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