Write It Right: Brenda Lyons Ed.D Say It Right
WRITE IT RIGHT: SAY IT RIGHT Many years ago when I served as the Associate Superintendent for Secondary Education in Edmond I became concerned about the many grammar and usage errors both in spoken and written communication made by administrators. This could lead to a negative impression of educators. Since my teaching career was spent mainly teaching high school honors English classes at the freshman and sophomore levels I became aware that many of the brightest students did not have command of the common mechanics of grammar even though they were exposed to the content for several years. Because of my concern I developed several successful methods of teaching the rules. These approaches are found in this booklet. Eventually each Edmond administrator received a copy. After my retirement from Edmond Public Schools supervising student teachers for the University of Central Oklahoma is my new passion. Many of my student teachers even some of the English majors have the same issues as the Edmond administrators. As a result I offer this usage guide to each teaching candidate with the hope that it will be helpful not only during the student teaching semester but also throughout a successful teaching career. I would be remiss not to mention Ms. Judy Thomas who was my administrative assistant. After I provided the content her creativity and hard work resulted in the colorful result. I hope that you find it helpful as you begin the wonderful world of teaching! Brenda R. Lyons Ed.D. UCO University Supervisor June 2016
Punctuation and Quotation Marks Remember these three rules. 1. Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks no matter how long or short the quoted material is. Period. Comma Examples: The boy said he was called an athlete. The boy said he was called an extremely strong well-conditioned athlete. The boy said That new coach said that I was an extremely strong well-conditioned athlete. Note: Notice that single quotation marks are used only when a quote is contained within a quote. The rules for punctuating single quotation marks are the same as for double marks. 2. Colons and semicolons always go outside quotation marks. Semicolon ; Colon : Example: The boy said he was called an athlete ; I ignored him. 3. Question marks and exclamation marks go inside the quotation marks if the quote is a question or exclamation mark.? or? Example: The science teacher asked Did you call him a name? Question marks and exclamation marks go outside quotation marks if the entire sentence is a question or exclamation. Example: Did the science teacher say He said you called him a name?
Commas Commas pose problems for many people. One common comma error is found in compound sentences. Compound Sentences: Generally a comma is used before the conjunction that joins two main clauses (separate sentences). Conjunctions: and but for or nor yet so. The cowboy rode a horse but he could not twirl a rope. Do not use a comma to separate a main clause (complete sentence) and a verb phrase (not a complete sentence). The cowboy rode a horse but could not twirl a rope. Another common comma error is found in sentences with introductory adverbial clauses. A comma generally follows an adverbial clause (not a complete sentence) that comes before the main clause (complete sentence). If a little boy wants to be a real cowboy he needs the appropriate attire. Some common adverbs that introduce clauses include the following: when so that where if because unless after wherever.
To is used as an infinitive or a preposition. Examples: We are going to work hard. We are going to the store now. Too means more than enough or also. Examples: You are too busy. We are going too. Two indicates the numeral 2. Example: Two people are here.
Please Note INTRODUCTORY PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES AND COMMAS A single introductory prepositional phrase is not followed by a comma unless necessary for clarity of meaning. Examples: After school we talked in the hall. After school spirit practice was held. A comma does follow two or more introductory prepositional phrases. Examples: For two hours after school we talked in the halls. For two hours after school near the English room of the eighth grade area by the drinking fountain under the exit light we talked in the hall.
Personal Pronouns in Formal Papers Avoid first person pronouns (I me my mine we our ours us) and second person pronouns (you your yours) in formal papers. HELP! WHY?? You are the author of the paper; therefore it is redundant to use first person pronouns. It is also obvious that the reader of the paper is the person being addressed; therefore the second person pronoun is also redundant. HELP! Why is the semicolon used in the sentences in the previous paragraph? If a compound sentence already has commas in it or if the conjunction is eliminated a semicolon is used in place of a comma. Also if a transition word such as therefore is used to begin the second sentence separate the compound sentences with a semicolon. HELP! Why is a comma used after also in the previous paragraph? The answer is simple: introductory transition words are followed by a comma. So are words that interrupt. Example: Use a comma also when interrupters are used.
Use the subject form of the pronoun after a linking verb. Help: What is a linking verb? The most used linking verbs are be am is are was and were. What is the subject form of a pronoun? It is the pronoun used as the subject of a sentence. Example: When asked who is answering the phone reply he. she. Note: It s I is the correct formal usage It is we. they. who. but It s me is now acceptable standard usage. Notice: The pronouns in the example would all be used as the subject of a sentence. It s or Its? This one is simple It s means it is. Example: It s cold outside. It is cold outside. Its shows possession. Example: Its nose is cold. Not: It s (it is) nose is cold. The dog s nose is cold.
How do you know when to use who or whom? According to my daughter appropriately dubbed the Grammar Queen simply use he or him or she or her instead of who or whom. If he/she is correct use who. If him/her is correct use whom. EXAMPLES: Who/Whom came to dinner? He/him came to dinner. Obviously the correct answer is who. The car was for who/whom? The car was for he/him. Whom is the correct answer. Notice how easily the correct answer is identified in the following sentences. Did he say who/whom was coming to speak? Did he say he/him was coming to speak? He is the boy who/whom rode the bus. He is the boy; he/him rode the bus. Sometimes the words in the sentence have to be rearranged. She was the teacher who/whom the committee named Teacher of the Year. She was the teacher; the committee named she/her the Teacher of the Year.
