Since we all age and forget the basic grammar rules we learn in grade school, I have provided a short guide on grammar for your review. Also, test yourself when you are giving birth to a masterpiece with a writing question checklist.
Plus, let’s not forget proper punctuation, commonly confused words, transitions, and other types of words that will help your writing flow like a river. Toward the end of this article is a section to help with grammar problems.
Appreciate the English Language: The Importance of Correct Grammar
It is critical to have correct spelling and grammar in your writing as it builds your credibility as an author. Have you ever read an article online, planned to take the critical advice from the expert you believe you are reading, only to find many spelling and grammar errors? I bet that made you think twice about listening to his or her advice.
Have you ever thought that maybe some authors should use some TLC when writing? We all make mistakes, so it is only human to have errors in one’s writing; when people begin writing, they are often in a hurry or just are new to the writing world. That’s why the power of editing was invented!
Depending on why you write, you may find that writing with less spelling and grammar mistakes will increase your readership, increase your profits, or increase your score on your writing website. The possibilities are endless.
Editing does not take much work, just a bit of knowledge of the concept. Once you feel secure with your spelling and grammar skills, you will see that editing your previous articles is a simple task.
Relearn the Basics: A Grammar Guide for Writers
These are just some basic guidelines that writers should be aware of in order to write professionally. Depending on who you write for, what you write about, and how informal you write, some of these guidelines are just that: guidelines, not rules. Just take what you find to be useful for your unique writing.
Here are some grammar basic tips:
1. Spell out numbers one through ten.
2. When closing out punctuation that is in quotation marks, keep the punctuation inside of the quotation marks.
3. Omit unnecessary words in order to make writing concise.
4. Include an introduction, a body with sub-points, and a conclusion.
5. When approaching a topic, consider a unique angle or point of view to entice your reader.
6. Avoid vague, overused language in your writing.
7. A lot is two separate words. “A lot” is not a word. That is a misspelling.
8. Avoid clichés, slang, and inappropriate use of jargon.
1. Noun – a person, place, thing, quality, or idea
|
Type of Noun
|
Description
|
Example
|
|---|---|---|
|
Proper
|
Capitalize
|
Oklahoma, Jennifer
|
|
Common
|
Normal
|
bear, clock
|
|
Subject
|
Object
|
Possessive
|
|---|---|---|
|
I
|
me
|
mine
|
|
We
|
us
|
ours
|
|
You
|
you
|
yours
|
|
He
|
him
|
his
|
|
It
|
it
|
its
|
|
They
|
them
|
theirs
|
Note: I set up the conjugations of "to be" in the same way verb conjugations are set up in Spanish. Starting from top to bottom, and then left to right: I, You, He/She/It, We, You All, and the plural of He/She/It (They).
The Present Tense Conjugations of "To Be"
|
|
|
|---|---|
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I am
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We are
|
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You are
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You are
|
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He is
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They are
|
The Future Tense Conjugations of "To Be"
The Present Perfect Tense Conjugations of "To Be"
|
|
|
|---|---|
|
I have been
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We have been
|
|
You have been
|
You have been
|
|
He has been
|
They have been
|
The Past Tense Conjugations of "To Be"
|
|
|
|---|---|
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I was
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We were
|
|
You were
|
You were
|
|
She was
|
They were
|
The Past Perfect Tense Conjugations of "To Be"
|
|
|
|---|---|
|
I had been
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We had been
|
|
You had been
|
You had been
|
|
He had been
|
They had been
|
4. Adjective – descriptive words; refers to color, shape, size, or type
Types of Adjectives
Types of Adverbs
6. Preposition – expresses a relationship of a noun to another word.
7. Conjunction – connects words in a sentence
Examples of Conjunctions
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|
|
|
|---|---|---|
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and
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as
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because
|
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before
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but
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if
|
|
or
|
nor
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since
|
|
so that
|
than
|
though
|
|
unless
|
until
|
when
|
|
whenever
|
while
|
where
|
8. Interjection – a word or more than one word that expresses emotions
Test Yourself: A Writing Question Checklist
Are all sentences complete?
Are all words spelled correctly?
Is the verb tense consistent throughout the article?
Are contradictions used properly?
Are there run-on sentences or comma splices?
Is the page well organized and easy to read?
Are commas, colons, and semi-colons used properly?
Are all quotations closed off?
