Grammar Guide
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Parts of Speech
Combining Words
Basic Sentence Patterns
Subject-Verb Agreement
Active-Passive Voice
Capitalization
Punctuation
Apostrophe
Commas
Quotation Marks
Conjunctions
Pronouns
Indefinite Pronouns
Verbs
Common Grammar Errors
June 2019 1
Parts of Speech
ADJECTIVES modify or describe nouns and pronouns.
● Ex: Good, happy, smart, young, green
● (NOTE: Keep the adjective close to the word it modifies.)
ADVERBS modify verbs, adjectives and adverbs.
● Ex: Always, slowly, well, really, never
● (NOTE: Keep the adverb close to the word it modifies.)
CONJUNCTIONS connect words, phrases or clauses.
● Coordinating: For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS)
● Subordinating: Unless, if, since, so that, while, because
INTERJECTIONS are power words that express strong feelings.
● Ex: Oh! Wow! Well, really!
NOUNS are the names of people, places, objects or qualities.
● Ex: Boat, tree, Tom, dog, playground, Florida, wisdom, mercy
PREPOSITIONS show relationships between words.
● Ex: For, from, to, on, through, by, with, of, before, under
PRONOUNS take the place of nouns. The replaced nouns are the pronouns’
antecedents. The antecedent for each pronoun should be clear.
VERBS express action, condition or state of being.
● Ex: Run, fly, work, is, are, was, were, appear
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Subject
I, you, he, she, it, we, they, who
Object
me, you, him, her, it, us, them, whom
Possessive
my, your, his, her, its, our, their, whose
Indefinite Singular
everyone, each, someone
Indefinite Plural
both, many, some, any
Indefinite Singular/Plural
all, some, any (none – see stylebook)
Combining Words
Sentence
● A sentence is a complete thought that includes a subject (what the sentence is
about) and verb (what the subject is doing).
Phrase
● A phrase is one or more words that create a grammatical unit but do not include
the subject-verb, and therefore cannot stand alone.
Clause
● A clause includes a subject and verb. There are four types of clauses:
○ Main/Independent Clause: The subject and verb in this clause form a
complete thought.
○ Subordinate/Dependent Clause: The subject and verb in this clause
combine with a subordinate conjunction, so they do not form a complete
thought.
○ Relative Clause: This clause begins with a relative pronoun or adjective, so
it does not make a complete thought.
○ Noun clause: This clause functions as a noun, and thus cannot form a
complete thought.
Modifier
● A modifier is a word, phrase or clause that adds description in a sentence. Place a
modifier next to the word it describes.
Modifier Error
● A misplaced modifier is a modifier that is placed too far away. A dangling modifier
does not clearly describe any word in a sentence.
Fragment
● A fragment is an incomplete sentence. Although it is structured like a sentence,
there is no main clause and no complete thought.
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Basic Sentence Patterns
Simple Sentence
● A simple sentence includes one independent clause.
Subject (action) Verb Object
Subject (being) Verb Subject Complement
Compound Sentence
● A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined together with
punctuation.
Punctuation Options
● Comma + Coordinating Conjunction (Ex: For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
● Semicolon
Complex Sentence
● A complex sentence joins one dependent clause to an independent clause.
○ Fragment/dependent clause first + ( , ) + main sentence
○ Main sentence first + fragment (usually no comma)
● Set off nonessential phrases and clauses with commas.
Compound-Complex Sentence
● A compound-complex sentence joins two or more dependent clauses with two
independent clauses.
June 2019 4
Subject-Verb Agreement
Singular Subject – Singular Verb
● Wrong: The lone wolf howl at the moon.
● Right: The lone wolf howls at the moon.
Plural Subject – Plural Verb
● Wrong: The Canada geese stops at Fort Meade.
● Right: The Canada geese stop at Fort Meade.
NOTE: The object of a preposition in a prepositional phrase cannot be the subject of a
sentence. When a prepositional phrase is between a subject and verb, ensure the verb
number and subject number still match.
