Page 93 - Perfect English Grammar: The Indispensable Guide to Excellent Writing and Speaking

obtained or received, while got is a past participle meaning possessed. The
British tend to use got in both cases.

6.15 Brung

Brung is an informal and dialect past participle of to bring. While it is very

common, it is best avoided in formal writing and speaking. One exception is the

idiomatic phrase dance with the one who brung you, which means don’t ignore
the people who helped you get where you want to be personally or
professionally.

6.16 Writing with Consistent Tenses

A common mistake of beginning or unsure writers is to change verb tenses and
verb persons throughout their writing in inappropriate situations. For example:

Bad: We stood on the steps and chatted. Then you kiss me and I kiss
you back. We both sighed.

■ Good: We stood on the steps and chatted. Then she kissed me and I

kissed her back. We both sighed.
■ Good: We stand on the steps and chat. Then she kisses me and I
kiss her back. We both sigh.

■ Good: We stand on the steps and chat. Then you kiss me and I kiss

you back. We both sigh.

Usually this happens because the writer is attempting to recreate the messiness
of spoken speech. Many times the writer will characterize this mixed-up speech

as stream of consciousness.

However, written language is almost always far more structured and
consistent than spoken language, even in written dialog, and even though people

do not actually speak in a structured, consistent way.
Even the writing of those few authors who seem to be writing in the

mishmash of spoken language, such as James Joyce, are still very hard to