grammar and punctuation for writers

1

At a loss for words?

214 Evans Library | 205 West Campus Librarywritingcenter.tamu.edu | 979-458-1455

2

Grammar & Punctuation for Writers

3

{ }

Agreement of Subject & Verbs

Make the subject and verb agree with each

other and not with the words that comebetween them.

One of the most famous Aggies is reviewing the march-in.

Of my friends, several have vowed never to leave Aggieland.

4

Subject & Verb Agreement

Verb Subject Example

Singular Two, sing. Harry or Ron is arriving by floo

subjects powder today.

Singular Each Each of the professors knows how to teach potions.

Plural Either/or Neither the History of Magic Neither/norbook nor the wands are sold at the Leaky Cauldron.

Singular Sums of One hundred galleons is too money much for a baby

dragon.

5

{ }

Make the nouns and the pronouns that refer to it agree.

Agreement of Nouns & Pronouns

Every Aggie has promised to uphold his or her part of the bargain.

All Aggies have promised to uphold their part of the bargain.

6

Noun & Pronoun Agreement

Noun Pronoun Example

Singular Singular Everyone is bringing his or her wand to class.

Singular Singular Each of the professors knows his or her most adept fliers.

Singular Singular The class has its own dragon.Plural Plural The class has their own dragon.

7

{

Dangling Modifiers

An introductory modifier should always refer to the subject of the sentence.

After carrying the mini-fridge up the dorm stairs, it wouldn’t fit in the doorway to the room.

After carrying the mini-fridge up the dorm stairs, the Fish found that it wouldn’t fit in the doorway to the room.

8

{

Parallelism

We learned Aggie yells, the “Aggie War Hymn,” talked about the traditions, and made new friends.

We had fun learning the Aggie yells, singing the “Aggie War Hymn,” talking about the traditions, and making new friends.

In a series, always use the same type of grammatical structure for elements throughout the list. Make them parallel.

9

{ }

Active Voice

If the subject of the sentence performs the action, the verb is in active voice.

The Aggie men’s basketball team beat Colorado’s basketball team this week.

*When the actor is more important than the action, use active voice.

10

{ }

Passive Voice

If the subject of the sentence receives the action, the verb is in passive voice.

The tu women’s basketball team was beaten by the Aggies this week.

*When the actor is unknown or unimportant or you want to hide the actor, use passive voice.

11

Punctuation

Check for . . .

Commas

Semicolons

Colons

Apostrophes

12

{ }

Understanding Clauses

Independent clause• Can stand on its

own as a sentence • Receives the most

emphasis

Dependent clause• Is a sentence

fragment• Adds extra

information

Because Aggies believe in honesty and loyalty, they do not lie, cheat or steal.

13

Dependent Clause Indicators

A clause will be dependent if it starts with words like because, if, when, while, since, that, which, who, as, or a preposition.

*Prepositions are anything an Aggie can do at Kyle Field.

Since I go to Texas A&M, I follow the Aggie Honor Code. {

}

14

{ }

Comma Splice ErrorJoining complete sentences (independent clauses) with a comma

Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal, they believe in honesty and loyalty.

Aggies believe in honesty and loyalty, therefore, they do not lie, cheat or steal.

15

Run-on Error

Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal they believe in honesty and loyalty.

Aggies believe in honesty and loyalty therefore, they do not lie, cheat or steal.

Joining complete sentences (independent clauses) with no punctuation

{ }

16

To Correct These Errors...

1. Comma + coordinating conjunction

Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal, for they believe in honesty and loyalty.

Aggies believe in honesty and loyalty, so they do not lie, cheat or steal.

{,}

*What’s a coordinating conjunction? [for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so—FANBOYS]

17

To Correct These Errors...

2. Period

Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal. Theybelieve in honesty and loyalty.

Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal. For they believe in honesty and loyalty.

{.}

18

To Correct These Errors...

3. Semicolon

Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal; they believe in honesty and loyalty.

Aggies believe in honesty and loyalty;therefore, they do not lie, cheat or steal.

{;}

19

Transitions with Semicolons

Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal; however, nobody’s perfect.

Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal; thus, they have an Honor Code.

Words like however, therefore, in addition, nevertheless, whereas, and thus can be used with semicolons to make transitions.

{;}

20

Semicolons & Colons

Semicolons

Set apart a complete sentence from an example or list

He checked out three books: Jurassic Park, Timeline, and Airframe.

Separate two complete sentences (second sentence NOT capitalized)

Used in lists where there are two commas within the items ofthe listColons

{;}{:}

21

{ }

Use Coordination for BalanceCoordinate sentences to have

balanced partsthat are given equal emphasis.

• Two sentences joined by a semi-colon

• Two sentences joined by a comma plus a coordinate conjunction (FANBOYS)Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal; they believe in honesty and loyalty.