● Wrong: The class of rowdy students perform well on test.
● Right: The class of rowdy students performs well on tests.
The following are examples of singular indefinite pronouns:
● Wrong: Everyone in this class know the stylebook.
● Right: Everyone in this class knows the stylebook.
The following are examples of indefinite pronouns:
● Wrong: Both of the deer has been seen near the detachment.
● Right: Both of the deer have been seen near the detachment.
June 2019 5
anyone
anybody
somebody
anything
everyone
everybody
everything
nothing
something
someone
nobody
much
each
either
neither
every
many a
another
both
others
several
few
many
The following are examples of fraction words::
When you combine “all,” “some,” “any” and fraction words with a whole bulk amount,
they become singular.
● Wrong: All of the library were burned.
● Right: All of the library was burned.
When combined with a number of objects, they become plural.
● Wrong: All of the books in the library was burned.
● Right: All of the books in the library were burned.
Compound subjects joined by “and” are usually plural.
● Wrong: Paper and a pencil is required for class.
● Right: Paper and a pencil are required for class.
Compound subjects that are one item (e.g., macaroni and cheese) are singular.
● Wrong: Spaghetti and meatballs are one of my family’s favorites.
● Right: Spaghetti and meatballs is one of my family’s favorites.
The following are examples of collective noun subjects and organizations:
According to the stylebook, treat collective “group” nouns as singular. For plural
individuals, add “members.”
● Wrong: The band play at the club each Friday night.
● Right: The band plays at the club each Friday night.
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half
part
rest
some
three-fourths
plenty
any
all
company
team
crowd
herd
collection
pair
committee
group
firm
family
battalion
corps
department
set
jury
faculty
board
class
school
society
audience
● Wrong: The band is responsible for their own instruments.
● Right: The band members are responsible for their own instruments.
A subject complement is a noun, pronoun or adjective following a linking verb (any form
of “to be,” “to become” and “to seem,” as well as certain verbs that function as linking or
action verbs). The verb should agree with the subject.
● Wrong: Man’s best friend are dogs.
● Right: Man’s best friend is dogs.
“The number” is singular.
● Wrong: The number of people who attended were outstanding.
● Right: The number of people who attended was outstanding.
“A number” (meaning “several”) is plural.
● Wrong: A number of people complains about the test each time.
● Right: A number of people complain about the test each time.
Money, measurements, time, organizations, food and diseases are singular.
● Wrong: Ten hours are a long time to spend in an airplane.
● Right: Ten hours is a long time to spend in an airplane.
Titles are singular.
● Wrong: “Mickey Mouse and His Friends” are playing Saturday night.
● Right: “Mickey Mouse and His Friends” is playing Saturday night.
For sentences with “here/there” construction, the subject comes after the verb.
● Wrong: There is several species of butterflies in their forest.
● Right: There are several species of butterflies in their forest.
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Active-Passive Voice
In active voice, the actor of the action is the subject of the sentence.
● Ex: Sam baked the birthday cake.
In passive voice, the actor of the action becomes the object of the sentence, and the
object becomes the subject.
● Ex: The birthday cake was baked by Sam.
(Use active voice unless you have a justifiable reason to use passive voice. Sentences
written in active voice are clearer and shorter.)
Use passive voice to direct attention to the receiver of the action.
● Ex: Tom Smith was hit by a runaway vehicle.
Use passive voice when the actor is unknown or unimportant.
● Ex: The car was repaired.
To fix the passive voice:
1. Find the main verb in the sentence.
2. Ask “who” or “what” is doing the action.
3. Rewrite the sentence so the actor is the subject.
Passive: An innocent pedestrian was hit by a speeding driver.
1. Main verb: Hit
2. “Who” or “what” is doing the action: Driver
Active: The speeding driver hit the innocent pedestrian.
Passive: All of the questions were answered by a 5-year-old boy.
1. Main verb: Answered
2. “Who” or “what” is doing the action: Boy
Active: A 5-year-old boy answered all of the questions.
