Transcript Grammar & Punctuation

Grammar
& Punctuation
A Helpful Guide Brought to You By:
Meghan Perkins, Peer Tutor at
Endicott College Writing Center
Table of Contents
Comma Fiend
Dependent Clauses, Page 3
Compound Sentences, Page 4
Comma Splice, Page 5
Nonrestrictive Element, Page 6
Restrictive Element, Page 7
Comma in a Series, Page 8
Unnecessary Commas, Page 9
Run-on Sentences, Page 10
Subject-Verb Agreement, Page 11
Sentence Fragment, Page 12
Active and Passive Voice, Page 13
Pronoun Agreement, Page 14
Who/That, Page 15
They’re/There/Their, Page 16
Your/You’re, Page 17
Its/It’s, Page 18
Affect/Effect, Page 19
Accept/Except, Page 20
Punctuation
Possessive Apostrophe, Page 21
Dialogue, Page 22
Colons, Page 23
Semicolons, Page 24
Dashes, Page 25
Practice and Research, Page 26
Comma Fiend
Dependent Clause
When using an introductory phrase or clause that does not act
as a full sentence, it is then a dependent clause and must be
followed by a comma before the independent clause, or complete
thought.
Example
Incorrect: When I was twelve I broke my arm.
Correct: When I was twelve, I broke my arm.
Back to beginning
Comma Fiend
Compound Sentences
A compound sentence has two or more parts that could act as
complete sentences on their own.
However, sentences can be joined using conjunctions:
FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Use comma before conjunction to initiate compound
sentence
Example
Incorrect: I wanted to go to the movies but I stayed home to
finish my essay.
Correct: I wanted to go to the movies, but I stayed home to
finish my essay.
Back to beginning
Comma Fiend
Comma Splice
A comma splice occurs when two sentences that can stand on their
own are connected by only a comma (Lunsford, n.d.).
To fix this, change punctuation to a semicolon or period, add a
conjunction (FANBOYS), or restructure sentence.
Examples
Incorrect: I took five semesters of Latin, it was the worst five
semesters of my life.
Correct: I took five semesters of Latin; it was the worst five
semesters of my life.
Correct: I took five semesters of Latin, and it was the worst five
semesters of my life.
Correct: My five semesters of Latin were the worst ones of my life.
Back to beginning
Comma Fiend
Nonrestrictive Element
A nonrestrictive element is a phrase that is not essential to the
meaning of the sentence and can be taken out, and thus, must
be sectioned off using commas (Lunsford, n.d.).
Example
Incorrect: Joey the club president of Peer Leaders organized
the volunteer event.
Correct: Joey, the club president of Peer Leaders, organized
the volunteer event.
Back to beginning
Comma Fiend
Restrictive Element
Restrictive element is integral to the meaning of the sentence,
and thus, cannot be taken out (Lunsford, n.d.).
Often commas are misused in this case and are actually
unnecessary.
Example
Incorrect: People, who want to change to renewable fuels,
oppose the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Correct: People who want to change to renewable fuels
oppose the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Back to beginning
Comma Fiend
Comma in a Series
When writing a series, the words are often separated by
commas. Although journalists often leave out the comma
between the last two items, it is best to keep the comma in
professional writing.
Example
Incorrect: Sally enjoys biking, running, swimming and rock
climbing.
Correct: Sally enjoys biking, running, swimming, and rock
climbing.
Back to beginning
Comma Fiend
Unnecessary Commas
Sometimes, the use of commas is overdone and unnecessary.
Example
Incorrect: The ballots were counted, and separated with
utmost care.
Correct: The ballots were counted and separated with utmost
care.
Back to beginning
Run-on Sentences
Run-on Sentences
Also called fused sentences, run-on sentences occur when two
sentences that can stand alone are combined without any
distinguishing punctuation, conjunctions, or words (Lunsford,
n.d.).
Example
Incorrect: Her hair was an unruly mess it was so tangled she
could not run her fingers through it to separate the strands.
Correct: Her hair was an unruly mess. It was so tangled that
she could not run her fingers through it to separate the
strands.
Back to beginning
Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement
A verb must agree with the subject in number and in person.
Examples
Incorrect: Each of the volunteers help with the construction of the
house.
Correct: Each [ of the volunteers ] helps with construction of the house.
Incorrect: The students and teacher board the bus for the field trip.
Correct: The [ students and] teacher boards the bus for the field trip.
Incorrect: She was one of the students who was caught cheating.
Correct: She was one of the students who were caught cheating.
Back to beginning
Sentence Fragment
Sentence Fragment
When a sentence is an incomplete thought, it is a sentence fragment.
This often occurs when a sentence lacks either a subject or a verb or
both (Lunsford, n.d.).
Examples
Incorrect: After we had cake and ice cream.
Correct: After we had cake and ice cream, we opened presents.
Incorrect: And ran through the halls on the last day of school.
Correct: And we ran through the halls on the last day of school.
Incorrect: Then, a bunch of my friends who visited from Vermont for
the Halloween weekend.
Correct: Then, a bunch of my friends who visited from Vermont for
the Halloween weekend went to Salem.
Back to beginning
Active and Passive Voice
Active Voice
In active voice, the subject performs the action the verb expresses.
Example: My dog eats my homework.
Passive Voice
In passive voice, the subject is performed on. The subject, or doer
of action, is often introduced with a prepositional phrase.