22

Subordinate Ideas with Commas

The emphasis goes to the complete sentence or independent clause.

Because Aggies believe in honesty and loyalty, they do not lie, cheat or steal.

Because they do not lie, cheat or steal, Aggies believe in honesty and loyalty.

{,}

23

If the phrase or clause is essential to the sentence’s meaning, do not use commas.

Commas & Who, Which, That

The Aggie wearing the Maroon Out shirt is my brother.

The Aggie who is wearing the Maroon Out shirt is my brother.

{,}

24

If the word, phrase, or clause is notessential for your sentence to make the sense you want, use commas.

Commas & Who, Which, That

{,}

The Aggie, wearing the Maroon Out shirt, is my brother.

The Aggie, who is wearing the Maroon Out shirt, is my brother.

25

Commas & Introductory Elements

When using an introductory word, phrase, or dependent clause to begin a sentence, use a comma.

During the last thirteen football seasons, I have seen every Aggie home game.

However, I have seen every Aggie home game.

{,}

UWC Jeopardy Grammar and Punctuation

The court rules

Name that blooper!

The pause that

refreshes

The pen is mightier than the

rule

Potpourri

100 100 100 100 100

200 200 200 200 200

300 300 300 300 300

400 400 400 400 400

500 500 500 500 500

BankEnd 26

The court rules for 100

Two complete sentences (punctuated as one) with no punctuation between them.

The court rules for 200

Two or more complete sentences not started with “and, or, for, but, yet, so” and joined with a comma.

The court rules for 300

One subject, one verb (predicate), and it stands alone.

Daily Double!

The court rules for 400

“Between you and I”

The court rules for 500

One independent clause + one dependent clause.

Name that blooper! for 100

Marie Antoinette said, “Let them eat cake”!

Name that blooper! for 200

Warm and plump, Mary Beth inhaled the

long-awaited hot dog.

Name that blooper! for 300

My parents bought a house from a man with no inside plumbing.

Name that blooper! for 400

Either are correct.

Name that blooper! for 500

The perfect Martini uses equal parts dry and sweet Vermouth, having no more than one ounce of water or ice, and is always made with gin instead of vodka.

Pause that refreshes for 100

The punctuation mark used to separate items in a series.

Pause that refreshes for 200

The punctuation mark that separates two complete sentences and that is not a period, dash, or colon.

Pause that refreshes for 300

It can be used to introduce a long list.

Pause that refreshes for 400

One of three ways to fix a run-on sentence.

Pause that refreshes for 500

A punctuation mark that is often substituted for the colon or comma and is considered less formal.

The pen is mightier for 100

Sometimes you have to make exceptions. No kidding.

The pen is mightier for 200

The policemen, firemen, and mailmen had gathered to honor fallen heroes.

The pen is mightier for 300

Who did you call last night?

The pen is mightier for 400

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.

The pen is mightier for 500

To boldly go where no one has gone before.

Daily Double!

Potpourri for 100

Michael Crichton combines scientifical information with enthralling literature in his books.

Potpourri for 200

Simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex

Daily Double!

Potpourri for 300

In spite of its name, it won’t catch spelling errors like “there” for “their.”

Potpourri for 400

Is Bob dead, did something break?

Potpourri for 500

If we cooperate together, we can fulfill the necessary requirements.

Daily Double!

The court rules

1. Run on2. Comma splice3. Sentence4. Incorrect case (objective

after preposition)5. Complex sentence

Name that blooper!1. Exclamation point goes

inside quote (part of quoted material)

2. Dangling modifier3. Misplaced modifier4. Subject-verb disagreement5. List not in parallel

structureThe pause that refreshes The pen is mightier than the rule1. Comma

2. Semi-colon (;)3. Colon (:)4. Period, semi-colon,

comma with coordinating conjunction

5. Dash

1. Rhetorically effective fragment2. Discriminatory language3. Acceptable use of who; less formal than whom4. Parallel structure5. Acceptable split infinitive

Potpourri

1. A word that is not a word2. Types of sentences3. Spell-check4. Comma splice5. Wordy sentence

52

For More Help…Visit our website or call us to schedule an appointment.

We can help you find answers to any of your grammar and punctuation questions!

53

54

214 Evans Library | 205 West Campus Librarywritingcenter.tamu.edu | 979-458-1455

We’ll help you find the write words.

U N I V E R S I T YJ X I G Z P O E

N HB W D E T L Q I L R D R C K K K P P T R T I V R M X S T X J P T B C Z P B Y O U C I S K E W V J D A E N S I N N Q O G PE G I C J C T O B YP X E G K G V E F G B S R M C E V Q

R M

Check us out on…