AVOID THE GRAMMAR POLICE
Duane Theobald
dtheobal@westga.edu
GRAMMAR MATTERS??
COMMON GRAMMAR CONCERNS IN WRITING…
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Comma Splices
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Sentence Fragments
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Utilizing Strong Verbs
FIRST…COMMA SPLICES!
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A comma splice is…
• When two independent clauses are connected with only a comma
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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.
HOW TO FIX COMMA SPLICES:
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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!
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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
LET’S PRACTICE!
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The following sentences contain comma splices. For each sentence, suggest two possible
revisions.
1.
I didn’t like the movie, it was way too long.
2.
She and Jerry are getting married in the fall, they didn’t want a summer wedding.
3.
My favorite bands are all really loud, playing loud music is good for stress relief.
ALSO, WHEN CONSIDERING WHEN TO USE A COMMA,
CONSULT THE (COMMA)NDMENTS!
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.
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.
LET’S PRACTICE!
•
Read the following sentences and determine whether they are complete sentences or
fragments.
1.
While I was driving to work and there was an accident on the road.
2.
Wherever I go, I take my cell phone with me.
3.
As soon as I finish this grammar exercise, I will eat lunch.
4.
Whether I complete this course and get credit for it in the fall.
5.
So that I don’t spend too much time on any of my projects, I make sure I take
frequent breaks.
STRONG VERBS: FIRST…WHAT IS A “WEAK”
VERB?
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is, was, are, were, shows, states, says, uses, seems, appears (very BORING!)
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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.
WITH VERBS, ALSO REMEMBER…
MAKE SUBJECT AND VERBS AGREE!
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Singular subjects need singular verbs (which end in “s” in the present)-The dog barks.
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Plural subjects (which often end in “s” need plural verbs)-The dogs bark.
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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”)
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Consult A Writer’s Resource for more information: pgs. 491-493
WITH VERBS, ALSO REMEMBER…(CONT’D)
USE VERBS YOU KNOW!
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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.
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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 AmericanHispanic perspective, she thoroughly scrutinizes basic human characteristics.
WITH VERBS, ALSO REMEMBER…(CONT’D)
USE THE LITERARY PRESENT WHEN WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE!
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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.
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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
QUESTIONS??
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678-839-6513
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writing@westga.edu
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TLC 1201 (First floor, past the snacks)
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www.westga.edu/writing
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• University Writing Center (UWG)
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Duane Theobald (Manager of the UWC)
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678-839-5312