LitWiki - User contributions [en]

Onomatopoeia

2013-11-16T02:48:12Z

Sherymoore72:

A descriptive word that’s pronunciation imitates the sound of the action that it is referencing.<ref>Greenblatt, Stephen, gen. ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8th ed. Vol.1 New York: Norton, 2006. Print.</ref> It's meant to sound like its namesake and is commonly called a sound word.<ref>Tonge, Pamela. "Basic Reading of Sound Words-Onomatopoeia." Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov 2013. <http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2000/5/00.05.11.x.html>. </ref> It is used to help the reader receive a fuller experience by mimicking the sound of the animal, machine, musical instrument, or action.<ref>"Definition of onomatopoeia in English." Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Web. 15 Nov 2013. <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/onomatopoeia>.</ref>

==Origin==
Ancient Latin and Greek meaning "word making”.<ref>"Definition of onomatopoeia in English." Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Web. 15 Nov 2013. <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/onomatopoeia>.</ref>

==Examples==
: Buzz 
: Hiss 
: Swoosh 
: Slurp 
: Fizz 

==References==
#Greenblatt, Stephen, gen. ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8th ed. Vol.1 New York: Norton, 2006. Print.
#Tonge, Pamela. "Basic Reading of Sound Words-Onomatopoeia." Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov 2013. <http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2000/5/00.05.11.x.html>.
#>"Definition of onomatopoeia in English." Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Web. 15 Nov 2013. <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/onomatopoeia>.
#>"Definition of onomatopoeia in English." Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Web. 15 Nov 2013. <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/onomatopoeia>.

[[Literary Terms]]

[[Category:Literary Terms]]

Is a comma really necessary after the last element in a list of three or more?

2013-11-10T00:40:44Z

Sherymoore72:

Technically, using a comma after the last element in a list of three or more is not necessary. However, it does help to ensure that the last two items in the list are not misinterpreted.

Consider these examples:

: Uncle Charlie wanted me to pick up some bread, eggs, macaroni, and cheese.
: Uncle Charlie wanted me to pick up some bread, eggs, macaroni and cheese.

The last sentence would not be grammatically correct if the desired item was macaroni and cheese due to the lack of a conjunction before the word macaroni. Yet, seeing these two words placed together in this manner would cause someone to question the meaning. According to Aaron, adding a final comma in a list "is never wrong, and it always helps the reader see the last two items as separate".<ref>Aaron, Jane. The Little, Brown Compact Handbook With Exercises. 7th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. 310. Print. </ref>

==Conflicting Viewpoints==

Even though some say that using a comma at the end of a series is not wrong, there are professional who believe that it is incorrect. For instance, the University of Wisconsin says that usage in this manner should not be done. <ref>"10 Simple Rules for Using Commas." . University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Web. 9 Nov 2013. <http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/maguirem/10rules.html>. </ref> Whereas the Purdue University says that using the comma before the conjunction is perfectly acceptable. <ref>"Extended Rules for Using Commas." Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University. Web. 9 Nov 2013. <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/>. </ref> Whether you choose to use a comma after the last item or not, it is very important that you remain consistent throughout the entire work that you are writing.

==References==
# Aaron, Jane. The Little, Brown Compact Handbook With Exercises. 7th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. 310.
# "10 Simple Rules for Using Commas." . University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Web. 9 Nov 2013. <http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/maguirem/10rules.html>.
# "Extended Rules for Using Commas." Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University. Web. 9 Nov 2013. <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/>.

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[[Composition FAQ]]

Is a comma really necessary after the last element in a list of three or more?

2013-11-10T00:08:17Z

Sherymoore72:

Technically, using a comma after the last element in a list of three or more is not necessary. However, it does help to ensure that the last two items in the list are not misinterpreted.

Consider these examples:

: Uncle Charlie wanted me to pick up some bread, eggs, macaroni, and cheese.
: Uncle Charlie wanted me to pick up some bread, eggs, macaroni and cheese.

The last sentence would not be grammatically correct if the desired item was macaroni and cheese due to the lack of a conjunction before the word macaroni. Yet, seeing these two words placed together in this manner would cause someone to question the meaning. According to Aaron, adding a final comma in a list "is never wrong, and it always helps the reader see the last two items as separate".<ref>Aaron, Jane. The Little, Brown Compact Handbook With Exercises. 7th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. 310. Print. </ref>

==Conflicting Viewpoints==

Even though some say that using a comma at the end of a series is not wrong, there are professional who believe that it is incorrect. For instance, the University of Wisconsin says that usage in this manner should not be done. <ref>"10 Simple Rules for Using Commas." . University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Web. 9 Nov 2013. <http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/maguirem/10rules.html>. </ref> Whereas the Purdue University says that using the comma before the conjunction is perfectly acceptable. <ref>"Extended Rules for Using Commas." Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University. Web. 9 Nov 2013. <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/>. </ref> Whether you choose to use a comma after the last item or not, it is very important that you remain consistent throughout the entire work that you are writing.

==References==
1. Aaron, Jane. The Little, Brown Compact Handbook With Exercises. 7th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. 310.

2. "10 Simple Rules for Using Commas." . University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Web. 9 Nov 2013. <http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/maguirem/10rules.html>.

3. "Extended Rules for Using Commas." Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University. Web. 9 Nov 2013. <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/>.

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[[Composition FAQ]]
[[Category:Composition|Comma]]