Are you a writer or an English major? If so, this is the article for you. As a both a writer and an English major, I have many pet peeves that I'm sure fellow writers and English majors can relate to. Here we go:

1. When someone asks if you can make them a character in your story

I put this pet peeve as the first one because it is my greatest pet peeve. Never, never, never ask a writer to make you a character in their book. They are not obligated to. It disrupts their entire creative process and it undermines the meaning of their work. It's like asking an art major to draw your portrait or a video and communications major to make a movie about you. It's conceited, aggravating, and utterly disrespectful. They're aren't enough words in the English language to describe how lousy it is to ask this, and I'm an English major.

2. When someone gives you unwanted suggestions for your writing

When a writer lets someone read an unrefined version of something they've written, that means they trust and respect the reader enough to lend them an incomplete piece of their sacred imagination. A writer places a piece of their heart into everything they write and it is particularly prominent in developing narratives. Chances are, your writer friend let you read that poem or story of theirs because they trust that you will respect it. They trust you with the raw emotion of every word. They don't want you to edit it. Unless they ask you to, don't. This is why I'm especially salty.

3. When you ask for an opinion on your story and someone gives you a meager response

On the other hand, when a writer asks you for an opinion on a piece of writing they are working on, "oh I think it's pretty cool," doesn't cut it. As opposed to the unwanted opinions, the meager opinions are just as bad. When a writer asks you what they should do better, they actually want to know what they need to work on. They want to improve and a "I thought it was fine," does not help at all.

4. When someone reminds you that you won't get anywhere writing

English is not a useless major. But yes, I know that I'm not going to get any money as a writer. Yes, I've accepted that I will live under a bridge for a majority of my life. Yes, I know that only a very few writers actually make it to fame. No, you don't need to remind me. Thanks.

5. When someone asks you to spell a word and when you can't, they chastise you

I'm an English major, not a spelling major. I tried out for the spelling bee every year of my elementary, middle, and part of my high school career and I NEVER got in. That's what spell check is for.. and editors.

6. When someone ask you what your 'real job' will be

I want to be a writer. That is a real job. Have you ever heard of oh I don't know... Stephen King? JK Rowling? Or maybe you know of Virgil. Charles Dickens? They had real jobs, did they not?

7. When someone asks if you've read a book, then is surprised when you haven't

Also, not a reading major. I read a lot, don't get me wrong, but there are not enough hours in a day for me to sit down and read every book that has been written. So, chances are, I haven't read that book you're talking about. I'll take the title and put it on my "To Read" list though. I'm always open for suggestions.

8. When people assume you're going to be a teacher

Nope.

9. When people abuse the thesaurus

As Oscar Wilde says, "don't use big words, they mean so little." While I'm not entirely against the use of lengthy words, using big words that you don't understand don't do anything to help your argument or story. This happens when someone types a small word into the thesaurus and pulls out a word that they have never heard before and sticks it into a sentence where it does not fit. Small words are good. As C.S. Lewis says, "Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say 'infinitely' when you mean 'very'; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite."

10. Texting with incorrect spelling, grammar, or punctuation

Yikes, guys. Type out "are" and "you", it's not that hard. And it makes you sound so much smarter and more attractive. Also, punctuation is great, but not too much. An ellipse is acceptable but no more than three periods and there is no meaning in just two. Don't use more than two exclamation points. An unlimited amount of question marks is acceptable, though.