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Grammar for journalists

Grammar for journalists. A quick and dirty guide to a writer’s most common problems. What’s wrong?. The Peabody School Committee decided last night that they would hire a new superintendent by Nov. 12. . Singular/plural agreement.

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Grammar for journalists

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  1. Grammar for journalists A quick and dirty guide to a writer’s most common problems

  2. What’s wrong? • The Peabody School Committee decided last night that they would hire a new superintendent by Nov. 12.

  3. Singular/plural agreement • The Peabody School Committee decided last night that they would hire a new superintendent by Nov. 12. • The Peabody School Committee decided last night that it would hire a new superintendent by Nov. 12.

  4. What’s wrong? • The Winchester Board of Selectmen will hold their annual retreat this coming weekend.

  5. Watch your antecedents • The Winchester Board of Selectmen will hold their annual retreat this coming weekend. • The Winchester Board of Selectmen will hold its annual retreat this coming weekend.

  6. What’s wrong? • The first team which crosses the finish line will be rewarded with free ice cream.

  7. Essential/nonessential • The first team which crosses the finish line will be rewarded with free ice cream. • The first team that crosses the finish line will be rewarded with free ice cream.

  8. What’s wrong? • Thomas R. Smith and his wife Bertha Gilooley appeared in court on a charge of disturbing the peace.

  9. Essential/nonessential • Thomas R. Smith and his wife Bertha Gilooley appeared in court on a charge of disturbing the peace. • Thomas R. Smith and his wife, Bertha Gilooley, appeared in court on a charge of disturbing the peace.

  10. What’s wrong? • The ball which rolled across the street ended up on a neighbor’s lawn.

  11. Ambiguous • The ball which rolled across the street ended up on a neighbor’s lawn. • The ball, which rolled across the street, ended up on a neighbor’s lawn. • The ball that rolled across the street ended up on a neighbor’s lawn.

  12. What’s wrong? • The runs were scored by the Red Sox in the top of the seventh inning.

  13. Passive voice • The runs were scored by the Red Sox in the top of the seventh inning. • The Red Sox scored the runs in the top of the seventh inning.

  14. What’s wrong • The choir will perform it’s encore, a Gershwin medley, after a brief intermission.

  15. Dave Barry Rule of Apostrophes • The choir will perform it’s encore, a Gershwin medley, after a brief intermission. • The choir will perform its encore, a Gershwin medley, after a brief intermission.

  16. What’s wrong? • A quiet, unassuming album on the surface, Bob Dylan reveals his true intent in “Modern Times” only after several listens.

  17. Dangling modifier • A quiet, unassuming album on the surface, Bob Dylan reveals his true intent in “Modern Times” only after several listens. • A quiet, unassuming album on the surface, “Modern Times” revealsBob Dylan’s true intent only after several listens.

  18. What’s wrong? • The company said yesterday that it would soon unveil a new line of products.

  19. Personification • The company said yesterday that it would soon unveil a new line of products. • A spokesman said yesterday that the company would soon unveil a new line of products.

  20. What’s wrong? • The political figure to who the threat was delivered quickly fled the country.

  21. Subject/object • The political figure to who the threat was delivered quickly fled the country. • The political figure to whom the threat was delivered quickly fled the country.

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