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Avoid the Grammar Police

Avoid the Grammar Police. Duane Theobald dtheobal@westga.edu. Grammar Matters??. Common Grammar Concerns in Writing…. Comma Splices Sentence Fragments Utilizing Strong Verbs. First…Comma Splices!. A comma splice is… When two independent clauses are connected with only a comma

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Avoid the Grammar Police

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  1. Avoid the Grammar Police Duane Theobald dtheobal@westga.edu

  2. Grammar Matters??

  3. Common Grammar Concerns in Writing… • Comma Splices • Sentence Fragments • Utilizing Strong Verbs

  4. First…Comma Splices! • A comma splice is… • When two independent clauses are connected with only a comma • A comma splice happens when you use a comma to join two independent clauses. That’s a no-no in grammar! Commas are used for separating, not connecting.

  5. How to Fix Comma Splices: • Consider the following sentence: • My family bakes together nearly every night, we then get to enjoy everything we make together. • Is this correct? Why or why not? • NO! There are two independent clauses joined by a comma! • How do we fix it? • Correction #1: Break the sentence into two separate sentences • Correction #2: Add a coordinating conjunction and a comma • Correction #3: Add a subordinating conjunction with a comma

  6. Let’s Practice! • The following sentences contain comma splices. For each sentence, suggest two possible revisions. • I didn’t like the movie, it was way too long. • She and Jerry are getting married in the fall, they didn’t want a summer wedding. • My favorite bands are all really loud, playing loud music is good for stress relief.

  7. Also, when considering when to use a comma, consult the (comma)ndments!

  8. Sentence Fragments… • Fail to be a sentence because they cannot stand alone. They also do not contain even one independent clause. • Sometimes, fragments may be pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main clause. These can be fixed in several ways. • Fragment: Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering. • Possible Revision: Purdue offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.

  9. Sentence Fragments (cont’d) • Also, remember that some fragments are not clearly pieces of sentences that have been left unattached to the main clause; they are written as main clauses but lack a subject or main verb. • No Main Verb: A story with deep thoughts and emotions. • Possible Revision:She told a story with deep thoughts and emotions. • No Subject: When the ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product. • Possible Revision:The ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.

  10. Let’s Practice! • Read the following sentences and determine whether they are complete sentences or fragments. • While I was driving to work and there was an accident on the road. • Wherever I go, I take my cell phone with me. • As soon as I finish this grammar exercise, I will eat lunch. • Whether I complete this course and get credit for it in the fall. • So that I don’t spend too much time on any of my projects, I make sure I take frequent breaks.

  11. Strong Verbs: First…what is a “weak” Verb? • is, was, are, were, shows, states, says, uses, seems, appears (very BORING!) • Examples: • Incorrect: In Something to Declare, Julia Alvarez shows that there is a connection between her writing and society by writing about her experiences with competing cultural expectations. • Correct: In this case, in Something to Declare, Julia Alvarez explores her experiences with competing cultural expectations in order to construct a connection between her writing and society.

  12. With Verbs, also remember… MAKE SUBJECT AND VERBS AGREE! • Singular subjects need singular verbs (which end in “s” in the present)-The dog barks. • Plural subjects (which often end in “s” need plural verbs)-The dogs bark. • Think of there being one “s” to go around: either on the subject or the verb (this doesn’t work with irregular plurals like “children”) • Consult A Writer’s Resource for more information: pgs. 491-493

  13. With Verbs, Also remember…(cont’d) USE VERBS YOU KNOW! • A thesaurus can make you sound ridiculous if you choose words that don’t fit in the context of your sentence. Use your online access to the Oxford English Dictionary to see a word in a zillion contexts, or “Google” the word to see how it is used, just for a definition. • Example: • Incorrect: Although Alvarez’s poems and essays commence from a particularly American-Hispanic perspective, she thoroughly reconnoiters basic human characteristics. • Correct: Although Alvarez’s poems and essays stem from a particularly American-Hispanic perspective, she thoroughly scrutinizes basic human characteristics.

  14. With Verbs, Also remember…(cont’d) USE THE LITERARY PRESENT WHEN WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE! • Note: Treat the book as your present time. ANYTHING that happens in the book-including what the author writes, scrutinizes, dissects, etc.-is discussed in the present tense. • This means that anything that the book treats as in the past-what happened before the present time of the book=is discussed in past tense

  15. Questions?? • 678-839-6513 • writing@westga.edu • TLC 1201 (First floor, past the snacks) • www.westga.edu/writing • Like us on Facebook: • University Writing Center (UWG) • Duane Theobald (Manager of the UWC) • 678-839-5312

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