> Ouch! Here's another thing -- one of my deepest, darkest insecurities about writing. I think Dave is perfectly correct in saying that a good writer needs an "essential toolkit" of knowledge concerning Grammar and Parts of the Sentence. One needs such knowledge in order to wield syntax and structure seamlessly whilst writing.
>
> Writing properly is a mark of highest respect to the reader; your ideas are communicated much more effectively when your words are free of the distraction of poor spelling or sloppy syntax.
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> Unfortunately for me, I have never learned ANY of this stuff formally. I wish I had, because often I'm aware of difficulty in some of my phrase constructions. I am crippled in not truly knowing how to fix syntax. Problematic phrasing is all fairly mysterious: what is an "Intransitive gerund"?

An "-ing" verb used as a noun, presumably one which has no object. Real grammar Nazis, correct me if I'm wrong, but...

Example: _Swimming_ is fun.

As opposed to: _Watching_ people can be very interesting.

I'm just guessing on that one, so don't take my word for it; wait for someone to say whether I'm right or wrong.

> What is a "superlatively transitive verbally plural abstract noun in present tense"?

Superlatively transitive? Verbally plural? Are you making these up?

> I learned grammatical syntax in French, of course, but since this is English, those rules are inapplicable. So where do professional grammar Nazis like Sam and Darien learn their professional schtick?
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> Wolf "never needs a spell checker" spirit

Nyper"Grammar something-or-other"old