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This thread is for tropers who have trouble with English and would like some help with the crazy grammar of this crazy language.

Write down what you wish to edit on the wiki. If you have been suspended from editing, another troper might be kind enough to edit for you after your suggestions have been corrected.

The thread is for help and feedback on your own suggested edits.

If you want help correcting other people's edits (e.g., if you find a page which seems to have grammar problems but want a second opinion, or you don't feel able to fix it by yourself) then that's off-topic here, but we have a separate Grammar Police cleanup thread that can provide assistance.

Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 16th 2023 at 5:37:57 PM

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#2151: Sep 25th 2015 at 7:06:52 AM

Andrew, I'm going to give you a hand here, but you won't like what I have to say. It seems like you are picking words at random that happen to pass your spellchecker. That's not going to get you anywhere near to writing good English.

Going in sequence rather than by severity...

  • Episode titles should be formatted with double quotation marks, as a style rule. Episode 265: "Escape Out Of The Island". Is that the English title or a translated title, though? It seems grammatically awkward.
  • Why are you increasing indentation throughout that example? It seems unnecessary. Indentation is for making sublists.
  • "In order for them to leave the island, each member must find and stick word sticker in a random lucky bad based on their name and stick it onto their respective life jackets."
    • This sentence uses 'stick' (or 'sticker') three times in sequence and it's completely redundant.
    • "find and stick word sticker" makes no sense. I think you mean "find a word sticker".
    • "in a random lucky bad" — this is gibberish. "Bad" is not a noun, usually.
  • "Before they reach their destination, each members are given an IQ test."
    • This should read: "each member is given an IQ test." You are mixing up plural and singular tense.
  • "When HaHa asks who are the bottom three it is Lee Kwang Soo, Gary and himself (Adding insult to injury that he's the last)."
    • You omitted a comma after "bottom three". Spoiler markup doesn't absolve you from using proper punctuation.
    • That whole sentence should be rewritten: "When HaHa asks who the bottom three are, it's..."
    • The parenthesized text should not be capitalized unless it's a separate sentence, and if it is, the previous sentence needs to be closed by a period. It's not clear how enumerating him last adds insult to injury unless they were explicitly listed in descending order.
  • "There are some mini games during the mission when upon winning it that member receive a word sticker"
    • This looks like you ran another language through Google Translate. "There are some mini-games that award a word sticker," would be a much more concise way to write it.
  • "However knowing about the additional mission, everyone doesn't want Gary to win."
    • Again, terribly awkward. "However, since the additional mission is to keep Gary from winning, everyone tries to sabotage him," is a suggestion.
  • "For example during the match game"
    • Commas need to separate introductory clauses. "For example, during the match game ..."
  • "let it lit"
    • This should read "keep it lit".
  • "Gary nearly got it in 2 1/2 seconds, Suk Jin missed lighting the match and Jae Suk got his match blown out by Suk Jin after a sly remark from him."
    • Always write in present tense when discussing events that are occurring in the same time sequence. Also, this doesn't make sense. You said the contestants are trying to keep Gary from winning, so why are they sabotaging each other instead of him? "Gary nearly gets it, keeping his match lit for two and a half seconds. Suk Jin fails to light the match, and Jae Suk gets his match blown out by Suk Jin after a sly remark."

I'm tired already.

edited 25th Sep '15 7:16:21 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2152: Sep 25th 2015 at 7:14:30 AM

Ok thanks... sorry for the long wording....

Regarding the title... it's actually from the Korean Subtitle so I only follow what the title says on Running Man Korean TV show.

Again thanks

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#2153: Sep 25th 2015 at 7:35:45 AM

Also, I'm not seeing the humor, but maybe that's because you need the full context.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2154: Sep 25th 2015 at 7:41:34 AM

Well it's from a Korean TV Show called Running Man. If you watch the show you'll understand. So yea... is it ok if I rewrite it again? Just a bit simpler one if it is ok?

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#2155: Sep 25th 2015 at 7:46:02 AM

You may repost it if you wish. I didn't get to everything you wrote.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2156: Sep 25th 2015 at 7:50:09 AM

Alright.

Well the reason why is long is because I'm following the format of that page that I've posted the link at the top most part.

But once again I'll rewrite it when I get up tomorrow since it's night time here in Malaysia

andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2157: Sep 26th 2015 at 8:13:49 AM

Okay here's the one I intend to correct for Total Drama Heartwarming moment.

This is the original one: Chet and Lorenzo Realizing they have a lot in common and becoming best friends instead of worst enemies, just as their parents wanted. They even stay friends after elimination instead of going back to sniping iwth one another and walk off into the sunset to go play video games with the rockers.

