The Massive Review of Grammar, Punctuation, and Style

[Mercy]

The Massive Review of Grammar, Punctuation, and Style
by Mercy

Introduction: Hello, everyone! I decided to write a review/guide of selected grammar rules, the use of certain punctuation marks, and style tips. The reason: my grammar isn't that great (especially commas) and I needed to look over the English language. It's been awhile. Is this boring? Probably, but it never hurts to glance over these things. Hopefully someone, besides myself, will find this useful.

Please keep in mind, that there are not examples for everything. However, I have included several links at the bottom for further practice, as well as the reference books I used for this review. Most of this comes from Rules for Writers by Diana Hacker and most of this is for formal writing. However, it can't hurt your fiction, either.

Also, if anyone wants the pretty MS-word version (in which the layout is a lot nicer and cleaner), just post a comment or PM me with your email and I'll send it to you. =)

So, here is an long (yet brief) guide and review! :)
Stylistic Rules
v.Passive/Active Verbs
ØPassive Verb: be (be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been)
ØPrefer active verbs, but passive verbs also have their uses.
§Remember that some active verbs are better than others (sped is better than walked, for instance).

v.Parallel Ideas
ØBalance them!
ØE.g. of a parallel sentence:
§I liked the pizza, the beer, and the party.
ØPaired parallel ideas are usually joined through these:
§Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or
§Correlative conjunctions: either…or, not only….but also
§Introducing comparison: than or as

v.Avoid is when, is where, and reason…is
ØE.g. from Rules for Writers by Diana Hacker:
§Anorexia nervosa is where people a disorder suffered by people who, believing they are too fat, diet to the point of starvation.
·Anorexia nervosa is a disorder, not a place.

v.Vary sentence openings and structure.
ØIn other words, don’t start several sentences in the same area with “the” and don’t use a structure like “Sally liked ice cream” over and over again in a close vicinity.

v.Avoid repetition and simplify phrases.
ØBasically, don’t say, “The water was beautiful. But the water covered the sidewalk and she slipped on the water.” Or, “The walls were grimy. The feeling of muck crawled over his fingers. The dirtiness….(and so on and so forth…).
Ø The iron sword, made of iron, sliced through its enemy.


Grammar and Sentence Structure

vSentence Fragments
ØDon’t do them, unless are using it for an effect (e.g. Not again!).
ØA sentence fragment lacks a subject and a verb.
§Which caught her. Swimming in the pool. Etc.

vIndependent Clauses
ØThese have a verb and a subject. Independent clauses can stand alone.
ØE.g:
§They ran after the ball


vSubordinate Clauses

ØIntroductory words:
After
Even Though
So That
When
Whom
Although
How

Than
Where
Whose
As
If
That
Whether
Why
As If
In Order That
Though
Which

Because
Rather Than
Unless
While

Before
Since
Until
Who

ØSub. Clauses function as adjectives, as adverbs, or as nouns. They can not stand alone.

vIntroducing examples

Also
For Example
Mainly
And
For instance
Or
But
In Addition
That Is

vRun-on sentences
ØThese are independent clauses which have not been joined with conjunctions or a semicolon. Thus, they are a mouthful and aggravating to read.
§Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, for, so yet

vMake sure subjects and verbs agree!
ØHe swims, she swims, they swim, etc.

vIndefinite Pronouns

ØRefers to nonspecific persons or things.

Anybody
Each
Everyone
Nobody
Somebody
Anyone
Either
Everything
No One
Someone
Anything
Everybody
Neither
Nothing
Something

vCollective nouns are singular, unless obviously plural.
ØConfusing? Yes. Here’s an example.
§The jury stated its verdict of not guilty.
§The jury wrote their answers on slips of paper.

vCompound antecedents connecting by and are plural.

vWhen compound antecedents are connected by or or nor (or either…or, neither…nor), the pronoun agrees with the nearer antecedent.

vAvoid vague pronoun reference and the broad reference of this, that, which and it.

vUse who, whom, or whose to refer to people.
ØWho is used for subjects. Whom is for objects.

vAdverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, not adjectives.

vAdjectives compliment the subject.

vAvoid certain comparative/superlative expressions
ØMore straight, less perfect, very round, most unique, more priceless, etc.
§These are absolute descriptions and do not need a comparative/superlative.

vAvoid double negatives!
ØThis is okay in speech, because it is in speech.


Punctuation

v. The Comma
ØUse a comma before a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses.
ØUse a comma after an introductory clause or phrase.
ØUse a comma between items in a series
ØUse a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined with and.
ØUse commas to set off nonrestrictive elements.
ØUse commas to set off transitional and parenthetical expressions, absolute phrases, and elements expressing contrast.
ØUse commas to set off nouns of direct address, the words yes and no, interrogative tags, and mild interjections.
ØUse commas with expressing such as he said to set off direct quotations.
ØUse commas with dates, addresses, titles, and numbers.
Ø Use a comma to prevent confusion.

