Interesting thread. Anyone who constructs a tale should be read in their own rights. Who was it said about a critic that a critic was like a sports commentator: he's seen it done lots of times, but never done it once himself? (Irish Brendan Beehan I think on reflection.)

I supervise grad students who mark 100s of essays from undergrad students. I tell them not to focus on the formalities but to judge the intention. Several evenings spent re-marking piles of essays that I judged were poorly assessed (the overtime was done by the grad tutors, not me!) have left their mark on the collective unconsiousness of the little darlings.

Thus: judge the intentions, not the formalities... unless the presentation is so chaotic that one can't tell what the f**K the intentions are!!!!

It really riles me when I read a critic who takes me to task for my punctuation or grammer who has not even considered that my occasional (hah) 'lapses' may be part of my intention.

I mean, hello! What is this about spelling grammar syntax yada that's cast in stone of some kind? I'd rather read a rough-hewn narrative that speaks from the heart than any amount of smooth talkin nonsense. But then, I always did have a propensity for being the recipient of a bare-ass spanking when my cleaverer older sisters looked like butter was not a meltable substance ANYWHERE on their persons ; - )

I.E. I love it when people express themselves. Do it.

Shel.