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Capitalization
Proper nouns name specific persons, places and things. Proper nouns always begin with
a capital letter. General, nonspecific nouns are common.
Proper adjectives are adjectives derived from proper nouns that name specific people,
places or things.
Capitalize the names of people and places.
Capitalize geographic names.
Capitalize names of specific bridges, buildings, monuments, parks, ships, forts, streets,
railroads, etc.
Capitalize names of definite regions.
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George Washington
Mount Vernon
Mount Rushmore
Lake Superior
Ohio
National Park
Mapes Road
Hoffman Building
Everglades
Do not capitalize compass directions.
Capitalize names of historical events, periods and documents.
Capitalize names of governmental bodies and departments.
Capitalize names of political parties and the word “party” when it is part of the
organization’s proper name.
NOTE: Lowercase party words when they refer to a philosophy.
Capitalize rank titles when they appear directly before an individual’s name.
June 2019 10
Tourists flock to the South
in winter.
She has a Midwestern
accent.
The men hunt in West
Virginia.
They drove east toward the
coast.
Annapolis is south of
Baltimore.
Snow-covered northern
Virginia
The colonists participated in the Boston Tea Party.
Knights fought during the Middle Ages.
John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence.
He worked for the State Department.
She worked as an aide to Congress at the
Capitol.
Gray is a Democrat.
He belongs to the Democratic Party.
Our family operates like a democracy.
The hero shook President Wayne’s hand.
NOTE: Lowercase and spell out titles when you are not using them with an individual’s
name...
...and when they are in constructions that set them off from a name by commas.
Capitalize days of the week, months of the year, holidays and holy days.
Do not capitalize names of seasons, unless part of a formal name.
Capitalize the proper names of planets.
● Lowercase “sun” and “moon,” but capitalize their Greek or Latin names.
● Capitalize nouns and adjectives derived from proper names of planets.
● Lowercase nouns and adjectives derived from other heavenly bodies.
Capitalize service names when referring to the U.S. forces.
Capitalize brand names, but not the products.
Capitalize proper nouns and adjectives in plant names.
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The major met with Gen. John J. Jones.
John Smith, the president, met his wife in college.
Next year, Easter falls on a Sunday in April.
Next summer, the Summer Olympics will be held in Atlanta.
Helios
Luna
Mars
Martian
lunar
solar
The Navy policy governs Navy personnel.
Levi jeans
Kleenex tissues
Dial soap
Capitalize words showing family relationships when using them with a name.
NOTE: Do not capitalize relationship names when using them with possessive pronouns.
Capitalize all references to the international athletic contest held every four years.
Capitalize formal names of specific courses. Do not capitalize course names used in a
general sense, except when derived from a proper name.
Punctuation
Punctuating Quotations
● Commas and periods go inside the end quotation marks.
● Question marks and exclamation points go inside the end quotation marks when
the attribution is at the end of the sentence.
● When the attribution goes before a quotation that is a question, the question mark
goes inside the end quotation marks.
● If the whole sentence is a question—not just the quotation—the question mark
goes outside the end quotation marks.
● If only the quotation is a question, the question mark goes inside the end
quotation marks.
June 2019 12
California redwood
Douglas fir
Aunt Bea
Granny Smith
Grandpa Roy
Her aunt likes to bowl with all the single moms.
an Olympic athlete
a remedial English course
English 001
History 202
an algebra course
the Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course
Apostrophe
General Rules
● If the “owner word” ends with the letter “s,” add an apostrophe after the “s.”
● If the “owner word” ends with a letter other than “s,” add an apostrophe and an “s.”
Plural:
For plural nouns not ending with the letter “s,” add an apostrophe and an “s.”
For plural nouns ending with the letter “s,” add an apostrophe after the “s.”
For nouns that are plural in form, but singular in meaning, add an apostrophe at the end.
For nouns that are the same in singular and plural, use the plural apostrophe rules.
Singular:
For singular nouns not ending with the letter “s,” add an apostrophe and an “s.”
For singular common nouns ending with the letter “s,” add an apostrophe and an “s.”
