Senior citizen dilemma.

[Paul James]

When I worked, I lost the years associated with them, like the forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties and now the twenty first century. I am exstreamley behind the times, like morality, politics, world changes and of course writing in English.

I have developed my own voice or writing style and have been told have a sentence structure problem! I would argue that because each writer has there own personal writing style. If I can be understood, then I am within the syntax usage and sentence rules of correct writing?

I like Grammarly but I feel it takes away my individual writing style or voice. Any retired English teachers in this forum, I need your help and patient, please? I think that is called catching up to the twenty first century, but why do they call it the twenty first century is the date is twenty fifteen? Paul

 

[AZ Jim]

Paul I don't mean this in anyway but trying to help. So far every post you have made has been this same subject so with that in mind I offer this suggestion. Start by using a spell check. They will help in a big way. Also if you have word or even word starter it will help with structure. Don't use "Grammarley" as a cop out for proper grammar. I am no expert and only have my high school education so I make mistakes but the above tips will help you with your situation. Again, I offer this only because you have asked for help and also asked me personally in another post for help.

BTW to your specific question: "If I can be understood, then I am within the syntax usage and sentence rules of correct writing?"

Answer is no. You hire a non-English speaker to help with yard work, you finally figure out that he understands what you expect of him, but was it an easy thing to do? No. You had to work at it to understand what he was trying to say. That analogy reflects the importance of making yourself understood, especially in writing where nothing can be gleaned from voice inflection or facial expression.

 

[NancyNGA]

Paul, your post above was just fine. Keep practicing.

 

[AZ Jim]

Actually Nancy, it was an answer to his request for help, not approval. He asked me elsewhere to criticize his writing so he could see what other readers thought. No offense but enabling is not helping.

 

[NancyNGA]

Yes, I know, Jim. I should have made it clearer. ( I was just ignoring your post.

)

 

[AZ Jim]

Yes, I know, Jim. I should have made it clearer. ( I was just ignoring your post.

)

How dare you!!! :tongue:

 

[Debby]

When I worked, I lost the years associated with them, like the forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties and now the twenty first century. I am exstreamley behind the times, like morality, politics, world changes and of course writing in English.

I have developed my own voice or writing style and have been told have a sentence structure problem! I would argue that because each writer has there own personal writing style. If I can be understood, then I am within the syntax usage and sentence rules of correct writing?

I like Grammarly but I feel it takes away my individual writing style or voice. Any retired English teachers in this forum, I need your help and patient, please? I think that is called catching up to the twenty first century, but why do they call it the twenty first century is the date is twenty fifteen? Paul

One thing I try to do Paul is always reread what I've written because it's easy to miss a 'connecting' word or phrase or even end a thought too soon which impairs the understandability of your work.

For example you wrote ' I would argue that because each writer has there own personal writing style.' If I can be understood, then.....

Perhaps that would have sounded better if you'd written 'I would argue that because each writer has their own personal writing style, making use of my personal voice/ideas/philosophies....demonstrates my own voice.' I'm not sure if that is clearly explained, but it seems like your effort just kind of dropped off and then you embarked on another thought.

Your writing style/voice can still be demonstrated by the words you choose to use, the thoughts that you share and isn't limited by using good grammar. I find that when I'm confronted by writing that doesn't use punctuation or uses it badly, or where sentences are incomplete, that I'll often just move on to something that takes less effort.

Good luck and congratulations for being willing to be teachable.