BA 324 Grammar

Always use two commas to set off an interrupter, unless it begins or ends a sentence

:)

What occurs when a writer joins two independent clauses-without using a coordinating conjunction?

A comma splice

Active vs. Passive example

ACTIVE: Our CPA made a big error in the budget. PASSIVE A big error was made in the budget.

Possessive pronouns example

All reports except yours (not your's) have to be rewritten. The apartment and its (not it's) contents are hers (not her's) until June.

Be sure that the statement before a colon is grammatically complete.

An introductory statement that ends with a preposition (such as by, for, at and to) or a verb (such as is, are, or were) is incomplete // the list following a preposition or verb actually functions as an object or as a complement to finish the sentence

Use adverbs, NOT adjectives, to describe or limit the action of verbs. Use adjectives after linking verbs.

Andrew said he did well (not good) on the exam. (The adverb well describes how he did) After its tune-up, the engine is running smoothly (not smooth) (The adverb smoothly describes the verb is running)

If the ownership words ends in an sound and is plural add only an apostrophe

Both investors' portfolios showed diversification (add only an apostrophe b/c the ownership word investors is plural and ends in s)

Subjective (nominative) case example

Bryan and I (not Bryan and me) are looking for entry level jobs (subjective-case pronouns as the subjects of the verb phrase are looking)

Use a colon after business letter salutations and to introduce long quotations.

Dear Mr. Duran: The Asian consultant bluntly said: "Americans..."

Short introductory prepositional phrases (three words or fewer) require no commas.

Don't clutter your writing with unnecessary commas after introductory phrases such as: by 2015, in the fall, or at the time

Indefinite Pronoun example

Each of the employees IS (not are) being interviewed

Pronoun gender reference example

Each of the female nurses was escorted to her car (not their cars). (the singular pronoun her and singular noun car are necessary because they refer to the singular subject each)

Subjects joined by OR or NOR example

Either the software or the printer IS (not are) causing the glitch. (verb is controlled by the closer subject, printer)

Use a semicolon to join closely related independent clauses.

Experienced writers use semicolons to show readers that two thoughts are closely associated // if the ideas are not related, they should be expressed in separate sentences

Colon examples cont.

FAULTY Three Big Macs were ordered by: Pam, Jim,and Lee (do not use a colon after an incomplete statement) IMPROVED Three Big Macs were ordered by Pam, Jim, and Lee

Who/whoever vs. whom/whomever examples

For whom was this software ordered? (The software was ordered form him) Who did you say called? (You did say he called)

Sentence interrupter example

Harvard researchers, working steadily for 18 months, developed a new cancer therapy. (use commas to set off an internal interrupting verbal phrase) The new therapy, which applies a genetically engineered virus, raises hopes among caner specialists (use commas to set off nonessential dependent clauses)

Verb Mood example

If I WERE (not was) you, I would take a business writing course. Sometimes I wish I WERE (not was) the manager of this department. He acts as though he WERE (not was) in charge of this department.

Verb Tense example

If he had came earlier we could have saw the video CORRECTED: If he had come earlier, we could have seen the video

Punctuation: Commas example

If you recognize introductory clauses, you will have no trouble placing the comma. (A comma separates the introductory dependent clause from the main clause) As expected, additional explanations are necessary (use a comma even the the introductory clause omits the understood subject: as we expected)

Use who or whoever for subjective cases and whom or whomever for objective cases

In determining the correct choice, it is helpful to substitute HE for who/whoever and HIM for whom/whomever

Be especially alert to the following prepositions: except, between, but, and like // be sure to use objective pronouns as their objects

Just between you and me (not I), that mineral water comes from the tap Everyone except Robert and him (not he) responded to the invitation

Semicolon example

Learning history is easy; learning its lessons is almost impossible. (a semi colon joins two independent clauses) He was determined to complete his degree; consequently, he studied diligently. (A semicolon precedes the conjunctive adverb, and a comma follows it)

Comma example cont.

Lisa expects to move from Cupertino, California, to Sonoma, Arizona, next fall. (for geographical areas use commas to enclose the second element) Karen Munson, CPA, and Richard B. Larsen, PhD, were the speakers (Use commas to enclose professional designations and academic degrees following names) The latest census figures show the city's population to be 342,000. (in figures use commas to separate every three digits, counting from the right)

Subjects of verbs are?

