Most Common Grammar Mistakes

1. Most Common Grammar Mistakes

2. Strunk and White The Elements of Style

3. 1. Word Choice • Connotation vs. Denotation • Thesaurus

4. Visual Thesaurus

5. 2. Comma Use • Independent Clause: • Can stand on it’s own • Contains both a subject and a predicate (verb + direct object) Sally was swimming The boat exploded Nothing was resolved

6. 2. Comma Use • Dependent Clause: • Does not make sense by itself • Missing either the subject or the predicate (verb + direct object) While they were laughing Instead of her Robert consistently speaks

7. Coordinating Conjunctions

8. The deputy’s office was determined to track down the criminals and punish them.

9. The deputy’s office was determined to track down the criminalsandpunish them.

10. The situation is dangerous so it is important for the boys to be cautious.

11. The situation is dangerous,soit is important for the boys to be cautious.

12. I have heard the arguments but am still unconvinced.

13. I have heard the arguments,butam still unconvinced.

14. 3. Run-ons • Two or more independent clauses that do not use a coordinating conjunction.

15. During the turn of the century, the artists of La Belle Epoch broke the rules of art by omitting lines and harsh, dark colors, like black and brown, and began using better colors like pastels and also painted subjects that were not religious or mythological.

16. 4. Homonyms Two words that sound the same although they mean different things

17. They’re: They + are There: location (here) Their: possessive

18. Bare: naked Bear: rraawwrrr

19. To: toward Too: also Two: 2

20. Whether: introduces possibilities or alternatives Weather: climate

21. 5. Contractions They’re Weren’t Can’t Didn’t They’ll Should’ve

22. 6. Colloquialisms Slang: terms used by social groups • Ya’ll • Gonna • Wicked Jargon: technical or exclusive terms • AP • LGI • Progress Report

23. 6. Colloquialisms Colloquialism: conversational phrases • Strong as an ox • Went over their head • Cost an arm and a leg

24. 7. Subject-Verb Agreement The boysis not going to the party. The boysare not going to the party.

25. 7. Subject-Verb Agreement The bittersweet flavor of youth-its trials, its joys, its adventures, its challenges- are not soon forgotten. The bittersweet flavor of youth-its trials, its joys, its adventures, its challenges- is not soon forgotten.

26. 8. Past vs. Present Tense • History: past tense, third person • No “I” or “you” • English: present tense, third person

27. 9. Possessive vs. Plural • Possessive: ‘s • Plural: s • Possessive Plural: boys’ club

28. It’s not his problem.

29. Correct! It’s (It is) not his problem.

30. Harry Potter’s friends’ have always been loyal.

31. Incorrect Harry Potter’s friends’ have always been loyal.

32. 10. Active vs. Passive Voice Passive voice: the action is not happening to the subject. Active voice: the subject is doing the action.

33. 10. Active vs. Passive Voice The trip I took to New York City will always be remembered by me. I will always remember my trip to New York City.

34. 10. Active vs. Passive Voice The bride and groom were married by the gregarious priest. The gregarious priest married the bride and groom.

35. 10. Active vs. Passive Voice The bride and groom were married by the gregarious priest. The gregarious priest married the bride and groom.