Important notice from the GRAMMAR POLICE. Plz read. This means you.
rufio:
That is not an answer to "When is it OK to use a sentence fragment for effect?"
Liz:
Quote from: rufio on 2009 July 27, 08:46:06
"When is it OK to use a sentence fragment for effect?"
The simplest answer? If you don't know whether it's okay to use a fragment for effect, it's not okay. If you know it's okay, it's okay. That sounds like total smartassery, but it isn't meant to be. Much.
If one is proficient at mechanics and rules, she can effectively proceed to experiment with form. Against a solid, grammatical foundation, embellishments and deviations contrast properly as the stylistic flourishes they are meant to be. But if one fails to lay that foundation, any choices she might wish to explain as stylistic fail to achieve merit, lost as they are among the comma splices, sentence fragments, and other linguistic rubble.
rufio:
Quote from: Liz on 2009 July 27, 10:02:19
The simplest answer? If you don't know whether it's okay to use a fragment for effect, it's not okay. If you know it's okay, it's okay.
Well I do know - or, I thought I did, and I wanted to know what the rules are according to rohina, who apparently thinks they are different.
Quote
If one is proficient at mechanics and rules, she can effectively proceed to experiment with form. Against a solid, grammatical foundation, embellishments and deviations contrast properly as the stylistic flourishes they are meant to be. But if one fails to lay that foundation, any choices she might wish to explain as stylistic fail to achieve merit, lost as they are among the comma splices, sentence fragments, and other linguistic rubble.
Well, the criticism leveled at the person using a sentence fragment for effect was that they were using a sentence fragment. So, we are back to the same question - at what point does using a sentence fragment for effect not count as an error which precludes one from using sentence fragments for effect? Or is it possible that there are actual rules about when sentence fragments are erroneous or not?
Lorelei:
Quote from: rufio on 2009 July 27, 08:46:06
That is not an answer to "When is it OK to use a sentence fragment for effect?"
When it is clear from your output that you have mastered the basic rules and guidelines, you can occasionally deviate for stylistic effect.
A single instance that underscores failure to grasp the basic rules, however, means that your "stylistic" choice to use a fragment (or whatever non-standard deviations you indulge in) will be seen as ignorance of the rules, and not a stylistic flourish.
Example: Grammar Police occasionally insert Catois or Internet memes into posts on MATY. Grammar Police have demonstrated a grasp of the rules and guidelines of grammar. Only the most dense observer assumes that the Grammar Police could not, if they so chose, rephrase the concepts and communication demonstrated by their post contents into sentences appropriate for the most eggheady applications.
Also, the art analogy again holds true: once you know the basic rules and how to properly use the materials traditionally associated with the genre of art you wish to master, you can experiment with both the basic building block rules and substitute different materials or use materials in a new way. You have to learn your basic colour wheel before you start discussing colour theory and the traditionally accepted symbolism associated with certain colour choices and combinations before announcing that your personally-developed non-standard symbolism is completely different but just as easy to "read".
To dumb it down even more, since this seems to be hard to grasp: you must learn to WALK before you RUN.
rufio:
Quote from: Lorelei on 2009 July 27, 10:51:12
A single instance that underscores failure to grasp the basic rules, however, means that your "stylistic" choice to use a fragment (or whatever non-standard deviations you indulge in) will be seen as ignorance of the rules, and not a stylistic flourish.
So I take it that rohina and all of the Grammar Police have never once, in their entire lives, made a mistake in spelling or typing, or uttered a speech error.
Just to be clear, here. ::)
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