COMMA

Comma is used to separate items in a series, and to set off or

distinguish grammatical elements within sentence.

Examples:
1. He was charged with reckless imprudence, and robbery
resulting in homicide.
2. The accountant was described as tall, brown complexion,
medium- built and between 20-25 years old.
3. We are required to pass the initial, progress, and final reports of
the case.
HYPHEN
A hyphen is used to join the element of compound nouns
and modifiers.

Examples:
1. The officer-in-charge of the case is on leave.
2. The first-runner-up of the pageant was shot in the head.
3. His mother-in-law was invited for questioning after the
disappearance of the child.
PARENTHESIS
A pair of parenthesis is used to enclose material that is
inserted into a main statement but is not intended to be an
essential part of it.

Example:
The six accounting books (all outdated models) will be
replaced soon.
PERIOD
A period serves to mark the end of a sentence or an
abbreviation.

Example:
There is a vehicular accident in the Marcelo Fernan
Bridge.
QUOTATION MARKS
Quotation Marks are used to enclose quoted
statements in a regular text.

Example:
“Not guilty”, was the plead of the rapist.
ABBREVIATIONS
An Abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase; the
abbreviated word is pronounced exactly the same as the full word.
It is used to save space and time in order to avoid repetition of long
words and phrases, and simply to conform to the rules on
conventional usage.

Example:
Duty Officer- DO BS CR
District - DIST CF AP
Below are the basic rules in abbreviation:
1. Use abbreviations for titles Mister, Miss, Madam, and Doctor.
Examples:
Mr. and Mrs. Kalon will testify in court.

2. Abbreviate academic degrees after names and separate it with a

comma.
Examples:
Jea Alcala, M.D Abegail Briones, CPA
Lovelea Uy, Ph.D Renaline Vismanos, RN
3. Do not abbreviate titles if it is not used with a proper name.
Examples:
My friend Dan, who is a police inspector is dead.
The lawyers are reviewing the drug-related cases of the city.

4. Abbreviate common foreign terms.

e.g exemplia gratia (for example)
et.al et alii (and others)
etc. et cetera (and so forth)
N.B or n.b nota bene (note well)
viz. videlicet (namely)
vs. or v. Versus (against)
NUMBERS
The writer’s knowledge of the rules and usage governing numbers is
significant in the writing process. Below are these basic rules:

1. For numbers one through nine it should be spelled out figures be

used for exact numbers greater than nice.
Example:
She said she repeated her testimony a hundred times.

2. Numbers that begin a sentence are written out.

Example:
Thirty five applicants were brought to the accounting office last
year.
3. Ordinal Numbers are written as figures together with its suffix
combination.
Ex. He wrote the 3rd and 4th sections of the bill.

4. House numbers should be written in figures except for the word

“one”.
Ex. The suspect is living at #11 Kago Street.

5. Dimensions, percentages, decimals, weighs, measurements, page

numbers should be written in figures.
Ex. The size of the bladed weapon is 3 by 51/2 by 5 inches.
6. If two numbers occur together, write the smaller number in
words, and the larger numbers if figures.
Ex. We are required to submit a 100 thirty-page report.

7. Numbers with o’clock should be written in words.

Ex. The team will meet at one o’clock this afternoon.

8. Numbers with P.M. and A.M. should be written in figures.

Ex. The team will meet at 11:15 A.M.
Spelling
Hacker (1999) stressed that a writer will learn to spell from
repeated experiences with words in both reading and writing.
Words have a look, a sound, and even a feel as the writer’s hand
moves across the page.
Spelling rules may differ among countries that use English as a
medium of instruction. Americans use American spelling, while the
British and Europeans use British spellings. Specifically, in the
Philippines, the American spellings is widely used in written
communication.
Common spelling variations between American and British

American Spelling British Spelling

connection, inflection connexion, inflexion
civilization civilization
defense defence
canceled, traveled cancelled, travelled
theater, center theatre, centre
anemia, anesthetic anaemia, anaesthetic
color, humor colour, humour
realize, apologize realise, apologise
mold, smolder mould, moulder
1. Use i before e expect after c
i before e (relieve, believe, sieve, niece, fierce)
e before I (receive, deceive, sleigh, freight, eight)
exceptions: (seize, either, weird, height, foreign, leisure)

2. When adding a suffix that begins with a vowel, drop a final silent
-e; but if the suffix begins with a consonant, keep the final -e.
Combine- combination
Desire- desiring
Remove- removable
Achieve- achievement
Entire- entirely
3. When adding -s or -d to word ending in -y, change -y to -ie when
the -y is preceded by a consonant but not when it is preceded by a
vowel.
Country-countries
Fry- fried
Stay- stayed
Monkey- monkeys

4. For proper names ending in -y, do not change the -y to -ie though
it is preceded by a consonant.
The Monterry Family
There are Two Percy names in this class.
5. If a final consonant is preceded by a singe vowel and the consonant ends a
one-syllable word, double the consonant when adding a suffix beginning with
a vowel.
Let- letting
Transmit- transmitted
Commit- committed
Occur- occurrence

6. Add -s to form the plural of the most nouns; add -es to singular nouns
ending in -s, -sh, -ch, and -x
Evidence- evidences
Fingerprint- fingerprints
Lash- lashes
Crutch- crutches
7. When a noun ends in -o and is preceded by a vowel, add -s; when it is
preceded by a consonant add -es.
Video- videos
Rodeo- rodeos
Piano- pianos
Heroes- heroes
Potato- potatoes
Tomato- tomatoes

8. In forming the plural forms of hyphenated compounds, add the -s to the

chief words.
Attorney-at-law attorneys-at-law
Runner-up runners-up
Mother-in-law mothers-in-law
9. For English words that are derivations of other languages, and
other irregular words, form their plurals by changing its spelling.
Alumna alumni
Ox oxen
Medium media
Datum data
Oasis oases
Look for the meaning of the abbreviated words
1. R.S.V.P.
2. Qty
3. E.T.A.
4. SMS
5. @
6. a/C
7. c/o
8. D.O.B
9. Attn
10. misc.
1.Thesis 16. baggage
2. Cactus 17. refreshments
3. Crisis 18. equipment
4. Parenthesis 19. bedding
5. Genius 20. luggage
6. syllabus
7. Oasis
8. Curriculum
9. Appendix
10. Agenda
11. Data
12. Fungi
13. Alumni
14. Bacteria
15. piano