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GRAMMARRULESA file of papers is in the table.The files of papers are in the table.

The list of employees is attached.The lists of employees are attached.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTRule 1.A subject will come before a phrase beginning withof. This is a key rule for understanding subjects. The wordofis the culprit in many, perhaps most, subject-verb mistakes.

RD or ARDisarriving today.NeitherIngridnorAuroraisavailable.EitherRosalindaorPuriflorishelpingtoday with stage decorations.SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTRule 2.Two singular subjects connected byor, either/or,orneither/norrequire a singular verb.

Neither theplatesnor the servingbowlgoeson that shelf.Neither the servingbowlnor theplatesgoon that shelf.SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTRule 3.The verb in anor, either/or,orneither/norsentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.An advisory and a memorandum areissued to the divisions.

But note some exceptions:

Breaking and enteringisagainst the law.Thebed and breakfastwascharming.

In those sentences,breaking and enteringandbed and breakfastare compound nouns.SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTRule 4.As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected byand.TheSecretary, along with the regional directors,is expectedshortly.Excitement, as well as nervousness,isthe cause of her shaking.SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTRule 5.Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words asalong with, as well as, besides, not,etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.A lotof thepiehas disappeared.A lotof thepieshave disappeared.Athirdof thecityisunemployed.Athirdof thepeopleareunemployed.Allof thepieisgone.Allof thepiesaregone.Someof thepieismissing.Someof thepiesaremissing.Rule 6.With words that indicate portionsa lot, a majority, some, all,etc.Rule 1 given earlier is reversed, and we are guided by the noun afterof. If the noun afterofis singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTRule 7.In sentences beginning withhereorthere,the true subject follows the verb.Therearefourhurdlesto jump.Thereisa highhurdleto jump.Herearethekeys.SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTThe wordthere's, a contraction ofthere is, leads to bad habits in informal sentences likeThere's a lot of people here today, because it's easier to say "there's" than "there are." Take care never to usethere'swith a plural subject.8Rule 8.Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.Three milesistoo far to walk.Five yearsisthe maximum sentence for that offense.Ten dollarsisa high price to pay.

BUTTen dollars werescattered on the floor.SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTRule 9.Some collective nouns, such asfamily, couple, staff, audience, etc., may take either a singular or a plural verb, depending on their use in the sentence.Thecoupledisagreeabout disciplining their child.The couplerefers to two people who are acting as individuals.SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTAnyone who uses a plural verb with a collective noun must take care to be accurateand also consistent. It must not be done carelessly. The following is the sort of flawed sentence one sees and hears a lot these days:The staff is deciding how they want to vote.Careful speakers and writers would avoid assigning the singularisand the pluraltheytostaffin the same sentence.Consistent:The staffaredeciding howtheywant to vote.

Rewriting such sentences is recommended whenever possible. The preceding sentence would read even better as:The staff members are deciding how they want to vote.

10Rule.Use thishe/himmethod to decide whetherwhoorwhomis correct:

he = whohim = whom

Who/Whom wrote the letter?He wrote the letter. Therefore,whois correct.

Who/Whomshould I vote for?Should I vote for him?Therefore,whomis correct.

We wondered who/whomthe book was about.

WHO vs WHOMThis sentence contains two clauses:we wonderedandwho/whom the book was about. Again, we are interested in the second clause because it contains thewho/whom. The book was abouthim. Therefore,whomis correct.Rule 1.Whoand sometimesthatrefer to people.Thatandwhichrefer to groups or things.

Anya is the onewhorescued the bird."The ManThatGot Away" is a great song.

Karla is on the teamthatwon first place.She belongs to a great organization,whichspecializes in saving endangered species.WHO, THAT, WHICHRule 2a.Thatintroduces what is called anessential clause. Essential clauses add information that is vital to the point of the sentence.WHO, THAT, WHICHI do not trust productsthatclaim "all natural ingredients" because this phrase can mean almost anything.

