{Pass, Consider, Recommend} A Conversation On Spelling And Grammar
1Welcome to PASS, CONSIDER, RECOMMEND. In these articles I will not be discussing the details of any one script, but rather the positive or negative aspects of writing that will keep me reading to the end or could stop me entirely at page 10. I will try to cover the good as well as the bad because knowing what makes me want to give a “recommend” is just as important as knowing what mistakes force me to “pass.”
For this first post I am going to start off with what many writers probably assume is an almost forgettably small topic, spelling and grammar. I hate to start this series off on a negative note; however, it was (and still is) the sheer number of these mistakes that made me want to start writing this article in the first place. So, here we go.
Spelling and grammar are two of the most frequent issues I (and other readers) run into while reading scripts. Why are these two aspects of your script so important? Because these two things ARE writing. They are the foundations of all writing, which is precisely why we are taught the basic elements of each in our first years in elementary school. But beyond that, speaking just as a reader, these mistakes simply interrupt a read. It is true that great story will (and more often than not, does) triumph over these errors, but these marks against the script add up, and the more time I’ve spent noticing poor grammar, the less time I’ve spent fully immersed in a story.
Now before you say anything, I get it, spelling is tough. Believe me, I know. I am not now, nor have I ever been the world’s greatest speller. I was always one of the first kids out in any of the spelling bees I can remember, and to this day cannot spell the word ‘conscious’ correctly on the first attempt. However, there are these amazing new tools known as “spell check” and “the internet.” With these tools at your disposal there is no longer an excuse for poor spelling. I mean, spell check underlines your mistakes for you! I don’t mean to be harsh, but at the same time, I cannot remember the last script I read that was not riddled with spelling errors. That’s a bit of a hyperbole, but I am trying to make a point; which is, spelling errors can ruin a read.
The other way to ruin a read, even if a great story is present, is poor grammar. While it is much more difficult to find grammatical errors than it is spelling errors, if you want to be taken seriously as a writer, I need to see that you’ve done everything in your power to present a clean draft of your story. I take my job very seriously, so I do not think it is unreasonable to ask, and expect, you do the same with your work. The most common grammar mistakes in a screenplay are the use of homophones. Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently (e.g. their, there and they’re or two, too, and to). Remember, just because they sound alike does not mean they are the same thing. These types of grammatical errors are one of the top sources of frustration for readers and producers simply because, in bulk, these mistakes disrupt any flow the story has carried. If you know you are bad with grammar there is nothing wrong with asking for help before submitting your script to someone that could make or break your career.
There is no easy fix for grammatical mistakes, as “grammar check” doesn’t really work. The only way to get it right every time is to go back and learn it all again. This is my number one suggestion for fixing grammar. If this is the course you choose, I recommend picking up a copy of The Elements of Style. It will tell you absolutely everything you need to know. However, if you decide doing the homework is not worth your time, the only advice I can give is to read your script out loud, which should hopefully allow you to hear your mistakes. But when all is said and done, there is no substitution for learning (and mastering) your craft.
Now, there are certain writing styles for scripts that do ignore grammar on purpose. While I do not love these styles personally, there are a number of my colleagues who do, so I want to address this as well. For instance, there is something to be said for the quick and clean read of action lines without all of the proper pronouns in the proper places.
EXAMPLE:
“John walks into the room. Notices Tony. Guns are drawn and fired. John survives the encounter.”
A reader should not hold a writing style against you as long as the script still provides solid visualizations, and holds the format you’ve selected throughout. In short, keep your style consistent. It is only when the grammatical errors start to fall outside of the style that they once again become a problem.
We are all human, and I understand no one is perfect. Which is why, in general, I am willing to overlook half a dozen spelling and/or grammatical errors for the entirety of a script. Let me say that again… I will let up to six mistakes slide for ninety-plus pages without it really affecting my thoughts on the script. Anything more than that, and I start to question the writers commitment to their own work, and in turn, their careers. If you’ve spent months working on something, why not take an added day, or week, to clean it up and make it ready for a professional set of eyes. If you are not going to read your own script, why should I?
Now, having said all of this, I do need to thoroughly express that while spelling and grammatical errors do annoy me, and will make it more difficult for me to ultimately enjoy your script, they also will not make me stop reading; no matter how much they may frustrate me. What they will do is chip away at the grade I will end up giving in the “writing” column of any grid I am working from. Even with a great story, you still need to understand and correctly utilize the basic fundamentals of writing. Too many mistakes will make it impossible for me to ever give a “consider” or a “recommend” to the writer, regardless of how fantastic their story might be. So, please be sure to dot your i’s, cross your t’s, and know that the difference in the end could come down to something as small as to manny speling eroars. (Do you see what I mean?)
So, until next time, keep writing and for your sake and mine: reread, rewrite, and repeat.
You can keep up with all of the “Pass, Consider, Recommend” articles as they post here.
Didn’t understand a word or term? Check out the “Glossary Of Reader Terms” here.
