Grammar Review

Identifying & Correcting Common Grammar & Punctuation Errors

Some common grammar and punctuation errors include:

1. Commas: Good writers combine independent and dependent clauses to vary sentence structure. When a dependent clause is followed by an independent clause (or sentence), it is always separated by a comma.

For example:

Even though he was the top graduate in his high school, he was still unable to get an academic scholarship.

Note that the clause in red is a dependent clause. In other words, "Even though he was the top graduate in his high school" could not stand alone as a sentence (it is in fact, a fragment). Therefore, when a dependent clause opens a sentence, it is always followed by a comma.

However, if the dependent clause follows the independent clause, the rule is reversed. Note again that the dependent clause is in red type and that there is NO comma in the sentence below.

He was unable to get an academic scholarship even though he was the top graduate.

2. Comma Splices: A comma splice error occurs when two independent clauses are joined by a comma.

Comma splices are fairly easy to spot. In any sentence, two independent clauses can never be separated by a comma. Check out this video.

For example:

Wrong: Jonathan performed last night at Maggie Mae's, he was the "bomb."
Better: Jonathan performed last night at Maggie Mae's; he was the "bomb."
Best: After performing last night at Maggie Mae's, Jonathan proved he was the "bomb."

Here is another illustration:

Ryan went to the store, he ate grapes.

Note: this is a comma splice. It is not a sentence.

Why is this a problem? It's because you cannot join two independent clauses with a comma. To the left of the comma you have a sentence and to the right of the comma, you have another one.

Here is the same sentence corrected:

Ryan went to the store. He ate grapes.

Ryan went to the store; he ate grapes.

Note the semi-colon in the sentence above. Semi-colons (not colons or commas) are used to separate independent clauses.

Even Better:

Ryan went to the store and ate grapes.

Ryan went to the store where he ate grapes.

At the store, Ryan ate grapes.

WORSE:

Ryan went to the store he ate grapes.

Now you have created a run-on sentence, which is worse than a comma splice.

3. Run-ons or Fused Sentences: A run-on occurs when two independent clauses run into each other without any punctuation in between. Check out the video.

For example:

Wrong: Jonathan performed last night at Maggie Mae's he was the "bomb."

The sentence above is a run-on--not actually a sentence.

Sometimes students try to fix a run-on with a comma: Jonathan performed last night at Maggie Mae's, he was the "bomb."

Now you have created a comma splice, which is nearly as bad as a run-on.

Better: Jonathan performed last night at Maggie Mae's. He was the "bomb."
Better: Jonathan performed last night at Maggie Mae's; he was the "bomb."
Best: After performing last night at Maggie Mae's, Jonathan proved he was the "bomb."

4. Pronoun usage: Writers often overuse pronouns, causing unnecessary uncertainty.

Using pronouns can very quickly become muddled when gender identity is unclear and character names aren’t used to designate who is speaking, thinking, performing the actions, etc.

Be careful not to overuse pronouns or confuse your readers, even when it's a sensitive gender issue. And, when writing, never use pronouns in the opening sentence of a new paragraph. Use names and synonyms to help avoid uncertainty.

For example:

John and Sam were sitting in the kitchen. He really wanted to talk about what he’d done in the last ten years, but they seemed more interested in rehashing the days of their childhood. He was saddened by the fact that he couldn’t share all of the successes of the past decade —but alas, they didn’t seem to care.

Better--

John and Sam were sitting in the kitchen. John really wanted to talk about what he’d done in the last ten years, but Sam (who now identifies as they) seemed more interested in rehashing the old days. John was saddened by the fact that he couldn’t share all of his successes with they, who really didn’t seem to care.

Best--

So, a good rule is to avoid the overuse of pronouns in general, but when you can't, make sure that you are sensitive to gender identity AND that the audience is not confused because (1) you don't overuse pronouns, and (2) you use proper names and synonyms whenever possible.

5. Agreement Errors: Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs.

With subject-verb agreement, we're focused on matching subjects and verbs according to number.

When you have a singular subject, you have to match it with a singular verb.

For example:

The dog barks.

On the other hand, when you have a plural subject, you must have a plural verb.

For example:

The dogs bark.

These examples above seem pretty easy. Then why do students have so many issues with subject verb agreement?

Reason #1: Stuff in between subjects and verbs

Look at the following example:

The cars in the driveway is dirty.

In this example, driveway (a singular noun) is right in front of is (a singular verb). However, driveway is not the subject of this sentence. Cross out the prepositional phrase and you're left with:

The cars is dirty.

Sounds wrong, doesn't it? The subject is plural, but the verb is singular. They don't agree.

The correct version is:

The cars in the driveway are dirty.

Reason #2: "-body," "-one," and "-thing" words

If a word has one of these endings, (such as everybody, everyone, anyone, anything, etc.), it is ALWAYS singular! You can also include each, either, and neither in this group (for the most part). Look at the following examples:

Everyone is going to the party.

Each of the boys is taking his own car.

A good fix is to make everything plural:

The boys are taking their own cars.

Note, Excelsior College has an extensive Online Writing Lab with an excellent Grammar refresher that you can visit here. Also, check out Angelo State University's Grammar and Proofreading page here.

For areas that I may not have covered, please email me at bvillarr@austincc.edu for clarification, consider tutoring via the Learning Labs or Upswing,or click the links below for further guidance:

*Common Writing Problems and How to Fix Them

* Commas: Fragments, comma splices, & run-ons (PowerPoint)

*Parallelism Lecture

Independent and Dependent Clauses

Semi-Colons and Colons PowerPoint

Possessives PowerPoint; Apostrophes PowerPoint

Subject-Verb Agreement Lecture; Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement ; Pronoun Usage

Avoiding the Second Person; Using More Academic Language

*Improving Word Choices; Eliminating Wordiness; Avoiding Passive Voice

*Fixing Awkward Constructions

Utilizing Descriptive, Sensory Language

*Transition Issues