Have you ever split an infinitive?
Whew. Oh good.
Me, too.
In the never-ending attempt to try to write the best blog possible and learn more about life in general, I turned in a post to a professional grammeratician. It was brutal. I was doing all sorts of things I had no idea were wrong. Like leaving two spaces after a sentence and misplacing a modifier and not spelling out the word inch and splitting infinitives. Just between us, when I read the evaluation, I wasn’t even sure what an infinitive was. I researched the subject and according to grammar 101 an infinitive is the word (to) + (the simple form of the verb). Like “to run” or “to read” or “to paint” or “to write.” Infinitives are the chameleons of the grammar world. They can be nouns or adjectives or adverbs.
And I was splitting them.
No more. I promise. From this day forth I’ll give those infinitives the respect they deserve.
I want to creatively write like I’ve never done before.
Oops.
I did it again. 🙂
I once saw a tobacco basket at an auction that I should have bid on.
It got up to $17 and I thought it was too expensive.
I know, right?
Thanks to this easy DIY, now I can make my own.
A long time ago in a land far away I lived in San Diego.
And ate fish tacos every day.
This recipe looked like the ones from the Golden State.
I love this simple and easy idea.
This wall art? It’s wood chargers.
You can read all about how she found them here.
And I love, love, love this easy idea.
I think I’m doing it on my kitchen ceiling to hide all the imperfections.
How to add wallpaper to your ceiling DIY here.
And in random news this week:
This summer home tour
This post made me laugh out loud
This tiny house
These decorating tips
Cutest watches EVER (maybe DIY Christmas)
And this inspiration to take the leap and create what you love
One more for the road.
This pumpkin project to get you ready for fall.
Happy Random Saturday to you. 🙂
I meant to thoughtfully respond - oops - oh well it is very hard to actually write in a proper manner. I hope to joyously enjoy the day and you do the same .
Thanks mother. :) I learn to split my infinitives from the best. :)
Wow! So much to learn in this blog! So...if you asked the English they would say we don't write, speak or even spell proper English...so with a shrug of my shoulders I say just be you and split every thing you want cuz I love your blog as it is. ;-) happy day to ya!!!!
Don't change a thing, promise!
Oh, Pshaw on the fuddy-duddy grammarian or whatever you want to call him/her. You write as you speak -- that's why we love to read what you write split infinitives, prepositions at the end of a sentence, and lots of spaces , lots of exclamation points. Now does this have to do with the project you are currently working on? (see I ended the sentence with a preposition :-)) Now, say after me -- I am a rock star and who cares if I split an infinitive??!!! I be the grammarian doesn't have a sparkling personality with the best red lipstick, EVER!! Have a great day.
So much inspiration this morning! Basket weaving may soon take over here...Thanks for making my Saturday!
Sigh, I still love the twig pumpkin...and those watches, so cute. Hope you're having a good weekend, KariAnne! :-) Cecilia
The baskets are beautiful. If you would make some and sew cozy cushions to put in (with fabrics from your fabulous fabric line of course), I'm sure Nash, Bonsai and the rest of the gang would love them a lot too. :) Have a great weekend, KariAnne!
I just love Thistle keeping for Saturday morning inspiratiob - I am SO making your twig pumpkin!
I am pretending I didn't read this post because I still do not get what you did wrong...I guess I will be splitting till infinity.
I have never heard of using a grammarian for checking your blog, how cool! Thanks for the delightful read! Sincerely, Tammy
I adore your Thistlekeeping series - it's the perfect thing to read while sipping a hot cuppa and just getting some great tips and such. Your recommendations for reading is always excellent. And about grammar? Split away my dear - to thine own self be true. Try to never lose the awesome you that got your thus far......it's OK.....just always be yourself. : - ) Hugs from a splitter, too. ♥
I can't even imagine how a grammeratician would tear apart my blog posts!!! How funny! And you know what? Don't change your writing, your readers love your writing style, it's like having a funny chat with you over a cup of tea or a glass of wine!
When did the rule change - having only one space following a period? My (really, really old) schoolbooks include punctuation rules outlining two spaces following a period, one space following a semi-colon, and two spaces following a colon. I'll keep on typing as my teachers taught me, and choose not to relearn grammar. (Reading some news and magazine articles today one wonders whether there are any editors still working! ) Likely, the single space sentence ending came about because of letter/space limitations on some social media sites; but, that "officially" doesn't make it right!
Ahh these were my thoughts exactly! I was taught that there are always two spaces after a period! :-) As for the rest of the suggestions Karianne, I think you should stay true to your inner voice. We love reading what you write because it's like having a conversation with you. You speak from your heart and that's what the readers love. <3
Ah, the new 1 space rule. I kept correcting my middle schooler's writing by telling her to put 2 spaces and she said Mom, the teacher told us one space. Good thing I have a child to learn the new rules! lol
Lots of fun stuff this weekend- Those ceilings are fantastic we did this in our bathroom and I LOVE it. Left it natural because I just love the grain of wood. So as far as the two space thing - had no idea, how I'm going to break that habit I'll never know. I just read an article in Business Insider and this sentence is what grabbed my attention - The modern and easy-to-follow style is to put one space after a period. So I guess the lazy way of doing things wins again. Sad.. Anyways I'm more of a self publish gal.... they would rip my simplistic writing style apart. Have a great weekend - we finally got a snap of a cold front. You know 80 degrees - Woo Hoo!
Split those infinitives to infinity and beyond!!! NEVER change what makes you- YOU!! I am probably the worst of the worst grammatically speaking, and I gave up trying with punctuation long ago. Your blog is glorious and perfect just the way it is- don't spend another minute on the findings of a grammeratician (is that really a word?) P.S. Thistlekeeping is always the best part of Saturday, Thank-you!
