English Grammar and Punctuation

Grammar and Punctuation

Grammar and Punctuation

​Why is it important?

Grammar and punctuation is MOST important for clarity.
Correct grammar and punctuation can increase your credibility
Grammar (and word choice) is important for Search Engine Optimization

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What are common grammar mistakes you notice?

​Common Grammar Mistakes

​Your vs You're

Your and you’re are homophones.
That means they sound the same when spoken aloud but have two different meanings.

Your is a possessive pronoun. It indicates that something belongs to a singular second person. Ex: You forgot YOUR homework.
You’re is a contraction of you are. Ex: You're late for class.

​Affect vs. Effect

Affect is a verb that means “to cause an effect.” Effect is a noun that refers to a result.

Example: How will the snow affect our commute time?
Example: Drinking coffee will have an effect on my concentration.

​That vs. Which

That is used to introduce a clause that adds necessary information to a sentence. Which is used to introduce a clause that adds detail but isn’t critical to the sentence.

Example: One of my students, the one that is always late, is struggling to keep up with class work.
Example: My car, which is black, needs winter tires

​Less vs. Fewer

Less is used to describe an abstract or otherwise uncountable amount of items. Fewer is used for countable numbers of items.

Example: The students had less time to work on the assignment today.

Example: If fewer people used disposable water bottles, there would be less plastic in landfills.

Commas and Semicolons

​Commas

Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items.

Example: My husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew will be at my birthday dinner tonight.

Note: the oxford comma

Commas

Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the order of the adjectives is interchangeable.

Example: He is a smart, kind man.
We could also say: He is a kind, smart man.

Commas

Avoid the comma splice!
A comma splice is when you use the comma to separate two complete sentences.
Incorrect: He walked all the way home, he shut the door.
Correct: He walked all the way home. He shut the door.
Correct: After he walked all the way home, he shut the door.
Correct: He walked all the way home, and he shut the door

​Commas

Use a comma to set off an introductory phrase.

Example: Having finally arrived on campus, we went to the library.

​Commas

Use commas to set off nonessential words, clauses, and phrases.

Correct: Beth, who is my sister, sells hot tubs.

Incorrect: Beth who is my sister sells hot tubs.

Semicolons

What is correct semicolon use?
The most common semicolon use is joining two independent clauses without using a coordinating conjunction like and.
Semicolons can also replace commas when listing items that already use commas, such as listing cities and states.

Semicolons

Examples:

I ordered a cheeseburger for lunch; I'll have a salad for supper.

Taylor has gone to the library; her brother has gone to watch the soccer game.

Semicolons

Semicolons are used instead of a conjunction word (and, but, or). You CANNOT use both a conjunction and a semicolon.

Incorrect: On vacation in Africa, I saw a lion; and it was eating a zebra.
Instead: On vacation in Africa, I saw a lion; it was eating a zebra.

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Are there any questions?