Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
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This GSP Review Guide was assembled for a special problems class led by Dr. Courtney Meyers.
The review guide and practice test was complied by Madeline Moore and edited by Kelsey Fletcher.

Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
Noun: Part of speech that names a person, place, thing, idea or activity.
• Dr. Meyers, Japan, water bottle, fishing
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Proper Noun: A noun that names a specific person, place, or a particular event or group.
• Raider Red, Jones Stadium, the Dust Bowl
Pronoun: Part of speech that can replace a noun.
• Sentence without pronoun: The Masked Rider took the Masked Rider’s horse to the Masked Rider event.
• Sentence with pronoun: The Masked Rider took his horse to the event.
◊ Personal Pronoun: Stands in for one or more persons or things (I, me, he, she, it, ect).
◊ Reflexive Pronoun (Intensive): Combines some of the personal pronouns with self or selves (myself, her self, themselves, ect).
◊ Demonstrative Pronoun: Points out what you are writing about, (this, that, these, those).
◊ Relative Pronoun: Introduces a clause that describes nouns or pronouns (who, whom, which, that).
◊ Interrogative Pronoun: What introduces a question (who, whom, whose, which, what).
◊ Indefinite Pronoun: Doesn’t specify the persons or things they refer to, frequently is used to indefinite nobody, none, no one, one, several, some, somebody, and someone).
Verb: Expresses action or state of being, or connects a subject to a complement. It indicates if the subject is active or passive.
◊ Action Verbs: swim, jump, drop, think, dream, suppose
◊ Linking Verbs: is, feels, grows, smells, become, seem
Adjectives: Modifies or describes a noun and a pronoun.
• Huge, this, square, soft, wet, ten, twenty
• Monica tossed some carrots to the horses.
Adverbs: Modifies or describes a verb, adjectives or another adverb.
• Steven jogged quickly.
Interjections (Modifiers): Describes or limits another word or group of words.
• No, I do not want the ravioli.

Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
Prepositions: Shows the relationship between a noun or a pronoun and another noun or pronoun.
• The ewes in the contest were thin. Contest (preposition) Thin (object of the noun or pronoun)
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Conjunctions (connecting words, connectives or connectors): Connects words, phrases or clauses.
• For, and, neither, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS)...others include: either, nor, since.
Appositives: A word or group of words that restates or identifies the noun or pronoun it is next to.
• My sister Heather
• John, the gardener
Direct Objects: The verb transmits action to an object.
• He threw a loop. Loop is a direct object of threw.
Indirect Objects: Proceeds the direct object. The indirect object tells to or whom the action is done.
• He threw Jimmy a crossed loop. Loop is a direct object of threw, Jimmy is the indirect object describing the loop.
Nouns of Direct Address: The name of the person (normally) who is being spoken to.
◊ A noun of direct address is always a proper noun, does not have any grammatical relationship to any part of the sentence, and is set off by commas.
• Here is your coffee, Jeff.
Predicates: Tells what the subject does or is or what is done to the subject.
• The dog laid on the porch.
Predicate Complements (Predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives):
A verb that is used as part of a sentence, and the associated words.
• The ring is a doozy. (Noun)
• Silence is golden. (Adjective)
Sentence Adverbs: Modify the whole sentence of which they are a part of, rather than a particular word.
• (Frankly, hopefully, personally, regrettably, sincerely, strictly speaking, to be honest).
• Hopefully, we will win the contest.

Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
Subjects (Substantives): Only words in sentence that name something that has substance–people, place and things.
• Jessica, Texas, him, ours
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Subjects of an Infinitive: Is a noun (or its substitute) that is between the verb and the infinitive.
• The advisor encouraged his students to be involved in collegiate organizations. (Verb: encouraged; infinitive: to be)
Infinitives: Is the base form of a verb with TO . Usually it functions as a noun, although it can also function as an adjective or adverb.
• I like to waterski.
Gerunds: Noun, person, place, thing, idea or activity that ends in –ing and function as a noun.
• Wool judging is constructive activity.
Participles: Is a verb that ends in –ing (present participle) or –ed, -d, -t,
-en,-n (past participle).
◊ Participles may function as a adjectives, describing or modifying nouns.
• The monkey riding a dog entered the rodeo arena.
Phrases: Groups of related words that lack either a subject/predicate (a noun) or a noun/verb (an action or a state of being).
• Going to the game
Clauses: Are groups of related words that have both a subject/predicate and a verb.
• I am going to the game
◊ Independent: I am going to the game.
◊ Dependent: Because he needs to leave the game.
Sentences: Group of related words with a subject and verb, but in addition, sentences must make a complete
statement.
◊ Sentences have at least one independent clause and may have any number of dependent clauses.
• We are going to work cattle. (Independent clause)
• We are going to work cattle even though it is below freezing.
(Independent and dependent clause)

Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
To show ownership:
The placement of the apostrophe depends on whether there is one owner or more than one.
• The rocking M brand on the left shoulder indicated that the heifer was Micky’s. (Only one owner)
Plurals without an “S” on the end:
In this case, the apostrophe does before the “S”. A good way to identify this is to ask yourself, who is the owner?
◊ Such as men, American Quarter Horse Association, or chicken
• The men own the business The men’s business
• The American Quarter Horse Associations publications
• The chickens clucking The chicken’s clucking
The American Quarter Horse Association’s publications
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When a plural word ends in “S”:
In this instance, just put the apostrophe on the end:
• The wolves’ continuous attacks hurt cattle production.
• The Morris’ raise market rabbits.
When a word is contracted:
The apostrophe takes the place of the letter that is omitted:
• Do not don’t
• They are they’re
• You are you’re
Do not use an apostrophe for possessive pronouns:
Such as ours, yours, hers, its, whose, theirs.
• Ours is the dirtiest truck in the parking lot.
• The house lost its roof in the storm.
• Do you mind telling me whose party we are going to?
Its or it’s?:
Its and it’s are two of the most confused words in the English language. Only use an apostrophe in its when it is contracted from it is:
• It’s dusty in Lubbock today.
• The Mexican restaurant makes its own salsa.

Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
To introduce a list or summary:
• Buy these things at the store: a bag of milk replacer, two calf-nursing bottles and a hand-held scale.
• These include the following breed requirements: floppy ears, red color pattern and at least six functional teats on
each side of the pig’s underline.
To introduce a long direct quote:
• Thomas Jefferson wrote often about the impact of agriculture, he had this to say to George Washington in 1787:
“Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will, in the end, contribute most to real wealth, good morals
and happiness.”
To separate an initial sentence or clause from a second clause, list or phrase that supports the first in a particular way:
• Agriculture has been called one of the greatest inventions of all time. It allowed mankind to settle: growing crops,
domesticating animals, and farming led to the formation of settlements and eventually cities.
To separate items in a list if the list already includes commas:
• Texas Tech University professors were members of the panel that included Courtney Meyers, associate professor; Erica
Irlbeck, Associate Professor; and David Doerfert, professor.
• The National FFA Convention has been held in Kansas City, Mo.; Louisville, Ky.; and Indianapolis, Ind.
As second level punctuation in a series of words or phrases, which already have commas, making internal divisions:
• One store, the local ranch supply, offered weekly sales specials throughout the store; even though,
the chain farm store offers a better selection, we choose to shop locally.
To separate two complete sentences that are closely linked. The semi-colon can replace a full-stop:
• No matter your interest, agriculture education has something to offer you; Texas Tech
University program is one the elite in the nation.
• Don’t go near the goats; they could head-butt you.
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Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
Commas are not necessary when only two items appear in a list.
• Incorrect: The custom harvesting company purchased a new planter, and baler.
• Correct: The custom harvesting company purchased a new planter and baler.
Commas are not necessary when connecting two verbs to a single subject or two subjects to a single verb.
• Incorrect: Roger, and Kyle went to the Express Ranches sale. They bought two bulls, and 56 heifers.
• Correct: Roger and Kyle went to the Express Ranches sale. They bought two bulls and 56 heifers.
Commas are not necessary when a phrase is attached after an independent clause.
• Incorrect: The state FFA officer team appeared, before the state legislature.
• Correct: The state FFA officer team appeared to before the state legislature.
Commas are necessary when three or more items appear in a list (except before a conjunction AP style).
• Correct: The class discussed GMO’s, water conservation, and the green movement. (APA Style)
• Correct: The class discussed GMO’s, water conservation and the green movement. (AP Style)
Commas are necessary when connecting two independent clauses with a pure conjunction.
• Incorrect: Many consumers are estranged with modern-day food production because most Americans are two or three
generations removed from the farm.
• Correct: Many consumers are estranged with modern-day food production, because most Americans are two or three
generations removed from the farm.
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Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
Commas are necessary when a phrase is attached before an independent clause.
• Incorrect: Prior to planting calculations were made so the farmer could purchase the right amount of seed.
• Correct: Prior to planting calculations were made, so the farmer could purchase the right amount of seed.
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Commas are necessary when an dependent clause appears before the independent clause.
• Incorrect: Because the students want to pass the test they studied all the GSP material provided.
• Correct: Because the students want to pass the test, they studied all the GSP
material provided.
Commas are necessary when a semicolon combined with a conjunctive adverb connects two independent clauses together.
• Incorrect: Rural America is home to about 50 million of the nation’s people; however this small portion of the
population lives on 75 percent of the country’s land.
• Correct: Rural America is home to about 50 million of the nation’s people; however, this small portion of the
population lives on 75 percent of the country’s land.
Commas are necessary when connecting more than two verbs to a single subject or more than two subjects to a single verb.
• Incorrect: The state 4-H FFA and FCCLA officers participated in the state fair. The individual organizations
held leadership conferences contests and events at the state fair.
• Correct: The state 4-H, FFA and FCCLA officers participated in the state fair. The individual organizations held
leadership conferences, contests and events at the state fair.

Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
Quotation Marks: Used to indicate the beginning and end of a quote.
• Incorrect: “ There’s other ways to learn how to farm, but it’s so hard. You can learn so much more working on the farm when you’re 12, 13, 14 years old ”.
• Correct: “ There’s other ways to learn how to farm, but it’s so hard. You can learn so much more working on the farm when you’re 12, 13, 14 years old .”
• Inncorrect: “ There’s other ways to learn how to farm, but it’s so hard. You can learn so much more working on the farm when you’re 12, 13, 14 years old ” said Clark .
• Correct: “ There’s other ways to learn how to farm, but it’s so hard. You can learn so much more working on the farm when you’re 12, 13, 14 years old ,” said Clark .
Hyphens: Hyphens: Used between compound modifier that precede the word they modify, do not use a hyphen after very or an adverb ending in ly.
• High-profile case
• un-American
• They were in a long-term relationship.
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Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
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• Determine the grammar and punctuation rules and definitions you know and the ones you don’t.
• Understand how each rule works when used appropriately.
• Use a friend to help you study all of the rules.
• Work through examples, read articles and break down sentence structure.
• If you don’t understand a rule, start looking through some of the online and printed resources provided for more
explanations.
• Ask for help!

Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
• Print the spelling list out (the list is included in this document), and determine the words you know
and the ones you don’t.
• Know how to pronounce the words on the list.
• Know the definition of each word on the list.
• Use a friend to help you study the entire list of words.
• Sound out the words orally by syllable.
• Glance at the word and then rewrite it without looking.
• Write, and rewrite, and then write again.
• Affect vs. Effect
• Allot vs. A lot
• All together vs. Altogether
• All right vs. Alright (NOT A WORD)
• Blond vs. Blonde
• Capital vs. Capitol
• Complement vs. Compliment
• Conscience vs. Conscientious
• Conscious vs. Unconscious vs. Subconscious
• Everyday vs. Everyday
• Fewer vs. Lesser
• Further vs. Farther
• Flyer vs. Flier
• Lay vs. Lie
• Media vs. Medium
• More than vs. Over
• Passer-by vs. Passers-by
• Peek vs. Peak vs. Pique
• Raise vs. Raze
• Restaurant vs. Restaurateur
• Stationary vs. Stationery
• There vs. Their vs. They’re
• Toward vs. Towards (NOT A WORD)
• Which vs. That
• Who vs. Whom
• Who’s vs. Whose
• You’re vs. You’r vs. Your
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Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
Grammar:
• Purdue OWL Exercises
• Guide to Grammar and Writing
• Grammar Bytes
• The Grammar Book
• English Club
Punctuation:
• A Brief Guide to the Comma, Apostrophe, Colon, and Semicolon
• Purdue OWL Exercises
• Guide to Grammar and Writing
• The Grammar Book
Writing:
• Guidelines for Writing and Editing
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Brooks, B., Pinson, J., & Gaddy Wilson, J. (2009). Working with Words:
A Handbook for Media Writers and Editors. Boston & New York: Bedford/
St. Martin’s.
Eggenschwiler, J., Dotson Biggs, E., & Reinhardt, C. (2011). CliffsNotes
Writing: Grammar, Usage, and Style Quick Review (Cliffs Quick Review).
Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Publishing.
Straus, J., & Fogarty, M. (2007). The Blue Book of Grammar and
Punctuation: An Easy-to-Use Guide with Clear Rules, Real-World Examples, and Reproducible Quizzes. San Fransisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Fogarty, M. (2011). Grammar Girl Presents the
Ultimate Writing Guide for Students. New York:
Henry Holt and Company.

Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
Affidavit
Affiliate
Alienate
Align
Allegiance
Allotted
Aluminum
Ambiguous
Analysis
Analyze
Annihilated
Antecedent
Antidote
Anxiety
Apologize
Apparel
A
Absorption
Abysmal
Accelerator
Accidentally
Accommodate
Accumulate
Acetylene
Achievement
Acknowledgement
Acquiesce
Across
Adaptability
Admissible
Adolescent
Advantageous
Appellate
Appetite
Argument
Arthritis
Asinine
Assassinate
Assessment
Assistance
Athlete
Audience
Auxiliary
B
Baccalaureate
Bailiff
Bankruptcy
Baptize
Basically
Behavior
Belligerent
Benefit
Beverage
Boisterous
Bookkeeper
Boudoir
Brilliant
Bulletin
Bureau
C
Cafeteria
Caffeine
Calendar
Camouflage
Campaign
Candidate
Canister
Carburetor
Cartridge
Catastrophe
Categorically
Cemetery
Censuring
Chaperon
Chauffeur
Chimney
Collateral
Collegiate
Commemorate
Committee
Compatible
Competitive
Complimentary
Comptroller
Concede
Connoisseur
Conscientious
Consistency
Conspicuous
Contagious
Contemptuous
Convalescent
Copyright
Corroborate
Countenance
Counterfeit
Cruelty
Cupola
Curiosity
Cutthroat
Cynical
D
Deceitful
Defendant
Deficiency
Definite
Descendant
Desperate
Destroy
Destruction
Deteriorate
Detriment
Dietitian
Digestible
Diocese
Diphtheria
Dirigible
Discernible
Discerning
Disinfectant
Dissension
Dissipate
Dissuade
Distinction
Distinguish
Divide
Drudgery
Drunkenness
Dumbbell
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Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
F
Facilitate
Fallacies
Familiar
Fascinate
Feasible
February
Fictitious
Foreign
Forfeit
Fraudulent
Friendliness
Frivolous
Fundamental
Fusillade
G
Gallant
Gelatin
Generosity
E
Economically
Ecstasy
Eligible
Embarrass
Emphasize
Encouragement
Encyclical
Enthusiastic
Enunciate
Environment
Equilibrium
Equivalent
Espionage
Evidently
Exaggerate
Exceed
Excessive
Excitement
Exhilarate
Existence
Exorbitant
Experience
Explicit
Generous
Government
Grammar
Grandiose
Grief
Gruesome
Gubernatorial
H
Handkerchief
Harass
Hastily
Heinous
Hemorrhage
Hereditary
Heresy
Hesitancy
Hindrance
Homicide
Hygienic
Hypocrisy
Hypothesis
Hysterical
I
Icicle
Ideologies
Idiocy
Idiomatic
Idiosyncrasies
Illicit
Illiterate
Imitation
Immediately
Impetuosity
Impromptu
Inaccessible
Inaugurate
Incapability
Incidentally
Independent
Inevitably
Intermittent
Inveigle
Irrelevant
Irrepressible
J
Jealous
Jurisdiction
K
Kaleidoscope
Kerosene
Kimono
Knowledge
L
Laboratory
Libraries
Livelihood
M
Mahogany
Maintenance
Manageable
Mandatory
Mayonnaise
Merciless
Metamorphosis
Mimicked
Miniature
Misshapen
Mosquitoes
Movable
N
Naive
Nasturtium
Necessary
Noticeable
Nucleus
Numerous
O
Obviously
Occasion
Occurrence
Opportunity
Ostracize
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Q
Quandary
Quantity
Questionnaire
R
Receive
Referring
Relevant
Relieve
Reminiscent
Repetitious
Rescind
Ridiculous
Righteous
S
Sacrificing
Sandal
Sassafras
Satirizing
Saxophone
Seize
Overrule
P
Pageant
Panel
Parallel
Permissible
Physically
Pianos
Piccolo
Pigeon
Pneumonia
Precede
Prejudices
Preparations
Presumptuous
Privilege
Professional
Promissory
Pronunciation
Pusillanimous
Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) Guide
Separate
Severely
Shellac
Shepherd
Siege
Similarly
Society
Specimen
Spigot
Sponsor
Strychnine
Stubbornness
Subpoena
Suggestible
Superintendent
Supersede
Surprise
Symbolic
T
Tacit
Tangible
Temperature
Tomatoes
Totally
Tragedy
Trafficking
Truly
Turkeys
Twelfth
U
Ugliness
Unnecessary
Until
V
Vaccinate
Vacillate
Valuable
Varieties
Veneer
Vengeance
Vertical
View
Villain
W
Warrior
Weird
Wield
Wiener
Wholly
Written
Z
Zephyr
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