KariAnne, don't feel bad, I think you're in very good company across Blogland. :) I haven't thought about split infinitives since my college days, but per good ol' Wikipedia, even the experts can't come to agreement on when it's okay to bend the rule a bit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_infinitive
I totally adore your beautiful home! If I lived like you, I would never have a single challenge in my life, I am sure:-)
KariAnne, just "keep on keeping on" the way you write! You have our full and undivided attention -- just the way you are! Love every one of your posts! Have a wonderful weekend! Blessings!
I have to agree with everyone here today! Don't change a thing in your writing rhythm! It's what makes you and your blog YOU!!!!! I too wondered when the two spaces after the period became one. It's so automatic there is no way I can change my fingers!!! I love the baskets. I have a few around that I made. Once I whittle down my UFOs to a manageable amount, I would like to get back to making more! Love the charger idea too! Thanks for stopping by on a rainy Saturday and sharing a cup of coffee with everyone. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!
Don't you dare change a thing! Just ordered my reed for the baskets- excited to try them!!:) Love Saturday Thistlekeeping♥
Grammar police, eek! Haven't thought of that since Mrs. Bower's eight grade English class!! Please don't change a thing because I LOVE the way you write. It's like we're having a conversation over a cup of coffee getting red lipstick stains on the rim. Now I have a few more projects to add to my list!! Happy weekend:-)
Hello Kari!!!! PLEASE...PLEASE do not change a thing about your writing style!!! Your delightful conversational style......authenticity...and candor are JUST CHARMING!!! CHARMING!!!!!!! Your writing really, REALLY sets your blog apart!! We love it! If you write, overly concerned about pleasing the "grammar rules", it will pinch your creativity--you'll find yourself stopping, second-guessing, back-spacing and losing a lot of great, spontaneous content, that when re-written will have lost some of its sparkle! Please just "Kari on"!!! being yourself!!! YOU...and your CHARMING writing...even if you split infinitives...are the reason that you have so many subscribers!!! THANK YOU for all the work you put into this blog...bringing sunshine to so many others!!!!!! Hugs!!!
I love your Saturday posts with all the ramblings and recommended posts to visit with tutorials or tours - thanks. And I apologize if I have used a split infinitive, I still have problems with ending a sentence with a preposition.
This post is fun today. Purdue Owl.com for all English writing , it is very informative my English professor told us about it. I do not miss writing Theseis papers at all ;) . There are lots of cool projects. In ref. to yesterday's post sounds like a great book, I took the test and I'm a giver. :) Hope you have had a great day!
KariAnne, Surely you must have a round up of twig projects in your blog archives! If not, nothing could be better as an upcoming fall post. You have the best twig project ideas and the best looking twigs with which to work. Judith
Wallpaper on the ceiling is my worst nightmare! Our first house had vintage red, white, and blue striped wallpaper on the ceiling of the tiny laundry room, put up with the world's most stubborn wallpaper paste. Hours scraping wallpaper off in one inch pieces in a tiny room with a 50's furnace turning the room into a sauna, manuvering the ladder around washer and dryer. Gah! Never again! Not even removable wallpaper. Shiver.
A grammarian? Seriously ? I love you and all your splits!!! Please don't ever change. : )
Back when I was first learning how to type, it was proper procedure to leave two spaces after each sentence and I still do because I just feel it looks better and clears the eye palate, if there is such a thing as a palate for the eye! My major grammar faux pas is the improper and indiscriminate use of ellipses...kinda like this one...hehe! I think your writing is perfect because you know how to get your thoughts across to your readers in a succinct and meaningful way, KariAnne...so, I wouldn't worry too much about the technical aspects of writing. Speaking of writing, I read the post about "The Perfect Shoes" which you linked to and was so enthralled with it that I wound up reading the sequels to it. What a sweet love story...thank you for sharing it with us! And I would sooooooo LOVE to try my hand at making those tobacco baskets, but I can already envision me making a horrible mess of it because I'm all thumbs. Maybe I'll get lucky and find one at a decent price at auction instead! ;) Hope you are having a most blissful and beautiful weekend there, KariAnne! Thank you for bringing some sunshine to mine by sharing these wonderful posts with us!
Hi KariAnne-- I'm a professional grammarian--I edit college textbooks for a living. DO NOT CHANGE A THING!!! The way you write is your voice to us, your loyal readers. When you write the way you would say the words out loud, I can almost feel like you're sitting across from me with a really good cup of coffee and we're dishing about all the things that make up our lives. It's your "flavor"--and I LOVE YOUR FLAVOR!!!
KariAnne, I love the way you write your blog. It feels so personal to read an email from you. I honestly hope you don't change it a bit. I think it would take away from who you are as a communicator with your audience.
You just reminded me that English was my strongest subject in high school and college and I threw it all out the window for blogging. Oops! You're a better woman than I. Thanks for your continued support. Some days I share just knowing that you're reading and it makes my day!
This is my first comment on your blog! I have been enjoying your daily blogs and love that you showcase your “rescued treasures”. I found a very eclectic book at an estate sale this weekend. For a 1934 edition, it was only a $1.60 and in excellent condition. The book made me think of this specific blog and I wanted to share it with you. I thought you might enjoy the book and its diverse content since you are in the process of writing your own book! It may also serve as inspiration for future projects! https://www.amazon.com/Business-Speller-P-B-S-Peters/dp/B0025D2G20/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472398799&sr=8-1&keywords=Business+Speller+1934