Guide To Learn
Practice Each of the following sentences contains errors or poor choices in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Rewrite each sentence to fix anything that doesn’t seem right. If you can’t spot or correct the error, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, use this practice session to figure out where you need the most help. The answers that […]
Parallel construction results when two or more related phrases are in the same grammatical form; for example, they’re all nouns, they’re all verbs, or they’re all gerunds (verbs ending in –ing that act as nouns). When items aren’t parallel, a sentence sounds awkward, as in the following example: The company rewarded its employees for their hard work, expertise, and paying attention […]
The comma is one of the most diminutive of punctuation marks, but an omitted or misplaced comma can cause considerable confusion. Here’s an example of how a comma can completely change the meaning of a sentence: Let’s bake, Grandma! Let’s bake Grandma! A missing serial comma (the comma before the last item in a series) can also […]
A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that’s in the wrong place. As a result, the misplaced modifier unintentionally describes the wrong word, as in the following example: Having read the book, the movie disappointed me. In this example, “having read the book” describes “the movie,” which doesn’t make sense. By placing the modifier before the […]
Verb tense conveys an action’s time zone: past, present, future, and so on. Rules that govern tense help ensure that whenever someone relates a series of events, they do so in a way that’s consistent with the actual chronology of the events. Just imagine how confusing a passage would be if verb tenses were used […]
A misplaced phrase or clause may result in ambiguity, as in the following example: The couple returned from their Caribbean cruise which they had thoroughly enjoyed in a limousine. Again, you can probably figure out the intended meaning, but at first reading, it sounds as though the couple had their Caribbean cruise in a limousine. […]
In English, syntax is very flexible, but people generally expect sentences to follow certain patterns: they expect sentences to begin with a subject followed by a verb. When you stray from conventional syntax, you run counter to the listener’s or reader’s expectations, placing an added burden on your audience to decipher your intended meaning. Following […]
People sometimes argue that grammar, usage, and mechanics don’t matter as long as you’re able to communicate clearly. The flaw in that argument is that clear communication requires adherence to conventions. Grammar, usage, and mechanics guidelines serve as the rules of the road. As long as everyone follows them, communication proceeds smoothly. Break the rules, […]
Given the fact that most writing these days is typed, you don’t need to dot your i’s and cross your t’s, but you still need to pay attention to mechanics, including the following items: Spelling: A good spellchecker catches most typos, but it may not catch the use of wrong words, such as their instead of there and its (possessive of it) instead of it’s (short for it […]
Usage is the conventional use of a language in any given context. You probably change usage levels without ever realizing it; for example, you may talk one way to your parents and another way to your friends. You probably write in an entirely different way when writing an article or essay. All types of writing vary […]