NOT found in prepositional phrases

Three pronoun cases include:

Nominative Case, Objective case, and Possessive Case

Pronoun clarity example

Our office recycles as much paper as possible because IT helps the environment. (does IT refer to paper, recycling, or the office?) CORRECTED: Our office recycles as much paper as possible because SUCH AN EFFORT helps the environment. (EFFORT supplies a concrete pronoun for the vague pronoun IT)

Verb Agreement example

Our study of annual budgets, five-year plans, and sales proposals is (not are) progressing on schedule. (subject: study) A vendor's evaluation of the prospects for a sale, together with plans for follow-up action, is (not) are what we need. (subject: evaluation) The budgeted item, despite additions proposed yesterday, remains (not remain) as submitted. (subject: item)

The most troublesome are: it, which, this and that

Replace vague pronouns with concrete nouns, or provide these pronouns with clear antecedents

Objective Case example

Send the e-mail to her and me (not she and I). (the pronouns her and me are objects of the preposition to) The CEO appointed Rick and him (not he) to the committee. (The pronoun him is the object of the verb appointed)

Use commas to separate introductory clauses and certain phrases from independent clauses

Sentences that open with dependent clauses (frequently introduced by words such as since, when, if, as, although, and because) require commas to separate them from the main idea // the comma helps readers recognize where the introduction ends and the big idea begins // introductory phrases of four or more words or phrases containing verbal elements also require commas

Use commas appropriately in dates, addresses, geographical names, degrees, and long numbers

September 30, 1993, is his birthday. (for dates use commas before and after the year) Send the application to James Kirby, 20045 45th Avenue, Lynnwood, WA 98036, as soon as possible. (For addresses use commas to separate all units except the two-letter state abbreviation and zip code)

Subjects joined by AND example

The CEO and one of his assistants HAVE (not has) ordered a limo Considerable time and money WERE (not was) spent on remodeling

Collective nouns example

The Finance Committee is working harmoniously The Planning Committee (members) are having difficulty agreeing

Colon examples

The following cities are on the tour: Louisville, Memphis, and New Orleans An alternate tour includes several West Coast cities: Seattle, San Francisco, and San Diego

Use a comma before the coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence

The most common coordinating conjunction are FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, yet, so

Use pronouns ending in self only when they refer to previously mentioned nouns or pronouns

The president HIMSELF ate all the m&ms. Send the package to Mike or me (not myself).

Whenever you use the words this, that, these, and those by themselves, a red flag should pop up.

These words are dangerous when they stand alone. You can usually solve the problem by adding another idea to the pronoun (such as this change).

Use a comma to introduces short quotations.

Use a colon to introduce long one-sentence quotations and quotations of two or more sentences.

Comma Splice example

Visitors wanted a resort vacation, however they were disappointed CORRECTED: Visitors wanted a resort vacation; however, they were disappointed

Make pronouns agree in number and gender with the words to which they refer

When the gender of the antecedent is obvious, pronoun references are simple

Use a colon after a complete thought that introduces a list of items.

Words such as these, the following, and as follows may introduce the list or they may be implied.

Hyphenate two or more adjectives that are joined to create a compound modifier before a noun.

You need an easy-to-remember e-mail address and a one-page resume. Person-to-person networking continues to be the best way to find a job.

Passive voice is useful to?

a. emphasize an action rather than a person b. de-emphasize negative news c. conceal the doer of an action

You can recognize a complete sentence because?

a. includes a noun b. includes a verb c. makes sense

Most business writing is in?

active-voice

If the members are acting individually, it is usually better to?

add the word members and use a plural verb

Words that introduce dependent clauses include:

although, as, because, even, except, for example, if, instead of, since, so, such as, that, which, and when

The following pronouns all take singular verbs:

anyone, anybody, anything, each, either, every, everyone, everybody, everything, neither, nobody, nothing, someone, somebody, and something

Parenthetical (transitional) expressions are helpful words that guide the reader from one thought to the next // here are typical parenthetical expressions that require commas:

as a matter of fact // as a result consequently // for example in addition // in the meantime nevertheless // of course on the other hand // therefore

Before inserting a comma, test the two clauses...

can each of them stand alone as a complete sentence? if either is incomplete, SKIP the comma

Be sure that pronouns such as it, which, this, and that refer to?

clear antecedents

The verb should agree with the?

closer subject

In joining singular and plural subjects with OR or NOR, place the plural subject?

closer to the verb

Words such as: faculty, administration, class, crowd, and committee are considered?

collective nouns

A sentence with two independent clauses must be joined by a?

coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but) or by a semicolon (;)

To find subjects?

cross out prepositional phrases beginning with words such as (about, at, by, for, from, of, and to)

Avoid unnecessary commas

do not use commas between sentence elements that belong together // do not automatically insert commas before every AND or at points where your voice might drop if you were saying the sentence out loud

