Grammar & Punctuation

A Helpful Guide Brought to You By:Meghan Perkins, Peer Tutor at

Endicott College Writing Center

Table of ContentsComma Fiend

Dependent Clauses, Page 3Compound Sentences, Page 4Comma Splice, Page 5Nonrestrictive Element, Page 6Restrictive Element, Page 7Comma in a Series, Page 8Unnecessary Commas, Page 9

Run-on Sentences, Page 10Subject-Verb Agreement, Page 11Sentence Fragment, Page 12Active and Passive Voice, Page 13Pronoun Agreement, Page 14

Word ChoiceWho/That, Page 15They’re/There/Their, Page 16Your/You’re, Page 17Its/It’s, Page 18Affect/Effect, Page 19Accept/Except, Page 20

PunctuationPossessive Apostrophe, Page 21Dialogue, Page 22Colons, Page 23Semicolons, Page 24Dashes, Page 25

Practice and Research, Page 26

Comma FiendDependent Clause

When using an introductory phrase or clause that does not act as a full sentence, it is then a dependent clause and must be followed by a comma before the independent clause, or complete thought.

ExampleIncorrect: When I was twelve I broke my arm.Correct: When I was twelve, I broke my arm.

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Comma FiendCompound Sentences

A compound sentence has two or more parts that could act as complete sentences on their own.However, sentences can be joined using conjunctions:

FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, soUse comma before conjunction to initiate compound sentence

ExampleIncorrect: I wanted to go to the movies but I stayed home to finish my essay.Correct: I wanted to go to the movies, but I stayed home to finish my essay.

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Comma FiendComma Splice

A comma splice occurs when two sentences that can stand on their own are connected by only a comma (Lunsford, n.d.). To fix this, change punctuation to a semicolon or period, add a conjunction (FANBOYS), or restructure sentence.

ExamplesIncorrect: I took five semesters of Latin, it was the worst five semesters of my life.Correct: I took five semesters of Latin; it was the worst five semesters of my life.Correct: I took five semesters of Latin, and it was the worst five semesters of my life.Correct: My five semesters of Latin were the worst ones of my life. Back to beginning

Comma FiendNonrestrictive Element

A nonrestrictive element is a phrase that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence and can be taken out, and thus, must be sectioned off using commas (Lunsford, n.d.).

Example Incorrect: Joey the club president of Peer Leaders organized the volunteer event.Correct: Joey, the club president of Peer Leaders, organized the volunteer event.

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Comma FiendRestrictive Element

Restrictive element is integral to the meaning of the sentence, and thus, cannot be taken out (Lunsford, n.d.). Often commas are misused in this case and are actually unnecessary.

ExampleIncorrect: People, who want to change to renewable fuels, oppose the Keystone XL Pipeline.Correct: People who want to change to renewable fuels oppose the Keystone XL Pipeline.

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Comma FiendComma in a Series

When writing a series, the words are often separated by commas. Although journalists often leave out the comma between the last two items, it is best to keep the comma in professional writing.

ExampleIncorrect: Sally enjoys biking, running, swimming and rock climbing.Correct: Sally enjoys biking, running, swimming, and rock climbing.

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Comma FiendUnnecessary Commas

Sometimes, the use of commas is overdone and unnecessary.

ExampleIncorrect: The ballots were counted, and separated with utmost care.Correct: The ballots were counted and separated with utmost care.

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Run-on SentencesRun-on Sentences

Also called fused sentences, run-on sentences occur when two sentences that can stand alone are combined without any distinguishing punctuation, conjunctions, or words (Lunsford, n.d.).

ExampleIncorrect: Her hair was an unruly mess it was so tangled she could not run her fingers through it to separate the strands.Correct: Her hair was an unruly mess. It was so tangled that she could not run her fingers through it to separate the strands.Back to beginning

Subject-Verb AgreementSubject-Verb Agreement

A verb must agree with the subject in number and in person.

ExamplesIncorrect: Each of the volunteers help with the construction of the house.Correct: Each [ of the volunteers ] helps with construction of the house.

Incorrect: The students and teacher board the bus for the field trip.Correct: The [ students and] teacher boards the bus for the field trip.

Incorrect: She was one of the students who was caught cheating.Correct: She was one of the students who were caught cheating.

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Sentence FragmentSentence Fragment

When a sentence is an incomplete thought, it is a sentence fragment. This often occurs when a sentence lacks either a subject or a verb or both (Lunsford, n.d.).

ExamplesIncorrect: After we had cake and ice cream.Correct: After we had cake and ice cream, we opened presents.

Incorrect: And ran through the halls on the last day of school.Correct: And we ran through the halls on the last day of school.

Incorrect: Then, a bunch of my friends who visited from Vermont for the Halloween weekend.Correct: Then, a bunch of my friends who visited from Vermont for the Halloween weekend went to Salem. Back to beginning

Active and Passive VoiceActive Voice

In active voice, the subject performs the action the verb expresses.Example: My dog eats my homework.

