Grammar Help

[Iviana (The Sign Painter)]

So, I've noticed a lot of members don't use grammar.

I'm here to help.

capitalization
Capitalize the first word of any sentence. Like so. After a period (.), question mark (?), or exclamation point (!).
Capitalize proper nouns (Disneyland, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jenna, Laura, Jack, Ken)
Capitalize 'I'.

punctuation
After a question, there is a question mark (?). ie: How are you?
After an exclamatory phrase, or an onomatopoeia (BANG!) there should be, but not always, an exclamation point (!).
After any sentence, there should be a period. NO RUNONS. A run on: I walked down the street and said hi to the baker he said hi back.

Quotation marks
""
used as dialogue. "Hi," she said. Note the comma after the greeting.
Used to name poetry, short stories, in essays/thematic paragraphs.

dialogue
"Hello," said he.

"Hello!" called he.

"Hello?<" asked he.

"Hello." He turned away.

common mistakes in the English language


it's vs. its
it's = it is
ie: It's very hot outside.

its = belonging to it
ie: The coat clung to its owner.

you're VS your
You're = you are.
ie: You're very pale.

Your = belonging to you.
ie: Your tie is crooked.

They're VS their VS there
They're = they are.
ie: They're very nice.

Their = belonging to them.
ie: Their dog barks obnoxiously.

There = location
ie: I'd much rather go there, rather than the beach.

Yours not your's
Your's isn't a word.
Yours = belonging to you.
ie: I'm yours (:D).

Then VS than
Then = time
ie: She went down the street corner then made left turn.

Than = comparison
ie: I like chocolate more than anything else.

Two VS too VS to
Two = number
ie: I have two cats.

Too = also
ie: I play an instrument, too.

To = preposition
ie: I gave the books to him.

Good VS well
No one really gets these right. Myself included.
Good = adjective
ie: She is a good swimmer

Well = adverb
ie: I think I did well on the test.

Character notes: considering literally NO ONE knows the difference, just say what you would normally say. "Oh, I think I did good on the test" is something you would say, right? Even though it's not technically correct.


Appostrophes VS Quotations:
' = used to show belonging, quoting while quoting.
ie: It was Jessica's, not yours.
ie: "He said to me, 'go away,'" she explained.

Quotatios:
" = diologue, quoting.
ie: "BLAHHH," she said.

Quoting:
"may i feel said he/ (i'll squeal sad she/ just once said he)/ it's fun said she" (Cummings 46).

[Iviana (The Sign Painter)]

But VS. Butt
But = however, thought, etc.
ie: "I'd love to, but I've got other plans tonight."

Butt = ... You're butt.
ie: "Ow, my butt hurts from barre yesterday."

comma use
It's a little hard to explain where commas are used.
Conjunctions:
I walked to the store, and bought an apple.
I wanted to go to the mall, but I couldn't.

Separating participles/participle phrases (in bold):
Sighing, she walked away.
The boy, looking around, walked around campus.

Separating absolutes (in bold):
Mind racing, anxiety overtaking, the driver peered once more at the specimen.

Separating adjectives out of order (in bold):
My green skirt, scratchy and stiff, was uncomfortable this morning at work.

Separating appositives (in bold):
The waterfall, a tilted pitcher, poured the fresh spray into the creek.

Listing:
I bought: a carton of milk, eggs, and fruit.
I ran towards the big, red farm house.

PLEASE NOTE: commas are NOT used to connect two independent clauses (ie: She smiled at him, she walked towards school). That's what a semicolon or period is for (She smiled at him; she walked towards school OR She smiled at him. She walked towards school).

ALSO: There is a space after any punctuation mark. If not, it is considered incorrect. Trust me,it's not helpful to read something like this.It's very annoying,and hard to read.

semicolons
Semicolons are used to connect two, relating independent clauses.
I waved hello; however, I said nothing.

ellipsis
Or more commonly known as "...".
Uses:
Quoting: "I supposed my last name was Milgrom now ... I kept Misha" (Spinelli 104). Used to show where text should be, but is taken out because it isn't of relevance to the report/essay/etc.

Trailing off:
In dialogue: "I wasn't sure..." she trailed off, not knowing how to continue.
PLEASE, You're paragraph about what ever it might be about shouldn't over use ellipsis. They're very annoying if they're over used...
Like that. You're expecting it to be finished, but the thought is never continued.

Also, don't go ".................." because that's even more annoying.

[Kat]

*Topic Closed To Comments*

Iviana if you need to add anything, PM me.