Passive voice often uses various forms of “to be” (will be, is being,
is doing, was doing, etc.)
Example: My homework is being eaten by my dog.
Choose Active over Passive for Clear, Concise Writing
Incorrect: The research is being conducted by scientists at NASA.
Correct: Scientists at NASA are conducting research.
Back to beginning
Pronoun Agreement
Pronoun Agreement
Be sure to make the pronouns agree in number and gender
with subject and verb.
Examples
Incorrect: Either George or Nathan will be asked to
perform their song.
Correct: Either George or Nathan will be asked to
perform his song.
Incorrect: Every person has the right to voice their
opinion.
Correct: Every person has the right to voice his or her
opinion.
Back to beginning
Word Choice
Who/That
When referencing a person, use “who”.
When referencing a thing, use “that”.
Example
Incorrect: She is someone that I can trust.
Correct: She is someone who I can trust.
Back to beginning
Word Choice
They’re/There/Their
Use “they’re” when implying “they are”.
Use “there” when referencing place or thing.
Use “their” when discussing possession.
Examples
Incorrect: There activities that I like very much.
Correct: They’re activities that I like very much.
Incorrect: Their, we visited the Cliffs of Moor.
Correct: There, we visited the Cliffs of Moor.
Incorrect: They’re presentations were the best I’ve seen.
Correct: Their presentations were the best I’ve seen.
Back to beginning
Word Choice
Your/You’re
Use “your” when implying possession.
Use “you’re” when meaning “you are”.
Examples
Incorrect: Your coming with me to the game.
Correct: You’re coming with me to the game.
Incorrect: You’re dog bit my foot.
Correct: Your dog bit my foot.
Back to beginning
Its/It’s
Word Choice
Use “its” when implying possession.
Remember the other possessive pronouns: hers, theirs,
yours, etc.
Use “it’s” when meaning “it is”.
Remember that every contraction uses an apostrophe: We
are driving / We’re driving.
Examples
Incorrect: Its the best sport in the world.
Correct: It’s the best sport in the world.
Incorrect: Spot is it’s name.
Correct: Spot is its name.
Back to beginning
Word Choice
Affect/Effect
“Affect” is a verb.
“Effect” is a noun.
Examples
Incorrect: The affect of the antibiotics is noticeable.
Correct: The effect of the antibiotics is noticeable.
Incorrect: The rain effected the way the game was played.
Correct: The rain affected the way the game was played.
Back to beginning
Word Choice
Accept/Except
Use “accept” as the verb, “to accept”.
Use “except” when referencing an exception.
Examples
Incorrect: I hope they will except my application.
Correct: I hope they will accept my application.
Incorrect: We all passed the test accept for Alex.
Correct: We all passed the text except for Alex.
Back to beginning
Punctuation
Possessive Apostrophe
Use an apostrophe to show possession.
Be aware of the singular and plural differences.
Examples
Incorrect: That is the Jones dog.
Correct: That is the Jones’ dog.
Incorrect: This is my husbands bed.
Correct: This is my husband’s bed.
Back to beginning
Punctuation
Dialogue
When using dialogue, the punctuation goes inside the
quotation marks.
Examples
Incorrect: Smith, a NASA scientist, said, “The earth is
round”.
Correct: Smith, a NASA scientist, said, “The earth is round.”
However
Incorrect: Beddingfield said, “Galileo is wrong.” (Rogers 213).
Correct: Beddingfied said, “Galileo is wrong” (Rogers 213).
Back to beginning
Punctuation
Colons
Use a colon when combining two sentences, but one sentence
explains the meaning or finishes the thought of the first
sentence.
Ex. I woke up this morning to the most annoying sound: a car
alarm.
Ex. I cannot believe their record: they are 19 and 0.
Use colon to introduce a list that does not flow well within the
sentence.
Ex. I am sick from eating too much junk food: ice cream, candy
corn, macaroni and cheese, and pop-tarts.
Back to beginning
Punctuation
Semicolons
Use semicolons to connect two sentences that share the same
idea or thought.
Ex. When the kayaking club combined with the
Adventure Club, we joined it; however, we were
disappointed in that there was only one kayaking trip
scheduled.
Use semicolons for a list when commas are not strong
enough.
Ex. I listen to alternative rock music like Goo Goo Dolls,
Mumford & Sons, and O.A.R.; and punk music like
Mayday Parade, All Time Low, and The Audition.
Back to beginning
Punctuation
Dashes
Use dashes when indicating a very strong pause.
Ex. The rain fell outside in torrents – it knocked on my
windows like a guest.
Use dashes for appositives (descriptive expressions).
Ex. Meghan and Becky– the bridesmaids – threw a bridal
shower for Alana.
Back to beginning
Practice and Research
Practice
Learn, study, and practice @ http://www.chompchomp.com/menu.htm
Research
Learn and study on the various websites used to complete this Power
Point:
http://my.ilstu.edu/~jhkahn/writing.html
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/easywriter3e/20errors/19.asp
http://www.distance-education.org/Articles/Grammar-Tips-forCollege-Students--Common-Mistakes-That-Make-You-Look-Bad73.html
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/539/01/
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/proofing_grammar.shtml
www.liberty.edu/media/2030/Common%20Punctuation%20Errors.
ppt
Back to beginning