June 2019 13
men’s birthdays
two dogs’ masters
news’ editorial tone
two deer’s tails
baby’s toys
cross’s color / cross’s silver chain
For singular proper names ending with the letter “s,” add an apostrophe after the “s.”
NOTE: The word “it’s” is the equivalent of “it is.” The word “its” indicates possession.
As a tip, cover everything to the right of the apostrophe with your thumb. The word that
appears to the left of the apostrophe should be the owner/owners of the noun modified.
Commas
Commas as Separators
Compound sentences
● Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when it connects two
independent clauses.
○ Wrong: This restaurant serves the best hot wings and they cost very little.
○ Right: This restaurant serves the best hot wings, and they cost very little.
Compound verbs
● Do not use a comma before the coordinating conjunction if the conjunction is
joining a fragment at the end of a main clause.
○ Wrong: The legal officer travels around to the ships, and helps sailors.
○ Right: The legal officer travels around to the ships and helps sailors.
Introductory fragments
● Use commas to set off introductory clauses and phrases.
○ Wrong: Because the weather is nice outside they will have a picnic.
○ Right: Because the weather is nice outside, they will have a picnic.
Simple series
● Do not use a comma before the concluding conjunction in a simple series of
words.
○ Wrong: Tom collects cards, mugs, and coasters.
○ Right: Tom collects cards, mugs and coasters.
June 2019 14
James’ announcement
book’s title (one book)
students’ cars (many students)
Complex series
● Use a comma before the concluding conjunction if the last two elements of the
series require a conjunction.
○ Wrong: Her friend bought tickets for her sons and their wives, her daughter
and her husband and her husband and her.
○ Right: Her friend bought tickets for her sons and their wives, her daughter
and her husband, and her husband and her.
Complex series of phrases or clauses
● Use a comma before the concluding conjunction in a complex series of phrases or
dependent clauses.
○ Wrong: The medicine must be taken in the morning, at lunchtime and
before bedtime.
○ Right: The medicine must be taken in the morning, at lunchtime, and before
bedtime.
Commas as Interrupters
Nonessential clauses
● If the clause states additional information that is not essential to give meaning to
another word in the sentence, surround the clause with commas.
● NOTE: Use “who” and “whom” when the clause is about people.
○ Wrong: The DINFOS commandant who is an Army colonel walks to work.
○ Right:The DINFOS commandant, who is an Army colonel, walks to work.
● NOTE: Use “which” for things and animals.
○ Wrong: Strength training exercises which involve hand weights are usually
not aerobic.
○ Right: Strength training exercises, which involve hand weights, are usually
not aerobic.
Essential clauses
● If a clause describes the word preceding it, it is essential and must not be cut off
by commas from the word it is describing.
● NOTE: Use “who” and “whom” for people.
○ Wrong: Older people, who lift weights, strengthen bones as well as muscle.
○ Right: Older people who lift weights strengthen bones as well as muscle.
● NOTE: Use “that” for things and animals.
○ Wrong: Weight training exercise, that is gentle, is good for older folks.
○ Right: Weight training exercise that is gentle is good for older folks.
June 2019 15
Appositives
● An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames the noun immediately
preceding it. Some appositives require commas, and others do not. If the
appositive is nonessential, use commas.
● If the word preceding the appositive identifies the person or thing more precisely
than the appositive, put commas around the appositive.
○ Wrong: Todd Rogers the catcher can really hit the ball.
○ Right: Todd Rogers, the catcher, can really hit the ball.
● If the information preceding the appositive identifies the appositive as one of a
kind, put commas around the appositive.
○ Wrong: The fastest car the red Mustang will win the race.
○ Right: The fastest car, the red Mustang, will win the race.
● If the appositive is essential to identify the word preceding it, do not use commas.
○ Wrong: The class watched the movie, “The Great Escape.”
○ Right: The class watched the movie “The Great Escape.”
● Surround hometowns or ages with commas when they are appositives after a
name.
