| Susan only submitted her manuscript to
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| | three literary agencies. She didn't
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| three literary agencies.
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| | submit it to publishers. She didn't enter
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| Susan submitted her manuscript to only
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| | it into writing contests. She didn't have
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| three literary agencies.
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| | it bound and engraved. (Don't do that, by
|
|
| |
| | the way, if you're planning to send it to
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| Ever hear of a "misplaced modifier"?
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| | anyone.) In fact, if we're being really
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| Don't worry, I'll get into those in
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| | strict, she didn't do anything else at
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| another article. Today I'm going to
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| | all. She didn't even get out of bed and
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| briefly explain one example, a pet peeve
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| | brush her teeth this morning. She "only
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| of mine and of copyeditors everywhere:
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| | submitted."Now look at the second
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| the use and misuse of the word "only."
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| | sentence. Aha! Now you get it. Susan
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| This is one of those grammatical rules
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| | submitted to "only three" literary
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| that most people (including yours truly)
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| | agencies. This construction leaves no
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| don't follow in speech or in informal
| |
| | room for doubt. And it emphasizes more
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| writing, and therefore needs editing in
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| | strongly the sentence's significance:
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| every single manuscript that comes across
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| | that she didn't submit her manuscript to
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| my desk, even those by the most
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| | very many agencies. This simple
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| experienced authors. "Too picky," you
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| | rearrangement of words eliminates
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| might say -- but remember: book writing
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| | ambiguity and improves clarity and
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| isn't speech. Being "picky" means being a
| |
| | specificity -- so why not go through your
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| professional.The sentences above, if you
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| | manuscript right now, do a global search
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| spoke them out loud, might have the same
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| | for the word "only," and make sure it's
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| meaning to your ear. But a closer look on
| |
| | used properly?The proper placement of the
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| the page reveals that their meanings are
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| | word is not always this clear-cut, and
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| different. The most important thing to
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| | there may be instances where moving it
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| keep in mind when writing -- after, you
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| | makes your sentence read awkwardly. As
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| know, stuff like spelling words correctly
| |
| | always, use your judgment and tailor this
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| -- is to never to confuse a reader. This
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| | tip to your own work. But if you ever see
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| doesn't mean never intentionally mislead
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| | that clarity is in doubt, this is an easy
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| the reader of your mystery novel or leave
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| | way to eliminate that doubt and make your
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| ambiguous the ending of your thriller. It
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| | writing that much more professional.Lisa
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| means that the meaning you are trying to
| |
| | Silverman is a freelance book editor and
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| convey is never in question, not in any
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| | works in the copyediting department at
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| single sentence. If it is, readers become
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| | Farrar, Straus and Giroux, one of New
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| distracted, and you've lost them.The
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| | York's most prestigious literary
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| first sentence in my example does not
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| | publishing houses. She has also worked as
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| convey its intended meaning. Why? Because
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| | a ghostwriter and a literary agent
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| "only" is next to "submitted," which is
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| | representing both book authors and
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| not the word it is modifying. As written,
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| | screenwriters. She founded in order to
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| the sentence tells us that Susan did
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| | provide writers with free advice on both
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| nothing but submit her manuscript to
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| | writing and the publishing business.
|