Grammar & Punctuation

1. Grammar & Punctuation A Helpful Guide Brought to You By: Meghan Perkins, Peer Tutor at Endicott College Writing Center

2. 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 • Word Choice • 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

3. 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

4. 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, butI stayed home to finish my essay. Back to beginning

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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 ] helpswith construction of the house. • Incorrect: The students and teacher board the bus for the field trip. • Correct: The [ students and] teacherboards 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Word Choice • Its/It’s • 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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-for-College-Students--Common-Mistakes-That-Make-You-Look-Bad-73.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