Active-voice sentences are?

easier to understand and usually shorter

Use the subjunctive mood to express?

hypothetical (untrue) ideas

Use a semicolon to separate items in a series when one or more of the items contains internal commas

i.e.: Representatives from as far away as Blue Bell Pennsylvania; Bowling Green, Ohio; and Phoenix Arizona, attended the conference Stories circulated about Henry Ford, founder, Ford Motor Company; Lee Iacocca, former CEO, Chrysler Motor Company; and Shoichiro Toyoda, founder, Toyota Motor Company

Trying to sound less egocentric, some radio and TV announcers incorrectly substitute myself when they SHOULD use I

i.e.: Jimmy and myself (should be I) are cohosting the telethon

If an ownership word does not end in an s sound, add an apostrophe and s, whether the word is singular or plural

i.e.: The children's teacher allowed free time on the computer. (add 's b/c the ownership word children, although plural, does not end in s)

When coordinating conjunctions join two independent clauses, commas are needed.

i.e.: The investment sounded too good to be true, and many investors were dubious about it.

If an ownership word does end in an s sound ands is singular, add an apostrophe and s

i.e.: The witness's testimony was critical (add 's b/c the ownership word witness is singular and ends in an s)

When a pronoun appears in combination with a noun or another pronoun...

ignore the extra noun or pronoun and its conjunction...then the case of the pronoun becomes more obvious i.e.: Jason asked Jennifer and me (not I) to lunch. (ignore Jennifer and)

A fragment is an?

incomplete sentence

Use singular verbs for most?

indefinite pronouns

A complete sentence is an?

independent clause

Make subjects agree with verbs despite?

intervening phrases and clauses

Objective Case: used for objects of prepositions and objects of verbs

me, our, ours, you, him, her, it, them, whom, whomever

Use commas to separate three or more items (words, phrases, or short clauses) in a series

most business writers prefer to retain the comma before and because it prevents misreading the last two items as one item.

Possessive Case: used to show possession

my, mine, you, yours, his, her, hers, its, their, theirs, whose

Don't confuse adverbs ending in -ly with compound adjectives:

newly enacted law and highly regarded CEO would NOT be hyphenated

possessive pronouns (such as: hers, yours, whose, ours, theirs, and its) require?

no apostrophes

Pronouns are substitutes for?

nouns

Use objective case pronouns as?

objects of prepositions and verbs

In active-voice sentences, the subject?

performs the action

Subjects joined by AND require?

plural verbs

In passive-voice sentences, the subject?

receives the action

Complements are words that follow linking verbs (such as am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been) and?

rename the words to which they refer

Without a semicolon or conjunction, what occurs?

run-on sentence

In joining independent clauses, beware of using a comma and words such as (consequently, furthermore, therefore, then, thus, and so on) // these conjunctive adverbs require?

semicolons

Use commas to set off internal sentence interrupters

sentence interrupters may be verbal phrases, dependent clauses, contrasting elements, or parenthetical expressions (also called transitional phrases) // these interrupters often provide information that is not grammatically essential

Don't confuse possessive pronouns and contractions // contractions are?

shortened forms of subject-verb phrases

Use possessive pronouns to?

show ownership

Subjects joined by OR or NOR may require?

singular or plural verbs?

Use subjective-case (nominative) pronouns as?

subjects of verbs and as complements

The most frequent mistake in tenses results from?

substituting the past participle form for the past tense

Fragments often can be identified by?

the words that introduce them

Active-voice sentences are more direct because?

they reveal the performer immediately

Don't be tricked by expressions introduced by:

together with, in addition to, and along with

If the members of the collective are acting as a unit?

treat them as singular subjects

Don't use a semicolon unless each clause is truly independent

try the sentence test // omit the semicolon if each clause could not stand alone as a complete sentence // look at both clauses...not just the last

SEMICOLONS: often, but not always, the second independent clause contains a conjunctive adverb (such as however, consequently, therefore, or furthermore) to show the relation between the two clauses...

use a semi colon before a conjunctive adverb of two or more syllables (such as however, consequently, therefore, or furthermore) and a comma after it

The most frequent misuse of the subjunctive mood involves?

using WAS instead of WERE in clauses introduced by IF and AS THOUGH or containing WISH

Subjects are nouns or pronouns that control?

verbs

If the statement could possibly be true, use?

was i.e.: If I WAS to blame, I accept the consequences

Subjective (nominative) Case: used for subjects of verbs and subject complements

we, I, us, you, he, she, it, they, who, whoever

Use singular or plural verbs for collective nouns, depending on?

whether the members of the group are operating as a unit or individually