○ Wrong: Bill Smith 14 won the Kentucky Derby.
○ Right: Bill Smith, 14, won the Kentucky Derby.
City, state and address rules
● When using the city and state, surround the state with two commas.
○ Wrong: Tom traveled through Lexington, Kentucky on the way to Texas.
○ Right: Tom traveled through Lexington, Kentucky, on the way to Texas.
Date rules
● When using the month, day and year, surround the year with two commas.
○ Wrong: The twins were born Aug. 10, 1976 in Germany.
○ Right: The twins were born Aug. 10, 1976, in Germany.
Parenthetical expressions
● Use commas to set off words, phrases or clauses that interrupt the flow of the
sentence.
○ Wrong: The hardest part of the test I think is the punctuation.
○ Right: The hardest part of the test, I think, is the punctuation.
June 2019 16
Contrasting elements
● Set off contrasting expressions with commas. They often begin with “but not,”
“not” or “rather than.”
○ Wrong: They were concerned with the quality not the quantity of the work.
○ Right: They were concerned with the quality, not the quantity, of the work.
Transitions
● Use commas to set off transitions.
○ Wrong: He could do it on the other hand if he would put his mind to it.
○ Right: He could do it, on the other hand, if he would put his mind to it.
Conjunctive adverbs
● When the conjunctive adverb connects two complete sentences, use a period.
○ Wrong: These classrooms are adequate, however, the new rooms are
fabulous.
○ Right: These classrooms are adequate. However, the new rooms are
fabulous.
● When the conjunctive adverb interrupts a single sentence, use a comma.
○ Wrong: The program will therefore work smoothly.
○ Right: The program will, therefore, work smoothly. (one sentence)
Interjections
● Separate “YES” and “NO” interjections from the rest of the sentence with a
comma.
○ Wrong: Yes I’m happy you won the game.
○ Right: Yes, I’m happy you won the game.
Addressing people
● Set off names when directly addressing someone.
○ Wrong: Sir everyone is accounted for.
○ Right: Sir, everyone is accounted for.
Similar words
● Use a comma to separate duplicate words that can confuse.
○ Wrong: What the answer is is beyond his knowledge.
○ Right: What the answer is, is beyond his knowledge.
Equal adjectives
June 2019 17
● If you can join the adjectives by “and” and can switch them around, they are equal
and do require a comma.
○ Wrong: The dog has a long shaggy tail.
○ Right: The dog has a long, shaggy tail.
● If adjectives before a noun are cumulative (in a specific order), do not use commas
to separate them.
○ Wrong: They used the red, fire extinguisher in the hall.
○ Right: They used the red fire extinguisher in the hall.
Numbers above 999
● Use commas in numbers more than three digits long. Separate into groups of
three, starting from the right.
○ Wrong: The children collected 1500 bottle caps.
○ Right: The children collected 1,500 bottle caps.
Commas in quotations
● Attribution credits a person with saying something.
○ In the sentence, “Shaw said, ‘Hard work really pays off,’” “Shaw said” is the
attribution.
● A direct quotation reports what the person said exactly.
○ Ex: Thorn said, “The computers in my room need new keyboards.”
● An indirect quotation reports someone’s ideas without using that person’s exact
words.
○ Ex: Thorn said the computers in his room need new keyboards.
● A partial quotation is a quotation of part of a sentence or phrase.
○ Ex: The offender will “face the music” sooner or later.
Direct quotations
● When attribution comes before a direct quotation, use a comma after the
attribution.
○ Wrong: Dad said, the paper arrives on time each day.
○ Right: Dad said, “The paper arrives on time each day.”
○ Right: Dad said the paper arrives on time each day. (NOTE: Do not use a
comma before an indirect quote.)
● Commas always go inside end quotation marks.
○ Wrong: “Follow the blue car”, Bill said.
○ Right: “Follow the blue car,” Bill said.
● When the attribution follows a direct quotation, the period in the statement
June 2019 18
changes to a comma.
○ Wrong: “The paper arrives on time each day” Dad said.
