Grammar Tips

Before turning in any paper, always have at least one other person check it over for grammar and spelling mistakes. Chances are they will spot something that you did not see.

An easy way to recognize an adverb is by adding -ly to an adjective. For example “normally” is the adverb in the sentence “She is speaking normally again”.

Always make sure that your subjects and your verbs agree.

There are six different tenses in the English Language including: Simple Present, Present Perfect, Simple Past, Past Perfect, Future and Future perfect. Each one is slightly different from the other.

Taking the time to perfect your grammar will help you in a lot of situations. For example: when you are writing a paper for school, giving a speech, or interviewing for a job. The ability to speak and write with excellent grammar will enable you to sound more intelligent and educated to those who are reading and listening to what you have to say.

Using commas can be tricky. Remember the following uses for commas:
-to separate independent clauses when joined by "and", "but", "for", "or", "nor", "so", "yet".
-after introductory clauses, phrases, or words
-in the middle of a sentence to set off clauses, phrases, and words
-to separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses
-to separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe a noun
-to indicate a distinct pause or shift
-to set off geographical names, items in dates, addresses, and titles in names
-to transfer between the main sentence and a quotation

When writing, be careful while using spell-check! It can only check for the accuracy of your spelling, and not the meaning you are trying to convey. If you type "for" when you meant to type "four," spell-check won't mark it as an incorrect spelling!

Be conscious of when to use "a" and "an." As a general rule....

"A" is used when the word following it begins with a consonant sound.
Example: I went to a movie with friends.

You will use "an" when the word proceeding it begins with a vowel sound: 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', or 'u,' and sometimes 'h' (the word 'hour' is pronounced with the vowel 'o').
Example: Marcus is an Eagles fan.

The difference between "its" and "it's" can be tricky making it difficult to know which one to use when.

"Its" is the possessive pronoun showing that something belongs to it. Example: The car lost control and flipped on its side. In this example the side in the sentence belongs to the car so you use "its" to show that possession.

"It's" is a contraction of the words "it is" or "it has". Example: It's been raining for hours. In this example, the words "it has" have been shortened to "it's" in the sentence. the apostrophe illustrates that it is two words that have been made into one.

Try to avoid contractions in formal writing wherever possible. "We do not sell this item" looks and sounds better than "We don't sell this item."

Avoid these common grammar mistakes –
Do not use “alright” – use “all right”
“Alot” is not a word – use “a lot”
Don’t confuse “all together” with “altogether”

Do not ever confuse “texting” with writing. Texting is very informal, uses slang words and acronyms and is as far from proper grammar as it can be.

If you are still unsure of proper grammar and usage, consult a style manual. Many high schools, colleges, and other institutions will adhere to the grammar rules set forth in a specific manual (i.e. the Kate Turabian manual), and it may be a good idea to have your own copy of this manual for your own use.