Tutorial: Grammar
Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:44 pm
Lately I've seen a lot of members post without any regard for using correct grammar or spelling (mostly new members). Many members use the excuse that "they don't have time to type correctly," or that "it's the internet, who cares?" These kind of excuses don't warrant the pain and suffering other members have to go through to read these post. It's hard to read something without periods, commas, or other necessary punctuation marks. I'm sure other members here feel the same way I do about this too. Why am I taking time out of my day to write a grammar tutorial? I'm doing so because I'm sick and have nothing better to do. Well, I might as start this tutorial (and sorry for any grammar errors I might make, I'm not a grammar teacher).
Periods:
Perhaps the most annoying part of a grammatically incorrect post are the absence of periods. If English isn't your native language, a period is the little dot at the end of a sentence (a sentence is a group of words that forms a complete thought). Periods are used to end one thought so you can go onto another one (I'm not sure what the real definition is, but I think that will work). Without periods writing is a mess, and is hard for people to read. Sentences without periods are called "run on sentences." Here are a few examples of how to use periods correctly, and incorrectly:
Incorrect: My cat went to the store and bought some mice he went home to eat them.
Whats wrong with that sentence? That single sentence is a run on.
Correct: My cat went to the store and bought some mice. After that he went home to eat them.
See? Two thoughts equals two different sentences. Periods can also be substituted for question marks (?) and explanation marks (!) where necessary. Question marks are for sentences such as this: "Can I have some pie?" Explanation marks are for sentences such as this: "Stop licking me you freak!"
Commas:
Another important part of a grammatically correct sentence involves the use of commas. Commas look like this (without the quotes): "," Commas are used to create small pauses in your writing. Without commas--much like periods--your sentence structure will be a mess. Here are some examples of how to use commas correctly, and incorrectly:
Incorrect: I have to sneeze but I can't, find a Kleenex box.
Obviously there wouldn't be a pause in that part of the sentence.
Correct: I have to sneeze, but I can't find a Kleenex box.
Much better isn't it?
Semicolons:
I myself don't fully understand semicolons, and I think it is fine to avoid them as long as you use commas and periods; never the less, I'll try to provide some information on them from a external source. (I'm not even sure if I used that semicolon right.) Anything regarding semicolons after this sentence is provided by Professor Donald Skrabanek, my old English 1 teacher.
http://www2.austincc.edu/dws/colon.html
The semicolon weighs about twice as much as a comma and half as much as a period. From its weight we may infer its two main uses: as a strong comma and as a weak period. As a strong comma, it is used chiefly between phrases with internal commas:
--Those missing were Lummis Catherwood, the director of the bank; Gjertrud Haterfock, the chief cashier; and two tellers, Ferree Clakey and Alvord Quain.
--Despite the news from the northern front, the invasion was not canceled; but weekend passes were given out, at least to some of us.
As a weak period, it connects independent clauses that are too closely linked to be separated by a period, or too short and undramatic to stand by themselves:
--Such sentiments are not rare; on the contrary, they are very common, especially among policemen.
--Probe is a favored word for headlines; it takes less space than investigate.
An excess of semicolons gives writing a stuffy and pompous air. They are particularly inappropriate in dialogue, and should be used sparingly in informal or colloquial writing. In standard expository writing, however, the semicolon is indispensable. Its chief virtues are two. As a strong comma, it makes possible the clear and orderly grouping of complex units, especially in series. As a weak period, it helps make possible the pleasing variation of pace and rhythm that is essential to good writing.
Colons:
Colons are usually used the present "the goods," or list facts at the end of a sentence. A colon looks like this: ":" I'm not what else to say here, so I'll just get to to the examples:
Incorrect: I have been to every state in the USA except for three: Alaska: Utah: and Hawaii.
I'm not sure why anybody would think that sentence is okay, but I'll explain whats wrong with it anyway. The first thing wrong with it is that fact that it has more then one colon. The second thing is that the last two colons should be commas.
Correct: I have been to every state in the USA except for three: Alaska, Utah, and Hawaii.
For other examples just look for the colon in the rest of this post.
Apostrophes:
Apostrophes can be used to show possession of something, or to form contractions. An apostrophe looks like this: " ' " You can show possession of something by adding a " 's " to the end of the name of a person or a item (such as a cat). Here are some examples(this time all examples will be correct):
Correct: Don't take Carl's hat!
If that sentence lacked the apostrophe in "Carl's," the sentence would be incorrect.
Correct: That's the ladder's step.
Correct: Don't hurt the kitten's tail!
Apostrophes can also be used the show the possession of one thing by many things. This is done by placing the apostrophe after the "s."
Correct: Thats the puppies' refrigerator.
Thats means that many puppies own that refrigerator.
Correct: I'm the peoples' president.
The last usage of a apostrophe is in contractions. Contractions group two words into a single word with the use of a apostrophe.
Correct: It's a very nice day outside.
It's means "it is."
Correct: I'll be down in a second!
I'll means "I will."
Correct: This can't be good.
Can't means "can not."
A word of caution, its and it's ARE NOT the same thing! You use the word "its" to show possession of something, despite the fact it doesn't have a apostrophe. The word "it's" means "it is," so you can't say something like "thats it's item."
Spelling:
Rather then ramble on all day about the rules of spelling, I'll just give you a link to firefox 2.
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/
Firefox 2 has a built in spell checker.
