Grammar Basics
Use this as a basic, although incomplete guide to checking the grammar on your AP format essays. Check every essay every time (for in-class essays do it mentally, for take-home essays use this sheet). If you make any of these errors, it will be held against you, because I will know that you did not proofread your own work and therefore did not complete the assignment. This is just a list of the most common errors, so don’t forget all of the other rules that are not included. These are some of the most obvious.
Underlining vs. italicizing titles-
Do not underline your own title (you will probably never have one in this class, so it should be easy)
Underline novels, plays, newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, epic poems and other major works
Italicize titles that are typically stored inside something major, such as articles, poems, short stories, etc.
Do not underline or italicize the Bible, Qur’an, Constitution or Declaration of Ind.
(follow cocktail party rules- leave politics and religion alone)
Semicolons and colons-
Use a semicolon to combine two complete sentences only. Both sections must be a complete sentence.
Ex: I like bacon; she likes eggs. (two completes)
Do not capitalize the word after the semicolon or colon unless it is a proper noun or the pronoun I.
A colon means that more information on the topic discussed before the colon is coming after the colon. It can be used to combine two complete sentences, but, unlike a semicolon, you do not have to have two complete sentences to use it.
Ex: I went to prison: I am a raving lunatic. (two completes)
Ex: I went to prison for two reasons: stealing and murdering. (comp. + inc.)
Comma-splice run-ons (AKA C/S R/O)-
Do not combine sentences with a comma. That is why the semicolon exists. If there is any way that the part before the comma and the part after the comma can be seen as independent sentences (both of them- one incomplete and one complete is OK), then you cannot use a comma.
EX: wrong- I like bacon, she likes eggs. right- I like bacon; she likes eggs.
Their/there/they’re-
Just use the correct form. Please.
It’s vs its-
It’s always means it is. Its shows possession.
Apostrophes-
Singular possession and the words men’s, women’s, children’s and people’s get an apostrophe before the s.
Plural possession gets an apostrophe after the s, except m/w/c/p.
Do not put apostrophes after his, hers, theirs, etc.
Pronouns-
Use the right pronoun. The group got on its bus, not The group got on their bus. There is one group, so say its, not their.
Instead of deciding which gender pronoun to use (his/her), change your sentence to avoid the issue. Example: instead of “A person should exercise his opinion,” try “People should exercise their opinions.”
Tense shifting-
Stick to one tense. Usually you will you present tense (and active voice).
Parallel structure-
Make all verbs the same tense. Say “I like swimming, running and biking,” not “I like swimming, running and to bike.”
Quotation marks-
Place all commas and periods to the left of quotation marks in the US. It is not this way in the rest of the world, so you will see it both ways, but until you renounce your citizenship, do it this way. Question marks and exclamation marks go to the left if the quote itself is a question or exclamation, and to the right if it is not. Ex: He asked, “Are you crazy?” and Did you say, “I like beans”?
Fragments and run on sentences-
Check for them. Do not write them. Break sentences up to make them manageable.
Active vs. Passive Voice-
Use active voice. Active voice is when the subject of the sentence does the action. Active: The man threw the ball. Passive: The ball was thrown by the man.
Along/A long/A lot- A lot will always be two words. It just will. Stop fighting it. Along is one word when you bring along, come along, go along with someone or something. It is two words when you a have a long way to go.
Less/Fewer- Use fewer with things you can count (dollars, rocks, items, etc); use less with things that you do not count individually (money, air, hope, etc). (Note that you count dollars and you do not count one money, two moneys, etc.) Ignore the shameful cretans at the grocery store who put up the “10 items or less” sign. They are trying to ruin your life.
Redundancy- Do not be redundant. Say things once and move on. Avoid simple missteps like, “He arrived at 5:00 am on Thursday morning.”
***Know all of these for a quiz.