tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post2165093117541858595..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: To "Was" or Not to "Was"Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-26596910708467729922008-10-27T20:30:00.000-06:002008-10-27T20:30:00.000-06:00Emma, some time ago I was falling victim to this c...Emma, some time ago I was falling victim to this craze to eliminate this poor word from common writing, then I noticed it in some really great books from Anne Tyler, Ann Lamott and others. There is nothing flat or passive about their work, and that is when I really paid attention and made the connection that I posted about. I tend to learn the hard way.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43801539061839448272008-10-25T20:14:00.000-06:002008-10-25T20:14:00.000-06:00I'm totally guilty of trying to get rid of was! An...I'm totally guilty of trying to get rid of was! And not even in corrections - just in the middle of the first draft. So instead "The entire chorus was seated in the small room" I'd end up with "The small room encompassed the chorus" or something. This will be a good thing to keep in mind :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-538182675502573002008-10-25T12:27:00.000-06:002008-10-25T12:27:00.000-06:00It would be exhausting to READ nothing but action ...It would be exhausting to READ nothing but action verbs. Especially at my age. Even excessive description takes the eneryg out of me.<BR/><BR/>DaniDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-61627546880256911352008-10-25T10:49:00.000-06:002008-10-25T10:49:00.000-06:00Totally agree with you Maryann. It would be exhaus...Totally agree with you Maryann. It would be exhausting to remove all versions of "was," both for the writer and the reader.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-45037046278644994932008-10-25T09:04:00.000-06:002008-10-25T09:04:00.000-06:00I am so glad you wrote a post about this today. I ...I am so glad you wrote a post about this today. I am currently working through edits on a ms. and trying to remember my rules of past participle, when and when not to use forms of "to be" etc. Thanks for a quick, on target reminder!Karen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13425141684712829990noreply@blogger.com