And I was hoping to change to : Chet and Lorenzo. They start out fighting and arguing among themselves until in "The Shawshank Ridonc-tion" episode, they realize that they have a lot in common. With their newfound bond friendship, they become best friends even after their elimination, just as their parents wanted.

Is this ok so far?

edited 26th Sep '15 5:28:49 PM by andrew369

SetsunasaNiWa Parole Model Since: Apr, 2015
Parole Model
#2158: Sep 27th 2015 at 2:43:59 PM

[up] For me it's hard to see an in-work-of-fiction moment in that description. It does look like a review, of an arbitrary part of characters development. TVT "Moments" are not for that, if I understand things correctly.

Though I'm prohibited from posting due to bad grammar too, I would say your grammar in that proposition is definitely still lacking. Comma placement makes for an awkward first sentence structure (why pause there and/or only there?). Writing "With friendship, they become friends" wastes reader's attention.

andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2159: Sep 27th 2015 at 6:07:37 PM

[up]

Hmm... point taken. Still what should I write instead if you may suggest?

RabidTanker God-Mayor of Sim-Kind Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
God-Mayor of Sim-Kind
#2160: Sep 27th 2015 at 6:20:00 PM

My 2¢: Chet and Lorenzo started out fighting and arguing amongst themselves until the "Shawshank Ridonc-tion" episode, they realized that they had a lot in common with each other. With their newfound friendship,

Answer no master, never the slave Carry your dreams down into the grave Every heart, like every soul, equal to break
andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2161: Sep 27th 2015 at 7:47:21 PM

[up]

I see. So is this sentence below fine :

Chet and Lorenzo. They start out fighting and arguing among themselves until "The Shawshank Ridonc-tion" episode. In that episode, they realize that they have a lot in common and become best friends, just as their parents wanted.

Taken in advice, I decide not to add in the 'elimination part' since it's not actually important. So is this ok so far?

RabidTanker God-Mayor of Sim-Kind Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
God-Mayor of Sim-Kind
#2162: Sep 27th 2015 at 10:35:04 PM

[up] You're almost there, but there's still a few things wrong with that sentence. Specifically, the lack of an comma plus some of the words that should be removed with it's inclusion. And two of your verbs should be past tense, not present tense.

I don't believe that their elimination is worth mentioning unless their parents actually commented on it.

edited 27th Sep '15 10:39:43 PM by RabidTanker

Answer no master, never the slave Carry your dreams down into the grave Every heart, like every soul, equal to break
andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2163: Sep 27th 2015 at 11:52:05 PM

[up]

Chet and Lorenzo. They started in the race as enemies; fighting and arguing among themselves. That is until "The Shawshank Ridonc-tion" episode, they realized that they both share a common interest. Since then the become best friends even after their elimination, just as their parents wanted.

Re-edited it here. Is this ok?

edited 27th Sep '15 11:52:33 PM by andrew369

RabidTanker God-Mayor of Sim-Kind Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
God-Mayor of Sim-Kind
#2164: Sep 28th 2015 at 9:53:56 AM

Well, your first sentence can be easily merged with the second one with an comma and I don't think the semicolon is necessary; try replacing it with an comma. The beginning of sentence three should be more descriptive: Did they suddenly get along well for only one episode before the episode the one you're about to mention or were they always at each others' throats? Share should be shared.

Your last sentence: Since then the become best friends even after their elimination, just as their parents wanted.

One of my versions: Since then, they both became best friends, just as their parents wanted. Assuming that their disqualification was irrelevant.

Since then, they both became, best friends, even after their elimination—Ok, I'm actually having trouble phrasing this one. But you're still missing an comma because you need one if there's an pause in a sentence. "The" has an different definition than "they," and it's caused by missing an y. And again, the substitution of even an single letter in a word, can alter the meaning of the word itself. In this case: You're saying that their character development is happening now, rather than implying that it already happened. YMMV about the comma between friend and even.

edited 28th Sep '15 9:54:33 AM by RabidTanker

Answer no master, never the slave Carry your dreams down into the grave Every heart, like every soul, equal to break
andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2165: Sep 28th 2015 at 4:11:08 PM

Chet and Lorenzo. They started in the race as enemies, fighting and arguing among themselves until "The Shawshank Ridonc-tion" episode where they realized that they both share a common interest and become best friends, even after their elimination, just as their parents wanted.

Is this ok?

RabidTanker God-Mayor of Sim-Kind Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
God-Mayor of Sim-Kind
#2166: Sep 28th 2015 at 6:02:00 PM

Not really, because you're still getting an few things wrong. It's too long of an sentence.

Your first few words should be: "Chet and Lorenzo started in the race as enemies" as oppossed to "Chet and Lorenzo. They started..." because it's causing an needless pause there. The ending is still kind of confusing to read though.

