Rainstar's Take on RolePlaying [Part I]

[|:{Rainita}:|]

I don't know if I'm like invading Grammar rights as it pertains to RolePlaying or anything, but I'm assuming not. I know Maple posted a bunch of useful grammar stuff, but I thought it might be a little more user friendly if I typed it out and added helpful examples specific to the site...

Here's how it's going down...

~I'm going to point out some common mistakes
~I'm going to provide basic all around grammar rules
~I'm going to provide hints for better RolePlaying
~I'm going to go completely insane...

Common Mistakes

[otherwise known as Raineh officially complaining about other people]

1] "who" if for a person, "which" is for a things and "that" can be either...

Dappleflower was a respectable cat who believed firmly in StarClan.

It was a creaky old tree which threatened to fall down during every rainstorm.

Twigsky and the unnaturally smooth stone were two things that looked rather out of place in ShadowClan's camp.

2] Don't repeatedly use the same words over and over again. Look for synonyms that can add variety of word choice to your posts.

The bulky tom paced around the petite she-cat as she trembled in her pelt.

NOT

The big cat walked around the little cat when she was scared.

[Later on, I'll give you a list of different words you can use instead of 'said.' As for everything else, use thesaurus.com for inspiration.]

3] "there" indicates location, "their" indicates possession and "They're" is a contraction for "they are"

Over there you can see that they're playing with their tails.

4] "its" shows possession and "it's" is and always will be a contraction for "it is"

The brown mouse flicked its tail.

NOT

The brown mouse flicked it's tail. That means the brown mouse flicked it is tail. That makes absolutely no sense.

5] everyone, anyone, someone, no one, everybody, anybody, somebody, and nobody are singular so use need to use a singlular word with them.

Everyone unsheath his claws.

NOT

Everyone unsheath their claws.

[/i]

Additionally, it's traditional to use "his" rather than "her" or "his or her" unless you have a specific reason to use "her." If there is at least one guy in the group, you have to use "his." It's jsut traditional like that

6] "cannot" is how you spell it unless you want to use the contraction "can't" or you really want to emphasize the "not" end of the word in which case you would say "can not"

A leader cannot betray their clan.

The sun can't shine through the clouds.

"I can not believe it!"

7] LOOK OVER YOUR POSTS AFTER THEY ARE POSTED! Many times you'll forget an important word, misspell an easily spelled word or accidentally mess up a code. If you forget key words in a phrase, the sentence makes little or no sense so whoever you're RPing with cannot understand waht you're trying to say. It also looks ghetto so fix it. It's not very hard at all to just briefly read through your post after you click the button. I mean, heck, it already takes you to the page.

All Around Basic Grammar[/b]

[the nitty gritty]

Basic Comma Rules

[fabutastic]

~ commas should be used to separate obects in a series unless there is an "and" or "or" in between each

Stonepaw looked grimly at the leaves, weeds, twigs and twoleg garbage blocking the brook.

OR

Daisykit didn't know if she wanted to eat a mouse or a vole or a squirrel or a sparrow. [That's called polysyndeton just so you know...]

~ commas should go in between independent clauses [often separated by conjunctions]

The rabbit ran through the bushes, but Stormfire was faster.

Rain glistened on the leaves, birds chirped, and Redkit yawned.


~ if you use to adjectives to describe one noun, separate them with a comma [however, if you put an "and" between the words and it doesn't make sense or you can't change the order of the adjectives without making it ridiculous, no comma is needed]

The proud, courteous tom was given a good apprentice.

The clean tabby kit licked its little white paw.

~ commas should be used to enclose unnecessary clauses or phrases

Careful not to wake up the others, Leafpaw crept away from the den.

Flamerock kneaded his paws, casually and consciously, as he watched the crow.

Basic Dialogue Rules

[you can't not use dialogue xD]

~ use quotation marks

"Stop trying to trick me!" Tinypaw whined.

~ use a comma to separate the dialogue from the lead-up or follow-through phrases [in some instances, a question mark or exclamation mark works too]

The burly rogue yelled, "Don't try and cross me again!"

"What do you mean?" Thistlekit asked.

"Hunting patrol is my personal favorite," the lanky she-cat mewed.

~ [this is one I don't particularly like, but I'm getting better] if you start dialogue and interrupt it with a "he said" type of phrase, separate the second part of the dialogue from the phrase with a comma and not a period and do not capitalize the first word

"Are you trying to say," Mistclaw mewed with a frown, "that you don't want to be part of ThunderClan anymore?"

Basic Colon and Semicolon Rules

[I'm kinda not very good at this part so bear with me]

~ a colon is used to separate a phrase from a list of some sort

WindClan had several things going for them at the moment: plentiful prey, a strong leader, many new apprentices and a wise medicine cat.

~ a semicolon is used in an instance to separate two independent clauses without a conjunction and when a period is too long a pause

Rosebreeze had only one fear; she might lose Thornpelt.

The storm left mess in the forest; almost all of ThunderClan Camp was in chaos.

RolePlaying Hints and Tips[/u]

[the part you've all been waiting for]

1] vary your word choice a whole lot! I know I mentioned this earlier, but it makes your writing some much more pleasing to read. everything flows so much better

don't use "Bluepaw" every single time. throw in "the she-cat", "she" and "the dark gray cat"

Instead of "Said" [this list could go on forever, no joke, so this is the very abridged version]

meowed, mewed, hissed, purred, yowled, shouted, yelled, screamed, whispered, demanded, inquired, asked, questioned, called, greeted, spat, snapped, wailed, shrieked, squealed, exclaimed, exaggerated, sneered, snorted, giggled, laughed, cooed, teased, scolded, growled, announced, argued, contradicted, agreed, amended, added, offered, bellowed, sang, roared, sighed

use thesaurus.com for any word any time

The pale tabby trotted across the spacious clearing to tease the lazing apprentice at the base of the oak. "Barkpaw is sleeping on patrol again," she giggled.

2] vary your sentence beginings

Puddlestreak yawned as he rose from his mossy nest.

Yawning, Puddlestreak rose ftom his cozy bed.

His mossy nest awfully comfortable, Puddlestreak yawned and reluctantly got to his paws

"StarClan, I'm tired," Puddlestreak yawned while he lifted himself out of his mussed nest.

Get it?

3] vary sentence lengths

The sun's light shone brightly through the bare branches of the forst. Sandcloud blinked. Slowly, she crept forward, a mouse's succulent scent filling her dilated nsotrils. It was so close.

It flows and looks perdy...

4] add the thoughts of your character in whenever deems a good opportunity [almost always], but at the same time, don't crowd your post with only thoughts

Foxdung! Cloudwind thought, eyes searching desperately for an escape route. Why in StarClan did I get myself into this mess? Badger stink infected his nose and made his eyes water. Just 'cause some apprentice dares you to do something doesn't mean you have to do it!

INSTEAD OF

Cloudwind's eyes searched desperately for an escape route. Badger stink infected his nose and made his eyes water.

see the added depth? it can usually make your posts a lot more humorous too, and who doens't like to laugh?

5] be naughty and use incorrect fragments for a dramatic affect

Who could possibly be coming now? Greenpelt? Skyflower? Ghoststar? StarClan! Dandelionpaw thought nervously. I hope none of them come. I already got my scolding! He hadn't done anything really. Nicked some prey from WindClan territory. Neglected eapprentice duties. Backtalked to his mentor. None of it was really important, was it? Of course not.

it's very naughty, but I think it adds more voice and a new layer to your posts

*goes completely insane*

Hope you enjoyed Part One of Rainstar's Take on RolePlaying![/sub][/center]