible sections without fragmenting it into many short sentences. This has the effect of prompting the reader to pause momentarily as one would when speaking. When proofreading something you have written, place a comma in the places where you instinctively pause; this method will rarely fail you.
Example
I pushed his face into my moist pussy, forcing his tongue in deeper, smothering him with my womanly wetness.
Notice how the commas improve the fluidity of the sentence (no pun intended). Try reading it as though it had no commas. Now imagine it read,
I pushed his face into my moist pussy. I forced his tongue in deeper. I smothered him with my womanly wetness.
Although there is technically nothing wrong with it written like that, I think you'll all agree that my original sentence has a much better "feel" to it.
Lists
When writing a list, one should almost always use commas to do so. There are few things that irritate a Story Mod more than a sentence with the word 'and' in it twelve times. We could be talking about a list of nouns, a list of verbs, a list of adjectives or just about any other kind of list you can think of; the comma will work nine times out ten.
Example 1
I went to the Lush Store yesterday to buy a leather whip, steel handcuffs, a massive tub o' lube and a shiny new butt plug.
Such a list should typically have 'and' or 'or' before the last item on it. Again, the key is to read it through and insert commas where there is a natural rest.
Example 2
He ran his tongue up my outer lips, swirled it around my throbbing clit and then nibbled gently, sending me to a new world of ecstasy. I was squirming, writhing, thrusting and screaming all at once.
This second example shows how the comma can be used to describe a sequence of events and then again, in the second sentence, to list verbs.
There are other ways to more complex things with lists but this should suffice for now.
Subordinate Clauses
Another common way to use the comma is to insert sub-sentences which give additional information. This works in a similar way to parentheses without the implication that what is contained within is somehow an aside. When you use the comma in this way, an easy way to check if it is correct is by removing the section between the commas. If the sentence still makes sense then you're fine.
Example
He lowered his shorts to reveal the biggest, and I mean biggest, cock this side of the Atlantic. He grabbed it in one hand and, grinning at the amazement on my face, shoved it forcefully into my mouth.
I find this can be a nice little technique to enhance the quality of your writing. However, be careful not to overdo it.
Before Conjunctions
When a conjunction ('and', 'but', 'or', etc.) separates two independent clauses (parts of a sentence that can stand alone as a sentence in their own right), a comma usually precedes it. Such a comma may not be necessary for simple sentences.
Example 1
She came over to the house to watch the film with me, but it took me a full hour to build up the courage to jump her bones.
Notice the comma before 'but' because, "She came over to the house to watch the film with me," and, "It took me a full hour to build up the courage to jump her bones," are independent clauses. On the other hand...
Example 2
She came over and we fucked like crazy.
In this case, because the sentence is not in the least complicated, one needn't necessarily place a comma before 'and'.
In Speech
This is something which is commonly done incorrectly (and really gets up my nose). If you are writing a piece which includes dialogue, please make sure it is punctuated correctly. There are several other resources on Lush Stories which you can use for this, as well as many all over the interwebs. I cannot go into great depth here but I will give one explanatory example.
Example
"Drop your drawers," he ordered, smirking, "And give me a taste of that sweet, tender pussy."
Take note of where I have placed the commas. For more on formatting dialogue, click HERE.
That concludes today's lesson. If you're all very good boys and girls, I might do one on the mysterious semi-colon (one of my favourite pieces of punctuation and sadly often mis- or under-used).
Have a nice day.
Clumeleon
Quote by Shylass
This is a frequent topic in Lush forums, I'm afraid. Here you go, a couple of threads for your perusal (the search engine will reveal many more!)...
http://www.lushstories.com/forum/yaf_postst18577_Whether-or-not-men-should-have-a-shaved-pubic-region.aspx
http://www.lushstories.com/forum/yaf_postst16362_Trimmed-Shaved-or-All-Natural.aspx
I used to have that kind of patience... Good form, Shylass.
Clumeleon
It's done automatically by Profile Views but I think it's also rigged so that there is always at least one male.
Also, it now appears that half of Featured Members are Lush Gold members. Since there aren't all that many of them at the moment, it is much more likely that you will be a featured member if you subscribe to Lush Gold (something like 1 in 13 versus 1 in 25000).
Just one more reason to go Gold.
Also, it now appears that half of Featured Members are Lush Gold members. Since there aren't all that many of them at the moment, it is much more likely that you will be a featured member if you subscribe to Lush Gold (something like 1 in 13 versus 1 in 25000).
Just one more reason to go Gold.
