Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Incorrect: The boy showed us his tickets someone gave them to him.
Correct: The boy showed us his tickets. Someone gave them to him.
Incorrect: We often speak in run-on sentences, but we make pauses and change
our tone so people can understand us, but when we write, no one can hear us, so
sometimes we must break our sentences into shorter units so that they do not
sound run-on. (Technically punctuated OK, but too long to be easily understood.
See better sentence structure above.)
Compound Subjects
Two or more singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb.
Correct: Neither John nor Mary knows what happened.
Two or more plural subjects joined by any conjunction (including and, or, but, or
nor) take a plural verb.
Correct: Both men and women are allowed to enter.
If one or more singular subject is joined to one or more plural subject by or or
nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to the verb.
Incorrect: Neither Mary nor her brothers knows what happened. (Brothers is
closer to the verb and is plural; the verb should agree with brothers).
Correct: Neither Mary nor her brothers know what happened.
Correct: Neither her brothers nor Mary knows what happened.
A compound subject whose parts are joined by an, d normally takes a plural verb.
Correct: Joe and his brother know what happened.
A compound subject whose parts are joined by and: takes a singular verb in two
special instances.
1. When the parts of the subject combine to form a single item.
Correct: One and one equals two.
Correct: Cookies and cream is my favorite flavor.
2. When the compound subject is modified by the words each or every.
Correct: Every boy and girl has to participate.
Capitalizing Sentences
The first letter of the first word in a sentence is capitalized.
Correct: The first word in a sentence is capitalized.
The first word of an interjection, an incomplete question, or fragmentary response
is capitalized.
Correct:
"Did you do it?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because."
Using Periods
Periods end declarative sentences and requests or mild commands.
Declarative: His name is Joshua.
Request or Mild Command: Please be sure to tell her I am coming.
Periods are used to end most abbreviations except for acronyms and abbreviations
which are pronounced. See Abbreviations Contents for more information.
Commas:
Rule One
Put a comma before coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so-remember the acronym FANBOYS) only if they connect two independent clauses (a
clause that is capable of standing alone as a sentence).
Independent clause + conjunction + independent clause = comma before
conjunction
Jerry picked vegetables, and Bob mowed the lawn.
I did not bring an umbrella in the rain, nor did I wear a raincoat.
Rule Two
Do not put a comma before coordinating conjunctions
(FANBOYS) if they connect an independent clause with a dependent clause (a group
of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence).
When the dependent clause comes first, a comma is needed before the
independent clause:
[When summer arrived,] [we went on vacation.]
dependent clause
independent clause