§E.g. from Rules for Writers
·To err is human; to forgive, divine.
ØDO NOT use a comma between compound elements that are not independent clauses.
ØDO NOT use a comma after a phrase that begins an inverted sentence.
ØDO NOT use a comma before the first or after the last item in a series.
ØDO NOT use a comma between cumulative adjectives, between an adjective and a noun, or between an adverb and an adjective.
ØDO NOT use commas to set off restrictive or mildly parenthetical elements.
ØDO NOT use a comma to set off a concluding adverb clause that is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
ØDO NOT use a comma to separate a verb from its subject or object.

vThe Semicolon
ØUse the semicolon between closely related sentences not joined with a coordinating conjunction.
ØUse a semicolon between independent clauses linked with a transitional expression.


§Conjunctive Adverbs:
Accordingly
Furthermore
Moreover
Still
Also
Hence
Nevertheless
Subsequently
Anyway
However
Next
Then
Besides
Incidentally
Nonetheless
Therefore
Certainly
Indeed
Now
Thus
Consequently
Instead
Otherwise
Conversely
Likewise
Similarly
Finally
Meanwhile
Specifically

§Transitional Phrases:

After All
For Example
In The First Place
As A Matter of Fact
For Instance
On The Contrary
As A Result
In Addition
On The Other Hand
At Any Rate
In Conclusion
At The Same Time
In Fact
Even So
In Other Words
ØUse a semicolon between items in a series containing internal punctuation.

vThe Colon
ØUse a colon after sentences to focus on a list, an appositive, or a quotation.
ØUse a colon between sentences if the second summarizes or explains the first.
ØUse a colon after the salutation in a formal letter, to indicate hours and minutes, to show proportions, between a title and subtitle, and between city and publisher in bibliographic entries.


Strunk and White's Elementary Style of Usage and Style

Elementary Rules of Usage
1)Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding ‘s
2)In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.
3)Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.
4)Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause.
5)Do not join independent clauses with a comma.
6)Do not break sentences in two.
7)Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustration quotation.
8)Use a dash to set off an abrupt break or interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary.
9)The number of the subject determines the number of the verb.
10)Use the proper case of pronoun
11) A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.
12)Choose a suitable design and hold to it.
13)Make the paragraph the unit of composition.
14)Use active voice
15)Put statements in positive form
16)Use definite, specific, concrete language.
17)Omit needless words
18)Avoid a succession of loose sentences
19)Express coordinate ideas in similar form
20)Keep related words together.
21)In summaries, keep to one tense.
22) Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.

Elements of Style
1)Place yourself in the background
2)Write in a way that comes naturally
3)Work from a suitable design
4)Write with nouns and verbs
5)Revise and rewrite
6)Do not overwrite
7)Do not overstate
8)Avoid use of qualifiers
9)Do not affect a breezy manner
10)Use orthodox
11)Do not explain too much
12)Do not construct awkward verbs
13)Make sure the reader knows who is speaking
14)Avoid fancy words
15)Do not use dialect unless your ear is good.
16)Be clear
17)Do not inject opinion.
18)Use figures of speech sparingly
19)Do not take short cuts at the cost of clarity
20)Avoid foreign language
21)Prefer the standard to the offbeat.

Rules That One Can Rely On When Instinct Fails
By George Orwell

1. If it's possible to cut out a word cut it out
2. Never use a long word where a short will do
3. Never use a passive if you can use an active
4. Avoid foreign and technical words.
5. Never use a metaphor you've seen in print
6. Break these rules to avoid something outlandish.
Further:
Grammar, Punctuation and stylistic rules taken from Rules for Writers (http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/rules6e/Player/pages/Main.aspx)by Diana Hacker.
Strunk and White's Elementary Rules of Usage and Style taken from Strunk and White's Elements of Style (http://www.bartleby.com/141/)
George Orwell's Six Rules are from Politics and the English Language (http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htm) by George Orwell.
Writerly Crankiness (http://nancykress.blogspot.com/2009/07/writerly-crankiness.html)by Nancy Kress
Manuscript Format (http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html)by William Shunn
Guide to Grammar and Writing (http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/)

[Silence Says It All]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing that. It helped me out a lot. =)

[Simmi]

I read this the day you posted it, but never had the time to post a reply.

This helped alot, thanks! I learned more through this than my Language Arts teacher. That's a compliment ;P

[Fiction]

Hmm... works. Thanks! ^_^

[Avery_Rayne]

Thank you. It helped. It's always nice to have a guide on this type of thing.

[Clair John]

Hi,
Thanks for sharing this amazing post. This post is a big help for new writers.

Regards,
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