Grammar Review

Journalism/New Media II

Summer 2009

Remember the five most common grammar errors?

• Punctuation– Get to know the semicolon– Commas are not free

• Subject/verb agreement– Team takes a singular verb!

• Pronouns

• Sentence structure

• Word usage

Commas are not free!

• Use them for:– Compound sentences when clauses are

separated by a conjunction• I have a car, but I prefer to walk to school.

– Separating elements in a series:• She likes to eat pasta, broccoli, peas and

cupcakes. (AP style omits comma before conjunction)

– Attribution:• The professor said, “Make sure you study your

grammar!” or “I hated that movie,” the student said.

More on commas

• They follow introductory matter (after an introductory clause)

• When the teacher handed out the syllabus, several students left the room.

• They’re also used after a phrase with a verb used as a modifier– Talking as they ran, they didn’t hear the car coming.

• They follow all items in a date or address:– September 11, 2001, began as a beautiful day.

Even more on commas

• They surround non-essential words or phrases– As for the cherry pie, well, let’s just say it’s

gone.

• They set of appositives (words that rename a noun)– Barack Obama, a democrat from Illinois, is

running for president

The semi-colon

• Use the semi-colon when:– Linking two independent clauses that have no

coordinating conjunction linking them. In place of: and, so, but, yet.

• Ex: Maria ate 2 dozen cookies on Wednesday; she regrets it.

• The judge issued her decision today; the defendant will spend four months in federal prison.

Another use for the semi-colon

• The semi-colon should also be used when two independent clauses are linked by a conjunctive adverb: however, moreover, nevertheless, therefore…– Ex: We took too long at dinner; therefore, we

missed the movie.

Subject/Verb Agreement

• Confusing collective subjects:– Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Checkers—are all

treated as singular nouns• The Boy Scouts has a special badge for

community service.• Checkers is my favorite game.

• Latin endings:– The Media are– The alumni are…

Fractions/percentage

• Fractions or percentages are considered singular– Three-quarters of the pie is gone.– Ninety-five percent of voters is needed for a

majority.

Either, neither, nor, everyone, anybody

• Are always singular– Either is fine with me.– Neither candidate has my vote.– Everyone likes Jerry.– Anyone can bake an apple pie.

Who/Whom

• Who is the subject of the clause.– Who is that?– Who gave you the ice cream?– The man who is walking stopped to tie his

shoe.

Who/Whom

• Whom is the object of a preposition– Whom do you prefer as President?– To whom are you speaking?

That and Which

• If a sentence can be read without the subordinate clause and the meaning does not change, “which” should be used. Otherwise, use “that.”

• Cakes, which have a lot of calories, are delicious.

• The cake that is in the kitchen is for the bake sale.

• That RESTRICTS and which ELABORATES