○ Right: “The paper arrives on time each day,” Dad said.
Indirect quotations
● Do not use commas after the attribution and before an indirect quote.
○ Wrong: The driver said, she did not see the moose.
○ Right: The driver said she did not see the moose.
● Do use a comma when the attribution appears after an indirect quote.
○ Wrong: Everyone must be seated at 9 a.m. sharp the sergeant said.
○ Right: Everyone must be seated at 9 a.m. sharp, the sergeant said.
Partial quotations
● Do not use a comma before a partial quotation.
○ Wrong: The sergeant said everyone must be seated, “at 9 a.m. sharp.”
○ Right: The sergeant said everyone must be seated “at 9 a.m. sharp.”
June 2019 19
Quotation Marks
Attribution interrupting a single sentence
● Attribution can go between sentences or words in a quotation, but must be
separated from the quotation by commas. If the two sets of words surrounding the
attribution are part of a single sentence, the second part does not usually begin
with a capital letter.
Attribution between two sentences
● If the attribution breaks up two complete sentences by the same speaker, a period
goes after the attribution. Because the second sentence is complete and
separate, it begins with a capital letter.
The 100 percent rule
● Commas and periods always go inside the end quotation marks.
Nicknames
● Use quotation marks to set off nicknames when used with the first and last names.
● Do not put quotation marks around nicknames that substitute for the real name.
Composition titles
June 2019 20
“If I run,” Jim said, “you must vote for me.”
“The class starts Monday,” Jim said. “We are ready to begin.”
“Rescued animals make great pets,” Al
said.
The announcer said, “Tickets for next
week’s game are sold out.”
Quinn “the mighty” Norman won the tournament.
Catfish Hunter made the last score.
● Use quotation marks for composition titles (as specified in the stylebook).
Words used in an unusual way
● Use quotation marks when using words in irony or in an unusual way.
Unfamiliar words
● Use quotation marks to introduce unfamiliar words, technical terms or business
jargon.
● Define unfamiliar terms in the next sentence for clarity.
Quotations within quotations
● Use single quotation marks to show quotation marks within quotation marks.
Running quotation
● If a full paragraph of quoted material is followed by a paragraph that continues the
quotation, do not put close-quote marks at the end of the first paragraph. Put
open-quote marks at the beginning of the next paragraph. This is known as a
“running quotation.”
June 2019 21
The book “Dracula” has been made into
several movies.
Did you see the movie “The Great
Escape”?
She saw the musical “The Phantom of the
Opera.”
Irving Berlin wrote the song “Oh, How I
Hate to Get Up in the Morning.”
Their great “watchdog” held the flashlight for the burglar.
When his sister came home from boot camp, she said she needed to use the “head.”
“Head” is military jargon for “bathroom.”
The teacher said, “You must memorize ‘the
Gettysburg address’ for class Monday.”
The lawyer said, “My client said, ‘I
didn’t do it.’”
Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases or clauses.
Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent (subordinate) clauses.
Relative pronouns introduce dependent clauses and are the subject of the clause.
Conjunctive adverbs look like conjunctions.
Correlative conjunctions come in pairs and join two things. Punctuation is not necessary.
June 2019 22
for
and
nor
but
or
yet
so
(FANBOYS)
The following are some subordinating conjunctions:
after
although
as
as if
because
before
even though
if
in order that
rather than
since
so that
than
that
though
unless
until
when
where
whether
while
who
whom
whose
which
that
therefore
moreover
consequently
however
nevertheless
otherwise
furthermore
as a result
meanwhile
thus
both ____ and
whether ____ or
since ____ therefore
neither ____ nor
if ____ then
but ____ also
either ____ or
not so ____ as
Pronouns
● Pronouns take the place of nouns.
● Pronouns must agree with their antecedent nouns.
● Use a subject nominative pronoun when the pronoun is the actor before the verb.
● Use an object pronoun when the pronoun is the object after the verb or preposition.
● Reflexive (self) pronouns need to reflect back to themselves.
