Goodreads Book Giveaway
Business Communication
by Mallika Nawal
Giveaway ends July 03, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Top 10 Grammar Mistakes
10) Noun-Pronoun Agreement
Make sure singular pronouns go with singular nouns and plural pronouns go with plural nouns.
Wrong: everyone has their homework.
Right: everyone has his or her homework.
9) Colons
A colon separates a complete sentence and an incomplete sentence. For instance, if the sentence reads "I will further my explanation:" it is commonly followed by a list of items or steps. The first word after a colon is not capitalized.
Wrong: we had four kinds of salad; potato, macaroni, spinach, and fruit.
Right: we had four kinds of salad: potato, macaroni, spinach, and fruit.
8) Semicolons
A semicolon separates two complete sentences that could also be separated by a period. It is used when a period seems too abrupt or when the thoughts are closely ties to each other.
Wrong: Fido ran away, now Johnny is lonely.
Right: Fido ran away; now Johnny is lonely.
7) Dashes
A dash indicates a break in thought, and is typed as two hyphens with no spaces before or after. Commas or parentheses can often be substituted for dashes.
Wrong: I went to the store - as I always do on Saturdays - and bought milk.
Right: I went to the store--as I always do on Saturdays--and bought milk.
6) Capitalization
Capitalize proper nouns, not generic works that refer to proper nouns.
Wrong: Our University comprises six colleges.
Right: Our university comprises six colleges.
Right: The OSU school of journalism is cool.
5) Apostrophes
Plural nouns not ending in 's' need an apostrophe + s. Singular or plural nouns ending in 's' need an apostrophe after the 's'.
Wrong: the womens' team won.
Right: the women's team won.
Wrong: Jame's lunch is missing.
Right: James' lunch is missing.
"it's" means "it is." "its" is the possessive form
Wrong: The dog wagged it's tail.
Right: The dog wagged its tail.
Wrong: Its a beautiful day!
Right: It's a beautiful day!
4) Who/Whom
"Who" is used as the subject of the sentence. "Whom" is used as the object.
Wrong: to who do I address this letter?
Right: to whom do I address this letter?
Wrong: no one is sure whom will win.
Right: no one is sure who will win.
3) Use of quotation marks with punctuation
Always put punctuation marks inside of quotation marks.
Wrong: OSU is now the "best college buy"!
Right: OSU is now the "best college buy!"
2) The subjunctive
Use "were" when describing a situation that is wished for, or that is not actual fact.
Wrong: I wish I was Peter Pan.
Right: I wish I were Peter Pan.
1) Needless words
Choose your words carefully. Good writing is clear and concise.
Wrong: there is no doubt that he is the man who experienced a loss of life in a very hasty manner.
Right: Clearly, he died quickly.
Make sure singular pronouns go with singular nouns and plural pronouns go with plural nouns.
Wrong: everyone has their homework.
Right: everyone has his or her homework.
9) Colons
A colon separates a complete sentence and an incomplete sentence. For instance, if the sentence reads "I will further my explanation:" it is commonly followed by a list of items or steps. The first word after a colon is not capitalized.
Wrong: we had four kinds of salad; potato, macaroni, spinach, and fruit.
Right: we had four kinds of salad: potato, macaroni, spinach, and fruit.
8) Semicolons
A semicolon separates two complete sentences that could also be separated by a period. It is used when a period seems too abrupt or when the thoughts are closely ties to each other.
Wrong: Fido ran away, now Johnny is lonely.
Right: Fido ran away; now Johnny is lonely.
7) Dashes
A dash indicates a break in thought, and is typed as two hyphens with no spaces before or after. Commas or parentheses can often be substituted for dashes.
Wrong: I went to the store - as I always do on Saturdays - and bought milk.
Right: I went to the store--as I always do on Saturdays--and bought milk.
6) Capitalization
Capitalize proper nouns, not generic works that refer to proper nouns.
Wrong: Our University comprises six colleges.
Right: Our university comprises six colleges.
Right: The OSU school of journalism is cool.
5) Apostrophes
Plural nouns not ending in 's' need an apostrophe + s. Singular or plural nouns ending in 's' need an apostrophe after the 's'.
Wrong: the womens' team won.
Right: the women's team won.
Wrong: Jame's lunch is missing.
Right: James' lunch is missing.
"it's" means "it is." "its" is the possessive form
Wrong: The dog wagged it's tail.
Right: The dog wagged its tail.
Wrong: Its a beautiful day!
Right: It's a beautiful day!
4) Who/Whom
"Who" is used as the subject of the sentence. "Whom" is used as the object.
Wrong: to who do I address this letter?
Right: to whom do I address this letter?
Wrong: no one is sure whom will win.
Right: no one is sure who will win.
3) Use of quotation marks with punctuation
Always put punctuation marks inside of quotation marks.
Wrong: OSU is now the "best college buy"!
Right: OSU is now the "best college buy!"
2) The subjunctive
Use "were" when describing a situation that is wished for, or that is not actual fact.
Wrong: I wish I was Peter Pan.
Right: I wish I were Peter Pan.
1) Needless words
Choose your words carefully. Good writing is clear and concise.
Wrong: there is no doubt that he is the man who experienced a loss of life in a very hasty manner.
Right: Clearly, he died quickly.
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