# Diction

### Idioms

* From the Text of Doom: ​"​heads over feet​"​ should actually be ​"​head over heels​".

{% embed url="<http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/head+over+heels>" %}

* Use an idiom dictionary such as ​TheFreeDictionary, or just Google the idiom you are not sure of along with the word "idiom".
  * "​heads over feet idiom​"​ has several results that correct it to ​"​head over heels​".

{% embed url="<http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com>" %}

### Names

* Use full names (first then last) whenever a character or person is introduced for the first time.
  * **"​MikiShin​" -> "​Miki Shinichiro​"**

### Capitalization

* Remember, all names and proper nouns are capitalized.
  * **"​Bermuda Triangle​"**
  * **"​Canary Islands​"**
  * **"​CERN​"** - Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire

### Misplaced/Dangling Modifiers

* A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies/describes. Because of the separation, sentences with this error often sound awkward, ridiculous, or confusing.
  * From the Text of Doom: ​"She often becomes tired because of her parents's \[sic] antics of always deserting her to take care of the castle \[...]"
    * The modifier here is "​to take care of the castle.​" It is misplaced because it is unclear/confusing what word it is modifying. Is it modifying "​She​," so that she is the one who has to take care of the castle when they leave? Or is it modifying "​her parents​," who leave her so they can go take care of the castle? The best way to fix this particular sentence is to just rewrite it. ​"She often becomes tired because she has to take care of the castle when her parents desert her."

### Word Choice

* When using a more "obscure" word, look up the definition to make sure that it is being used correctly.
* "Her parents have a habit of getting lost around the globe (which really, is in their own backyard), a trend that has been ​prevalent​ since she was a child." ​
  * "prevalent" ​is an adjective that means something is widespread in a particular area at a particular time&#x20;
    * Ex. "The social ills are prevalent in society today."&#x20;
  * Here, the writer intends to say that the "trend" has been happening consistently ever since Letica was a child, but ​"prevalent" ​only describes something that happens consistently at a particular time, not over time.
* "​However, Letica has multiple ​affections​ and finds herself caught between them.​"&#x20;
  * Affections is not a noun that means people that Letica likes or the objects of affection. It is a noun that means "a gentle feeling of fondness or liking."
* With uncommon phrases, look the phrase up on Google to make sure it is an actual phrase.
* From the Text of Doom: ​"​crib friends​."&#x20;
  * This is a very, very uncommon phrase. It is rare to the point where for all intents and purposes, we can consider it as not an actual, real English phrase. Alternatives could be "​childhood friends​" or "​friends since practically the day they were born.​"
* Use the full, formal versions of words as opposed to shortened slang/informal versions.
  * **"​info​" → "​information​"**
  * **"​thru​" → "​through​"**

### Who vs Whom

* If you are like most English speakers, you know that there is a difference between who and whom but you are not sure what that difference is.
  * Who​ should be used to refer to the subject of a sentence.
  * Whom​ should be used to refer to the object of a sentence.
* When in doubt, try this simple trick: If you can replace the word with "he" or "she," use ​who​. If you can replace it with "him" or "her," use ​whom​. Here are two examples:
  * Who​ ate my sandwich? (Did he eat my sandwich? Did she eat my sandwich?)
  * Whom​ should I talk to about labeling food in the refrigerator? (Should I talk to him? Should I talk to her?)
* From the Text of Doom:​ "She feels a deep affection for MikiShin, ​who​ she can't help but keep listening too \[sic]."
  * Should be ​whom​ - "​She feels a deep affection for MikiShin, ​whom ​she can't help but keep listening to." ​
  * Use the test: "​She can't help listening to ​him.​"

### American English Spelling

* Always use American English spelling.
* From the Text of Doom:​ "Initially disliking the idea of living in the same house with a boy; Letica often fought with Duke at thebeginning \[sic] of the series, but finds out from her fairy god mother that she was crib friends with him when they were both babys \[sic], and falls head over feet for him before the audience even ​realises​.​"
  * "​realises" ​should be spelled "​realizes​".

### Verb Tense

* From the Text of Doom: "​Initially disliking the idea of living in the same house with a boy; Letica often ​fought​ with Duke at thebeginning \[sic] of the series, but finds out from her fairy god mother that she was crib friends with him when they were both babys \[sic], and falls head over feet for him before the audience even realises."
  * "​disliking​" is in continuous present tense, so "​fought​" should actually be "​fights​".