Indefinite Pronouns
Some indefinite pronouns are always singular.
Some indefinite pronouns are always plural.
Some indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural.
June 2019 23
everyone
anyone
someone
no one
everybody
anybody
somebody
nobody
everything
anything
something
nothing
each
either
neither
both
many
several
few
all
some
any
none
Verbs
Verb Tense
NOTE: If you are unsure of which form to use, substitute the synonymous verb in
parentheses. The first column of verbs is intransitive; those verbs do not act on some
other object. The second column of verbs is transitive; those verbs do perform an action
on some other object.
June 2019 24
PRESENT
PAST
PAST PARTICIPLE
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
jump
jumped
have, has jumped
jumping
go
went
have, has gone
going
write
wrote
have, has written
writing
The following are tricky verbs:
1
lie (to rest)
and
2
lay (to place)
sit (to rest)
and
set (to place)
rise (to get up)
and
raise (to lift up)
lie
lay
have lain
is lying
lay
laid
has laid
am laying
sit
sat
have sat
are sitting
set
set
has set
am setting
rise
rose
has risen
is rising
raise
raised
have raised
are raising
Common Grammar Errors
Wrong Tense or Verb Form
● Wrong: Tilson done them a favor.
● Right: Tilson did them a favor.
Run-on Sentence/Punctuation Error
● Wrong: Sawyer is a good tennis player he beats everyone.
● Right: Sawyer is a good tennis player. He beats everyone.
● Right: Sawyer is a good tennis player, and he beats everyone.
● Right: Sawyer is a good tennis player; he beats everyone.
Sentence Fragment
● Wrong: Peaches taste sweet. Because they contain sugar.
● Right: Peaches taste sweet because they contain sugar.
● Right: Because they contain sugar, peaches taste sweet.
Lack of Agreement Between Subject and Verb
● Wrong: The bag of chips are open.
● Right: The bag of chips is open.
Wrong Word Usage
● Wrong: The cookies were divided among the two children.
● Right: The cookies were divided between the two children.
Missing Commas with a Nonessential Element
● Wrong: Jay who is a mere baby salutes the flag correctly.
● Right: Jay, who is a mere baby, salutes the flag correctly.
Unnecessary Shift in Tense
● Wrong: The officer stopped the car and speaks to the driver.
● Right: The officer stopped the car and spoke to the driver.
Missing Commas in a Series
● Wrong: She invited Tom Jerry and me to go swimming.
● Right: She invited Tom, Jerry and me to go swimming.
June 2019 25
Missing or Misplaced Possessive Apostrophe
● Wrong: Edisons inventions make life easier.
● Right: Edison’s inventions make life easier.
Confusion of “its” and “it’s”
● Wrong: Its not funny if its tail gets caught.
● Right: It’s not funny if its tail gets caught.
Objective Case Pronouns Used as Subjects
● Wrong: You and me should go before the store closes.
● Right: You and I should go before the store closes.
Unnecessary Commas with an Essential Element
● Wrong: Men, who are shy, make bad detectives.
● Right: Men who are shy make bad detectives.
Dangling or Misplaced Modifier
● Wrong: Reading in the library, the fire alarm startled me.
● Right: While I was reading in the library, the fire alarm startled me.
● Right: While reading in the library, I was startled by the fire alarm.
Lack of Agreement Between Pronoun and Antecedent
● Wrong: Anyone can attend, but they must pay first.
● Right: Anyone can attend, but he or she must pay first.
Wrong or Missing Preposition
● Wrong: The new computer differs with the old one in style.
● Right: The new computer differs from the old one in style.
Vague Pronoun Reference
● Wrong: The teacher told her student that she needed a break from school.
● Right: The teacher told her student, “I need a break from school.”
Unnecessary Shift in Pronoun
● Wrong: When we expect good results, you get them.
● Right: When we expect good results, we get them.
June 2019 26
Comma Splice
● Wrong: The woman ran down the street, her daughter followed her.
● Right: The woman ran down the street. Her daughter followed her.
