1. Use correct end punctuation. End I arrived early. Why was everyone late.

statements and mild commands with a I’m sick of it!

period. End direct questions with a
question mark. Use exclamation points
sparingly, one a time.
2. Use commas after introductory words. Before the sun rose, we ate breakfast.
Set off a group of four or more
introductory words.
3. Use commas to separate items in a We couldn’t decide whether to have
series. Include a comma before the last beans, rice, or corn.
and or or.
4. Place a comma between equal I like hot, spicy chili.
adjectives.
5. Use a comma and a coordinating The pillow is hypoallergenic, and the
conjunction to form compound sheets are freshly washed.
sentences. You can join two sentences
(independent clauses) with a comma
followed by coordinating conjunction
(and, but, or nor, for, so yet).
6. Use a semicolon to form compound The pillow is hypoallergenic, and the
sentences. You can join two closely sheets are freshly washed.
related sentence (independent clauses)
with a semicolon.
7. Place a colon before an example or She needs one thing: respect. I need
list. Write a complete sentence before the three things: lunch, a shower, and a
colons. nap.
8. Use an apostrophe to show Friend’s report (owned by one)
possession. Add ‘s to most words, and an Friends’ report (owned by more than one)
apostrophe to plurals ending in s. (the
owner precedes the apostrophe.)
9. Use quotation marks around a When did Lincoln say that the Civil War
speaker’s exact words. Periods and might continue “until every drop of blood
commas at the end of a quotation appear drawn with the lash shall be paid by
inside the quotation marks; colons and another drawn with the swords”?
semicolons appear outside the quotation
marks; question marks/ exclamation
points appear inside the marks if they
belong to quotation, outside if they end
the sentence.
10. Set of titles of short works with The song “Pare Ko” is on the album
quotation marks; use italics Ultra-electro Magnetic Pop.
(underlining) for long works. Short works
are songs, short stories, poems, articles,
etc. Long works are albums, books
newspaper, etc.

Basic Conventions of Writing

A. Punctuation Rules
B. Usage Rules

1. Accept, except: The verb accept means I won’t accept an answer except yes.
“receive,” The preposition except means
“other than”; the conjunction, “unless”;
and the verb, “leave out”.
2. Affect, effect: Affect is a verb that The situation doesn’t affect me. I’ve
means “influence”. As a noun, effect realized no negative effects, so why
means “result”; as a verb, effect means should I effect a change?
“bring about”.
3. Among, between: Among often refers
to groups of more than two; between Among the possible candidates, I’ll
often refers to only two. choose between these two.
4.Amount, number. Amount refers to the A number of glasses held the same
thing in bulk or mass; number refers to amount of water.
separate things that can be counted.
5. Bad, badly: Bad is an adjective, used The report is bad. (bad report)
before a noun or after a linking verb; I look bad. (bad appearance)
Badly is an adverb. I play badly. (bad at playing)
6. Choose, chose: Choose means “select”; I choose today the same thing I chose
chose is the past tense of choose. yesterday.
7. Farther, further: Farther refers to Further reflection tells us that we should
physical distance; further refers to a walk farther.
greater extent or degree.
8. Fewer, less: Fewer refers to separate I like using the “10 items or fewer.” It
items that can be counted; less refers to takes less time than the others.
a quantity that can be measured but not
counted.
9. Good, well: Good is an adjective, never Carl is a good athlete. He eats well
an adverb. Well is an adjective that (adverb) in order to stay well (adjective).
means “healthy,” but it is most often
used as an adverb.
10. Hole, whole: Hole refers to an The whole day turned sour when I fell
opening or gap; whole refers to the hole.
completeness.
11. imply, infer: Imply means “suggest”; Writers imply. Readers infer.
infer means “deduce”.
12. It’s, its: It’s is the contraction for “it It’s possible that you can replace its
is” or “it has”; it is a possessive pronoun. missing case.
13. Lay, lie: Lay means “put” or place Since you don’t feel well, just lay you
and is transitive (it must have a direct cards on the table and go lie down.
object). Its past tense is laid. Lie means
“recline” or to speak falsely” and is
intransitive (it cannot be a direct object).
Its past tense is lay (that’s where the
confusion comes in).
14. Plain, plane: Plain is a noun meaning The plain truth is that this plane cannot
“an area level, treeless person,” or an land on just any plan.
adjective meaning “ordinary” or easily
understand”. Plane is a noun meaning “a
flat surface”, “ a tool for making
something smooth,” or “airplane.” Plane
is also an adjective meaning “level.”
15. Principal, principle: Principal is a The principal of the school promotes the
noun meaning “highest ranking person” principle of respect.
or “invested money.” Principal is also an
adjective meaning “primary.” The noun
principle means “guiding rule.”
16. Real, very, really: Real is usually an The monetary gains are real, which is
adjective meaning “authentic.” It should really encouraging.
not be used in place of the adverbs very
or really.
17. Than, then: Than is a conjunction I showed that I was taller than my
that creates a comparison; then is brother. Then he slugged me.
usually an adverb referring to time.
18. To, too, two: To is a preposition that We went to the upscale market to buy
indicates direction and is also the word two zucchinis, though they were too
used to form an infinitive. Too is an expensive.
adverb that means “excessively.” Two is
the number 2.
19. Who’s, whose: Who’s is the Who’s in charge here?
contraction of “who is” or “who has.” Whose mess in that?
Whose is a possessive pronoun.
20. You’re, your: You’re is the You’re telling me that’s your mess?
contraction of “you are.” Your is a
possessive pronoun.

C. Mechanics Rules
1. Capitalize proper nouns: names of Thursday Congress
people, organization, languages, Jenny
religions, ethnic groups, month, days, Jupiter
trade names, geographical names, etc. Asia
2. In a title, capitalize the first, last and Heart of Darkness
important middle words (not articles, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
coordinating conjunctions, short Of Mice and Men
prepositions, or to in an infinitive). The Catcher in the Rye
3. Form plurals correctly. Add s to most Tacks
words; es to words ending in ch, s, sh,x, Buildings
or z; and s or es to the most important Foxes
word in compounds. Watch for irregular Switches
plurals (child-children; medium-media). Mothers-in-law
4. Use words for numbers under 10. One seven
Usually use numerals for numbers 10 or 19
over. Combine numerals and words for 35 (thirty-five) 12 million
very large numbers.
5. Apply the silent e rule. Keep the final Careful
silent e when adding a suffix that begins Caring
with a consonant. Drop the e when Valueless
adding a suffix that begins with a vowel. Valuable
D. Agreement Rules
1. Subjects and verbs must agree in The stock car zooms down the track.
number. Singular subjects take singular The stock cars zoom down the track.
verbs, and plural subjects take plural
verbs.
2. Compound subjects joined by and are Teri and Liza work hard.
plural. Two or more subjects joined by A file and notes are ready.
and take a plural verb.
3. Some compound subjects are joined The assistant or LIZA writes the report.
by or. Match the verb to the last subject.
4. Pronouns must agree with their
antecedents in person, number, and
gender.

Pronouns
Subject Object Possessive Subject Object Possessive
First I me my we us our, ours
person
Second you you your, you you your,
person yours yours
Third he, she it him, her, his, her, they them their,
person its hers, its theirs