The Tool Box
The Toolbox contains useful articles and links for writers.
If you have an article for use on this page, please let us know. We'll consider any sound advice to make sure that Book Shed writers remain the ones to watch.
Current Articles
Formatting a Manuscript - a few basics
"... Most editors, agents and publishers ask for submissions in an easy to read font. They are not impressed by fancy fonts or strange colours. Using them may make your submission stand out, but not in the way you hope..."
"... above all else, you should be looking for an e-mail address for contact. This can be the biggest key to making sure your work ends up on the desks of the people who might give you a fair crack of the whip ..."
"... Punctuation for dialogue is something that beginner writers often get wrong..."
"... Readers like dialogue - the majority of them demand it - and it is the first thing they will criticize if it doesn't suit them... "
"... what is the difference between plot and story? Is there a difference? ... "
"... Three common areas for mistake are the use of commas, semi-colons and colons. So this document or provided as a refresher... "
"... writers often use more than three dots, but the correct punctuation is only three, no more and no less ..."
"... it's/its, you're/your. All the common tripwires debugged and explained..."
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This article is taken from The ABC Checklist for New Writers, co-written by Book Shed author Lorraine Mace. The guidebook is written with all budding writers in mind, to help them present works that end up in the shortlist, not the shredder. Information is presented in a concise A - Z format, and unfamiliar terms are explained, taking the novice through each step in the submission process. Available to buy through Amazon.
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Apostrophes – Misused and missing
If you are one of those writers who have trouble with the dreaded apostrophe, you can get to grips with it by following a few basic rules. The apostrophe has two functions – to show possession and to replace a missing letter.
To show possession:
An apostrophe is added before the letter s to denote possession.
My mother’s garden: The garden that belongs to my mother.
Jane’s car: The car that belongs to Jane.
The doctor’s surgery: The surgery that belongs to the doctor.
The teacher’s books: The books that belong to the teacher.
But, if you are writing about more than one doctor or teacher, the apostrophe is added after the plural.
The doctors’ surgery: The surgery that belongs to the doctors.
The teachers’ books: The books that belong to the teachers.
When a word already ends in s, a similar rule applies. The apostrophe is placed after the s with no extra s needed.
Jess’ shoes
Mr Jones’ house
The business’ phone number
An apostrophe is not used when indicating a straightforward plural.
Latest movies – not latest movie’s
Special offers – not special offer’s
To replace a missing letter:
An apostrophe can be used to indicate where a letter has been missed out of a word.
Isn’t – is not
Wasn’t – was not
Don’t – do not
We’re – we are
These contractions are often used in speech, or when you want to write in a less formal style.
It’s/its:
The rule that trips up many people is the one that applies to the words it’s and its. It’s is the abbreviated form of it is and the apostrophe is used in place of the omitted letter ‘i’ in the word is.
It’s a beautiful day: It is a beautiful day.
This shows it’s abbreviated: This shows it is abbreviated.
Remember, the apostrophe is only used here to replace a missing letter.
But an apostrophe is not used when writing about something that belongs to ‘it’.
The lorry shed its load
The dog is asleep in its basket
Spelling & Grammar – Common Errors to Avoid
The list below covers some of the basic errors which signal amateur status to an editor.
Loose/lose: If the collar is loose (not tight enough) you might lose (mislay) the dog.
Lay/lie: Lay (put somewhere) those papers on the desk. I’m going to lie (in a horizontal position) down.
Then/than: He has more work than I have, but when I have finished writing, then I can help him.
Who/whom:
Who replaces the subject of the sentence. He is missing the point – who is missing the point? He is. Whom replaces the object; this means whom replaces him or her. You also use whom when it follows a preposition, such as: for, to, or with. For whom; for him. To whom; to her. With whom; with them.
Who’s/whose: Who’s (who is, the apostrophe replaces the missing ‘i’) going to take the books? Whose (possessive) books are they?
I/me: The way to decide which of these to use is to take the other person out of the sentence and see which makes sense. (Maureen and) I write for a living. The contract was written for (Maureen and) me.
Less/fewer: An easy way to remember this one is: if you can count it, or divide it, you use fewer, otherwise you should use less. There was less sugar in the bowl (you cannot count sugar). There were fewer cubes of sugar in the bowl (you can count the cubes of sugar).
As/like: Like is used before a noun – They looked like giants. As is used before a verb, or a clause containing a verb – As I feared, the weather was awful.
There/they’re/their: There is a way to remember the correct use of these. They’re (they are, the apostrophe replaces the missing ‘a’) easy to get right if we think about their (possessive) uses.
Your/you’re: As with other examples, one is a possessive and the other a contraction – it is your (possessive) duty to learn the difference; you’re (you are – missing ‘a’ replaced by apostrophe) going to find it easy.
Lets/let’s: The word lets (without an apostrophe) has many uses: Mary lets John stay. The landlord lets the apartment. Let’s, with an apostrophe, has only one use – it means let us and the apostrophe replaces the missing ‘u’.
Welfare/farewell: When you are concerned with someone’s welfare, only one ‘l’ is required, but, when saying farewell to someone, the ‘l’ doubles up – imagine both hands waving.
To/two/too: Two is a number – two cars, two people, or two books. Working out the difference between to and too might be harder. Perhaps the easiest way to remember it is too means ‘as well’. I’m going, too – this means I’m going as well (the too always needs a comma before it). I’m going to (go somewhere or do something) the park or the shop (both nouns) or to work, to run, to write (verbs).
Here/hear: Here is the shop; here is the dog; here is the reason. Here is the opposite of there. Hear is a verb. We hear someone speaking; we hear rumours. Members of parliament shout: hear, hear – meaning I have heard and I agree.
Practice/practise: Practice is a noun and practise is a verb. John practises medicine at his practice. A friend of ours always remembers the rule by reminding herself that ice is a noun – so practice (ice) is also a noun.
Of/have: Never use of when you mean have. She should have gone to work. He could have left early. They would have preferred to holiday abroad. If these are contracted they become: She should’ve gone to work. He could’ve left early. They would’ve preferred to holiday abroad.
Never, never, never use: should of, could of, or would of.