<p>Hi CC crowd, </p>
<p>If I want to describe an action in my writing how do I do this? Take this sentence for example, (Scribble) To do: buy groceries = boring, wash dog, pick sister up = X2 boring. In this sentence I’m trying to show that I’m actually scribbling something down e.g. on a post it, on a piece of paper my to do list for today, so I have put the scribble in brackets is this correct or must the scribble be with <em>Scribble</em>, or? </p>
<p>If I want to then add a thought while i’m actually scribbling something down e.g. (Scribble) To do: buy groceries (how boring I thought to myself), wash dog, pick sister up = X2 boring. I have put my thought in brackets (how boring I thought to myself) is this correct or is there no need for the brackets?</p>
<p>Just curious guys - not really related to the sat but everybody here is pretty well versed with grammar so might as well give it a try! </p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>There is no right answer to this question. As soon as you added the “=” sign, the sentence stopped being “grammatical,” and there are no authoritative guidelines that apply to everyone in all contexts.</p>
<p>How you format it in a manuscript is one thing; an editor and book designer would probably chat for a few minutes to decide how to make it look best in print.</p>
<p>If you are trying to make your document look more like a published document, then for you to it comes down to aesthetics (what looks nice and readable).</p>
<p>I personally would consider formatting it with each list item on a new line. YMMV</p>
<p>Also, in relation to the second paragraph copied here: If I want to then add a thought while i’m actually scribbling something down e.g. (Scribble) To do: buy groceries (how boring I thought to myself), wash dog, pick sister up = X2 boring. I have put my thought in brackets (how boring I thought to myself) is this correct or is there no need for the brackets?</p>
<p>Many thanks</p>
<p>“How boring I thought to myself” isn’t even grammatically correct…I’d figure out another way to do this, perhaps by speaking out loud as s/he writes. </p>
<p>what about… ‘How boring I thought to myself’ (Scribble) To do: buy groceries, wash dog, pick up sister up = boring X2</p>
<p>Thanks for the help, I haven’t really seen something described like this before, so I dont have much to go by really</p>
<p>Edit: what about…‘How boring’ I thought to myself (Scribble) To do: buy groceries, wash dog, pick up sister = boring X2</p>
<p>So just to confirm. Is this technically correct what I’ve done below. I know the “=” is not grammatical and neither is the “X2 boring” bit is but that was the whole idea of putting the (Scribble) in brackets. I just want to make it clear to the reader that what I am describing is in fact scribble that I have done on a post it or note pad or whatever and I’m trying to describe that event if that makes sense.</p>
<p>“How boring” I thought to myself. (Scribble) To do: buy groceries = boring, wash dog, pick sister up = X2 boring, call university and finish cover letter. </p>
<p>All grammar experts please help. It’s for an important piece of work that I am preparing </p>
<p>Many thanks</p>
<p>What about something like:</p>
<p>How boring I thought to myself as I scribbled: “To do: buy groceries (…boring), pick up sister (* …X2 boring*), call university and finish cover letter.”</p>
<p>That looks better but is what I’ve written wrong then</p>
<p>WasatchWriter had it right – what you are doing is outside of the rules of grammar. But does your way communicate what you want? Did you want to suggest that the comments about being boring actually appear on the scribbled list or do you want to suggest that those were just thought but not written? If so, you need to find a way to distinguish the thoughts from the scribbles. </p>
<p>What are you working on?</p>
<p>Yep the thoughts are outside of the scribbles basically; that’s my intention. It’s basically me thinking to my self “how boring” and then scribbling a to do list. The …boring and the X2 boring I’m actually scribbling down but the “how boring” bit is a thought to myself before I start scribbling if that makes any sense. </p>
<p>But do you think then what you wrote (below) conveys what I’m trying to do or is what I had at the beginning posts perfect just as well: </p>
<p>How boring I thought to myself as I scribbled: “To do: buy groceries (…boring), pick up sister ( …X2 boring), call university and finish cover letter.” </p>
<hr>
<p>And it’s an essay I’m just writing for writing sake. I like to write about random stuff 
</p>
<p>" ‘How boring I thought to myself’ (Scribble) To do: buy groceries, wash dog, pick up sister up = boring X2 "</p>
<p>No offense, but that’s horrible form. The order of operations is unclear, the pseudo-mathematical symbology is unclear, the use of parentheses is not standard, and it’s really annoying to read.</p>
<p>pckeller’s re-rendering was very comprehensible.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input - really appreciate it. </p>
<p>Also, I have two questions: </p>
<p>Question 1: If I am referencing a book in my text e.g. the adventures of Huckleberry fin do I need to put Quotation marks around the book e.g. Equipped with “The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin” and “The Lost Diamond”, I was ready for my trip to the zoo. </p>
<p>PS: all dialogue in my essay has been put in the “xyz” form and not the ‘XYZ’ form. Not sure if this is important. </p>
<p>Question 2: I have got this sentence to contend with and am not sure whether I need quotation marks around the Ahhs and Ohhs part. The Ahhs and Ohhs are meant to describe the light bulb moments that I had while reading this book about math. </p>
<p>The best moments were the “Ahhs” and “Ohhs” that I experienced when I finally understood multiplication. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the help</p>
<p>Book titles should be underlined or put in italics, not quotation marks.</p>
<p>As for your second question, I feel like the S should not be inside the quotation marks, as you are not saying “Ahhs”–you’re saying “Ahh” multiple times. Is "Ahh"s grammatically correct, though? I’m not sure. I bet someone else will know, however…</p>
<p>Okay great that’s helpful thanks @bodangles </p>
<p>Regarding the second question, I see what you are saying and yes I am trying to say “Ahh” multiple times hence and s would seem appropriate. If the s belongs after the quotation marks that would be nice to know but I feel as well the s should be outside the quotation marks if my very limited grammar knowledge serves me correctly. </p>
<p>Thanks a bunch</p>