Passive VoiceIn passive voice, the subject is performed on. The subject, or doer of action, is often introduced with a prepositional phrase. Passive voice often uses various forms of “to be” (will be, is being, is doing, was doing, etc.)Example: My homework is being eaten by my dog.

Choose Active over Passive for Clear, Concise Writing

Incorrect: The research is being conducted by scientists at NASA.Correct: Scientists at NASA are conducting research.

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Pronoun AgreementPronoun Agreement

Be sure to make the pronouns agree in number and gender with subject and verb.

ExamplesIncorrect: Either George or Nathan will be asked to perform their song.Correct: Either George or Nathan will be asked to perform his song.

Incorrect: Every person has the right to voice their opinion.Correct: Every person has the right to voice his or her opinion.

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Word ChoiceWho/That

When referencing a person, use “who”.When referencing a thing, use “that”.

ExampleIncorrect: She is someone that I can trust.Correct: She is someone who I can trust.

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Word ChoiceThey’re/There/Their

Use “they’re” when implying “they are”.Use “there” when referencing place or thing.Use “their” when discussing possession.

ExamplesIncorrect: There activities that I like very much.Correct: They’re activities that I like very much.

Incorrect: Their, we visited the Cliffs of Moor. Correct: There, we visited the Cliffs of Moor.

Incorrect: They’re presentations were the best I’ve seen.Correct: Their presentations were the best I’ve seen.Back to beginning

Word ChoiceYour/You’re

Use “your” when implying possession.Use “you’re” when meaning “you are”.

ExamplesIncorrect: Your coming with me to the game.Correct: You’re coming with me to the game.

Incorrect: You’re dog bit my foot.Correct: Your dog bit my foot.

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Word ChoiceIts/It’s

Use “its” when implying possession.Remember the other possessive pronouns: hers, theirs, yours, etc.

Use “it’s” when meaning “it is”. Remember that every contraction uses an apostrophe: We are driving / We’re driving.

ExamplesIncorrect: Its the best sport in the world.Correct: It’s the best sport in the world.

Incorrect: Spot is it’s name.Correct: Spot is its name.Back to beginning

Word ChoiceAffect/Effect

“Affect” is a verb.“Effect” is a noun.

ExamplesIncorrect: The affect of the antibiotics is noticeable.Correct: The effect of the antibiotics is noticeable.

Incorrect: The rain effected the way the game was played.Correct: The rain affected the way the game was played.

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Word ChoiceAccept/Except

Use “accept” as the verb, “to accept”.Use “except” when referencing an exception.

ExamplesIncorrect: I hope they will except my application.Correct: I hope they will accept my application.

Incorrect: We all passed the test accept for Alex.Correct: We all passed the text except for Alex. Back to beginning

PunctuationPossessive Apostrophe

Use an apostrophe to show possession.Be aware of the singular and plural differences.

ExamplesIncorrect: That is the Jones dog.Correct: That is the Jones’ dog.

Incorrect: This is my husbands bed.Correct: This is my husband’s bed. Back to beginning

PunctuationDialogue

When using dialogue, the punctuation goes inside the quotation marks.

ExamplesIncorrect: Smith, a NASA scientist, said, “The earth is round”. Correct: Smith, a NASA scientist, said, “The earth is round.”

HoweverIncorrect: Beddingfield said, “Galileo is wrong.” (Rogers 213).Correct: Beddingfied said, “Galileo is wrong” (Rogers 213).

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PunctuationColons

Use a colon when combining two sentences, but one sentence explains the meaning or finishes the thought of the first sentence.

Ex. I woke up this morning to the most annoying sound: a car alarm.

Ex. I cannot believe their record: they are 19 and 0.

Use colon to introduce a list that does not flow well within the sentence.

Ex. I am sick from eating too much junk food: ice cream, candy corn, macaroni and cheese, and pop-tarts.

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PunctuationSemicolons

Use semicolons to connect two sentences that share the same idea or thought.

Ex. When the kayaking club combined with the Adventure Club, we joined it; however, we were disappointed in that there was only one kayaking trip scheduled.

Use semicolons for a list when commas are not strong enough.

Ex. I listen to alternative rock music like Goo Goo Dolls, Mumford & Sons, and O.A.R.; and punk music like Mayday Parade, All Time Low, and The Audition.

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PunctuationDashes

Use dashes when indicating a very strong pause.

Ex. The rain fell outside in torrents – it knocked on my windows like a guest.

Use dashes for appositives (descriptive expressions).

Ex. Meghan and Becky– the bridesmaids – threw a bridal shower for Alana.

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Practice and ResearchPractice

Learn, study, and practice @ http://www.chompchomp.com/menu.htm

ResearchLearn and study on the various websites used to complete this Power Point:

http://my.ilstu.edu/~jhkahn/writing.html http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/easywriter3e/20errors/19.asp http://www.distance-education.org/Articles/Grammar-Tips-for-College-Students--Common-Mistakes-That-Make-You-Look-Bad-73.html http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/539/01/ http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/proofing_grammar.shtmlwww.liberty.edu/media/2030/Common%20Punctuation%20Errors.ppt Back to beginning