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11 Rules of writing, grammar and punctuation

11 Rules of writing, grammar and punctuation. Rule 1: use a comma followed by a conjunction and/or semicolon when combining two clauses. Examples: Incorrect: The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo, but still ventured off unafraid.

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11 Rules of writing, grammar and punctuation

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  1. 11 Rules of writing, grammar and punctuation

  2. Rule 1: use a comma followed by a conjunction and/or semicolon when combining two clauses. • Examples: • Incorrect: The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo, but still ventured off unafraid. • Correct: The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo, but he still ventured off unafraid. • Incorrect: Because the witness was unavailable the judge allowed the introduction of the testimony pursuant to an exception to the hearsay rule. • Correct: Because the witness was unavailable, the judge allowed the introduction of the testimony pursuant to an exception to the hearsay rule.

  3. Rule 2: use commas to enclose nonrestrictive clauses or phrases, which have no importance to the meaning of the sentence. • Examples: • Incorrect: The bus driver with her ears tuned to the roar decided to take the grumbling bus on a detour across the football field. • Correct: The bus driver, her ears tuned to the roar, decided to take the grumbling bus on a detour across the football field.  • Incorrect: King and Lucille, his customized black Gibson have electrified audiences all over the world. • Correct: King and Lucille, his customized black Gibson, have electrified audiences all over the world.

  4. Rule 3: enclose parenthetic information between commas. • Use commas to separate pieces of information that are not essential to a sentence meaning. • Examples: • Incorrect: The audience which was at first indifferent became more and more interested. • Correct: The audience, which was at first indifferent, became more and more interested. • If the non-essential information is preceded by a conjunction, no additional comma is needed after the conjunction: • He saw us coming, and unaware that we had learned of his treachery, greeted us with a smile.

  5. Rule 4: use a comma to separate an introductory clause from a dependent introductory clause. • Examples: • Incorrect: Although the situation is perilous there is still one chance of escape. • Correct: Although the situation is perilous, there is still one chance of escape. • Also use a comma before independent clauses beginning with and or but: • The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.

  6. Rule 5: To indicate possession, end a singular noun with an apostrophe followed by an “s”. • If there is no apostrophe, the noun’s form would seem plural. • Examples: • Incorrect: The shoes laces were tattered and torn. • Correct: The shoe’s laces were tattered and torn.

  7. Rule 6: Use proper punctuation to integrate a quotation into a sentence. • If the quotation is an independent clause, add the quotation after a colon. If it ends with “saying”, “thinks” or another verb indicating, use a comma. • Examples: • Incorrect: As he fell, he thought: “No not again!” • Correct: As he fell, he thought, “No not again!” • Incorrect: The notice carried very harsh tones, “You MUST cease and desist.” • Correct: The notice carried very harsh tones: “You MUST cease and desist.”

  8. Rule 7: use the correct verb tense. • Use a general tense that is consistent with the subject of your sentence. • Examples: • Incorrect: I went shopping on Black Friday and seen a long line at my favorite store. • Correct: I went shopping on Black Friday and saw a long line at my favorite store.

  9. Rule 8: Properly refer to the correct subject when using a pronoun, particular phrase, or an appositive. • Examples: • Incorrect: Decorated in mistletoe, the couple stayed warm by the fireplace. • Correct: The couple stayed warm by the fireplace that was decorated in mistletoe. • Incorrect: Vibrant and festive, my friends decorated their Christmas tree. • Correct: My friends decorated their Christmas tree so that it looked vibrant and festive.

  10. Rule 9: Use parallel construction to make a strong point and create a smooth flow. • Parallel Construction: A sentence construction where equal parts are expressed using similar grammatical forms. Each part of speech in each idea has a counterpart in the next idea. There is no limit when it comes to making your written thought come across clearer. • Examples: • Incorrect: The French, the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.  • Correct: The French, the Italian, the Spanish and the Portuguese. • Incorrect: I was glad to be departing for Australia but I was nervous when I left my apartment. • Correct: I was glad to be departing for Australia but nervous to be leaving my apartment. 

  11. Rule 10: Use the active voice unless you specifically need to use the passive voice. • Active voice: A sentence style in which the subject performs the action. Usually preferable to passive voice unless the passive is specifically called for.  • Passive voice: A sentence style in which the action is performed ON the subject. Usually inferior to the active voice.  • Subject: The thing in the sentence that is being discussed (usually a noun or a noun phrase) 

  12. Rule 10: Use the active voice unless you specifically need to use the passive voice. (CONT.) • Examples: • Incorrect: My first visit to Boston will always be remembered by me.  • Correct: I shall always remember my first visit to Boston.  • Incorrect: A survey of this region was taken in 1900.   • Correct: This region was surveyed in 1900.  *What may seem to sound more poetic just makes the writing seem choppy and unclear . This rule provides a more direct and “to the point” idea, giving more opportunity to express more. Given the broad essay topics and limited number of pages often assigned in a college setting, applying this rule can be extremely helpful.

  13. Rule 11: Omit unnecessary words • Avoid using redundant or excess modifiers that clutter your writing. • Don’t use phrases when one word will do. • Examples: • Incorrect: At this point in time it is already to late to gather a sufficient number of samples. • Correct: Now it is to late to gather enough samples.

  14. Rule 11: Omit unnecessary words (CONT.) Instead of… Try… A number of A sufficient number of At this point in time Is able to On a monthly basis On the grounds that In order to Several, a few, many Enough Now Can Monthly Because To

  15. Sources • Bartleby.com - Great Books Online. 27 Nov. 2011 <http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk.html> • Emory University. Emory Writing Center. 27 Nov. 2011 <http://writingcenter.emory.edu/resources/grammar_resources/verb_tense_and_subject-verb_agreement.html> • IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. 29 Nov. 2011 <http://www.kentlaw.edu/academics/lrw/grinker/LwtaCommas.htm> • Junketstudies - Study Guides and Resources. 29 Nov. 2011 <http://junketstudies.com/joomla/11-rules-of-writing/the-rules> • Plain Language.gov - Improving Communication from the Federal Government to the Public. 28 Nov. 2011 <http://www.plainlanguage.gov/howto/guidelines/bigdoc/writeOmitUnnecc.cfm>

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