● Right: The woman ran down the street, and her daughter followed her.
Wrong or Missing Verb Ending
● Wrong: Friday, he bounce a check.
● Right: Friday, he bounced a check.
Missing Comma in a Compound Sentence
● Wrong: The piano plays well but it weighs a ton.
● Right: The piano plays well, but it weighs a ton.
Missing Comma After an Introductory Element
● Wrong: While the dogs ate the cat stayed away from its dish.
● Right: While the dogs ate, the cat stayed away from its dish.
Subjective Pronouns Used for Objects
● Wrong: The fire alarm startled my student and I.
● Right: The fire alarm startled my student and me.
Objective Pronouns Used for Subjects
● Wrong: Rosita and myself will present our findings.
● Right: Rosita and I will present our findings.
Lack of Parallelism
● Wrong: He liked singing, acting, and was a great dancer.
● Right: He liked singing, acting and dancing.
June 2019 27
Spelling/Word Usage 1
Below is the first of three lists of commonly confused words for your reviewing pleasure.
Look them up for more details!
June 2019 28
accepted
excepted
advice
advise
alters
altars
assent
ascent
aid
aide
isle
aisle
ally
alley
anecdote
antidote
bale
bail
bear
bare
fare
fair
feinted
fainted
envelop
envelope
further
farther
fazes
phases
flare
flair
forbears
forebears
palate
pallet
palette
guarantee
guaranty
forego
forgo
lose
loose
libel
liable
morale
moral
materiel
material
miners
minors
naval
navel
passed
past
piece
peace
peeked
peaked
piqued
peddle
pedal
reign
rain
rein
prophesy
prophecy
raise
raze
rapped
wrapped
rapt
respectively
respectfully
rout
route
straight
strait
seen
scene
Spelling/Word Usage 2
June 2019 29
stake
steak
weather
whether
whose
who’s
vale
veil
yore
your
you’re
vane
vain
vein
illicit
elicit
excess
access
affects
effects
allude
elude
grille
grill
hear
here
herd
heard
whole
hole
hair
hare
its
it’s
idyll
idle
idol
instance
instant
later
latter
lesson
lessen
choose
chose
site
cite
sight
chaff
chafe
cord
chord
compliment
complement
descent
decent
dissent
dessert
desert
draft
draught
duels
duals
pair
pear
pare
patience
patients
presents
presence
principal
principle
prosecute
persecute
polls
poles
poor
pour
pore
right
write
rite
quiet
serge
quite
surge
Spelling/Word Usage 3
_____________________________________________________________________
sown sewn
corps corpse
sheer shear
shone shown
soars sores
taut taught
week weak
waste waist
stare stair
apprised appraised
berths births
better bettor
bored board
break brake
buy by
foul fowl
bolder boulder
borne born
beech beach
scrip script
vise vice
threw through
hoard horde
coarse course
conscience conscious
clamber clamor
gorilla guerrilla
inhuman inhumane
flaunt flout
flack flak
hanger hangar
led lead
mantle mantel
pealed peeled
pier peer
proceeded preceded
June 2019 30
perpetuation perpetration
road rode
tracked tract
Commonly Misspelled Words
_________________________________________________
Absence
Acceptable
Accommodate
Acquire
Amateur
Arctic
Buoy
Calendar
Camouflage
Caribbean
Cemetery
Changeable
Conscientious
Consensus
Definite
Dependent
Dilemma
Fluorescent
Gauge
Government
Grateful
Harass
Hierarchy
Hygiene
Indict
Inoculate
Jewelry
Judgment
Leisure
Liaison
License
Maintenance
Maneuver
Millennium
Minuscule
Misspell
Noticeable
Occurred/occurrence
Omission
Parliament
Pastime
Perseverance
Personnel
Plagiarize
Possession
Prayers
Precede
Privilege
Pronunciation
Queue
Questionnaire
Relevant
Repetition
Secretary
Seize
Separate
Sergeant
Supersede
Tomorrow
Tyranny
Usable
Vacuum Vicious
June 2019 31