We would not know the type of products being discussed without thethatclause.Rule 2b.Which introduces anonessential clause, which adds supplementary information.WHO, THAT, WHICHThe product claiming "all natural ingredients,"whichappeared in the Sunday newspaper, is on sale.

Essential clauses do not have commas introducing or surrounding them, whereas nonessential clauses are introduced or surrounded by commas.14In regard toandwith regard toare phrases that mean "regarding," "concerning," "on the subject of.

As regardsnote theson the endmeans the same thing. Perhaps this is why people mindlessly pluralizeregardand sayin regards toand its partner in crime,with regards to.

Both of the following examples are correct:With regard to your friend, let's hope she is well. Compare that toWith regards to your friend. Let's hope she is well.

In the first sentence,With regard tomeans "concerning." But in the second sentence,regards with ansis a plural noun meaning "best wishes."In Regard(s) To, With Regard(s) ToAdvice: guidance.

Advise: to suggest; to recommend.Advice, AdviseToadaptis to take something and change it for a special purpose.

A screenwriter adapts a book to make it work as a movie. An organism adapts (itself) to a new environment.

Toadoptis to take something and use it or make it your own.

A government adopts a different policy. A family adopts an orphan.

Adapt, AdoptAnaidis a thing that helps.Anaideis a living helper or assistant

His aide brought first aid.

Aid, AideAll readymeans that everything or everyone is now ready.Alreadyrefers to something accomplished earlier.

We are all ready.We already ate.All ready, AlreadyAssume: to take for granted without evidence.Presume: to believe based on evidence.

Assume, PresumeBesidesas an adverb means "in addition" or "moreover":Besidesis also a preposition meaning "other than" or "except

Besideis a preposition that means "next to," "near," "alongside."

It's Albert's birthday, and besides, you promised.Who besides me is hungry?The person beside me is hungry.

A lot of people say something is "besides the point." They meanbesidethe point. When a statement is beside the point, it misses the mark and settles nothing.

Beside, BesidesThey're not interchangeable.

Youbringsomething here; youtakesomething there.

The locations of "here" and "there" are from the perspective of the speaker or writer.

Your friend asks you tobringher a book, so youtakethe book to her home.

Bring, TakeExamples:

I can gomeans I have the ability and freedom to go.

I may gomeans I have either an option or permission to go.Can, MayTheir: belonging to them.

There: in that place.

They're: contraction ofthey are.

Example: They'reintheircar overthere.Their, There, They'reWho'sis a contraction ofwho isorwho has.

Whoseis the possessive case ofwho.

Example: Who'sthe bosswhosestaff failed to submit a report?Who's, WhoseYou're: contraction ofyou are.

Your: belonging to you.

Example:Your memorandum was signed by the OIC.Youre the new assistant now.You're, YourEFFECTIVE WRITINGUse concrete rather than vague language.Useactive voicewhenever possible. Active voice means the subject is performing the verb.Passive voicemeans the subject receives the action.Avoid overusingthere is, there are, it is, it was,etc.

Example:There is a case of meningitis that was reported in the newspaper.Revision:A case of meningitis was reported in the newspaper.Even better:The newspaper reported a case of meningitis.(Active voice)To avoid confusion, don't use two negatives to make a positive without good reason.

Unnecessary:He is not unwilling to help.Better:He is willing to help.Use consistent grammatical form when offering several ideas. This is calledparallel construction.

Correct:I admire people who are honest, reliable, and sincere.Note thatareapplies to and makes sense with each of the three adjectives at the end.Incorrect:I admire people who are honest, reliable, and have sincerity.

The beginning of a piece of writing is the most important part. So start punching right off. Come to the point quickly. Your aim is to inform, not to write a suspense novel.Use familiar words.Effective writing is concise. You can be concise by dropping unnecessary words from phrases or sentences. Every word should tell.for the reason thatbecauseat the present timenowtendered his resignationresignedaffixed his signaturesigned