WEEK 3 Focused Hints

COMMAS are used:

□ to separate items in a list of at least three items. Lists of only two items only
need a conjunction between the words (and)
WORD USAGE
□ whenever vs. when ever: whenever = correct; when ever = wrong
□ then vs. than: then = shows a sequence of time, used in "if... , then..."; than =
shows a comparison between two things EX. I'd rather eat chocolate than liver.
□ too vs. two vs. to: too = "also" or tells how much
EX. It's too cold. I think so, too.
two = "2"; to = with a verb: to dance, to sing; in a prepositional phrase:
EX. Give that to me.
PUNCTUATION
□ If you're asking a question, use a question mark!
EX. Did you know that I like cats?

WEEK 4 Focused Hints

SEMI-COLON + CONJUNCTION {a COMMA upgrade)
We learned that a comma + a conjunction is used:
□ to separate a complete thought from another complete thought
(I and I r but I r or I r so). FANBOYS

comma + conjunction: I, I
and is as strong as a period!
EX. Lindsey likes tomatoes, but she doesn't lke ketchup.
But now we need to know:
□ if either complete thought contains a comma of its own, then we need to
upgrade the comma + conjunction ( , and/, but/, or/, so)
to a semi-colon + conjunction. I ; and/ ; but / ; or/ ; sol
EX. Because grammar is so tricky, students get nervous about learning
itj ; and I teachers become anxious about teaching it.
WEEK 4 Focused Hints (continued)
WORD USAGE:
□ tied vs. tide: tied= something is bound to something else; tide= the ocean's
shoreline moving in to and out from the beach
□ there vs. they're vs. their: there= filler word or place; they're= "they are";
their= ownership: The Millers sold their house.
□ rein vs. reign vs. rain: rein= the strap that holds a horse's bit; reign= the
ruling time period of a king or queen; rain = the water that falls from a cloud
APOSTROPHES
□ When making the year of a century or decade plural, just add an "s."
EX. The Beatles were a great band in the 1960s.
EX. The world experienced tremendous technological growth in the 1900s.

WEEK 5 Focused Hints

COMMAS are used:
□ to set off an introductory clause* from the main sentence
*clause: a group of words that contains a subject doing a verb. An independent clause is a
sentence. A dependent clause, which begins with a word like "if," "although," or "because," is
not a sentence because it can't stand by itself as a complete thought without leaving the
audience with questions. EX. When the alarm goes off, it is time to get up.

□ to separate an appositive (a descriptive phrase) from the noun it is describing EX .

Einstein, who was a genius in the world of science, authored the Theory of
General Relativity.
□ OPTIONAL: You do not need to use a comma to set off an introductory phrase
from the main sentence if that phrase is only two words long. EX . In 1984 the
Detroit Tigers won the World Series. or In 1984, the Detroit Tigers won the World
Series.
□ A comma splice occurs when you join two independent clauses with a comma.
INCORRECT: It was too late, she missed the bus. CORRECT: It was too late; she
missed the bus. CORRECT: It was too late. She missed the bus. CORRECT: It was
too late, and she missed the bus.
WORD USAGE

□ way vs. whey vs. weigh: way = a course or path to follow; whey= the watery
part of fresh milk (not the curd); weigh = to weigh something is to measure how
heavy it is