Grammar Review

1. Pronouns/Antecedents, Common Usage, and Punctuation Grammar Review

2. Pronouns and their Antecedents: Ambiguous References • Avoid ambiguous references, which occurs when any one of two or more words could be a pronoun’s antecedent. • Ambiguous: The partnership between Jones and Potter ended when he withdrew the firm’s money from the bank and flew to Brazil. • To whom does he refer? • Clear: The partnership between Jones and Potter ended when Potter withdrew the firm’s money from the bank and flew to Brazil.

3. Pronouns and their Antecedents: General References • Avoid a general reference, which is the use of a pronoun that refers to a general idea rather than to a specific antecedent. • General: In her act Mariana told jokes, did impersonations, and sang comic songs. This amused her audience. • What is the antecedent? • Clear: Mariana amused her audience by telling jokes, doing impersonations, and singing comic songs.

4. Pronouns and their Antecedents:Weak References • Avoid a weak reference, which occurs when a pronoun refers to an antecedent that has been suggested but not expressed. • Weak: We spent the entire day on a fishing boat, but we didn’t catch a single one. • What is the antecedent of one? • Clear: We spent the entire day on a fishing boat, trying to catch some fish, but we didn’t catch a single one.

5. Pronouns and Antecedents:Indefinite references • Avoid indefinite references, or the use of a pronoun that refers to no particular person or thing and that is unnecessary to the structure and meaning of a sentence. • Indefinite: Each summer in Cherokee, North Carolina, they present the historical drama Unto These Hills outdoors. • Who are they? • Clear: Each summer in Cherokee, North Carolina, the historical drama Unto These Hills is presented outdoors.

6. Common Usage • General References– make sure you insert the correct word usage in your sentence. • Examples: • Accept, except • Affect, effect • A lot • A while, awhile • Additional examples and their correct uses can be found on page 754-779) • The double negative – a construction in which two or more negative words are used to express a single negative idea • Nonstandard: She has never missed none of her assignments. • Standard: She has missed none of her assignments. • Nonsexist language – language that applies to people in general, both male and female. • Examples: • Anyone who wants to purchase a class T-shirt must bring his or her money to Room 307 by Friday.

7. Punctuations: Commas • Items in a series – use commas to separate items in a series • Example: She had been a correspondent for the wire service in London, Paris, and Rome. • Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun. • Example: Katherine Dunham is a creative, talented dancer and choreographer. • Independent clauses – use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, so, or yet) when it joins independent clauses • Example: The sky looks clear, yet rain has been forecast. • Introductory elements – Use a comma after certain introductory elements • Example: Yes, you are welcome to join us. • Example 2: Beaten, I shook hands with my opponent and walked off the court. • Example 3: In the park near my house, a music festival will take place this weekend. • Interrupters – Use commas to set off an expression that interrupts a sentence • Example: An interview with Florence Cohen, the well-known landscape architect, will appear in the Herald. • Example 2: Dexter, please help your brother set the table. • Conventional uses – Use commas in certain conventional situations. • Example: Hawaii achieved statehood on August 21, 1959, and became the fiftieth state. • Unnecessary commas – Do not use unnecessary commas!!!!