Grammar Quick Help Class 101

~There and Too~

The ‘theres’ and the ‘twos’ are homophones, words that sound the same but don’t mean the same.

Almost everybody has these mixed up. These can be BAD MISTAKES because the spell checker in your word processor doesn't know the difference. 

~Whose, Who's, Whom~

~Ending Sentences~

Sentences end with one period unless you are trying to show hesitation, a pause, or omitted words. This is called an ellipsis. Usually shown with three dots.

Example: I’m not sure…but maybe.  Some people use this too much.  Sometimes a hyphen" -" is better.  Sometimes, perhaps a colon ":" is what you mean.

But most of the time, you mean period. End of sentence. Always remember to end your sentences with a period or you won't make much sense.

Like this:
We live in that house over there it is very nice in the summertime so would you like to come here?

It should be: We live in that house over there. It is very nice in the summertime, so would you like to come here?

When you ask a question, use a question mark to indicate it IS a question, not a statement..

• Will you come. Please.
• Will you come? Please?

If you’re not sure where the periods, commas, question marks, or hesitation marks go, read it out loud.

~You always capitalize~

• The beginning of a sentence
• Someone’s or something’s name-Jeff, Oregon
• I, when you’re talking about yourself- I or I’m, even in the middle of sentences.

AVOID ALL CAPITALS.  This is SCREAMING and quite impolite.  Same with too many exclamation points!!!!!

~Slang~

U do not use chat room slang 4 a document that matters. OK?

~Spelling~

If you don't have a spell checker, you can always use dictionary.com coz bad spelun dont look to gud in a document that really matters.  

New addition 7-6-2003

~More on Ending Sentences~

A consistent trend we have noticed in the documents we have been helping people with, is what appears to be a CONFUSION over how and where to end a sentence and begin a new one.

We have no idea where this "trend" came from, but we have noticed quite a few people punctuating their sentences like this ,Or this .And then beginning a new sentence.

Please note that a sentence ends with the period at the end of the last word of the sentence. Then you put a space (in typing class in the 1960's, they taught us to put TWO spaces before starting the next sentence, but that convention seems to have disappeared).  Then you start the next sentence with the first letter of the word capitalized.

We simply do not understand how commas became a punctuation between sentences.  But we once again suspect many of these bad punctuation habits come from Chat Rooms.

Nobody is really ROFLMAO and IMHO.  This is the code of looking pointlessly stupid.

Nobody thinks the goofy "emoticons" are cute anymore :-(   if they ever were.  Definitely leave them out of your official correspondence!

~ALWAYS Capitalize "I" when referring to yourself~

Capitalize the "i" when you are referring to yourself: i dont think i am worthy of being listened to.  

If you are trying to be "humble", this is NOT the way or the place to do that.  If you want to be taken seriously, you have to present your case seriously. I know who I am and I DO think I have the right to capitalize "I" in my sentences because I am not a sheep.

Further, "im" is the shortened "I am".  You type it thus- I'm.  

Any time a word is a contraction of not, it's "n't".  Dont make this mistake, or you wont look too good in print.

~When to start a new paragraph~

Run-on sentences give the reader a headache. This is where an entire letter is one, long, continuous sentence.  Often enhanced by a complete lack of punctuation.

The concept in paragraphing is to keep each paragraph short- usually less than four sentences.  Newspapers follow this convention, and in fact, each sentence often becomes a paragraph after the editor gets done butchering it down to the significant thought.

When a story is properly paragraphed, it becomes substantially more powerful.

It is almost like you are giving the reader a break, a chance to allow the previous point to "sink in".

So, if you want your story to be taken seriously, you need to put some time into carefully editing to make it readable- And drive your facts home.

New addition 6-2-2004

~Apostrophe~

-We want to Organize Protest's and Meeting's...

-The funding comes from different area's..

-right's advocate..

See anything wrong with the use of the apostrophe in the above samples?

In every instance above, NO apostrophe was needed. 

We see misuse of the apostrophe almost constantly.  The truth of the matter is, it seems like the rules on proper use of the apostrophe have been relaxed so much that it could be safe to say- When in doubt, leave the apostrophe out.

Universally, the only place to use an apostrophe is when words are contracted-  Such as "do not" becomes "don't".  The apostrophe goes where the O is taken out.

• Otherwise, you use an apostrophe when you are referring to something belonging to somebody or some thing- Sally's shoes, or the dog's leash.  
   
• Rarely used is the apostrophe after the ending s, and only then if it is a proper name possessing something- Fred Jones' guitar.

In both instances above, simply leaving the apostrophe out seems to now be acceptable.  Or at least, not regarded as a glaring grammar error.