Common Grammar Issues

PUNCTUATION RULES
Punctuation makes a huge difference sometimes
Without punctuation:
perhaps you dont always need to use commas
periods colons etc to make sentences clear
when i am in a hurry tired cold lazy or angry i
sometimes leave out punctuation marks
grammar is stupid i can write without it and dont
need it my uncle Harry once said he was not
very clever and i never understood a word he
wrote to me i think ill learn some punctuation
not too much enough to write to Uncle Harry he
needs some help
With punctuation:
Perhaps you don't always need to use commas,
periods, colons etc. to make sentences clear.
When I am in a hurry, tired, cold, lazy, or angry I
sometimes leave out punctuation marks.
"Grammar is stupid! I can write without it and
don't need it," my uncle Harry once said. He
was not very clever, and I never understood a
word he wrote to me. I think I'll learn some
punctuation - not too much, enough to write to
Uncle Harry. He needs some help!
End Marks
Period (.) Full Stop - Periods are necessary to end a complete thought, or an
independent clause:
ex.) Henry walks to the end of the road everyday.

Question Mark (?) - Put question marks at the end of direct questions
ex.) Have you been drinking tonight?

Exclamation Point (!) - Put exclamation points at the end of statements or after
words showing strong feeling
ex.) He won the lottery!
The colon (:)
Colons are used to expand upon a sentence by either introducing a list, or setting
off a definition.

Ex.) There are many reasons for poor written communication: lack of planning,
poor grammar, misuse of punctuation marks, and insufficient vocabulary.

He had just one fault: an enormous ego.

The semicolon (;)
Semicolons can be used to join sentences or phrases that are part of the same
theme without having to use a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). They can
also be used instead of commas to separate items in a list when the items
themselves have commas in them.

Ex.) I like your brother; he's a good friend.

Many great leaders, Churchill, leader of Britain during the Second World War;
Alexander, the great Emperor and general; and Napoleon, the brilliant French
general, had strong characters..
 STAND UP
AND SHAKE!!!
No sleeping in here
Quotation Marks
We use quotation marks to cite what someone said exactly.

Ex.) "I'm going to the store now," she said.

Harry told me, "Don't forget your soccer jersey."
Harry told me not to forget my soccer jersey.

When citing a quote within a quote, we use single quotation marks for the second
quote

Ex.) “I haven't spoken to Peter for months,” Dianne said. “The last time I spoke to
him he said, ‘I'm going to Bahrain and won't be back for about three years’, I've
heard nothing since then.”
Apostrophe
We use an apostrophe in contractions, or combinations of a noun or pronoun with
a verb. Remember, the apostrophe is replacing a letter that is already dropped
Ex.) Using "not" is not, has not, had not, did not, would not, can not
isn't, hasn't, hadn't, didn't, wouldn't, can't

Using "is" she is, there is, he is, it is, Mary is, Jim is, Germany is, who is
she's, there's, he's, it's, Mary's, Jim's, Germany's, who's

We also use apostrophes to show possession. Special case:

It’s = It is
Ex.) It was the child’s toy. She is Gary’s grandmother Its = showing possession
****additional apostrophe information
Rules for showing possession.

If the word is singular:

● add ’s (the dog’s toy)

● if it ends in s, add ’s (Mr. Jones’s car)

If the word is plural:

● if the plural form ends in s, add only ’ (the whales’ holes)

● if the plural form does not end in s, add ’s (the children’s father)
Hyphens (-) Dashes (--) Parentheses () and
Brackets []
Hyphens are used to join words or parts of
words together to avoid ambiguity
Ex.) run-down, up-to-date, twenty-one
Dashes are used to add comments or extra
statements.
Ex.) You may think she is a liar - she isn't. She
might come to the party - you never know.
Parentheses are used to add extra information,
further thoughts, or comments that distract from
the main point.
Ex.) I visited Kathmandu (which was full of
tourists) on my way to the Himalayas for a
trekking expedition.
Brackets are used similarly to parentheses, but
for adding information in formal documents for
clarification. Commonly, they are used in formal
reports to add clarifications.
Ex.) He [the police officer] can’t prove they did
it.
Jump Up and
Down!!!
You have to stay awake
Commas (Common Rules)
1. Put commas after each item except the last in a series of three or more words
a. He bought eggs, cheese, and bacon
b. The mayor of the city, the sheriff of the county, and the governor of the state are elected.
2. Put a comma between two independent clauses if they are connected by
FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
a. He walked down the street to the bus stop, but he had forgotten his keys at home.
3. Put commas after words that do not flow with the rest of the sentence
a. Well, that was the end of that.
b. So, I suppose you are not going to visit her today.
Commas (Common Rules)
4. Put a comma after a long participial, infinitive, or prepositional phrase at the
beginning of a sentence
Participial: Seeing his father come down the street, the child shouted and ran
to the door.
Infinitive: To drive correctly, you must keep both hands on the wheel.
Prepositional: Before you choose your path, be sure to consider your
options.
5. Put a comma after introductory clauses that start with words like if, when, after,
since, although, because…
Since the shoe does not fit, she must not be Cinderella.

NOTE: When these two types of phrases and clauses appear at the END of a
Commas (Common Rules)
6. Use pairs or commas to separate certain words, phrases, and clauses from the
rest of the sentence. Words like: however, nevertheless, furthermore, in addition,
of course, consequently, on the other hand, namely, that is, as a result,
subsequently…
Most authorities, however, disagree with these conclusions.
The results, therefore, seem to be conclusive.
The final judgement, of course, must wait for more evidence.
Commas (Common Rules)
7. Use a pair of commas to separate words, phrases, and clauses that give
additional information or rename a person or thing already identified. These things
are called NONESSENTIAL MODIFIERS

Words: My history professor, Dr. Brown, lives near us

Clause: Dr Brown, who is my history professor, lives near us
Phrase: Dr. Brown, fighting to keep his job, is speaking with the principal.

CAREFUL: Words and phrases which are ESSENTIAL to identification are not
separated with commas. Without commas, the implication in this sentence is that
you have many former neighbors, and therefore you must clarify which neighbor.
ex.) My former neighbor who moved to Chicago last year is a professor
Commas (Common Rules)
8. Use Commas after every item in an address or date if there is more than one
item (month and date together count as one item).

One item: On May 15 she will be ten years old

More than one item: On May 3, 1893, the war began

9. Use commas between every item in addresses

She worked at Big Grove Machines, 342 Collier Street, Dayton, Texas 76109
*Do NOT separate state and zip code
Commas (Common Rules)
10. Use commas before a tag question or other contrasting phrase at the end of
the sentence

She is late today, isn’t she?

They will not leave early, will they?
He wore his new suit, not his old one.

11. Always use commas in a direct quotation to separate the speaker’s exact
words from the rest of the sentence.
“She needs to get her lunch now,” he said.
He said, “She needs to get her lunch now.”
Commas (Common Rules)
12. Use commas between two adjectives which can be separated by and

They were well-trained and intelligent horses

They were well-trained, intelligent horses

Her rich and famous brother was coming to visit her

Her rich, famous brother was coming to visit her

It was a beautiful, fantastic shirt

*Order of Adjectives*

Opinion Size Color Origin Type Noun

Shape
Condition
Age
Temperature

fine small, round, red, French, private, table,

new, old, tall, white English historical, shirt,
cold country chair, man