Answer no master, never the slave Carry your dreams down into the grave Every heart, like every soul, equal to break
andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2167: Sep 28th 2015 at 6:23:43 PM

[up]

Chet and Lorenzo started the race as enemies, fighting and arguing among themselves until "The Shawshank Ridonc-tion" episode where they realized that they both share a common interest and ideas which both finally accept each other as stepbrothers, just as their parents wanted.

Regarding the parents part , it is mention in Episode 2 that their parents force both Chet and Lorenzo to join the race in order for both of them to bond their relationship. However before the episode I've mention, all they do is argue, fight and even talk smack at each other.

I've changed it again but not sure if this sentence is okay yet.

RabidTanker God-Mayor of Sim-Kind Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
God-Mayor of Sim-Kind
#2168: Sep 28th 2015 at 7:30:57 PM

Well the wording is an lot better than the last few times, but the grammar near the end of the sentence is off a little. You're missing a few commas and verbs like "accept" should be written in the past tense (accepted) if you're talking about past events.

Answer no master, never the slave Carry your dreams down into the grave Every heart, like every soul, equal to break
andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2169: Sep 28th 2015 at 10:40:03 PM

[up]

Like this :

Chet and Lorenzo started the race as enemies, fighting and arguing among themselves until "The Shawshank Ridonc-tion" episode where they realized that they both share a common interest and ideas, which both finally accepted each other as stepbrothers, just as their parents wanted.

SetsunasaNiWa Parole Model Since: Apr, 2015
Parole Model
#2170: Sep 29th 2015 at 12:38:05 PM

And if my perception of TV Tropes' "Moments" is correct, then corrections are in order on two points: 1) Write in present tense; 2) tell when in the work does the moment of heartwarming come.

My attempt:

  • The way Chet and Lorenzo have their relationship turn around in "The Shawshank Ridonc-tion" episode. Petty enemies, fighting and bickering through the whole race, they discover how much they have in common and a quite friendly relationship blooms, even if both get eliminated.

I don't like this result, mind you. Because I'm missing the actual point you should be making, and I can't adapt accordingly.

Example is expected to convey information. YMMV items are special because opinions may differ, but there are so many potential ways to touch or fail to touch viewers' hearts. Tell what made your heart feel fuzzy, don't just expect me to believe you that there was something somewhere in that plot section.

Otherwise, imagine people just copying over screenplays of tv show episodes, breaking text into paragraphs and calling it a chain of examples of Awesome Moment.

p.s. Sorry, if I'm not clear.

edited 29th Sep '15 12:46:48 PM by SetsunasaNiWa

andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2171: Sep 29th 2015 at 4:36:56 PM

[up]

Understand

Still I did a number of post and corrections yet I am not sure who I should be following...should I stick to what I written or the one the two of you suggested to me?

edited 30th Sep '15 2:37:16 AM by andrew369

andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2172: Sep 29th 2015 at 10:24:05 PM

Anyway here's another one for the Lego Dimension at the funny section:

  • Upon visiting the Wizard of Oz world for the first time, Batman, Gandalf and Wyldstyle happen to see Dorothy and her friends, singing along the yellow brick road, leading to this dialogue:
Batman: The Scarecrow! I knew it! This is all a hallucination! (Confronts them)
Wyldstyle: I think he's going crazy!
Gandalf: Going,my dear? He's wearing a bat costume.

SetsunasaNiWa Parole Model Since: Apr, 2015
Parole Model
#2173: Sep 30th 2015 at 11:20:58 AM

It's not important whose advice you follow. Ultimately, you should learn your mistakes and learn to stop making these mistakes.

Choose the problems you can agree with and work in that direction first. I would certainly be calm if you ignored my ideas in favor of others. Work at pace that suits you.

By the way, on your post #2171...

You typed:

Understand
Did you mean "Understood." instead? (implying that you've understood something) Or did you mean "Please understand the following."? (implying that you ask others to understand you)

Still I did a number of post and corrections yet I am not sure who I should be following...should I stick to what I written or the one the two of you suggested to me?
Barebone punctuation and "I written" is grammatically incorrect (you could use "I wrote" or "I have written").

edited 30th Sep '15 11:21:15 AM by SetsunasaNiWa

andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2174: Sep 30th 2015 at 4:20:20 PM

[up]

When I mean Understand I mean "I Understand" as in I get it.

andrew369 Since: Apr, 2012
#2175: Sep 30th 2015 at 10:19:43 PM

Ok I got a question for this line since I've just curious in one of the notes:

"MacArthur dislikes the Ice Dancers from the very beginning, finding their permanent smiles creepy and suspicious, but it becomes personal once they intentionally knock Sanders over during the foot race to the Don Box in Translyvania."

My question is it correct to replace 'intentionally' with 'purposely'? I'm not sure if both meanings are correct.

Thanks in advance.


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