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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