I have a question about which word you would italicize to accent stress upon (I hope this makes sense).

For example, I was just reading a story and the sentence reads:

"He was touching my brother."

To me, this reads that he WAS touching my brother, yet I'm wondering if the accent is on the following word TOUCHING?
Which would be 'he was TOUCHING my brother'.

I've seen this many times, and you have to keep in mind that I've been out of school a loooong time, so I forget the rules. Is the accent before the accented word? Or is the italicized word the actual accented word?

Thanks!

To the best of my knowledge, and the way I have always handled such when beta-ing, the italicized word IS the accented word when speaking the sentence.

In other words, when one wants to emphasize the fact that someone was touching one's brother, the sentence should read: "He was touching my brother." I cannot, myself, think of any instance where accenting the word "was" would fit, frankly.

Then again, that's just me.

~~Wiccan~~

Well, that's how I've understood it. I guess I just rarely agreed upon the word many writer's have emphasized, feeling the following word should have been italicized.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that saw it that way. Thank you, Wiccan, for being another that sees it the same way

WiccanMethuselah wrote:
I cannot, myself, think of any instance where accenting the word "was" would fit, frankly.

Pfftt.... Can't think of any instance ....

---
Eyes narrowed, she glared over at the smug dog before her. "Was that necessary?"

"He was touching my brother," he stated flatly. "Now he is not."
---

See ... was italicized works there. Well, it does for me! But I wouldn't trust anything I say when it comes to these grammar type things.

-J

I guess it depends on the context of the sentence within the story. In this case, touching should have been emphasized... though, that may or may not have been the author's intent. ~sigh~

Zybentina wrote:
I guess it depends on the context of the sentence within the story. In this case, touching should have been emphasized... though, that may or may not have been the author's intent. ~sigh~

Not to worry, m'dear... Mith just ADORES poking me, for some odd reason or another, LOL! Most likely because I have the habit of making statements like that which can be so easily refuted - y'know, brain, fingers, not always on the same page!!

In this case, I stand corrected, quite convincingly. Thanks, Mith!!

~~Wiccan~~

WiccanMethuselah wrote:
Mith just ADORES poking me, for some odd reason or another, LOL!

I do... I really, really do. I think it has to do with the name. =)

-J

Mitharus wrote:
WiccanMethuselah wrote:
Mith just ADORES poking me, for some odd reason or another, LOL!

I do... I really, really do. I think it has to do with the name. =)

-J

LMAO!! *gasp* *wheeze*

Thank you, Mith... I sorely needed that laugh today!

Although I have always been partial to Wicca, and I am ONE of the oldest people on this site, actually, the name came from the long-ago days when I was infatuated with the Witch Hunter Robin fandom. It stuck, and I've had it for about nine years now... I kinda tend to doubt that I'm gonna change it at this late date!

~~me~~

WiccanMethuselah wrote:
LMAO!! *gasp* *wheeze*

Thank you, Mith... I sorely needed that laugh today!

Sure! Glad to be of service. I guess if you don't like the original reference, you can always go with the "large bottle of wine" one, yes?

So ... ancient, or full of alcohol. Hrrmmm.... decisions, decisions...

-J

Mitharus wrote:

Sure! Glad to be of service. I guess if you don't like the original reference, you can always go with the "large bottle of wine" one, yes?

So ... ancient, or full of alcohol. Hrrmmm.... decisions, decisions...

-J

Good heavens... never heard that one!!! I firmly contend that learning something new on a daily basis is the best way to keep one moving!

How about ancient AND full of alcohol?

*snerk*

~~me~~