Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Basic Grammar
Basic Grammar
Basic Grammar
Here is a list of major grammar issues students have problems with. Refer to this “cheat sheet” in this and future
writing-intensive classes to guide you!
An independent clause is a complete sentence. Think about it as being independent, not requiring anything else
to complete it. An independent clause has both a subject and a predicate.
F for
A and
N nor
B but
O or
Y yet
S so
Run-on Sentences
A run-on is two or more complete sentences (independent clauses) strung together without punctuation or with
the incorrect punctuation (i.e., commas comma splices)
Ex: So I went to the store then bought some bread I also got some cheese.
Most of us were taking the same classes, if someone had a question, we would all help out.
Colons
Semi-colons
Correct: Police want to crack down on drug use at raves; they have started to arrest more people.
Incorrect: Internet retailers have a limited customer base; only those with Internet access.
Correct: Police want to crack down on drug use at raves; thus, they have started to arrest more
people.
Incorrect: There were several people I wanted to see at the party; however I didn’t see any of them
there.
A lot = many, much A lot = not a word! Allot = distribute, give out
It’s = it is Its’ = not a word! Its = possessive form of it
Who = subject pronoun Whom = object pronoun
Your = possessive form of you You’re = you are
Whose = possessive form of who Who’s = who is
To = direction Too = also, in addition too Two = number
Defiantly = boldly, rebelliously Definitely = certainly, no doubt
Whether = either, comparison of Wether = a castrated sheep. I’m Weather = through rain, sleet, and
pretty sure this isn’t what you meant. snow…
FLC Writing Program / Writing Conventions
Commas
Commas often are subjective—they depend on the preference of the reader or the style guide for the audience
you’re writing to.
1. Use a comma after an introductory phrase like however, therefore, nonetheless, finally, for example
a. For example, you would use a comma in this sentence.
2. Use a comma for phrases that you could take out of the sentence but still retain the overall meaning
Hyphens
Add a hyphen for a compound modifier (more than one adjective strung together) before a noun:
The sixteen-year-old girl was a well-known celebrity.
FLC Writing Program / Writing Conventions
Being Verbs
Aim to cut as many as possible: be, being, been, is, was, were, am, are
A Final Note…
Remember that many of these “rules” are dependent on audience! Plus, there is a well-established precedent of
breaking the rules for effect. For example, e e cummings’ poetry plays with fragments, parentheses, commas,
etc… The difference is, however, that these rule-breakers are often prose and poetry writers, while you are
writing technical materials for a lay audience. What this means is that you must look at your document and
decide whether it is appropriate to focus on strict grammar conventions (likely) or play with form and style
(maybe not). Readers make assumptions about the authors of the documents because of errors. Sentence
fragments, misspellings, and the like resulted in a visual picture of the author as uneducated, careless, lazy, etc.
Thus, one of the best things you can do as a technical writer is to pay attention to your work!
1. Proofread
2. Check for accuracy
3. Tighten your sentences
4. Read for clarity—especially with instructions!