Be Smart: Learn the Right Way to Use Commonly Confused Words
The English language is easy when it comes to conjugations, but there are many words that are commonly confused. These are just a few examples of words that can be written wrong, confusing the reader as to the meaning of your words. Look up a word if you are unsure if you are using it right or not.
a. Who’s versus Whose
Who’s = who is
Whose = A possessive word meaning “belonging to”
b. It’s versus Its
It’s = It is
Its = A possessive word for an object, such as “its performance”
c. There, Their, or They’re
There = referring to a place
Their = this is the possessive word for “they”
They’re = They are
d. To, Too, or Two
To = a preposition illustrating a location
Too = another word for “also”
Two = the number after one
e. Whether versus Weather
Whether = a dependent conjunction
Weather = the noun referring to the atmosphere outside
f. Affect versus Effect
Affect = a verb that influences the nouns in the sentence
Effect = a verb illustrating the result or consequence
g. Accept versus Except
Accept = a verb that means approval
Except = a preposition that means the exclusion of something
h. Passed versus Past
Passed = the action word meaning physically went by some place
Past = the opposite of the present (time-wise)
i. Your versus You’re
Your = Possessive; “Your umbrella” or “Your sister”
You’re = You are
j. Cite, Site, or Sight
Cite = List the sources you used in your paper
Site = a location
Sight = The function your eyes have
Examples of Transitions
|
Reason
|
Example
|
|---|---|
|
To Add
|
Again
|
|
To Prove
|
For
|
|
To Show Time
|
Soon
|
|
To Repeat
|
As I said
|
|
To Emphasize
|
Never
|
|
To Show and Example
|
Take the case of
|
|
To Summarize
|
Hence
|
|
To Show Exception
|
In spite of
|
|
To Show Order
|
Next
|
|
To Compare
|
Where
|
Examples of Addition Words
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
again
|
also
|
as well as
|
|
similarly
|
furthermore
|
in addition
|
|
likewise
|
next
|
too
|
Examples of Chronological Words
|
|
|
|---|---|
|
after
|
always
|
|
at last
|
before
|
|
finally
|
first
|
|
second
|
third
|
|
next
|
then
|
|
until
|
when
|
Comparative Words
Use these words to discuss two similar forces. When writing a simile, the word “like” is used. For a metaphor, “as” is usually used. Similes and metaphors capture readers with the beautiful tapestry of your ideas displayed in your writing.
Examples of Comparative Words:
And, Both, Like, Similarly, Unlike, & Yet
Concluding Words
A conclusion usually needs an indicator word showing that you are summing things up. Besides the concluding paragraph, you may use it in the body of your writing to show a logical order and an even flow to your subject matter.
Example of Concluding Words:
- Finally
- Hence
- So
- Overall
- Therefore
- Thus
- In Conclusion
Repetition Words
Sometimes, you must reiterate a word, phrase, or point in order to show its importance. I would recommend using repetition with caution. However, if you feel you need to remind your reader of an important point, you should use repetition words.
- Again
- As Stated Before
- To Reiterate
Space Words
These are movement words. They can indicate points in other areas of your article or emphasis points in your current paragraph. You may also want to include a space word to explain a physical area, space, or location.
- Above
- Adjacent to
- Alongside
- Among
- Around
- Below
- Between
- Beyond
- Down
- Forward
- In front of
- Next to
- On top of
- Over
- Under
Stay Out of Trouble: Preventing Common Grammar Problems
These problems can often cause writers to lose focus and credibility. Stay on track by staying on top of these items.
1. Run-on Sentences – when two independent clauses are joined together without punctuation or connecting words.
2. Comma Splices – when two independent clauses are joined together by only a comma.
3. Misplaced Modifiers – these are words, phrases, or clauses that do not clearly point to the word or words that they modify.
4. Misused Homophones – homophones are words that sound alike, but have different spellings and meanings.
Make your writing the best it can be by using the English language in the right way. Proper grammar will also help your readers understand what you want to tell them. Edit carefully, and respect your readers’ time. Realize they are taking time to read your written word. Sloppy editing can cause readers to misunderstand what you have written, causing you to lose readership and credibility.
The Writing Process
Start out your writing in the best way by following these steps: (1) Planning, (2) Researching, and (3) Editing. The planning article will help you learn how to be more organized. Learn how to write in an improved manner by following the easy ideas in the planning article listed below.
Ensure proper research in order to entice your reader. You want your writing to be a page-turner. If you have hard core facts, figures, diagrams, charts, graphs, etc. you show that you have done your research on the topic. Being comprehensive in your subject matter will make your reader come back to your article again and again in order to reference it, because it has all of the information he or she needs.
Now that you have planned out and written your masterpiece, you need to make sure what you wrote can be understood by the reader. Regardless of your message or the amount of research you do, if you do not edit or check over what you write, you could be unfairly ignored. Think about it. If a reader begins to get drawn into your writing, but finds out that commas are missing or colons aren't used properly, he or she may not understand what you are trying to say.
If the wrong words are used, the reader may not know what you mean. In fact, often readers misunderstand what the writer is saying. This can make readers frustrated and cause them to stop reading, especially if they realize halfway through a story that they were thinking a character was someone he wasn't. In other words, choose your words wisely, and ensure that what you write makes sense.
Why is the APA Style of Writing Important?
Many websites require that you use the writing style of APA that you learned in school when referencing sources in your writing and when creating citations at the bottom of your writing. Therefore, it is crucial to learn the elements of this writing style.
I will admit that I had always written my papers in MLA style, so when I entered my Master's degree program and began writing on HubPages, I was required to learn the APA style. It seemed like a foreign language to me, but once I got it down, it was not so difficult. Learn the style so that you can properly cite sources in your writing, or if you are in school, get ahead by learning this style.
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