To Him and? One of the most irritating errors is the use of the pronoun I when me is the correct form. Example: WRONG! The pizza was eaten by the hungry boy and I. How do you know which word to use? The answer is simple: leave out the first part of the compound element. You would never say The pizza was eaten by I. RIGHT! The pizza was eaten by the hungry boy and me. You would say The pizza was eaten by me. Do not be misled. Many intelligent well-educated people make this mistake. NOTICE: Sometimes in order to avoid the issue a person will say The pizza was eaten by the hungry boy and myself. This also is incorrect.
Lie Lay Three sets of words (lie lay; sit set; rise raise) often cause problems in usage. Remember that in order to lay set or raise there must be an object (a noun or pronoun) following the word. lay a brick today laying a brick laid a brick yesterday have laid a brick To lay means to put or place. It has an object. To lie means to recline. It does not have an object. lie on the couch today lying on the couch lay on the couch yesterday has lain on the couch HELP! Lay is used in both sets of examples. It is the present tense verb when it means to place or put so it is used when the meaning is to place or put something now. Please lay that brick now. Lay is also the past tense of the verb lie. It is used when the meaning is to recline in the past. Example: The woman lay on the couch for a nap yesterday afternoon.
Sit Set / Rise Raise To rise means to go up. Examples: rise in the sky today rising in the sky rose in the sky yesterday have risen in the sky To raise means an act of lifting; it has an object. TO SIT MEANS TO BE IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. IT DOES NOT HAVE AN OBJECT. raise the window today raising the window raised the window yesterday have raised the window To set means to put or place; it has an object set a dish today setting a dish set a dish yesterday have set a dish sit on the couch today sitting on the couch sat on the couch yesterday has sat on a couch
How Can Everybody Be Singular? Most indefinite pronouns are singular even if they sound plural No One Neither Nobody Somebody Someone One Everyone Each Anybody Either Everybody Anyone Four indefinite pronouns are plural. Several Few Both Many are coming to school. ride the bus to school. Five indefinite pronouns may be either singular or plural. They are some all most any and none. HELP! How do you know whether to use the singular or plural verb form? If a prepositional phrase follows the pronoun the pronoun is singular if the object of the prepositional phrase is singular; it is plural if the object of the prepositional phrase is plural. EXAMPLES Some of the hot dog was eaten. Some of the hot dogs were eaten. Most of the bus was painted yellow. Most of the busses were painted yellow.
Colons and Items in a Series COLONS AND ITEMS IN A SERIES Use a colon before a list of items. Example: Many science classes are offered in Edmond Public Schools: life science earth science biology chemistry physical science and physics. Exception: Do not use a colon after a verb or preposition. Example: The science courses offered in Edmond Public Schools are life science earth science biology chemistry physical science and physics. HELP: Is the comma necessary before the last item in a series such as the one after physical science in the previous sentence? It is optional in informal writing but it should be used in formal writing.
Apostrophes When should an apostrophe be used? If you can turn the words into a prepositional phrase an apostrophe is needed. Example: the girls purse the purse of the girl An apostrophe is needed! the girl s purse Example: the boys coach the coach of the boys the boys coach Example: the childrens teacher the teacher of the children the children s teacher 1. In singular nouns such as girl add an apostrophe and an s. Example: the girl s purse 2. In plural nouns that end in s such as boys add an apostrophe. Example: the boys coach 3. In plural nouns not ending in s such as children add an apostrophe and an s. Example: the children s teacher
How can you know for sure? School Subjects and Capitalization Capitalize names of school subjects that are the names of languages. Examples: English French German Spanish Latin Russian Hebrew Chinese Capitalize course titles containing a number. Examples: Algebra I Keyboarding II Do not capitalize other course names. Examples: math band geography science physical science home economics algebra
AFFECT OR EFFECT Affect is a verb meaning to influence. Example: The new drug affects my blood pressure. Effect can be a verb meaning to accomplish or a noun meaning the result of an action. Examples: The change to a 7-period day was effected with great success. The effect of the drug was apparent. PRONOUNS AND Help! What is an antecedent? It is the word to which the pronoun refers. Example: The boy rode his skateboard His refers to boy. The antecedent must be the same gender (male female or neuter) and the same number (singular or plural) as its antecedent. More Examples: The boys played their saxophones. The girl loved to carry her purse. Everyone carried his own surfboard. Help! That last one sounds awkward. Remember the rule for indefinite pronouns. Everyone is singular.
Titles: Underlined or Quotation Marks? Are titles underlined The in Road italics or in Not quotation Taken marks? A simple way to remember is to make a mental picture. If the title is on the outside it is underlined or in italics when referring to it in writing. If it is on the inside it is in quotation marks. Book Moby Dick Book The Funeral Chapter 69 Book of Poetry The Collected Poems of Robert Frost Poem
Compact Disk The Spirit of Christmas Song Silent Night Textbook English Grammar and Composition Chapter 15 Specific Writing Assignments Television Show Friends Episode The One Where Monica and Chandler Get Married Note: Obviously the titles are not punctuated when they appear in the original form. For example Moby Dick is not underlined when it appears on an actual copy of the novel. It is underlined only when referred to in writing such as I read Moby Dick in my senior English class.