Alrightly then, this is the end of the tutorial! There are still several topics in grammar I haven't discussed, but I think I covered the main points. Please inform me of any errors I made in my tutorial, because I'm not a grammar teacher! If you would like me the add anything to this tutorial, please post it here.
Note: This tutorial was originally made for gearbox, so it might serve as much as a purpose here.
Periods:
Perhaps the most annoying part of a grammatically incorrect post are the absence of periods. If English isn't your native language, a period is the little dot at the end of a sentence (a sentence is a group of words that forms a complete thought). Periods are used to end one thought so you can go onto another one (I'm not sure what the real definition is, but I think that will work). Without periods writing is a mess, and is hard for people to read. Sentences without periods are called "run on sentences." Here are a few examples of how to use periods correctly, and incorrectly:
Incorrect: My cat went to the store and bought some mice he went home to eat them.
Whats wrong with that sentence? That single sentence is a run on.
Correct: My cat went to the store and bought some mice. After that he went home to eat them.
See? Two thoughts equals two different sentences. Periods can also be substituted for question marks (?) and explanation marks (!) where necessary. Question marks are for sentences such as this: "Can I have some pie?" Explanation marks are for sentences such as this: "Stop licking me you freak!"
Commas:
Another important part of a grammatically correct sentence involves the use of commas. Commas look like this (without the quotes): "," Commas are used to create small pauses in your writing. Without commas--much like periods--your sentence structure will be a mess. Here are some examples of how to use commas correctly, and incorrectly:
Incorrect: I have to sneeze but I can't, find a Kleenex box.
Obviously there wouldn't be a pause in that part of the sentence.
Correct: I have to sneeze, but I can't find a Kleenex box.
Much better isn't it?
Semicolons:
I myself don't fully understand semicolons, and I think it is fine to avoid them as long as you use commas and periods; never the less, I'll try to provide some information on them from a external source. (I'm not even sure if I used that semicolon right.) Anything regarding semicolons after this sentence is provided by Professor Donald Skrabanek, my old English 1 teacher.
http://www2.austincc.edu/dws/colon.html
The semicolon weighs about twice as much as a comma and half as much as a period. From its weight we may infer its two main uses: as a strong comma and as a weak period. As a strong comma, it is used chiefly between phrases with internal commas:
--Those missing were Lummis Catherwood, the director of the bank; Gjertrud Haterfock, the chief cashier; and two tellers, Ferree Clakey and Alvord Quain.
--Despite the news from the northern front, the invasion was not canceled; but weekend passes were given out, at least to some of us.
As a weak period, it connects independent clauses that are too closely linked to be separated by a period, or too short and undramatic to stand by themselves:
--Such sentiments are not rare; on the contrary, they are very common, especially among policemen.
--Probe is a favored word for headlines; it takes less space than investigate.
An excess of semicolons gives writing a stuffy and pompous air. They are particularly inappropriate in dialogue, and should be used sparingly in informal or colloquial writing. In standard expository writing, however, the semicolon is indispensable. Its chief virtues are two. As a strong comma, it makes possible the clear and orderly grouping of complex units, especially in series. As a weak period, it helps make possible the pleasing variation of pace and rhythm that is essential to good writing.
Colons:
Colons are usually used the present "the goods," or list facts at the end of a sentence. A colon looks like this: ":" I'm not what else to say here, so I'll just get to to the examples:
Incorrect: I have been to every state in the USA except for three: Alaska: Utah: and Hawaii.
I'm not sure why anybody would think that sentence is okay, but I'll explain whats wrong with it anyway. The first thing wrong with it is that fact that it has more then one colon. The second thing is that the last two colons should be commas.
Correct: I have been to every state in the USA except for three: Alaska, Utah, and Hawaii.
For other examples just look for the colon in the rest of this post.
Apostrophes:
Apostrophes can be used to show possession of something, or to form contractions. An apostrophe looks like this: " ' " You can show possession of something by adding a " 's " to the end of the name of a person or a item (such as a cat). Here are some examples(this time all examples will be correct):
Correct: Don't take Carl's hat!
If that sentence lacked the apostrophe in "Carl's," the sentence would be incorrect.
Correct: That's the ladder's step.
Correct: Don't hurt the kitten's tail!
Apostrophes can also be used the show the possession of one thing by many things. This is done by placing the apostrophe after the "s."
Correct: Thats the puppies' refrigerator.
Thats means that many puppies own that refrigerator.
Correct: I'm the peoples' president.
The last usage of a apostrophe is in contractions. Contractions group two words into a single word with the use of a apostrophe.
Correct: It's a very nice day outside.
It's means "it is."
Correct: I'll be down in a second!
I'll means "I will."
Correct: This can't be good.
Can't means "can not."
A word of caution, its and it's ARE NOT the same thing! You use the word "its" to show possession of something, despite the fact it doesn't have a apostrophe. The word "it's" means "it is," so you can't say something like "thats it's item."
Spelling:
Rather then ramble on all day about the rules of spelling, I'll just give you a link to firefox 2.
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/
Firefox 2 has a built in spell checker.
Alrightly then, this is the end of the tutorial! There are still several topics in grammar I haven't discussed, but I think I covered the main points. Please inform me of any errors I made in my tutorial, because I'm not a grammar teacher! If you would like me the add anything to this tutorial, please post it here.
Note: This tutorial was originally made for gearbox, so it might serve as much as a purpose here.