I obviously am in great need of help with my grammar, so is there a good grammar checker out there, and which is the recommended one?
I obviously am in great need of help with my grammar, so is there a good grammar checker out there, and which is the recommended one?
@ Adrian ("Passive writing is necessary in a novel, but should be avoided where possible, otherwise, a would-be author will be rejected by an agent and publisher.")
Surely, Adrian, you meant to write: "Passive writing is necessary in a novel, but one should avoid it where possible, otherwise, an agent and publisher will reject a would-be author."
Jeremy, Jimmy, makes a very important points.
I suggest you download a copy of, 'The Elements of Style', by Strunk Jnr, and E B White, for 99p on Kindle, or buy a cheap copy on Amazon.
The Elements of Style will teach you to write in the Active Voice, which makes for Forcible Writing.
Passive writing is necessary in a novel, but should be avoided where possible, otherwise, a would-be author will be rejected by an agent and publisher.
@ Jeremy: you already have.
I was tortured by the doctor = passive, since it was not I who was doing the torturing.
The doctor tortured me = active, because the doctor WAS. If the subject of the sentence is the person/thing/emotion/abstract concept/etc. who/which is doing the doing, then the sentence is active. To turn a passive sentence into an active one, simply decide who or what is doing the doing... and make her/him/it the subject. But why bother? Passive sentences are perfectly respectable, and are invited to the best soirées.