Conventions for the Undead
Avoiding the potential apocalypse of grammar, punctuation,
capitalization, spelling, and word usage mistakes…
Simple Sentences
A simple sentence is a complete thought.
• Subject(s) + Predicate(s) (the verb and any
additional information)
Examples:
1. Zombies have feelings.
2. Zombies and humans have feelings.
3. Zombies and humans have feelings and crave
food.
Your Tourniquet: Simple Sentences
On a fresh sheet of tree flesh, complete the following
sentences:
1) A track of muddy footprints ______________.
2) No one else in the town ____________________.
3) _____________ jabbed into my stomach.
Compound Sentences
A compound sentence contains two or more
simple sentences joined by a comma and a
conjunction (*FANBOYS).
Examples:
1. The explosion erupted loudly, and the city
turned into darkness.
2. Screams echoed through the streets, yet
not a soul was heard.
3. The outbreak followed, for the radiation
spread in the aftermath.
*FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Your Tourniquet: Compound Sentences
On the same sheet of tree skin, complete the following
sentences. Don’t forget to use FANBOYS!
1) My heart began to race, ______.
2) A foul stench came from the basement, ______.
3) __________, for broken glass lined the path through the
hallway.
Fragments
A fragment is an incomplete thought, lacking
either a subject OR predicate.
Examples:
*Fragments can be
beneficial when used
1. The smell of death.
for dramatic purpose!
2. Drudging through the streets.
Yes, it’s your tourniquet again!
Transform these two fragments into complete
thoughts.
Double Tap the Double Negatives
• A double negative occurs when you word your sentence
in a way that contradicts the intended meaning.
Example:
1. I have not never been bitten by a flesh eating corpse.
2. The man didn’t do nothing to prevent his own son from
being bitten.
Now, smash these imposters and save these sentences!
When Do We Use Commas?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8q5Dm724LY
Comma Usage
• Using names: When directly addressing
an individual or a group, use commas
to “trap” the specified person(s).
Example:
1. Let’s eat Grandma.
OR
Let’s eat, Grandma.
Comma Usage
• Multiple adjectives: When describing something
using more than one adjective, place a comma
between them.
Example:
1. The dark, mysterious room creaked with each step.
2. An unsightly, repugnant creature jumped down
from the skylight.
*Two tests to check for accuracy:
1. Place the word and between the
two adjectives.
2. Try reversing them.
Comma Usage
• Use a comma to separate three or more
words (or phrases) in a series.
Example:
1. I gasped for breath, picked up the pipe,
and lunged into the darkness.
2. He decided to eat, sleep, and eat some
more.
Comma Usage
Use commas BEFORE conjunctions, not
after!
BAD Example:
• I tried to run when I saw the zombies but, it
was too late!
GOOD Example:
• The zombies tried to eat me, but I destroyed
them with my crossbow.
Your Tourniquet: Comma Usage
Place commas in the appropriate locations based on the rules
previously covered.
1. I feel like taking an extended, relaxing nap to regain my strength.
2. I stopped to build a shelter, for it was getting dark.
3. “Can I borrow your crossbow, Daryl?”
4. Let’s sneak into the store, find some food, and get out of here,
Grandpa.
5. I stuck with my friend, Michonne, when the dead started rising.
Apostrophes
• Use apostrophes when combining words into contractions.
Example:
1. The grotesque creature couldn’t fight the urge to attack. (could not)
2. Don’t make a sound, or they’ll find you. (do not; they will)
• Use apostrophes when showing ownership or relationship through possessive
nouns. (Do NOT put an apostrophe to simply pluralize a word…)
Example:
1. The Zombie’s breath was overbearing.
2. Unfortunately, the girl’s foot slipped on the bloodstained floor.
Quotations Marks: Direct vs. Indirect Quotes
• A direct quote, the exact words of a person, requires quotation marks.
Example:
1. Stumbling through the woods, the terrified girl screamed, “Somebody, help me!”
2. “Hurry! Come over here,” whispered a dark figure in the night.
3. “What’s your name?” questioned the fearful girl, crouching into the thorny brush.
• An indirect quote, words paraphrased into your own words, does NOT require quotation
marks.
Example:
NOTE: Punctuation goes
1. Stumbling through the woods, the terrified girl screamed for help. inside quotation marks.
Also, use quotation marks
2. A dark figure whispered to quickly hide in the thorny brush.
around the titles of songs,
short stories, TV
episodes, and newspaper
Your Tourniquet: Apostrophes and Quotation Marks
• Place proper punctuation in the appropriate locations based on the rules
previously covered. (commas, apostrophes, quotation marks, etc.)
1. Whispering quietly the boy answered my name is Gerrard.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The girl panicked and afraid said im Leah. Nice to meet you.
Sorry its under such dire circumstances Gerrard replied.
Noticing the bloody gash Gerrard screamed Leah youve been bitten!
Raheem Patel making a surprise appearance sighed i guess you shouldve
listened to my news report.
Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes
• its (possessive pronoun) vs. it’s (it is)
Practice:
Carol watched the walker make ________ way over to the lake.
_______ weird to see a walker checking their own reflection!
Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes
• lose (verb; to misplace) vs. loose (adjective; not tightly attached)
Practice:
Carol was so tired from running, she was starting to _________
her mind. She decided to tie a _________ rope around herself
Katinss-style so she could sleep in a tree.
Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes
• of (preposition; indicating distance or relation) vs. have (verb; to own or
possess)
Practice:
She could not _________ been too careful. For in the middle
_______ the night, hungry hordes of zombies often lurked through
the forest.
Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes
• there (location) vs. their (possession) vs. they’re (they are; they were)
Practice:
Surrounded by branches, ____________ wasn’t much room to move
around. Anxiously waiting, she felt ____________ presence.
“___________ right below me!,” she thought.
Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes
• to (preposition/infinitive) vs. too (adverb; very or also) vs. two (number)
Practice:
Alarmed but confident, she glanced at the weapons she had used
______ many times ________ count. Suddenly a pair of zombies
started trying _________ climb the tree! Carol plotted her attack
on the _______ monsters.
Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes
•we’re (we are) vs. were (plural past-tense verb) vs. where (location)
Practice:
As she started planning ________ she would jump, she noticed the
bushes _________ rustling. As she stared into the brush, Rick and the
survivors appeared! “___________ here to help!,” yelled Rick to Carol.
Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes
• who’s (who is; who has) vs. whose (possessive pronoun)
Practice:
Carol sighed with relief. “_________ going to kill these creatures so
I can get down?,” she asked.
“__________ turn is it? I think it’s Maggie’s.” Carl replied.
Word Usage: Avoiding Potential Catastrophes
•your (possessive pronoun) vs. you’re (you are)
Practice:
Michonne stepped next to Maggie “____________ knife looks a little
dull,” she observed. “If ___________ going to get rid of these things
quickly, you should use my sword!”